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 Forum index » DIY Hardware and Software
pearl syncussion, DIY?
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stijn



Joined: Jul 21, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: utrecht, netherlands

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:59 am    Post subject: pearl syncussion, DIY?
Subject description: if we're cloning all these great drum synths, why not this one!
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lately there is a lot of diy drum synth projects here, great!
but still one of the legends is missing.......
THE PEARL SYNCUSSION

so is there anybody who has the schematics?, who wants to design a board?, do a production run?, want's a pcb????



Released in 1979 by respected drum and percussion manufacturers, Pearl, the SY1 Syncussion was the forerunner to the Simmons SDSV.

It offered two completely independent (and identical) channels which were typically triggered from two bongo-like drums fitted with transducers. However, they can be triggered from almost anything including an old synth with a gate output or, indeed, the trigger outputs of something like a TR808.

It was most commonly seen, however, as an adjunct to drum kits or percussion rigs as a source of electronic drum and percussion sounds and sound effects.

Unfortunately, the SY1 earned itself a fairly dreadul reputation almost overnight when it featured on disco tracks with tasteless and gimmicky 'beeyooo beeyooo' sounds and of course, as soon as one of these records became a hit, so an endless stream of other, similarly tacky records followed.

Which is a shame really because it's actually quite a capable percussion synth.

Each channel has an oscillator that can produce different basic waveforms which can be shaped with its own simple enevleope generator. Oscillator pitch can be swept with the SWEEP control either positively (i.e. start high and drop in pitch - the source of the dreaded 'beeyoo' sound!) or negatively (the pitch rises through the sweep). However, each channel also has an LFO with variable speed and depth and a choice of square and sawtooth waveforms. There's also a noise generator and a sample/hold function and so, with some adventurous programming, a very wide range of sounds is possible.

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mono-poly



Joined: Jul 07, 2004
Posts: 937
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I think it does uses a rare SSM (vco?) chip.
And why bother when the sds3 clone is almost done?

Smile
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Rykhaard



Joined: Sep 02, 2007
Posts: 1290
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

In the early 80's, the biggest (in the 80's) electronic rock band that Winnipeg, Manitoba ever had's drummer had a set of these. I've never heard any other percussion (analog) unit make the sounds that these could! Shocked I was in love with the thing but still haven't ever found one. Sad

Would LOVE to build a clone of it! In addition to all of the other analog drum gear that I'll soon be building. Wink

(Analog version of Keith Moon, Neil Peart, Terry Bozzio - coming soon? Very Happy Very Happy Laughing )
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ericcoleridge



Joined: Jan 16, 2007
Posts: 889
Location: NYC

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Not to add to the mayhem, but the Star Synare is pretty great too; Not to mention the Pollard Syndrum.
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stijn



Joined: Jul 21, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: utrecht, netherlands

PostPosted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

mono-poly wrote:
I think it does uses a rare SSM (vco?) chip.
And why bother when the sds3 clone is almost done?

Smile


aha that explains why this thing was never cloned jet!

and yeah with the sds3's, the "holy grail" of drum synths, there's not much need for any other.
but how neat would it be to have both these monsters jamming together Very Happy Very Happy aciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiD
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ericcoleridge



Joined: Jan 16, 2007
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I'm not trying to be irreverent, but what's so special about the SDS3-to warrant 'holy grail' status? Just curious. I'm planning on building a few myself just to have a variety of drum circuits on hand. But, I listened to the samples--and while they sound really good-- they didn't sound dramatically different than many other percussion synths I've used. Is there something that's not captured in these samples? Maybe a particular tone or resonance of the SDS3 that I don't know about?
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mono-poly



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PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I had most drumboxes here

808 909 all Simons, Pearl, Polard but the SDS-3 to me is the best for me.
And from all stuff i sold in the past years i do regret selling the SDS-3 the most.
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Luka



Joined: Jun 29, 2007
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

mono do you think that is purely down to the drum sounds or becasue the sds3 had the interface with the drum pads.
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mono-poly



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PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

It is just the sound off the machine and how it works and response.
I must admit the Pearl Syncussion comes very close.

I never used the pads but my modiffied tr-606 witch got trigger outputs for each sound.
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dar303



Joined: Jul 15, 2007
Posts: 97
Location: Sweden

PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Hi,

I have several "classic" analog drummachines and have had even more in the past but the Syncussion still holds up!
I have two SY-1:s and they are the centerpiece of my live-rig.

They contain no SSM-chips as far as I know, there is a fair bit of transistors and a bit of CMOS/logic in there I think, I'll check the next time I open one up.

I have never tried the SDS3 so it will be interesting to compare it with the Syncussion.
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Floppy



Joined: May 09, 2008
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

i think the sy1 is one of the rawest drums ever.
unfortunately the lfo is a tiny bit to slow and cant be synced on trigger.
this makes it either sound totally crazy or very standard, the inbetween is difficult to hit.
i attach the /hard to read schematics of the sy1 and hope somebody can read them.


sy1.rar
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dar303



Joined: Jul 15, 2007
Posts: 97
Location: Sweden

PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Hey, there it is! Smile

Wouldn't it just be to put a FET over C3 and trig that with the input signal to sync the LFO, maybe a oneshot fed from the trigger indicator led driver?
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Floppy



Joined: May 09, 2008
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

ericcoleridge wrote:
I'm not trying to be irreverent, but what's so special about the SDS3-to warrant 'holy grail' status? Just curious. I'm planning on building a few myself just to have a variety of drum circuits on hand. But, I listened to the samples--and while they sound really good-- they didn't sound dramatically different than many other percussion synths I've used. Is there something that's not captured in these samples? Maybe a particular tone or resonance of the SDS3 that I don't know about?




hello eric

its hards to describe but theres really magic going on with the sy1.
i would say its the most impossible to sample drummachine because its so unpredictable and surprising.
maybe thats not only because of the wacky circuits but rather from the very coarse faders.
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stijn



Joined: Jul 21, 2008
Posts: 39
Location: utrecht, netherlands

PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Floppy wrote:
i think the sy1 is one of the rawest drums ever.
unfortunately the lfo is a tiny bit to slow and cant be synced on trigger.
this makes it either sound totally crazy or very standard, the inbetween is difficult to hit.
i attach the /hard to read schematics of the sy1 and hope somebody can read them.


yeeehaaaaa, tnx Floppy!!

now how many people would be interested in building one, and more important who would be willing to design a pcb???
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Uncle Krunkus
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

That's a real nasty schematic. Confused Laughing
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Plantov Sokal



Joined: Sep 26, 2012
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Location: Tasmania

PostPosted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:03 pm    Post subject:
Subject description: new schematic
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http://hem.bredband.net/bersyn/Syncussion%20SY-1.pdf
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analog_backlash



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Thanks for that link Plantov Sokal! I've been thinking about drum machines for a while now and this is now added to my list of possibilities.

I see that there are quite a few matched pair transistors in the schematic. I was wondering how well it would work with hand-matched pairs (quite well, I would have thought) and also whether matched pairs are required at all. I understand the need for them in a keyboard synth, where precise tuning is vital, but for a drum synth, I'm not so sure why it's necessary. I'm sure that you clever people out there can explain this to me Very Happy

Gary
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mrmrshoes



Joined: Feb 19, 2011
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

a quote from Bergfotron (the guy how's cloned and released the re-drawen schematic)

Quote:
I used hand-matched BC550C and BC560C. Worked perfectly.


they is a thread over at muff's
Bergfotron Pearl SY-1 Schematics - http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/topic-89299-10.html&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
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analog_backlash



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Thanks for that clarification & link mrmrshoes. I had trouble getting onto muff's earlier, but I've now read the thread and it doesn't sound like very close matching is required (unless you want to go down the tempco 1V/octave route).

Cheers,

Gary
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nuipb



Joined: Oct 06, 2009
Posts: 49
Location: France

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 5:22 am    Post subject: Re: pearl syncussion, DIY?
Subject description: if we're cloning all these great drum synths, why not this one!
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stijn wrote:
lately there is a lot of diy drum synth projects here, great!
but still one of the legends is missing.......
THE PEARL SYNCUSSION

Not anymore :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B294QYOhRfo&feature=em-uploademail
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