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Scott Stites
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Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:
Thomas Henry Strikes Again Subject description: Another very cool VCO by the Man from Mankato |
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From way up north, Mankato way, land of a thousand lakes and even more synth designs, comes a new VCO design from Thomas Henry. Grab your spare 3080 and put it in a safe place.....
Thomas calls it a workhorse VCO - Expo FM, Lin FM, triangle, PWM and one hell of a pure sine wave. On top of that, in typical Thomas Henry fashion, it is an elegantly simple design - I was amazed at how quickly I breadboarded it. But, don't let the simplicity fool you - this thing has got an *amazingly* accurate 9 octave range and it plays beautifully. I love this little VCO already. Page to come, schematics, PCB layout, the works.
Here's a quick sample of it - no big musical event, just the VCO piped through the Mankato filter I've had on breadboard since the summer of 2004. I modulate it here and there with an LFO, and the PW is modulated by another LFO (the wave heard is the PWM wave). And, of course, I use my patented Too Much Reverb(R) effect. Of course, it's the Thomas Henry keyboard controlling it.
Remember, this is with no tempco with a patch held together with alligator clips. I spent about three minutes tuning the VCO (it tuned easier than any VCO I've ever dealt with, don't know why - of course, I haven't tuned it to the gnat's ass yet - I'm having too much fun ).
Coming soon to an Internet Near You.
Scott
Description: |
New Thomas Henry VCO through ancient breadboarded Mankato Filter |
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Download |
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th_VCO_mankato.mp3 |
Filesize: |
1.22 MB |
Downloaded: |
2258 Time(s) |
Last edited by Scott Stites on Wed May 23, 2007 8:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Adam-V
Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 300 Location: Australia
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 8:16 pm Post subject:
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Sounds pretty sweet!
Any idea when the details will be available?
Cheers,
Adam-V. |
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Scott Stites
Janitor
Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject:
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As soon as I can get the info organized and up on the web page - I'm hoping in a week or two.
Cheers,
Scott |
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The Alison Project
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 Posts: 187 Location: Canada
Audio files: 2
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject:
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can't wait, always welcome more mr. henry designs. |
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Adam-V
Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 300 Location: Australia
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject:
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Scott Stites wrote: | As soon as I can get the info organized and up on the web page - I'm hoping in a week or two.
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Awesome stuff Scott.
Adam-V. |
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goodrevdoc
Joined: Sep 11, 2006 Posts: 288 Location: Philadelphia, PA
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject:
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That VCO & the Mankato make one dandy of a pair
-justin |
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v-un-v
Janitor
Joined: May 16, 2005 Posts: 8933 Location: Birmingham, England, UK
Audio files: 11
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 2:14 am Post subject:
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It sounds very sweet
I've got 18 spare CA3080's upstairs- hooray! _________________ ACHTUNG!
ALLES TURISTEN UND NONTEKNISCHEN LOOKENPEEPERS!
DAS KOMPUTERMASCHINE IST NICHT FÜR DER GEFINGERPOKEN UND MITTENGRABEN! ODERWISE IST EASY TO SCHNAPPEN DER SPRINGENWERK, BLOWENFUSEN UND POPPENCORKEN MIT SPITZENSPARKSEN.
IST NICHT FÜR GEWERKEN BEI DUMMKOPFEN. DER RUBBERNECKEN SIGHTSEEREN KEEPEN DAS COTTONPICKEN HÄNDER IN DAS POCKETS MUSS.
ZO RELAXEN UND WATSCHEN DER BLINKENLICHTEN. |
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janvanvolt
Joined: Nov 24, 2005 Posts: 285 Location: Mainz, Germany
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 3:47 am Post subject:
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Same here, i lock my 3080's
I can't await the PCB of the VCO and the Mankato. Count me in for both -definitely- |
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Photon
Joined: Mar 22, 2005 Posts: 363 Location: Boston
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 5:47 am Post subject:
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Great News!
I've got a generous mittenful of 3080's stashed somewhere.
The amount of projects this forum has been generating lately is almost stressing me out!
The Man from M.A.N.K.A.T.O.... awesome. cue the John Barry theme music. |
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WWBJD
Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Dallas, TX
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 8:36 am Post subject:
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"Of course, it's the Thomas Henry keyboard controlling it. "
?
I've been looking to build a keyboard.. is the design of this available somewhere? |
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23isgood
Joined: Nov 18, 2006 Posts: 236 Location: San Francisco, CA bay area
Audio files: 13
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:51 am Post subject:
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Hi Scott. Let me tell ya, that sample you put up sounds absolutely beautiful! I gotta build this new VCO and the Mankato filter. I have a decent stash of 3080's, about 30 of them! Its time to use some.
pete _________________ Check out my music |
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Photon
Joined: Mar 22, 2005 Posts: 363 Location: Boston
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:52 am Post subject:
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WWBJD wrote: |
I've been looking to build a keyboard.. is the design of this available somewhere? |
This design originally appeared in TH's book, "Build a Better music synthesizer". There is an active thread about it here:
http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-17815.html |
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Scott Stites
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Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:48 am Post subject:
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"A Mittenful of Secrets"
I feel your pain about the number of projects, but it's only going to get worse
There's even more than this VCO coming.......
Cheers,
Scott |
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v-un-v
Janitor
Joined: May 16, 2005 Posts: 8933 Location: Birmingham, England, UK
Audio files: 11
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject:
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Scott Stites wrote: |
I feel your pain about the number of projects, but it's only going to get worse
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_________________ ACHTUNG!
ALLES TURISTEN UND NONTEKNISCHEN LOOKENPEEPERS!
DAS KOMPUTERMASCHINE IST NICHT FÜR DER GEFINGERPOKEN UND MITTENGRABEN! ODERWISE IST EASY TO SCHNAPPEN DER SPRINGENWERK, BLOWENFUSEN UND POPPENCORKEN MIT SPITZENSPARKSEN.
IST NICHT FÜR GEWERKEN BEI DUMMKOPFEN. DER RUBBERNECKEN SIGHTSEEREN KEEPEN DAS COTTONPICKEN HÄNDER IN DAS POCKETS MUSS.
ZO RELAXEN UND WATSCHEN DER BLINKENLICHTEN. |
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State Machine
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Joined: Apr 17, 2006 Posts: 2809 Location: New York
Audio files: 24
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject:
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Bravo !!!! Wow, very nice sample. I am impressed!
Thanks Scott !!
Bill |
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State Machine
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Joined: Apr 17, 2006 Posts: 2809 Location: New York
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject:
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Quote: | There's even more than this VCO coming....... |
YES ............. AND ..... I will also have a announcement to make VERY soon about another release ... NO, not the UD-1, you guys know about that already. So stayed informed and check the forum often !!!
Bill |
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Scott Stites
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Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject:
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I get this feeling that I'm the unlucky copy of myself that got stuck in the parallel universe that never had the Henry synthesizer sitting next to the Moog in Tomita's studio. Or maybe I'm the lucky one - I can afford this synth
I'm thinking the web page will be very soon. Thomas sent such a wonderful narrative, I don't think I should alter a word of it - I'll probably concentrate on formatting it for the page and let you all read it as it should be read - I just got done reading it myself, and walked away with a much clearer understanding of expo converters and transistor based Schmitt triggers than I ever had before.
Quote: | YES ............. AND ..... I will also have a announcement to make VERY soon about another release ... NO, not the UD-1, you guys know about that already. So stayed informed and check the forum often !!! |
It's OK, Photon, I got this one..."Oh, the pain, the pain....."
Indeed exciting news, Bill! In the meantime, I'm off to check what this UD-1 business is all about.
Cheers,
Scott |
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richardc64
Joined: Jun 01, 2006 Posts: 679 Location: NYC
Audio files: 26
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:04 am Post subject:
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I know about equal tempered and just intonation, volts/octave and octave/volt, but I'm unfamiliar with "gnat's ass" tuning. |
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Coriolis
Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 616 Location: Stilling, Denmark
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 11:38 am Post subject:
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Quote: | There's even more than this VCO coming....... |
Quote: | YES ............. AND ..... I will also have a announcement to make VERY soon about another release ... |
Quote: | In the meantime, I'm off to check what this UD-1 business is all about. |
Argh...can't...keep...up...(rattle)
C |
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Scott Stites
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Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject:
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I'm hoping to have a usable page up by the end of Monday, just to keep you all on your toes
Quote: | I'm unfamiliar with "gnat's ass" tuning. |
It has been proven that the frequencies produced by the flatulence of the common midge (often referred to as a gnat) at sea level closely follows the mixolydian scale, in very, very high C. This is opposed to the stepped range generated from the expulsion of methane by the common fruit fly, which is generally pentatonic, though there is considerable variation among species. However, it is the midge that is consistently mixolydian across all species. Thus, the reference to "gnat's ass tuning".
This is also explains the common term "I'm gassier'n a mixolydian fungus gnat", made famous by John Wayne in the 1962 Paramount Pictures release "Chitin and Git'in". |
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kokoon
Joined: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 158 Location: slovenia
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:
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Scott Stites wrote: |
It has been proven that the frequencies produced by the flatulence of the common midge (often referred to as a gnat) at sea level closely follows the mixolydian scale, in very, very high C. This is opposed to the stepped range generated from the expulsion of methane by the common fruit fly, which is generally pentatonic, though there is considerable variation among species. However, it is the midge that is consistently mixolydian across all species. Thus, the reference to "gnat's ass tuning".
This is also explains the common term "I'm gassier'n a mixolydian fungus gnat", made famous by John Wayne in the 1962 Paramount Pictures release "Chitin and Git'in". |
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v-un-v
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Joined: May 16, 2005 Posts: 8933 Location: Birmingham, England, UK
Audio files: 11
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject:
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kokoon wrote: | Scott Stites wrote: |
It has been proven that the frequencies produced by the flatulence of the common midge (often referred to as a gnat) at sea level closely follows the mixolydian scale, in very, very high C. This is opposed to the stepped range generated from the expulsion of methane by the common fruit fly, which is generally pentatonic, though there is considerable variation among species. However, it is the midge that is consistently mixolydian across all species. Thus, the reference to "gnat's ass tuning".
This is also explains the common term "I'm gassier'n a mixolydian fungus gnat", made famous by John Wayne in the 1962 Paramount Pictures release "Chitin and Git'in". |
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_________________ ACHTUNG!
ALLES TURISTEN UND NONTEKNISCHEN LOOKENPEEPERS!
DAS KOMPUTERMASCHINE IST NICHT FÜR DER GEFINGERPOKEN UND MITTENGRABEN! ODERWISE IST EASY TO SCHNAPPEN DER SPRINGENWERK, BLOWENFUSEN UND POPPENCORKEN MIT SPITZENSPARKSEN.
IST NICHT FÜR GEWERKEN BEI DUMMKOPFEN. DER RUBBERNECKEN SIGHTSEEREN KEEPEN DAS COTTONPICKEN HÄNDER IN DAS POCKETS MUSS.
ZO RELAXEN UND WATSCHEN DER BLINKENLICHTEN. |
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v-un-v
Janitor
Joined: May 16, 2005 Posts: 8933 Location: Birmingham, England, UK
Audio files: 11
G2 patch files: 1
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject:
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_________________ ACHTUNG!
ALLES TURISTEN UND NONTEKNISCHEN LOOKENPEEPERS!
DAS KOMPUTERMASCHINE IST NICHT FÜR DER GEFINGERPOKEN UND MITTENGRABEN! ODERWISE IST EASY TO SCHNAPPEN DER SPRINGENWERK, BLOWENFUSEN UND POPPENCORKEN MIT SPITZENSPARKSEN.
IST NICHT FÜR GEWERKEN BEI DUMMKOPFEN. DER RUBBERNECKEN SIGHTSEEREN KEEPEN DAS COTTONPICKEN HÄNDER IN DAS POCKETS MUSS.
ZO RELAXEN UND WATSCHEN DER BLINKENLICHTEN. |
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Scott Stites
Janitor
Joined: Dec 23, 2005 Posts: 4127 Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject:
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BTW, "I'm gassier than a mixolydian fungus gnat" is a great pick-up line in Kansas."
Actually I was waiting on a slow SW load, and the mind began to wander a bit...
Speaking of slow SW load, VCO-1 page is done....topic coming up.
Cheerio,
Scott |
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blue hell
Site Admin
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 24079 Location: The Netherlands, Enschede
Audio files: 278
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject:
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I also liked the definition from the urban dictionary, which states that a gnat's ass is about one tenth of a skosh (which is equal to approximately one nudge of the dial, amounting to something much less than a pussy hair).
see _________________ Jan
also .. could someone please turn down the thermostat a bit.
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