‘Analog snare drum synthesis with external input’

There are two versions available

1. Full DIY Kit – It’s everything you need apart from tool and solder- All of the surface mount parts are pre-soldered for you!
2. Partial DIY Kit – PCBs, 13HP eurorack panel and v2164 chip only – All of the surface mount parts are pre-soldered for you!

13HP | 30mm DEEP | +50mA, -50mA

From classic electro snares to warping, alien percussion, the Mutant Snare is a radical departure from the static sounds of the 808!

MIX and DRIVE

• MIX lets you blend between the SHELL and SNAPPY tones that make up the overall snare drum
• turn up the DRIVE to get overdriven snare tones with intense harmonics. The purple LED indicates when the snare begins to overdrive
• like the other Mutant Drums, signal levels have been normalized for modular level input and output (up to 20Vpp)

SHELL synthesizes the drum skins

• analog bridged-t sinewave oscillators, for those organic-sounding tones we’ve come to love from the 808
• TONE control blends between the two sinewaves of different frequency
• SHELL PITCH lets you tune one of the sine waves, to change the pitch of your snare drum

SNAPPY adds some noise to the snare

• an analog white noise generator feeds the SNAPPY circuit
  an external input lets you patch any sound source you like into the SNAPPY generator
• voltage control of SNAPPY decay
• SNAPPY feeds into an analog selectable high-pass or band-pass filter
• voltage control of filter cutoff frequency
• when nothing is plugged into the cutoff CV input, the SNAPPY envelope OR the adjustable sinewave from the SHELL generator normalize through the CV attenuverter for cutoff CV. A jumper on the back of the module allows you to select which of these internal modulation signals are routed here
• filter has three resonance settings: classic 808 (low resonance), high resonance, and self oscillation
• bipolar attenuators (aka: ‘attenuverters’) on CV inputs

For all BOM details and documents see the bottom of this page – http://www.hexinverter.net/mutant-snare/

The panel is PCB with no soldermask. The raw PCB fibreglass has quite a nice rough texture – rubbing it with a finger or a plectrum creates quite a wide range of sounds. The back of the panel is plated and grounded for shielding; the peizo microphone can either be soldered directly to the copper or stuck on with epoxy glue.”

The module will work with both DIYed contact mics made from inexpensive piezo transducers (instructions coming soon), off the shelf contact mics (often called Piezo Pickups) made for guitars and violins which you can pick up for ten bucks from Amazon or eBay or more bespoke mics like the popular Jez Riley French models (including hydrophones!) which are firmly aimed at Sound Designers.

This is a full kit to build the module. It comes with one tapehead, if you want to also DIY a ‘wand’ as shown in the video above (recommended) then we advise you buy an extra tapehead by changing the number from ‘1’ to ‘2’ above. The Tapehead mounted into the module itself is of limited use compared to a wand. We will have a build guide showing you how to turn an old guitar cable into a wand soon.

With a mono cassette head in the panel and a NAB equalised amplifier circuit, Magnetophon is a cassette player without the transport mechanism. Try rubbing old cassette tapes on the panel, or attach a head on a wire to recreate Nam June Paik’s Random Access or Laurie Anderson’s Tape-Bow Violin.

V2.1 PCB set, one minor fix – some users had found the switch a little tight to fit.

This is a full kit which includes every single component to build a Radio Music module right down to the Teensy microprocessor board, the knobs, rack screws and power cable.

NOTE – you need to purchase a MicroSD card and a Micro-B USB Cable elsewhere to set up this module. The Micro-B cables are the smallest type shipped with Kindles and many Android phones. You also need a card reader to write files to the SD card, many laptops and desktops already have them built in now. – Read the setup and build documentation here.

The very cheap $2 MicroSD cards are not worth the trouble they will cause you, buy genuine SanDisk or Kingston branded MicroSD cards from Amazon or elsewhere. 32Gb maximum… that’s 108 hours of lossless audio in 16bit 44.1khz. Total file limit per card is 1200 files.

Full project details and documentation here – http://github.com/TomWhitwell/RadioMusic/

A full kit to build the VACTROL MIX expander for the Turing Machine MK i and MK ii. This module will not function without a Turing Machine attached.

This kit includes everything you need to build a fully functioning expansion module apart from the tools and solder.

Thonk build documentation is here – https://www.thonk.co.uk/Documents/Turing/expanders/

Music Thing Modular documentation is here – https://github.com/TomWhitwell/TuringMixExpander

• Front panel (Aluminium 10hp)
  • VACTROL MIX
• PCB (Blue, gold plated traces)
  • VACTROL MIX
• All electronic components required.
• All mechanical components, pots (metal shaft), jacks, headers etc.
• Ribbon cable for connection to BACKPACK module.
• Black Davies 1900h clone knobs
• Rack screws

This module does nothing unless attached to a Turing Machine and BACKPACK module. They are compatible with all versions of the Turing Machine, past and future.

This product is sold under our standard Terms and Conditions.

This kit includes everything you need to build a fully functioning expansion module apart from the tools and solder. This modules works with the Turing Machine Mk I or Mk II. Comes with 12hp Aluminium Eurorack panel.

Thonk build documentation is here – https://www.thonk.co.uk/Documents/Turing/expanders/

Music Thing Modular documentation is here – http://musicthing.co.uk/modular/?page_id=323

This module is compatible with all versions of the Turing Machine. With the older Mki Turing Machine the Backpack module is also required.

The VC Divider is a dual, voltage controlled frequency divider module. It is equally suitable for both low-frequency or audio-rate signals, so it can be used with LFOs, clock sources, oscillators, or even noise or speech sources.

The VC Divider consists of two channels, which can work separately or be linked in different ways. Each channel has one clock input and one clock output. The division factor of each channel can be selected either manually with knobs, or remotely with a voltage applied to the control inputs. The division method is a «musical» type, which means that all patterns generated by this module will be perfectly in beat if they are all reset simultaneously. Unlike Flip-flop or binary counter based dividers, SSSR Labs VC Divider keeps the duration of incoming clocks intact, so it is not only able to trigger envelope generators, but can also directly gate them, providing articulation uniformity with variable rhythmic patterns.

The VC Divider can be used in many different ways: to control a rhythmic pattern of percussive instruments with a sequencer or another clocked CV source, or to divide a master clock to get traditional note durations, or even to get distinctive sub-oscillation. With this module you can easily do stylish complex hi-hat patterns, or create unusual polyrhythmic textures. The linear mode also allows creating patches which imitate game console sound effects.

This is a full Eurorack Kit but the PCB supports other modular formats such as MOTM and accepts both 12v and 15v supply. It is designed to be easily expanded to add a number of additional features such as: individual reset inputs, advanced signal routing and mode selection. Even when there is no expander, the module can be configured with a few jumpers.

VC Divider build document – Assembly Guide

Specifications:

26 mA +12V
2 mA -12V
Depth: 59 mm
Width: 4HP

The SSSR Labs ‘Mult 2×4’ is a 2HP passive multiple module with switchable configuration: 2×4 or 1×8.

The panel colour coding helps to select desirable operation mode.

Black lines, left switch position: Dual 4-terminal multiple.

Blue lines, right switch position: Single 8-terminal multiple.

Specifications:

Depth: 15 mm
Width: 2HP

The Kotelnikov is a Eurorack voltage controlled digital wavetable oscillator module with morphing features and built-in transient generator. This oscillator can generate a wide range of sounds with diverse spectral content and combine them in various proportions. Kotelnikov can also be used as a complete voice module as it features shaped timbres, an envelope generator and amplitude modulation.

Featuring 80 waveforms organised in 4 banks:
1. DRUID: Collection of Electric Druid VCDO wavetables (used with permission)
2. ATTACK: Interleaved dark/bright wavetables pairs
3. HARMONIC: Frequency-relative sinewaves
4. HD: Selected 12-bit wavetables

The Transient Generator has 3 modes: AD/AR envelope generator or resettable LFO. Total time range of 0.4µs–10s is divided into 3 subranges. This generator is internally connected with FM and WM inputs, which helps you to easily achieve fluent sounds with no wires at all.

Build Documentation: SSSR Kotelnikov Assembly Guide

Technical highlights:

• The sound engine sampling rate is locked to pitch and varies from 4.2 to 133 kHz, which gives very clear highs and uniform spectral content over the full range.
• The Pitch resolution is 6 cents and CV input sampling rate is 6 kHz, which gives a smooth FM-ready CV response.
• Analogue Amplitude Modulation input is bipolar, linear, rail-to-rail.

Specifications:

Pitch: 7 octaves range (C0-C7), 6 cents resolution
DAC: 12-bit, variable sampling rate: 4.2–133kHz
Wavetables: 3×16 8-bit tables, 32 12-bit tables. 256 samples each.
Control ADC: 10-bit, 6kHz
Power Consumption: 80 mA +12V, 50 mA -12V
Width: 14HP
Depth: 40mm

Connectivity

Power In: 7-15VDC, tip positive (Don’t reverse it or it will get mad). Just find a voltage source on your synth somewhere. If the notes being played by the sequencer seem flat, the power supply you have chosen may be dropping too much under load. If you can’t or don’t want to use your synth to power the sequencer, you can use a 9V Battery or AC power supply.

Clock In: 0-5V is ideal, but going outside that range won’t hurt it. Step will advance on rising edge.

CV Out: 1 volt/octave, C=1V/2V/3V. Connect to the CV in on your oscillator (or filter or whatever)

Gate Out: On=+5V. Plug this into your VCA, EG, etc. Gate timing follows the clock when the sequencer is running, buttons when in Ready mode, and stays on while programming.

Operation

Push Run to start playing a sequence. The true green Run LED will light to tell you that you are in Run mode. Push it again to Pause. The sequencer steps can be programmed while paused.

Push reset to stop the sequence, go to step 1, and enter Ready mode. The blue step LED will blink to let you know that you are in Ready mode. This means that when you press Run again, the sequencer will play step 1 on the next clock pulse instead of skipping it and going to step 2.

If you want to start on a different step, you can use the step left and right buttons to pick a different one.

While in Ready mode, you can use the note buttons to manually play tunes without messing up the sequence you have stored in memory. Gate timing will follow your button presses.

Programming is done while the step LED is steady (not Ready mode) and the sequencer is not running. You can enter Programming mode by pressing Reset a second time, or pausing a sequence with the Run button. Use the step left/right buttons to pick which step you want to program, then press the note you want that step to play. The new note is automatically stored in non-volatile memory.

Remember about the step LED:

Blinky = Ready Mode = Will start on selected step = Can play keyboard live
Steady = Programming = Any notes you push will get saved in that step
The sequencer keyboard covers 3 octaves, so you can use the octave up/down buttons to transpose the keyboard up and down. The green and orange LEDs will tell you which octave the keyboard is currently set to.

In addition to standard notes, you can also program a Rest or a Loop command into a step. A Rest step holds the previous note and doesn’t fire the gate. Loop makes the sequencer go back to step 1. You can use this to create any length sequence you want. For example, if you only want steps 1-13 in your sequence, you would make step 14 a Loop step.

Starting with firmware version 1.1, the sequencer operates with a built-in clock from power-up until it receives its first external clock pulse. The internal clock rate can be adjusted up and down while the sequencer is running using the step buttons. Once the unit has switched to external clock mode, the internal clock can be restored by holding down the reset button for about 2 seconds (soft reset) or removing/restoring power to the unit.

Build Document & BOM – Sequencer Build Doc

This kit gives you two handy little sequencers behind one 18HP Eurorack panel. Why would you need more than one sequencer? Why would you need mini sequencers?

More sequencers = more steps
Use one for playing notes and the other for transposing those notes
Can be used as a clock divider
Run in parallel for multiple CVs / triggers
Each one gives you the standard CV and gate out, plus an Accent out which can be used to open up a filter, enable a glide, trigger a drum, or whatever you can think of.

The two sequencers will run completely independently, or you can daisy-chain them using the XP IN/OUT jacks to create sequences of any length.

Each sequencer has its own internal clock to get you up and running in a hurry, but you can connect an external clock if you need greater control of tempo or want to sync with other devices.

The module stores your latest sequence even when the power has been removed.

While this kit is designed to give you a Eurorack module, the PCB patterns for the jacks also have holes that will accept Johnson/Cinch-style banana jacks. There are also standoff holes on the main PCB, so you can mount them behind your own custom panel.

This module has lots of LEDs – but only two of them are ever on at a time, which keeps it from loading down your power supply.

Build Document – Dual Sequencer Build Instructions

Inputs:

CLK IN (External clock input)
XP IN (Expansion input; Starts sequencer back at step 1. Use for daisy-chaining multiple units)

Outputs:

XP OUT (Sends pulse when sequencer goes past last step. Use for daisy-chaining multiple units)
CV OUT
GATE OUT
ACC OUT (Can be programmed on or off in each sequence step)

Features:

CV OUT covers 5 octaves, and can be tuned using front-accessible trim pot
Sequences can be set to any length up to 16 steps by using LOOP feature
Setting a step to REST holds previous pitch and doesn’t fire GATE
In Standby mode, sequencer can be used as a tiny keyboard without altering programmed sequences

Specifications:

Power supply: +/-12VDC (reverse-polarity protected!).
Power supply (Optional): +/-15VDC
Current draw: 30ma(+12V) / 0ma(-12V) / 0ma (+5)
Width: 18HP
Depth: 0.83in / 21mm

‘Analog snare drum synthesis with external input’

There are two versions available

1. Full DIY Kit – It’s everything you need apart from tool and solder- All of the surface mount parts are pre-soldered for you!
2. Partial DIY Kit – PCBs, 13HP eurorack panel and v2164 chip only – All of the surface mount parts are pre-soldered for you!

13HP | 30mm DEEP | +50mA, -50mA

From classic electro snares to warping, alien percussion, the Mutant Snare is a radical departure from the static sounds of the 808!

MIX and DRIVE

• MIX lets you blend between the SHELL and SNAPPY tones that make up the overall snare drum
• turn up the DRIVE to get overdriven snare tones with intense harmonics. The purple LED indicates when the snare begins to overdrive
• like the other Mutant Drums, signal levels have been normalized for modular level input and output (up to 20Vpp)

SHELL synthesizes the drum skins

• analog bridged-t sinewave oscillators, for those organic-sounding tones we’ve come to love from the 808
• TONE control blends between the two sinewaves of different frequency
• SHELL PITCH lets you tune one of the sine waves, to change the pitch of your snare drum

SNAPPY adds some noise to the snare

• an analog white noise generator feeds the SNAPPY circuit
  an external input lets you patch any sound source you like into the SNAPPY generator
• voltage control of SNAPPY decay
• SNAPPY feeds into an analog selectable high-pass or band-pass filter
• voltage control of filter cutoff frequency
• when nothing is plugged into the cutoff CV input, the SNAPPY envelope OR the adjustable sinewave from the SHELL generator normalize through the CV attenuverter for cutoff CV. A jumper on the back of the module allows you to select which of these internal modulation signals are routed here
• filter has three resonance settings: classic 808 (low resonance), high resonance, and self oscillation
• bipolar attenuators (aka: ‘attenuverters’) on CV inputs

For all BOM details and documents see the bottom of this page – http://www.hexinverter.net/mutant-snare/

This kit contains everything you need to build a 4ms PEG. You need to build this yourself, this is not a finished module.

This is an intermediate-level kit. You should be confident in your soldering skills, and have a familiarity with electronic components.

The Pingable Envelope Generator (PEG) is a dual envelope generator whose envelope lengths are set by incoming clocks or “pings”.

The PEG has full CV control of envelope shape, skew, and ping (clock) division/multiplication, as well as a plethora of triggering and cycling options (AD, AR, quantization, cycle), and a tap tempo button for each channel.

Documentation

All 4ms Kit build documentation can be found here

• Complete building instruction manual (PCB v1.0.6, latest kit version)
• Kit Parts (PCB v1.0.6)

This is a full kit which includes all required parts.

The Quad Pingable LFO is a compact, playable four-channel tap-tempo, clock-syncable LFO with variable skew and reset.

The QPLFO is designed to be useful in small portable systems that require maximum functionality in minimal space, as well as large systems that need maximum modulation sources.

Basic features

• Quad “pingable” LFO’s — frequency is set by time between pulses (“ping”)
• Each of the 4 channels is an independent LFO
• Can produce a variety of waveshapes: “Pluck,” to ramp-down, to triangle, to ramp-up, and all shapes in between
• Channels can easily modulate, trigger, and reset each other for complex and slowly morphing outputs
• Slowest period is about 71 minutes (0.0002 Hz), fastest speed is about 500Hz (marginal tracking up to 1kHz)
• Tap tempo button is free-running (LFO runs indefinitely), but external clock/Ping is auto-stopping (LFO stops when external clock stops)

Controls and jacks

• Tap tempo button (“Ping”) for manually setting the tempo
• Ping jack sets tempo with an external clock (any complex signal can be used as a clock)
• On/mute button enables or mutes the output (latching button)
• Skew knob and CV jack control the waveshape by altering the ratio between rise and fall times
  • At 0% Skew (0V of CV), the shape is a “plucky” near-expo curve
  • At 1% Skew (just over 0V of CV), the shape is ramp-down
  • At 50% Skew (about 5V of CV), the shape is a triangle
  • At 100% Skew (about 10V of CV), the shape is ramp-up
  • Skew knob provides offset to the incoming CV signal, so any range of CV is acceptable
• Reset jack restarts the LFO without changing the tempo (rising edge triggered)
• OUT jack outputs either a 0 to 10V waveshape, or a -5V to +5V waveshape (jumper selectable)
• LED flashes and dims to the signal on the OUT jack
• Tap tempo button flashes to the internal tap-tempo clock or to incoming pulses on the Ping jack
• On/Mute button lights up when channel is On

Advanced

• • Ping and Reset inputs use comparators, so any waveshape can be used for triggering (audio waves, complex LFOs, even the QPLFO itself!)
    • Trim-pot on PCB allows for adjustment of comparator threshold value

• • “Fire-on-unmute” jumper per channel:
    • When this optional jumper is installed, pressing the On button to turn the channel on will reset the LFO.
    • If the jumper is not installed (factory default), pressing On will unmute the LFO without resetting (LFO runs in the background when muted)

• • Bipolar/Unipolar jumper:
    • Setting jumper to Bipolar makes the outputs -5V to +5V
    • Setting jumper to Unipolar makes the outputs 0V to +10V
    • One jumper controls all four channels

• • One-shot mode: Reset jack can be used to trigger a one-shot envelope if the external ping clock is stopped. See manual for detailed discussion
  • Floating Reset mode: Holding a high gate on Reset jack allows the waveshape to run freely without automatically re-syncing to the ping clock. A bare cable plugged into the jack causes a high gate

• Connects to other modules using ribbon cables:
  • Outputs can connect to the 4ms VCA Matrix, or the 4ms SISM, or the Toppobrillo Mixiplexer
  • Normalization of ping jacks can connect to the 4ms Quad Clock Distributer

Module size:
The QPLFO is 12HP and 1.57 inches (40mm) deep.

Power consumption:
A jumper selects using +5V from the power supply, or generating +5V on-board from the +12V rail.

• +12V rail:
  • 89mA max with jumper selecting external 5V
  • 154mA max with jumper selecting internal 5V.
• +5V rail:
  • 65mA max with jumper selecting external 5V
  • not used (0mA) with jumper selecting internal 5V.
• -12V rail:
  • 73mA max

Build document here – http://www.4mspedals.com/kits.php#QPLFO

The Erica Synths Modulator features a single LFO with simultaneous triangle and square wave outputs alongside a clockable Sample & Hold with external CV input and noise source. Each kit comes with two versions of noise generator – simple, transistor-based and more complex Zener diode-based – able to produce full-spectrum white noise. The Modulator is a 35mm deep, skiff friendly and has solid mechanical construction that doesn’t require any wiring.

Features:

LFO with triangle and pulse wave outputs
Choice of transistor-based or Zener diode-based noise generator for massive, full spectrum white noise
Sample & Hold circuit based on rare, high quality S&H chip
Sample & Hold CV and clock inputs

Modulator II Build document – Assembly Guide

Technical specifications:

The Erica Synths MIDI-CV II is a compact, highly accurate and easy to use duophonic MIDI interface.

It emulates classical monophonic and duophonic synth behaviour, and can also be configured for use as two independent MIDI channels. Bonus features include MIDI clock output and an analogue glide circuit for both channels.

Features:

Two CV and Gate outputs
Configurable MOD output – modulation wheel or velocity
Analogue glide on both MIDI channels
One or two MIDI channel configuration
One or two voice switch

Midi-CV II Build document – Assembly Guide

Technical specifications:

Erica Synths DIY Mixer is a skiff friendly design that has solid mechanical construction and doesn’t require any wiring. It’s a simple, straight-forward audio mixer – an essential part of any modular setup.

Features:

Three AC coupled audio inputs
Two outputs
Skiff-friendly design

Mixer II Build Document – Assembly Guide

Technical specifications:

The Polivoks VCA II has a distinctive architecture – two differential opamp (Russian ICs K118UD1B) based VCAs in series for LFO and ADSR control over signal amplitude independently. The control voltage to attenuation behaviour of this VCA is nonlinear and not logarithmic – it is kept authentic to the original response of the Polivoks. The circuitry of the VCA have been improved to achieve: higher dynamic range, better reliability, lower noise, accept higher signal levels, keep consistent behaviour, self-tuning of two internal offsets, and higher linearity. The audio signal path has also been redesigned so that you can use it as two independent VCAs or two VCAs in series like the original Polivoks.

Features:

Single or Dual VCA mode
CV level adjustment for each VCA
Summed audio output (lower signal gain)
Skiff-friendly design

Polivoks VCA II Layout – Component Placement

Technical specifications:

The Output II module allows you to easily interface your modular synth with external gear such as mixers or other synthesizers. The module features L and R inputs for stereo patches – for mono patches the R input is normalled to the L input, so you can automatically route the output to a stereo mixer. There is also a high quality headphone preamp on board with dedicated level control.

Features:

Left and Right inputs
3.5mm stereo output jack
3.5mm headphones jack
Headphones volume adjustment
Skiff-friendly design

Output II Build Document – Assembly Guide

Technical specifications: