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 Forum index » Instruments and Equipment » Modular Synthesis
Cool old lab stuff
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Per



Joined: Jun 09, 2004
Posts: 165
Location: Sweden
Audio files: 7
G2 patch files: 3

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:57 am    Post subject: Cool old lab stuff Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

For modest USD 100 i have found a really nice piece of gear. It is a sine generator from the 50ies, with vacuum tubes and a range from 1 Hz to 150 Khz.
It is not voltage controllable, but a 5 inch tuning wheel make it very accurate for FM syntes as well as LFO. And I have also tried it for High Frequency syntes. Putting two HF signals (above hearing level) into a ring modulator gives interesting resaults. It is close to the oeeps and beeps from tuning an old AM radio. In fact, I guess it is pretty close to the amplitude modulation in an AM radio.
A High Frequncy VCO is a part of the Doepfer BBD moduls, so it is possible to make the HF synthes voltage controllable.
And best of it: It looks really cool. As it delivers a pure sine, I cant say it has any "tube warmth" but the glowin tubes is a remeberance of the pioneer days in the 50ies when electronica actually was made from tone generators and band slicing.
The same guy sold an old cathode ray oscilloscope for USD 170. To me it It is a good help understanding what really happens in LFOs, VCOs, filters and other gear. And to see the electrones like creeping on the screen like green worms is pure poetry.
Connecting it was very easy: a small BNC/phono converter, and then a cable right into the synth.
If this sounds nice, visit your local surplus dealer before anyone else finds the gear.
Per Wikström
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cebec



Joined: Apr 19, 2004
Posts: 1098
Location: Virginia
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

This sounds GREAT! and I'm also a big fan of test/lab equipment for musical uses. I regularly browse the Industrial/Test/Lab equipment sections on eBay for this purpose. Sometimes there are big flea markets that sell this sort of thing, as well. I look out for filters, usually for amateur radio purposes, random/noise generators, and signal generators. Only caveat is to be sure they cover some part of the audible spectrum.
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