PCB for Synthi A clone VCO ??

Lorenzo · Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 375 Location: Trieste - Italy

maibe the question is common, but
there are someone who developed a PCB for cloning the Synthi A VCO ?

Thanks

Lorenzo · Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 375 Location: Trieste - Italy

Nothing??

monokinetic · Joined: Aug 01, 2006 Posts: 100 Location: prague

AFAIK this was discussed on synthDIY list a few times and most people felt that because the VCS3 is (or at least was a few years back) still in production it would be unfair to clone their oscillator.

If you are interested in an excellent sounding VCO check out jhailble's Living VCOs.

David

v-un-v · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject:

DGTom · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

& the whole design philosophy of the VCS3 to begin with was to create a cheap, portable synth - especially for schools.

I remember reading somewhere that the original idea was to create a synth you could carry for under (or around) 100 GBP.

I'm glad that Robin is still going but there does seem to have been a massive shift in philosophy.

tbh you could get a similar VCO with a the PAiA 9700 VCO with some verniers on... over exageration I know, but check out Mr. Hintons site for his views on the standard VCS3 VCOs, he suggested a raft of modifications to make them stable etc.

The VCS3 is a wierd one. I think its iconic status is more down to the fact that we have all heard it, ALOT if you live in the Commanwealth & have been exposed to loads of old Radiophonic Workshop era BBC productions.

As far as I know the Analogue Systems VCO (RS95/E?) is a, pretty much, clone of the Synthi, with permission.

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

LektroiD · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 12:29 am Post subject:

If a DIY PCB ever came out for this, I'd probably be in for about 10

simmeau · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 1:01 am Post subject:

Considering the vcf is already there, what's the problem with the vco? That there is already a licensed version?

monokinetic · Joined: Aug 01, 2006 Posts: 100 Location: prague

v-un-v: it really was not my intention to get up anyone's nose, I was just trying to explain to lorenzo why no one else had responded to his message Smile

it's quite rare that a message goes unanswered here.

all: Maybe I didn't make my initial message clear:

I was only trying to pass on my personal experience of trying to find some PCB layout for the Synthi A/VCS3 VCO. I would also love to have a VCS3 type clone to play with. In my opinion Juergen Haible's clone is the best I have seen, but he also notes quite regularly (here on EM for example) that he doesn't want to provide ripoff clones. Fair enough IMO.

Also, in my original post I mentioned Juergen because he seems to have taken some of the characteristics of the VCS3 oscillator as inspiration for his living VCOs. I'd really recommend reading the description here:
http://www.jhaible.de/living_vcos/jh_living_vcos.html

where he specifically mentions the lovely beating that comes from 3 VCS3 VCOs beating, and the fact that he has used "the same noisy 4-transitor exponential converter that EMS used in the VCS3". IMO the demo mp3 is pretty impressive. (no I'm not on commission from JH before anyone asks...)

Anyway, all this talk of the VCS3 has reminded me that I have wanted one for at least the last 15 years and now I guess I'll have to add it to the ridiculously long list of projects. Ah well Twisted Evil

David

Lorenzo · Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 375 Location: Trieste - Italy

Thank you very much for your replies...

I'm sorry if I made a very common question...
My english is not so good and so it is not easy to me search and search for right information and focused it...
So thank you very much for the links !!

I appreciate very much this forum and its users, thanks!

wetterberg · Joined: Jun 27, 2008 Posts: 48 Location: denmark

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

CJ Miller · Joined: Jan 07, 2007 Posts: 368 Location: 127.0.0.1

mono-poly · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject:

I got 2 patch matrixes i can sell by ghilmeti.
The same ones as Yuson used with his clones.
But no patchpins or just a few.

magman · Joined: Feb 04, 2009 Posts: 363 Location: Liverpool, UK

robwillis · Joined: Aug 24, 2007 Posts: 4 Location: USA

I dont understand why people wanna stick with pin patch panels??!!

Why not a small push button panel?
With lots of little buttons with lights in them.

fonik · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

frequencycentral · Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 186 Location: UK

Did someone say DIY Synthi A clone? Here's mine (and some other stuff):

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

adambee7 · Joined: Apr 04, 2009 Posts: 420 Location: united kingdom

I had the pleasure of having a go on an early putney in a wooden case. It had a great reverb on it which i dont think the little suitcase jobs had. That would make a good clone project. Very Happy

thundarr · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject:

Would anyone care to explain how the discrete oscillators in the VCS3 VCO work, or at least which section does the actual oscillation?

I've tried simulating sections of the schematic, particularly the section to the right of the exponential converter, but I can't get anything to oscillate...

Schematic (hinton-instruments.co.uk): http://www.hinton-instruments.co.uk/ems/vcs3osc1.gif

Lorenzo · Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 375 Location: Trieste - Italy

any link that explaining way and how Synthi A make these interesting freaky tunes?