Building The Appendage. Share your Experiences

slo · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys, I will give Bill's suggestion a try, though they might not ship to Canada.

George

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:56 am Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:31 am Post subject:

Goerge,

Here is the replay from 3D about shipping to Canada:

slo · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:58 am Post subject:

State Machine · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:35 am Post subject:

slo · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:57 pm Post subject:

Got everything I need for the panel now, thanks Bill, nice isolated jack. Going on vacation so it will be awhile before I can finish it. Will post pics when the Appendage is done. Spotted a typo on my Appendage panel, Slide Amount should be Glide Amount, doing a mock panel first so no biggie.

George

slo · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:56 pm Post subject:

Which Appendage Build Procedure are we on now ?, I'm confused by the numbering. I'm using 1_188. I see there are others around. I have some typo's to report, just trying to work my way through the calibration procedure.

George

Scott Stites · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:28 am Post subject:

Hey Slo,

Can you post or send those corrections to me? I'll update the manual.

Cheerios,
Scott

slo · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 12:32 pm Post subject:

Hi Scott, not sure if they are typos/errors, I've been working from version 1_188, they may have been corrected already, but here goes.

1. Fig 6-2 Inverted Initial output labled J102, should be J112

2. Use of LED cathode to check analog ground in dual ground setup p.44

3. Table 8-18, has 10k in header should be 330k

4. Fig 8-26 caption should read C42-C44

5. Calibration 1 TP8 shown in fig. 9-1, TP9 is used in text

The build went very well with little debugging to be done. Thanks for an amazing project and docs!
I will post some pics very soon

George

State Machine · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 4:53 pm Post subject:

Scott Stites · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:28 am Post subject:

Yea, verily, thank you for the notes, Slo. I'll update the manual as soon as I can get to it.

startwav · Joined: Nov 05, 2008 Posts: 3 Location: new jersey

hey there,
finally building this monster!
i have everything in place but i'm having trouble locating any poly .002UF 1% caps...or anything similar

anyone have any thoughts?

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

You could try some Polystyrene caps, though these are normally axial leaded, so you may have to stand it on end. Also look for 2nF or 2000pF as these are all equivalent values.

Not sure of the tolerance, but these look a good buy:

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/CS-202/2000-PF-POLYSTYRENE-CAPACITOR/1.html

An alternative UK based supplier can supply a good range of odd capacitor values, if you want to be more precise on the tolerance:

http://www.rush-on-line.co.uk/cap_forums.html

Shipping to the US is a minimum of £8.50, so you may want to explore other options first.

Good hunting.

Magman

slo · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 7:26 am Post subject:

Here's some pics of my over the top controller, finally finished. Based on an IKC keyboard controller, it also has a Choices joystick controller from Flight of Harmony, and the Appendage Ribbon Controller. The ribbon is detachable from the keyboard. The IKC controls are spread over 3 panels, with the outputs and the Choices manual gate/trigger jacks on a rear panel. All three sections are fully operational, and the wheels also are working. The smallcenter panel is blank for the time being. The only thing that bugs me at the moment is the clunky ribbon connector housing, but that can wait 'cause I'm having fun with the Appendage.

Flight of Harmony
http://www.flightofharmony.com/

Pittch Bend circuit
http://www.electro-music.com/forum/viewtopic.php?highlight=pitch+bend+circuit&t=34895

IKC Keyboard Controller
http://www.electro-music.com/forum/viewtopic.php?highlight=ikc&t=29746

George

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

thats exactly the keyboard i had in my head for mine. with softpot slightly to the right. beautiful job man. Very Happy

philpeery · Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: new jersey, usa

Hey Slo!

AWESOME job on this! I have my IKC board about 80% loaded, and have been seriously vexed about how to package my keyboard up. you have given me some real inspiration! Your inclusion of the Appendage is a great idea! I have a 500mm and a 1000mm softpot, I will have to figure out which one to use. Nice to see that you put yours together with a 5 octave keybed. I have a korg poly61 that I got for 10 bucks because I wanted the 6 SSM2056 EG chips, now I know what to do with the keyboard too!

Thanks for posting these pics!

Regards,
Phil

slo · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 9:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the kudo's. A nice side benefit with having the 500mm ribbon above the keys is that with a little Appendage knob twiddling you can get close to a chromatic scale using the keys as guides.

George

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

oh right, didn't know that. bonus. i was just going to have keyboard markings above soft pot:D Very Happy

rokuez · Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 33 Location: West LA

saw this from matrix synth great controller!!

andrewF · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:18 am Post subject:

Took longer than expected but so far seems to be quite the 'tool' Smile

awesome manual guys, Well Done!!

The case is some recycled lab gear, voltmeter works but currently not hooked up to anything, guess it will be used for the 'mixed' output, tho offset may be more useful.

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Scot Solida · Joined: Oct 24, 2009 Posts: 100 Location: Hutchinson Kansas

I have, at long last, finally finished my Appendage build - though I haven't calibrated it yet.

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

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It was a pretty massive project, and one of the most complex I have attempted thus far. The build was easy. Scott and Bill did a terrific job putting this project together and Scott's manual was clear and easy to follow.

As you can see, I built mine in the Synthesizers.com format, and crammed the lot behind a four-space panel, which I screen-printed myself. It only barely fits and it took some juggling to get all of the panel hardware to fit. I almost opted for smaller knobs. I didn't have any of the Moog style knobs I usually use for my modules on hand, so I used some Rat Shack knobs we had lying around. I'll probably replace those. Though you can't see it in this pic, I mounted the PCB parallel to the front panel on some kludged standoffs. It is almost exactly the same length as the Dotcom panel is wide, so it was a close fit.

The ribbon itself is housed in a Walking Stick enclosure (those things are beautiful). I routed out the space for the jack and wiring with a dremel and then filled the two knob holes with wooden plugs, stained to match the rest. There is a textured covering over the Softpot itself, like the stuff used on a Micromoog ribbon. I got that from ribboncontrollers.com, too. I owe my thanks to them and to both Scott and Bill for making this project happen!

Next up: The Klee (assuming I survive the calibration of the Appendage!) Shocked

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

thats what i'm looking for is a protective covering for the softpot. lovely stick and build man. Very Happy

Scot Solida · Joined: Oct 24, 2009 Posts: 100 Location: Hutchinson Kansas

Photon · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 6:52 am Post subject:

Nice work guys. Its great to finally see some Appendage builds. Three completely different approaches, too. Well done!

I finally made some headway on my Appendage. The board has been populated for months, but the panel was the hold up. I had to build a custom tank for the panel etching (the panel is 21" x 3.25"). The etch came out a little grungier than usual but overall I'm very pleased. I've also incorporated a joystick, using 2 CGS mixer boards. I'll post more photos soon. This will be the centerpiece of the new controller cabinet that I'm building.

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softfin · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:45 am Post subject:

I just finished calibrating my Appendage, so I have now put the cover on the Appendage's case. Smile

I even managed to play something with it already, so it's safe to say it beats my doepfer ribbon controller 5-0.
It has got everything I need in a ribbon controller and then some extra. love

I have to thank Scott Stites once again for the absolutely awesome, excellent build instructions and for the whole project of course! salut

Additional thanks go to Bill from Sms electronics for the great pcb layout and the parts set!
All parts were there and having a kit made it almost too easy to put this thing together. thumleft

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The ribbon controller will probably be painted as soon as I decide the right color :)

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Hardcore dymo taping here... These days I write my songs on Dymo as well ;) ;)

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