DIY Steiner Synthasystem Triple EG

via Analogue Realities

DIY Steiner Synthasystem Panels are In - VCO

Full details on Analogue Realities

"The first panel order arrived, so I stuffed a VCO panel to see if it all fit right.I'm waiting on some MTA connectors to do the flying wires."

Pre-Orders Open for DIY Steiner Synthasystem and Nyle Steiner at SLAMM

via David of Analogue Realities:

"Pre-Order/Order forms for the VCO, VCF, VCA, Triple EG, Sequencer, Trigger Converter, and Transistor Matching PCB are online. They are at the new Electro-Music “Synthasystem” Forum and my website.

There was also a Salt Lake Area Modular meeting and Joe Grisso posted some photos at his site [previously posted]

Nyle Steiner came and brought four of the prototype PCBs hooked up and working and a different filter he designed, built, and sold for a while."

Salt Lake Area Modular Meeting 2010 - SLAMM

Top pic via Analogue Realities bottom pics via Joe Grisso's Picassa set here.
(click for more)

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Steiner Parker DIY Synthasystem Forum

via Analogue Realities

"Thank you everyone at Electro-Music. The Synthasystem now has its own Sub-forum. Not much there yet. I hope it will be an active and interesting place to discuss everything Steiner/Parker!

http://electro-music.com/forum/index.php?f=189"

New Steiner Parker Synthasyste PCBs Arrive

via Analogue Realities where you'll find more pics and the full details.

"The latest prototype PCBs are in today. If all goes well with the test builds, I should be ready to start a serious PCB buy for all who are interested in about a month!

Top to bottom: Sequencer Logic and Output/Pot, Power Distribution/ENVDL/ENVDT, VCA/VCF, Trigger converters, VCO

It's getting very close."

Synthasystem VCO Project Page and Website

via Synthasystem

If you've been following along, you might notice the site is different than the blog Analogue Realities. On the site:

"This page is the top level to the Steiner Synthasystem I am ressurecting. As this project grows, these pages will have schematics and build notes as well as order forms. I think I am decided that as a module is tested and a final prototype is built, I'll add the page with ordering information."

Steiner Synthasystem Progress - VCA Now Working!

See the post on Analogue Realities. According to David, Nyle Steiner currently has a sequencer, VCO, VCA, and EG working. The full Synthasystem will come. I'll only be posting major updates, so be sure to check out the rest of Analogue Realities for more. If you have an RSS reader be sure to sub to it for updates.

Update: some more info of what's to come via David.

"I will eventually offer:

1. VCO type “A”. The Synthasystem also had a type “B” and “C” which were scaled back version of the type “A”. Since the Type “A” does it all, I don’t think I’ll re-issue the others unless there is some demand)

2. VCA/Mixer

3. VCF (the “real” original Steiner version. There is a difference in how Nyle did the resonance as compared to how those doing tribute filters typically do it)

4. Four different EGs.

a. ENVDL #1 – Duration Level

b. ENVDL #2 – Duration Level with a switch which converts the attack time to a delay time

c. ENVDT – Instead of duration level control, it controls the duration time. It also has a switch to convert the attack time to an initial delay time

d. ENVVD

One will be the Triple Envelope Generator which combines #1, #2, and #3 above. It’s the one which was in the Synthasystem. The fourth is one I don’t think Nyle ever released, but I’m going to. It has a variable damping. I haven’t built it or seen documentation other than a schematic I found digging through Nyle’s archives so I’m not sure what it’s controls really do. The end user can build these all separately if they want to.

5. Voltage Sequencer

6. Frequency Divider

7. Two voice keyboard

8. “Multiphonic” Keyboard (very cool controller)

9. Noise generator

10. Peak Selector

11. Phaser

12. Ring Modulator (Nyle is toying with the idea of changing this from using the MC1495 chip to discrete components based on his VCA design)

13. Sample and Hold

14. Selective Inverter (honestly, I haven’t quite figured this one out yet. Nyle tried to explain it to me but I didn’t quite get it.)

15. Tuner/Monitor

16. Input Pre-amp

17. Voltage Controlled Trigger Generator

18. Voltage Follower (basically a slew rate limiter or portamento)

19. Voltage Processor (generates different combinations of normal and inverted outputs of an input signal)

20. Power Supply panel/distribution.

21. Trigger converter. This is not a Steiner design, but something people will need to use these in modern modulars. The Steiner modules uses S-Triggers like Moog. This is a daughter board or a separate module to convert between S-Triggers and Voltage triggers. For example, you can piggyback one of these to an EG PCB so that you can seamlessly use voltage triggers on the front panels.

As a timeline, I am ordering some PCBs this week. Actually as soon as I get this email written J I am ordering what I hope will be production boards. I have some SDIY’ers who have offered to stuff a PCB or two to test the PCBs, BOMs, and build notes. So, In a month or two, I should actually be able to start offering the first few core modules, VCO, VCF, VCA, EGs, and sequencer.

David"

Nyle Steiner Synthasystem Updates

There have been updates on on the Steiner Synthasystem remake on Analogue Realities. Pictured here is the sequencer on Nyle's workbench from this post. The following quote is from this post on July 29th.

"This was great. I'm traveling and when I got off the plane, I saw I had some voice mail. I call in and I got this weird synthesizer sequence playing for about 30 seconds. I thought this is a weird prank call, and then it hit me. It was probably Nyle and he got the sequencer working. I hit "call caller" and sure enough, Nyle got the sequencer going already."

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New DIY Nyle Steiner Synthasystem - First Signs of Life!

via Analogue Realities where you'll find more images and the full post.

First Steiner Synthasystem Panels Are In

via Analogue Realities

"I got the first batch of panels for the power supplies. They look great. The Steiner logo is smooth and just the way I want it. I'll be able to assemble one of these, too and make sure it all fits right in the Schroff racks I have."

Stiener Parker Ad & Synthasystem Sequencer

via Analogue Realities

Steiner Synthasystem Updates

Two new posts on Analogue Realities

V.C. Oscillator
Triple Envelope Generator

Interesting bits on graphic design: "Nyle sent me scans of the original artwork for the Frequency Divider panel which will help me get a better match with the panels I'm doing. For my stuff, I've always used Bulgarian for the module name and then a casual script like font for the pots, jacks, etc. Nyle likes a blockish, sans-serif font like he did originally, and I think he's right. I re-did the Triple Envelope Generator panel with pot tic marks, a Helvetica font slightly angled and used all caps for the letters, like Nyle did. I think it looks good."

One thing to consider is the historical relevance of this project. This is Nyle Steiner, maker of the Steiner-Parker Synthacon, Steiner EVI, and of course the Synthasystem, classic vintage analog synths from the mid 1970s. Realize this was before Tom Oberheim and Dave Smith came out with their classic synths. Many modular manufactures have filters based on his design. See the Steiner Parker label below for more.

Nyle Steiner is a major part of synth history and he is back.

Update via dingbre in the comments: "One quick comment on the graphics, the gray discs are not really part of the panel layout, but a check to make sure the knobs wouldn't cover the tic marks. I've chosen an Alco phenolic, 19 mm diameter knob. It's knurled, with an aluminum insert, and skirt. A slightly smaller version of the classic knobs Nyle used back then."

Steiner Synthasystem in Eurorack?

If you recall from this post, Analogue Realities announced the Steiner Synthasystem schematics would be made available. In Analogue Realities' latest post, it looks like plans for Eurorack format modules will be made available.

"It occurred to me that I really need to consider this project not as a "one-off" system for me. With Nyle's encouragement to share and release this stuff, I realized (finally...) I need to take a more universal approach to the PCB/panel designs and consider those who are going to stuff just one or two of the modules into an existing Doepfer rack or something. I've been looking at the Doepfer racks and they can be as shallow as 80mm in front of the power supply itself. It looks like the general minimum is about 100mm and I think most modules will fit this form factor. The sequencer as it stands now may be a problem, but since the panel will be so wide, I can rethink it and make it wider, but shallower."

See the full post on Analogue Realities for more.

Steiner Triple Envelope Generator Panel

Progress update on the Steiner Synthasystem project via Analogue Realities.

"Still working on parts lists and waiting on the delivery of prototype PCBs. I want to get some of the core modules tested working and ready to go before I do too much more capture and layout. Too many irons in the fire, etc. etc. etc..."

Nyle Steiner Sythasystem Designs and Schematics to be Made Available

You might remember the Steiner Synthasystem restoration project from this post. David who runs Analogue Realities sent in the following to the SDIY list. I asked him if I could put a post up for those not on the list and he gave me the OK.

via David on the SDIY list:
"Here's a bit of good news to anyone interested in the Steiner Synthasystem. I've had a couple of long talks with Nyle and he said it would be fine to share what I'm doing. He'd like as many people as want to build his designs and enjoy them.

To that end, as I actually get PCBs and schematics that work, I'll post and share as I can. If there is enough interest, I'll put together PCB, panel buys, etc. Otherwise, I'll make the layouts and schematics available somehow.

Keep an eye on my blog over the next few weeks for updates, etc.

Thanks again to those who have given me some great help so far, you know who you are :) So, to those who I swore to secrecy, you don't have to keep quiet anymore.

My blog and website:

http://analoguerealities.blogspot.com/
http://www.xmission.com/~dingebre/index.html

I'm going to meet with Nyle next month (after I recover from a total knee replacement on Monday) and he said he'd go over the schematics to make sure I have the latest corrections and designs.

So, I guess it goes up a notch from here."

Update: Read how it all started in this post.

Analogue Realities

Analogue Realities

Pictured: Moog Voyager

The blog is currently covering the restoration of the Steiner Parker SynthaSystem.