I'm sure some of you would be interested in this project. I just bought myself a pre-order board.
Here's the link for the description of the project:
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2015/03/31/new-diy-synth-the-crowminius-inspired-by-minimoog-cs-80/
This is the link to buy a board:
http://cs80-com.myshopify.com/products/crowminius-v1-1-bare-board-batch-1-special-pre-order
This is the main discussion board with more projects as well:
https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135211
:)
this is really awesome! I'll definitively buy a board when finances allow it
I am absolutely going to try this
EPIC!
(http://www.optimalnetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/jaw-drop.jpg)
Oh man, that would scratch the solder itch for a while... too bad I'm notorious for not finishing projects, I have about 20 years worth ahead of this ::)
WEow. I want this.
Yeah if I recall he says in parts/board it comes to around 300 total. The boards go very fast though.
Yeah. This would definitely be way more efficient to build than an MFOS synth. I'm tempted.
Wild! :o
Killer project for sure. I counted:
* 15 trims
* 6 rotaries
* 8 big jacks
* 29 pots
* 14 DIP switches
Has to be a pita to troubleshoot, but still very tempting.
whoa cool. too bad all the pots are off-board if you want to case mount it. seems like it's a good project tho
I just ordered one
I have no idea what the F&*k I have gotten myself into though......
121.00 for the board with the programmed Midi controller and shipping
Found the BOM in the muffwiggler page
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1luph-CsIEe5RU8KX1xj2FkDNPgh8RLKgIt0w2aR_KPU/edit#gid=0 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1luph-CsIEe5RU8KX1xj2FkDNPgh8RLKgIt0w2aR_KPU/edit#gid=0)
Quote from: selfdestroyer on May 11, 2015, 09:59:56 PM
Found the BOM in the muffwiggler page
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1luph-CsIEe5RU8KX1xj2FkDNPgh8RLKgIt0w2aR_KPU/edit#gid=0 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1luph-CsIEe5RU8KX1xj2FkDNPgh8RLKgIt0w2aR_KPU/edit#gid=0)
you going for it Cody?
I know I will be in over my head but this was the direction I have been wanting to go into. I am curious what raulduke and alan think.
Quote from: peAk on May 11, 2015, 10:13:38 PM
Quote from: selfdestroyer on May 11, 2015, 09:59:56 PM
Found the BOM in the muffwiggler page
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1luph-CsIEe5RU8KX1xj2FkDNPgh8RLKgIt0w2aR_KPU/edit#gid=0 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1luph-CsIEe5RU8KX1xj2FkDNPgh8RLKgIt0w2aR_KPU/edit#gid=0)
you going for it Cody?
I know I will be in over my head but this was the direction I have been wanting to go into. I am curious what raulduke and alan think.
Haha not at this point.. this is a huge project. I was just interested in seeing the BOM... one day maybe.. one day.
Cody
Also for anyone interested in DIY synth things in general, Muffwiggler is a great resource for projects. There are so many rad projects in the DIY thread.
Oooooooooooooooooo!
This is so cool. I ordered one board for me and my synth friend to play with. I probably wont finish it for a while but I can't wait to hear it when its done. Always wanted a Moog since I played with my buddies Prodigy.
He designed it to fit in a little metal briefcase (originally had some kind of uC stuff in it, I forget what.)
jdesgoulet is also working on a Minimoog board, I'm waiting to see how that pans out before I jump either way. Too much offboard wires for Crow's board.
Looks cool.
I should think it Would fly together once the PCB is built.
I think I'm gonna stick with my eurorack stuff for now though.
Looks like both a very cool project and nightmare to both source and troubleshoot. Cost aside I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with it. My live rig is already way too huge to be carried around without roadies and this is just too cool to sit around and gather dust at home.
Wow, now thats a test of patience...so thats me out lol
it looks awesome but honestly i wouldn't even know what to do with it lol
if i ever built one i'd probably just give it to my brother and let him go nuts
I am not going to go the suitcase route, I think I will do something like medbot did with his:
Maybe with a face plate though
We will probably go the panel route as well. Whenever I am playing synth I am always fiddling with the knobs way too much to have them that tightly spaced. Looking at one of the 17"x10" Hammond boxes with maybe a hinged back panel for the pcb. I am thinking of mounting all the trimmers on the backside of the pcb and just drilling holes in the back panel so I dont have to wade through the spaghetti to get it calibrated...
I'm not sure what ima do. I'm interested in seeing your guys' panels. Maybe I could pitch you something to have one made if it's not a tricky thing to do?
Devils advocate and all that... you can buy a full kit for one of these for 180 euros:
http://mutable-instruments.net/shruthi1 (http://mutable-instruments.net/shruthi1)
(http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0053/7842/products/db10b608a64d7d8017a4fda5f31a14_1024x1024.png?v=1421924547)
It's not a MiniMoog, but it covers a lot of that ground, and has a shit ton of other features.
Only thing is it uses digital wavetable oscillators, but I would still HIGHLY recommend it as a 'dip your toe' synth build.
The menu architecture is super easy to get a handle on, and it has audio in so you can process your guitar etc through it.
I've got one and it's great.
Mutable Instruments are probably one of the most kick ass music tech companies out there (IMO).
dude I was thinking about a shruthi the other day! The minimoog will be such a fantastic project though. And in comparison it's hard for me to justify how much that guy costs. I wish the shruthi was just sold as a board with a b.o.m. ::)
Quote from: raulduke on May 12, 2015, 04:40:33 PM
Devils advocate and all that... you can buy a full kit for one of these for 180 euros:
It's not a MiniMoog, but it covers a lot of that ground, and has a shit ton of other features.
Only thing is it uses digital wavetable oscillators, but I would still HIGHLY recommend it as a 'dip your toe' synth build.
The menu architecture is super easy to get a handle on, and it has audio in so you can process your guitar etc through it.
I've got one and it's great.
Mutable Instruments are probably one of the most kick ass music tech companies out there (IMO).
No doubt that I should have started with something like this. I honestly feel like I have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting, to make the jump. Building the Synare analog drum gave me a taste of what it feels like to build something that generates sound rather than effect it. It was a pretty big rush. My love for synths is probably greater than my love for guitars even though I have been player guitar for 25 years.
I have watched you guys do your Euro rack stuff and I really thought about going that way. I think in the end, that is the way I want to go because it offers the most flexibility. That said, after daniel posted this and I saw/heard it, I got goose bumps and decided that...at a $100, it was time to jump in. At $350 total, it's a no brainer if this ends successfully :o
I do feel kind of "silly" jumping from pretty much no synth building experience into something like this when I know it would have been better to start with something like you suggested. I am just not convinced when/if I would have ever jumped in had I not seen something like this to "Wow" me....if that makes sense....? I definitely may be regretting my decision later.
Quote from: raulduke on May 12, 2015, 04:40:33 PM
I've got one and it's great.
Did you DIY? How much wiring is involved?
Quote from: EBRAddict on May 12, 2015, 09:27:53 PM
Quote from: raulduke on May 12, 2015, 04:40:33 PM
I've got one and it's great.
Did you DIY? How much wiring is involved?
nothing at all, I think.
Here is the assembly guide:
http://mutable-instruments.net/shruthi1/build/digital
Quote from: EBRAddict on May 12, 2015, 09:27:53 PM
Quote from: raulduke on May 12, 2015, 04:40:33 PM
I've got one and it's great.
Did you DIY? How much wiring is involved?
Its always DIY as far as I know... I don't think they sell assembled units.
Pretty much 0 wiring.
It was relatively easy to put together to be honest.
stupid question:
can you plug a guitar into that and use it like a pedal?
signed,
name withheld
Not a stupid question at all.
Answer is pretty much.
There is no bypass switching, and from memory you have to give the VCA a gate signal (of some description) to allow audio through. There is also no envelope detector etc. (the usual kind of stuff you'd find on guitar filters).
Therefore I would definitely think of it as a Synth predominantly, with the ability to process audio if you wish.
Note the filter section is all analogue. Mutable used to sell different filter cards that you could put in (MS20, PoliVoks etc.) but I think they stopped when their Eurorack stuff kicked off (they struggle to keep up with demand).
Quote from: raulduke on May 13, 2015, 08:27:02 AM
Mutable used to sell different filter cards that you could put in (MS20, PoliVoks etc.) but I think they stopped when their Eurorack stuff kicked off (they struggle to keep up with demand).
They don't sell them anymore, but as they follow an open source principle with the Shruthi the eagle files are in a github repository :)
Quote from: micromegas on May 13, 2015, 09:04:54 AM
Quote from: raulduke on May 13, 2015, 08:27:02 AM
Mutable used to sell different filter cards that you could put in (MS20, PoliVoks etc.) but I think they stopped when their Eurorack stuff kicked off (they struggle to keep up with demand).
They don't sell them anymore, but as they follow an open source principle with the Shruthi the eagle files are in a github repository :)
Exactly :)
Sorry for HiJacking this MiniMoog thread but this is worth picking up on.
Mutable did a range of filter boards for the Shruthi, all of which can process audio.
One of them included a Digital FX board including delays, comb filters, pitch shifters, loopers etc.
Really really interesting stuff, and all open source. It's interesting just to look at the schematics and Eagle files just as a learning exercise.
See here: http://mutable-instruments.net/shruthi1/build (http://mutable-instruments.net/shruthi1/build)
There is also a Sound On Sound review here: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep12/articles/shruthi-1.htm (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep12/articles/shruthi-1.htm)
If it reads like I am plugging Mutable, it's only because I think they are one of the best, and also most generous, synthesiser/music tech companies out there 8)
Hey another dumb question, what kind of controller do you need for this stuff? Also, if anyone needs a good synth shop, there is a guy in my town (rick @ cool little music shop in fredonia ny) who has tons of awesome synth stuff. When we get a new house I want to start getting some synth stuff together.... Is there a synths for dummies guide?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Quote from: playpunk on May 13, 2015, 12:05:31 PM
Hey another dumb question, what kind of controller do you need for this stuff?.... Is there a synths for dummies guide?
At the most basic level you need something that outputs Midi (be that a Midi keyboard, or a Midi output from your DAW) to play a synth that has no built in keyboard, but features Midi In (like the Moog clone featured, or the Shruthi).
You also need means to monitor the audio coming out of the synth (be that headphones, an amplifier, or an audio input on a soundcard etc).
A lot of Soundcards feature Midi In/Out ports, so you can effectively 'play' a synth via your DAW (digital audio workstation) midi tracks, and monitor the audio via your soundcard audio inputs.
Some synths (eg. the Arturia Microbrute) feature a built in keyboard and headphone amp, so they are really simple to setup and play:
(http://www.sweetwater.com/images/items/750/MicroBrute-large.jpg)
That's the basics, but you can pretty much go as deep as you want, and voltage control stuff can get really crazy. Look at Eurorack stuff for example ;D:
(http://createdigitalmusic.com/files/2014/08/cyrusrexmodularrig.jpg)
EDIT: Also note all the synths mentioned in this thread are MONOPHONIC.
This means you can only play one note at a time.
POLYPHONIC (multiple notes at one time) analogue synths are available, but they tend to be very expensive.
Digital Synths are quite often polyphonic, but they don't have that analogue 'mojo' that everyone craves :)
so if I wanted to get into synth stuff, I could get an all in one synth like the arturia, then eventually use that to control a modular synth setup if I wanted to?
Quote from: playpunk on May 13, 2015, 12:05:31 PM
Hey another dumb question, what kind of controller do you need for this stuff? Also, if anyone needs a good synth shop, there is a guy in my town (rick @ cool little music shop in fredonia ny) who has tons of awesome synth stuff. When we get a new house I want to start getting some synth stuff together.... Is there a synths for dummies guide?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
any basic midi controller will do.
Midi controllers are like anything else, you get what you pay for. You can find something really cheap that will work just fine for playing basic keyboard stuff
I use my midi controller for everything and it ties directly into my (Cubase) DAW.
http://www.nektartech.com/PRODUCTS/Panorama-P4-P6
I highly recommend these controllers to anyone who does a lot of recording/production/midi stuff.
Quote from: playpunk on May 13, 2015, 01:43:04 PM
so if I wanted to get into synth stuff, I could get an all in one synth like the arturia, then eventually use that to control a modular synth setup if I wanted to?
As a starter analogue synth I couldn't really think of a better option. It also has CV connections (Control Voltages as used to interface with Eurorack), so if you decide to expand to modular systems you would still have a use for it.
Quote from: raulduke on May 13, 2015, 01:54:52 PM
Quote from: playpunk on May 13, 2015, 01:43:04 PM
so if I wanted to get into synth stuff, I could get an all in one synth like the arturia, then eventually use that to control a modular synth setup if I wanted to?
As a starter analogue synth I couldn't really think of a better option. It also has CV connections (Control Voltages as used to interface with Eurorack), so if you decide to expand to modular systems you would still have a use for it.
and those mini/micro brutes are suppose to sound really nice. If Adrian Utley from Portishead uses one, you know they must be cool. 8)
Ok, so you can use a sweet MIDI controller like those to run both analog and soft synths, including reason and omnisphere and whatever else people use for big ridiculous pads?
Just want to make sure I actually understand this stuff before I start down the rabbit hole.
Quote from: playpunk on May 13, 2015, 02:03:35 PM
Ok, so you can use a sweet MIDI controller like those to run both analog and soft synths, including reason and omnisphere and whatever else people use for big ridiculous pads?
Just want to make sure I actually understand this stuff before I start down the rabbit hole.
Yes, this is correct. You will obviously need an audio interface that has a midi input or a separate midi interface to connect to the computer. ...but yes, midi controls midi hardware as well as software synths
Sorry raulduke, kept crossing responses with you
I agree with everything you said and I believe that the Brutes are the best option for the money. And at least they somewhat hold their value unlike midi controllers.
Quote from: peAk on May 13, 2015, 02:17:10 PM
Quote from: playpunk on May 13, 2015, 02:03:35 PM
Ok, so you can use a sweet MIDI controller like those to run both analog and soft synths, including reason and omnisphere and whatever else people use for big ridiculous pads?
Just want to make sure I actually understand this stuff before I start down the rabbit hole.
Yes, this is correct. You will obviously need an audio interface that has a midi input or a separate midi interface to connect to the computer. ...but yes, midi controls midi hardware as well as software synths
Awesome. MIDI is a mystery to me. I guess I could self educate on it... but I'm too busy badly playing guitar or sticking stuff together with solder to bother.
Midi can be as simple or as complex as you want/need
At it's simplest form, it's pretty much plug and play.
After these synths, more specifically the Crowminius, are built what is entailed to get them going and calibrated? Is having an Oscilloscope necessary in the setup?
I've had many synths over the years but haven't tried building one yet.
Thanks
Quote from: nimm on May 13, 2015, 03:43:19 PM
After these synths, more specifically the Crowminius, are built what is entailed to get them going and calibrated? Is having an Oscilloscope necessary in the setup?
I've had many synths over the years but haven't tried building one yet.
Thanks
this is something I would like to know as well and maybe raulduke, alan...maybe Brian could chime in on. I was able to find a free Oscilloscope software (vst) plugin that seems to work pretty well. I would like to know how different building a synth is than a pedal. Obviously there is a lot more components but other than that, what are some other concerns?
http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166 (http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166)
Looks like you need a frequency counter and a multimeter. I have a scope with a frequency measure function that I am going to use for the oscillator calibration.
Quote from: JakeFuzz on May 13, 2015, 07:46:58 PM
http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166 (http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166)
Looks like you need a frequency counter and a multimeter. I have a scope with a frequency measure function that I am going to use for the oscillator calibration.
Thanks Paul, just the kind of info I was looking for.
Please update this thread with anything else you find/realize/etc. and I will do the same. I will also be curious what enclosure you go with. I read through the Muff Wiggler pages and saw some of the ones people were thinking about.
Besides the Arturia mini or micro brute, the Korg MS-20 Mini is really rad. That was my first synth and I still find new sounds out of it all the time. They're relatively cheap considering how much they can do and how good they sound. It's fully analogue and monophonic.
Also in case you guys didn't see this thread. This is a mutable instruments pcb group buy thread that I believe is pertaining to the modular euromount stuff you were talking about:
https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=133725
Quote from: monkeyssj1 on May 13, 2015, 08:08:50 PM
Besides the Arturia mini or micro brute, the Korg MS-20 Mini is really rad. That was my first synth and I still find new sounds out of it all the time. They're relatively cheap considering how much they can do and how good they sound. It's fully analogue and monophonic.
Also in case you guys didn't see this thread. This is a mutable instruments pcb group buy thread that I believe is pertaining to the modular euromount stuff you were talking about:
https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=133725
Hey Daniel, I actually bought a MS-20 mini last year and absolutely love it. While not built anywhere near the quality of the original, it sounds every bit as good. The only problem is it doesn't have midi out so you couldn't use it as a midi controller. I have no idea why they wouldn't have implemented this but I guess they had to cut cost and the probably figured not too many people would be wanting to use it to control something else.
Besides this limitation, I do think it's the best commercial analog synth in that price range.
Quote from: peAk on May 13, 2015, 07:50:37 PM
Quote from: JakeFuzz on May 13, 2015, 07:46:58 PM
http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166 (http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166)
Looks like you need a frequency counter and a multimeter. I have a scope with a frequency measure function that I am going to use for the oscillator calibration.
Thanks Paul, just the kind of info I was looking for.
Please update this thread with anything else you find/realize/etc. and I will do the same. I will also be curious what enclosure you go with. I read through the Muff Wiggler pages and saw some of the ones people were thinking about.
Sure! This one is definitely going to take me a while to put together. So far I am thinking of a 17x10" aluminum chassis which will be raised and angled using maple slab side pieces. The back panel will be a thicker gauge aluminum or steel sheet which will hinge from the bottom to open. The face panel I may get laser engraved from BNP if they can do that size and if the price is right.
Quote from: peAk on May 13, 2015, 07:50:37 PM
Quote from: JakeFuzz on May 13, 2015, 07:46:58 PM
http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166 (http://search.retrosynth.com/ah/search/lookit.cgi?-v9901.2166)
Looks like you need a frequency counter and a multimeter. I have a scope with a frequency measure function that I am going to use for the oscillator calibration.
Thanks Paul, just the kind of info I was looking for.
Please update this thread with anything else you find/realize/etc. and I will do the same. I will also be curious what enclosure you go with. I read through the Muff Wiggler pages and saw some of the ones people were thinking about.
It's worth noting that you don't need a frequency counter to calibrate the Minimoog -- a tuner will do just fine. If you've got a strobe tuner, that'll probably make things as easy as possible. This one's really accurate, and it's $15: http://katsurashareware.com/strobe/strobe.html
You don't necessarily need a strobe tuner either, just one that you trust is relatively accurate.
If you don't hugely care about being note perfect, you don't even need that. I've only calibrated my stuff where I knew what voltage to calibrate to, anything involving "play note C and adjust oscillator for frequency F" I haven't bothered with.
Paul i'm somewhat interested in your enclosure as well :). Please let me know updates/if you plan on being down to do some for others (enclosure/faceplace or even just faceplate.)
Thanks guys about the calibration information after it's built. I think I may have to wet my feet with one of the Mutable Instruments Ambika's or Shruthi's before tackling this. I wouldn't have know about those synths without seeing this thread. I know MI doesn't make those anymore but a couple places do sell the boards.
Cool stuff
What I am curious about is once this thing is finished and calibrated, how stable are the oscillators.
Quote from: nimm on May 14, 2015, 02:48:48 PM
Thanks guys about the calibration information after it's built. I think I may have to wet my feet with one of the Mutable Instruments Ambika's or Shruthi's before tackling this. I wouldn't have know about those synths without seeing this thread. I know MI doesn't make those anymore but a couple places do sell the boards.
Cool stuff
Nimm could you post your findings for shruthi boards?? I would love one of those fellas sometime in the future.
Quote from: monkeyssj1 on May 14, 2015, 03:12:43 PM
Quote from: nimm on May 14, 2015, 02:48:48 PM
Thanks guys about the calibration information after it's built. I think I may have to wet my feet with one of the Mutable Instruments Ambika's or Shruthi's before tackling this. I wouldn't have know about those synths without seeing this thread. I know MI doesn't make those anymore but a couple places do sell the boards.
Cool stuff
Nimm could you post your findings for shruthi boards?? I would love one of those fellas sometime in the future.
I apologize if this is detracting too much from the original Minimoog topic but here are the requested links.
MI still has a Shruthi kit: http://shop.mutable-instruments.net/products/shruthi-1-kit
This site has boards for both synths (US supplier): http://www.laurentidesynthworks.net/
Quote from: monkeyssj1 on May 14, 2015, 11:03:07 AM
Paul i'm somewhat interested in your enclosure as well :). Please let me know updates/if you plan on being down to do some for others (enclosure/faceplace or even just faceplate.)
Ill maybe start a new thread in misc. diy when I get this thing going. I am not sure how economical it would be to source out the enclosure. I am literally just buying a Hammond box and drilling holes in it. The faceplate I am just drawing up in inkscape and sending to a laser engraving company who does the engraving and punching.
Quote from: JakeFuzz on May 14, 2015, 06:07:35 PM
Quote from: monkeyssj1 on May 14, 2015, 11:03:07 AM
Paul i'm somewhat interested in your enclosure as well :). Please let me know updates/if you plan on being down to do some for others (enclosure/faceplace or even just faceplate.)
Ill maybe start a new thread in misc. diy when I get this thing going. I am not sure how economical it would be to source out the enclosure. I am literally just buying a Hammond box and drilling holes in it. The faceplate I am just drawing up in inkscape and sending to a laser engraving company who does the engraving and punching.
Might be interested in that faceplate as well. Keep us posted.
Quote from: lincolnic on May 15, 2015, 04:01:35 AM
Quote from: JakeFuzz on May 14, 2015, 06:07:35 PM
Quote from: monkeyssj1 on May 14, 2015, 11:03:07 AM
Paul i'm somewhat interested in your enclosure as well :). Please let me know updates/if you plan on being down to do some for others (enclosure/faceplace or even just faceplate.)
Ill maybe start a new thread in misc. diy when I get this thing going. I am not sure how economical it would be to source out the enclosure. I am literally just buying a Hammond box and drilling holes in it. The faceplate I am just drawing up in inkscape and sending to a laser engraving company who does the engraving and punching.
Might be interested in that faceplate as well. Keep us posted.
+1
Quote from: nimm on May 14, 2015, 04:21:26 PM
Quote from: monkeyssj1 on May 14, 2015, 03:12:43 PM
Quote from: nimm on May 14, 2015, 02:48:48 PM
Thanks guys about the calibration information after it's built. I think I may have to wet my feet with one of the Mutable Instruments Ambika's or Shruthi's before tackling this. I wouldn't have know about those synths without seeing this thread. I know MI doesn't make those anymore but a couple places do sell the boards.
Cool stuff
Nimm could you post your findings for shruthi boards?? I would love one of those fellas sometime in the future.
I apologize if this is detracting too much from the original Minimoog topic but here are the requested links.
MI still has a Shruthi kit: http://shop.mutable-instruments.net/products/shruthi-1-kit
This site has boards for both synths (US supplier): http://www.laurentidesynthworks.net/
Thank you Nimm. That bottom site is a gem!