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msy2
Joined: May 21, 2007 Posts: 42 Location: united states
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:29 am Post subject:
daydream: surface mount synths - quality / sound difference? |
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In theory, should designs built entirely with "normal" (through-hole?) parts sound any different from one mass-produced by a machine with mainly surface mount parts?
I have often day-dreamed about making surface mount boards with several of different vco, filter, etc. designs laid out. Some rare parts would have to be added manually later.
Would such a thing be possible if a person had the money to finance it? It would be interesting to see what the cost would be (as long as the quality was there). It would probably take several years to sell all the boards and break even financially (if ever!) but still an interesting idea.
I do not know much about having such boards made but my understanding is that it is quite cheap once done on a bigger scale. I envision a board with three to five vco's (with permission from various designers of course, several filters, etc. - the buyer of the board would then complete (with any needed rarer through-hole parts as needed).
Can anyone put my daydreaming to rest?
Would the surface mount mass-produced boards not sound as good?
Exactly how much do you think such a thing would cost? |
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amos_joseph
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Lincoln, NE
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:32 am Post subject:
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Dave Smith's analog synths all use surface mount components, so I think it's definitely possible. |
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goldenechos
Joined: Jun 06, 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Marshall, NC
Audio files: 1
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:23 am Post subject:
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The Moog Little Phatty is surface mount. It sound freaking awesome.
Surface mount can affect stability in some circuits, due to spacing and actual physical mass. For example, it is easier to change the temperature of a smd transistor, and this can affect tuning stability. Closer spacing of component leads/ legs and traces makes stray cap. and cross talk more possible.
There are of course ways to make it work, and DSI and Mogg are doing it right. Closer spacing of component leads/ legs and traces makes stray cap.
Tony |
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yusynth
Joined: Nov 24, 2005 Posts: 1314 Location: France
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:29 am Post subject:
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Paul Maddox has a synth DIY project of his own called the defender, that uses SMD parts mainly.
Check it here : http://www.vacoloco.net/synths/defender/ and here is a photo of the board and one can see the moog ladder (to the left of the big yellow cap):
_________________ Yves |
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Nosferatu
Joined: Jul 27, 2007 Posts: 234 Location: Planet Rock.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:57 am Post subject:
Re: daydream: surface mount synths - quality / sound differe |
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Quote: | Would such a thing be possible if a person had the money to finance it? |
Its cheaper to manufacture a SMT then TH board.
Quote: | Can anyone put my daydreaming to rest?
Would the surface mount mass-produced boards not sound as good? |
Its up to the designer really. You can make bad sounding designs with TH as well as with SMT, however if you look at the technical side of things
for example SMT often provides better tech specs then similar designed
TH in many areas, some components are not available as SMT due to
size or technology, such as Polypropylene capacitors and certain high
quality metal film resistors.
Quote: |
Exactly how much do you think such a thing would cost? |
Impossible to answer you have to make a design then send that to a PCB
assembler to get a quote.
Btw, Paul's defender, he once complained that it was to expensive to manufacture!!
Quote: |
can affect tuning stability. Closer spacing of component leads/ legs and traces makes stray cap. and cross talk more possible. |
That applies to RF mostly hardly an problem at AF range.
Crosstalk are more an effect of bad impedance matching on ground
planes and such. Last edited by Nosferatu on Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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etaoin
Joined: Jun 30, 2005 Posts: 761 Location: Utrecht, NL
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:51 am Post subject:
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amos_joseph wrote: | Dave Smith's analog synths all use surface mount components, so I think it's definitely possible. |
MOTM has also completely switched to SMT for new designs.
Quote: | Synthesis Technology is currently selling, through Analogue Haven, a series of SMT modules in Frac rack format. Due to the success of the technology (thanks Shawn!) and the ease of manufacture, all future MOTM modules will be SMT only, and not sold as kits. |
_________________ http://www.casia.org/modular/ |
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