HighlyLiquid MD24 midi to trig converter.

This little circuit delivers 5V impulses flawlessly, on tempo, each output can be assigned to a note on any given midi channel (many other types of configurations can also be set). Built this in a couple of hours, I ''sacrificed'' a useless and flawed M-Audio Quattro audio interface for it's housing (I also recycled some of it's internal components for this project)... 8X 1/4 inch and 6X banana jacks outputs will secure my needs for a while. I'll be adding an on/off switch later on. I can now sync my SH-101's arpegiator (bye bye TR-626), the Drone Lab's tremolo is also in line with the rest of the setup, have some use for the MFOS Ultimate and my Bass++ drum synth (still on the rocks, I'm kicking myself for this).

Piece of cake.

I got a bit frustrated with my bass++/Sound Lab project and put it aside until I get the courage to get into it again. The Sound Lab portion isn't completed yet and I'm still figuring out what's wrong with the Bass++, when the unit is powered up all the leds light up and the modules emit constant sounds, smells like I've inverted a component or something but at first glance everything seems to be at the right place... I'm sure it's an easy fix and I'll attend to it soon enough. 

Since I needed to cool off a bit I decided to go for an easy project, something that could be wrapped up in no time. I ordered a Drone Lab Kit (ver 2.1) from Gasper Electronics (I was felling lazy and didn't feel like sourcing parts and all so I went for the kit). What caught my interest is the fact that this project doesn't require wiring at all, all components are soldered directly on the PCB. Sure enough the little drone got beeping in no time (7-8 hours of work approx) and it's actually usable, It does make some interesting ''sequences'', drones and noises, has 4 oscilators and features an audio input so you can process anything thru it's filter and distortion section.  You can sync it's clock to external devices or vise versa (has a trig in, out and thru). This section is a bit fiddly thought and doesn't accept all types of trig signals I actually had to feed it with my SH-101s gate out to sync it ''properly'', my CR-5000s trig didn't seem to have any effect on the Drone Lab. I'll hook it up to the soon to be completed Highly Liquid midi to trig converter and see how it reacts.

Right now it's powered by battery but once I finish my studio setup I'll connect it to an external power source, it does have a 9V input connector in the back.

 

Halfway thru...

Still a long way to go (considering the lack of free time I have these days) but I thought you'd like this pic I took of the project this morning. I'm thinking of giving it a name for fun but first, I'll wait and see how it ''behaves'' when it'll be juiced up. All the Bass++ modules are wired to the board, but need to be tested (this week), then I'll work on the MiniSynth...

This build is turning out ok but frankly I should have made this into a modular rack format. As it is, I'm putting more energy and wasting time working on enclosures than the electronics themselves.

More shots

I know... I labeled the trigs as gates on the DRM Voice, when I realised this I tried to kick myself. Ah well, it's to late to change anything after four coats of clear... I take little comfort in thinking that trigs and gates are closely related.

Analog WorkStation?

I'm waisting time these days on finalising an enclosure to house this Thomas Henry Drum Voice Synth or Quad Bass++ or whatever it's called and a Sound Lab Mini Synth. For the layout, I'm using Avery Clear See through Labels (prod no 15665 for laser printers). It's not as clear as I thought, frosted like, but the enclosure's color is on the light side so it doesn't show much. I'm spraying a protective clear coat over everything since the ink doesn't really stay put on the labels. One important advise if you plan to use these labels for your projects, these labels will stick silly if applied on anything else than a powder coated surface, be warned, if you have the slightest offset an need to realign this label you'll end up with a mess... I know trust me.

Say cheese!

Old computers make handy support stands when spray painting.

Stay posted...

MPS, Quad Bass++ and Doepfer DIY...

Compulsive as I am I couldn't resist ordering the Doepfer DIY Synth board and picked it up today... Then it hit me, I'll need around 84 pots and 44 input/output jacks (plus knobs and components) to complete these projects (I'll order from Futurlec to cut on costs). Got the layout pretty much nailed for the Quad, I'll probably fit this thing in a Hammond 1456PH1 enclosure or go modular. For the Doepfer and MPS, I won't takkle these projects until end of fall.

Thomas Henry's Quad Bass++

New build I'm working on. Bought the board from sMs Audio Electronics, nice of them to offer this pcb but it's tight, to tight in fact...

Still need to figure out what type of enclosure or faceplate format I'll be using. With this addition to my setup I'll need to get the Highly Liquid midi to Trig kit. It'll give me some headroom for other additions (MPS?). Can't wait to put the Octapad back in service.

A+

Space 1999.

Got a new addition to the rooster and at a bargain, a Roland CR-5000. I was on the lookout for a CR-8000 but a $50.00 CR-5000 crossed my way instead.

I'd like to get this box clocked externally somehow, didn't find anything on such a mod, learned its internal clock can't be bypassed. It took me about 30 minutes to add an external trigger to Doctor Galactik's Korg KR55! Thought it would've been as easy with the CR. If you have any idea or a way to do this mod please drop me a note.

 The design on the 5000/8000 Compurythms reminds me of the Space 1999 series, with the beige, brown, orange etc.... See pics below. You gotta admit the color palette is pretty much identical. The CR would be right at home next to Colonel John Koenig's console.

                   Hey man, what's the CRASH button for?

                           Wanted: Trig in solution.     

Ultimate/Expander pics

The MFOS Ultimate's Expander was completed a while ago but I never got around to post some pics of the finished goods, so here you go... I didn't get a second Ultimate, just built a new enclosure to house both projects since they seem to get along so well (I'm saving the old case for something else)... Did I mention this synth sounds fantastic? And it's a fairly easy build. Thanks Ray for making the kit available.

 For more info on the Ultimate, Expander and other MFOS projects visit: http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/

STremklad

A smoke free Expander...

Looks like I didn't fry anything, that's a good start. But I wasn't able to get much out of the unit, probably due to the fact that I still don't fully understand how the thing works in conjonction with the Ultimate... I also need more patchcords...
 

Last wire soldered.

Tonight I kicked myself in the butt and finished the mods and wiring of the Expander. I need a good night sleep and just in case something goes wrong I won't juice it up until tomorrow...Otherwise I'll be up all night.

Fingers crossed.