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Open Discussion / Re: Anyone build a Maestro Ring Mod?

« on: August 26, 2021, 11:41:34 AM »

PS @ matmosphere if I'm not mistaken, the Maestro Ring Mod and other circuits of that period are Tom Oberheim designs but the later wave of Maestro stuff ('silver wedge box with large control wheels' era) were Moog designs. -- could be wrong?
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Open Discussion / Re: Anyone build a Maestro Ring Mod?

« on: August 26, 2021, 11:39:53 AM »

I'll see if I still have a schem for the power supply. If not, I'll post pics of my ring mod guts with values. My friend really thought it would be best with an internal transformer but mains power is dangerous stuff that I would not try myself and feel that an AC wall wart would have been fine going into this.
I'm trying to remember what stood out as pretty odd in this project (Toppopiccione, who had a cool DIY site that I think since went offline, was the originator of this GGG project IIRC.) It starts out as a regulated bipolar PSU like in synths, so it spits out a fairly conventional +/- 12V (IIRC) but then there are additional taps out for a less commonly seen psu voltage that goes elsewhere in the circuit maybe +/-10V? Sorry it has been so long since I worked on this I can barely remember and can't guarantee my accuracy here. Also can't guarantee I still have files! will dig up whatever I can, this is really a cool sounding machine that plumbs back to the origins and basic building blocks of synthesis and Tom Oberheim circuit designs. It's stayed obscure in DIY becuase of the learning curve but deserves more airtime IMO. 
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Open Discussion / Re: Anyone build a Maestro Ring Mod?

« on: January 18, 2021, 12:52:20 PM »

The GGG one was one of my first builds (15-ish years ago) and it was very complicated, had help from an older friend with DIY knowledge, but it entailed assembling my own power supply on perf and lots of trouble shooting. At the time you could buy the PCB's from them I think. But, it has been really musically useful for me over many years. It sounds amazing, really very musical. It is the only version of the project that I'm aware of. I built it as kind of a desktop / keyboard-top module rather than as a switched pedal.
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Open Discussion / Re: Anyone hit with the virus out there?

« on: December 09, 2020, 11:35:57 AM »

Glad to hear you're all well Gordo!
What a relief.

This coming Friday I have my first Pulmonary Function Test. Depending on the outcome of the first one, I might have to do something called a "methacoline challenge" that involves testing while asthma attack is somehow induced. On the horizon, a friend who teaches medical informatics at the state medical school, may refer me to one of their research studies on "post-acute covid syndrome". I am happy to donate my time or blood sample to becoming a data point in research, if it will help further the science about "covid long haulers."

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Build Reports / Re: Lovetone Brown Source 1:1 clone

« on: December 02, 2020, 11:14:30 AM »

I play this into a solid state Polytone Taurus amp with only clean channels and it sounds awesome! More "textural" than my Red Llama for lack of a better way to describe it. If I can pull the time together I'll try and post some samples but I'm reluctant to make forum members suffer through my guitar "playing" though
- Strategy

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Build Reports / Re: Lovetone Brown Source 1:1 clone

« on: December 01, 2020, 08:19:45 PM »

Not done the 220nF swap yet, Thursday looks like soonest "soldering nite"

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Build Reports / Re: Lovetone Brown Source 1:1 clone

« on: November 29, 2020, 01:46:19 PM »

Gotta plug this one as I just built it from Lacensensor's trace, and it is really a keeper...First of all it sounds very different than the earlier Brown Source version that floated around DIYSB and FSB ~10 or so years ago. I built that back then and did not like it. The Brown Source has some trash talked about it online in the endless overdrive wars, but I don't see why, really -- it's just as deeply musical and responsive as any of the other Lovetones. I don't use overdrive a lot, and lean towards projects in the Red Llama family when I do, but this provides a totally different flavor.
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Open Discussion / Re: Anyone hit with the virus out there?

« on: November 24, 2020, 08:03:10 PM »

Re: Madbean's post, I think this will be bubbling up as a major public health issue that may affect a generation of people, the way post-polio syndrome has / had.

I read an article in Wall Street Journal this morning covering post-acute covid syndrome and there was one in the New Yorker a couple of weeks ago. This is where I'm at - inflammatory response that has never gone away long after I cleared the virus. For me it comes in the form of new asthma and constant chest pain, shortness of breath. I consider myself one of the lucky ones, the WSJ article describes people with chronic GI dysfunction, chronic fatigue, and more severe memory problems, etc.

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Open Discussion / Re: Anyone hit with the virus out there?

« on: November 23, 2020, 09:57:02 AM »

Gordo hang in there - lay low and keep track of your breathing and stay in touch with your doctor as frequently as practical.
I was sick in March but couldn't get tested. I probably caught it pre lockdown which came about a week before I got sick. Back in my 20s I had both pneumonia and influenza, and what I experienced this year was like neither, and not like a cold; more like chemical inhalation injury with feverish symptoms and severe exhaustion. There were no tests in my area at the time. I was in peak condition before I was sick, while I was sick I lost 20 lbs during it and now have lingering severe respiratory issues and have had to stop doing sports. (I'm 44) My life is changed. I have a comprehensive pulmonary function test in December. I have been cleared for heart damage supposedly which is great news so I consider myself lucky. My insurance through work is low quality and I have $1000's in medical bills
If anyone reading this was wondering if it's "real" or think it can't happen to you...guess again
Sorry if this is a downer it's just been a real year.
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General Questions / Re: Running Eurorack circuits from 9v pedal supply?

« on: October 08, 2020, 10:36:22 PM »

I've messed with translating modular synth circuits to a pedal format. There are a couple of very small (relatively) bipolar supplies. Synthcube sells the Music From Outer Space Wall Wart PSU, I've used it for this. An issue is that synth circuits expect higher than line level signals so you must amplify going in and attenuate coming out.
Note, the Wasp VCF (many versions) can be powered from +9v and sounds GREAT as a pedal. Very easy build, super musical, using all standard parts.
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General Questions / Re: Pepper Spray debug

« on: October 03, 2020, 10:17:47 PM »

OK! Need to order some tantalum's in the correct values and swap parts out, will circle back after I get the build updated
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General Questions / Re: Pepper Spray debug

« on: October 02, 2020, 03:44:57 PM »

Update: swapping in my spare 2n404a and 2n3565 give slightly better results but low volume issue persists.
thanks!
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General Questions / Pepper Spray debug

« on: October 02, 2020, 01:00:58 PM »

Sorry if this isn't the right subforum! And, I did some searching before posting.
Built a "stock" Pepper Spray, older single-sided etched board version, with a couple variations
- Electrolytics instead of tantalums
- .56u in place of the .50u capacitor (I think..don't have it all in front of me)

The 2n3565 is the gold legs type, Small Bear, 2n404a is the metal can type, Small Bear.

I get action here but it's super quiet. Harm, Bal, and switch work as they should but noise floor is high and I have to crank my amp to hear it. Sounds cool, like I'm in a Touch n' Go label band from the late 90s. But way too quiet.

- I do not have a way to measure hfe on my transistors; I've built some fuzzes but nothing requiring that level of science.
- I have spares of each transistor, I guess I should try swapping them out.
- I cannot figure out the pinout of the 2n3565. Flat side and pins do not correspond in an obvious way. I've tried putting it in two different ways with no differences in performance.

Percolator experts, what obvious issues should I look at / what noob type mistake have I made / etc.?
While folks answer this I guess I'll go back in my garage at some point today and swap out the transistors and see what happens.

So grateful for your all's help.
Kindly,
STRATEGY

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Tech Help - Projects Page / Re: Aquaboy v2: Feedback control range / pot behavior

« on: July 13, 2020, 02:54:12 PM »

OK, I'll check it out. Also, I'm going to go back and see what potentiometer I used for Feedback. The sweep behavior strongly indicates Audio where a Linear curve really wants to be there. It's like...nothing nothing nothing FEEDBACK! Linear would make a ton more sense...I don't recall what I used; it could be this simple.
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Tech Help - Projects Page / Re: Aquaboy v2: Feedback control range / pot behavior

« on: July 13, 2020, 11:26:30 AM »

Hi, actually this is not Aquaboy Deluxe, it's from before that: plain Aquaboy, second version. Someone produced a 2x BBD kludge board that I added. I can't find the docs online anymore...I'll try and post a link here but will have to dig them off an old hard drive
Aquaboy Deluxe was the followup to this, I think its design evolved specifically from the double delay and LFO add-on's people had done with the vanilla v2 version.
Paging Mr Madbean?
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