The Thomas Henry Mega Percussive Synthesizer

casperelectronics · Joined: Feb 13, 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Troy Ny usa

I received my white envelope and pcb in great shape. Thanks!

tommi · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

bugfight · Joined: Aug 02, 2007 Posts: 188 Location: Arlington, TX USA

guitarfool · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject:

recompas · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:44 am Post subject:

Got mine a few days ago, arrived in great shape. Just about to order all the parts I need. Has anybody come up with a nice panel layout yet? I'm thinking of sticking it in a 2U rack case.

johans121 · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

mosc · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject:

casperelectronics · Joined: Feb 13, 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Troy Ny usa

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Here's my front panel.
I've also got the original photoshop doc if you're e-mail can handle it (about 16MB)

MPS-Front-Panel.gif

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casperelectronics · Joined: Feb 13, 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Troy Ny usa

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject:

It is theoretically possible to add a number of extra CV inputs,.....
BUT,...... (yes, I know, everybody's got a big but Laughing

)
Thomas expressly and emphatically warned against this, as you run the risk of sending too much current into the LM1300 control inputs.
I have employed a basic way of doing what you described, but it is not fully tested, and I think, as Thomas stated, that if I were to accidently send large or negative voltages in there, I would release the precious smoke from some chips! Laughing

Therefore, experiment if you like, but you're on your own.

casperelectronics · Joined: Feb 13, 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Troy Ny usa

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

I don't want to inadvertantly promote the idea of anyone doing it unless they know enough to design the appropriate interface circuit. Which I have only half done on my version. That's why it is vulnerable to me plugging in too much juice.
So, like I said, you're on your own.
I would recommend building it just as it is first, and check out everything it can do, (it can do a lot) before you look at possible modifications.

mosc · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

Update: As of this moment, all of the MPS boards have been shipped out, except one order which has an error in the address. Everyone should have received an email from the store's software to the effect that your order has been shipped. If you ordered a board or boards, as of this time, and haven't received an email message, please send me a heads up via PM.

Shipping out 200 packages and filling out 100 customs forms is a duty only for Zen masters. Very Happy

There are still more in stock.

Anyhow, it really is a labor of love and the money helps keep the wheels turning on the site.

vtl5c3 · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

Thank you Roshi Mosc! I got my confirmation earlier this evening.

bugbrand · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:35 am Post subject:

Yes, good work Howard!
I can just about imagine the headaches of keeping track of such a large batch of orders and getting all the work done...

toybox · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:56 am Post subject:

Looks like my address was the one to get mixed up Confused

recompas · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

Yes, thanks to Howard and everyone responsible for this board. I really can't wait to get mine together next week.

Uncle K, i'd love to get the PSD file from you. Its a nice layout, and would save me a lot of time on my case (i'd just have to move things around slightly).

i'll PM you with my email.

-travis

mosc · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:12 am Post subject:

tommi · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject:

I 'm waiting for the PCBs... now they're on the dark side of the moon.
Thank you Howard, Thomas, Scott and everybody involved in this project for doing all this work to share it with us.

oneoff · Joined: Nov 23, 2008 Posts: 47

just got the pcb today! super fast shipping. thanks!!
BTW
does anybody know where can i get the wiring guide (for the front pannel
and for the pcb connections?
cheers Smile

tommi · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject:

Hi oneoff,
There is a post by bugbrand on page 8 of this thread. It's the same of the pictures of his completed MPS. There you can find an attachement called 'MPS wiring'. I'm assuming this is the actual pinout of the board. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Rykhaard · Joined: Sep 02, 2007 Posts: 1290 Location: Canada

This notification of realization and discovery from me applies to any and everyone out there that are intending on building drum voices, wishing to play them by hand as well! Smile

I just completed shooting a video, using Ray Wilson's Drum Trigger from his site at: http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/SOUNDLABMINISYNTH/drum_trigger.html

I already have a couple of piezo transducers that I had bought a few years ago, but the other day I realized that I would need MORE once I get my 2 MPSes and coming SDS3 drum voices built. 2 just isn't enough, for playing an electronic drum kit.

I originally realized that almost anything nowadays that makes bleepy bloopy noises, MIGHT have a piezo transducer IN it. If I were to somehow search around and scoop up every device that I could for as cheap as possible, I could then save having to spend anywhere between $2-5 for each piezo transducer from Radio Shack (The Source, here in Canada).

On the weekend when we were heading to the local Dollar Store I thought - maybe THEY will have cheap digital alarm clocks in stock! Hey! And sure enough - when we went in a found a HUGE pile of digital alarm clocks for $1 each! I bought one and brought it home.

Today, I got my first PnP'd version of Ray's circuit built, adding a pot to it to change the length of the Decay CV coming from it.

Opening the alarm clock I found that it DOES have a normal piezo transducer! $1!! Very Happy

And it's working PERFECTLY! Later in the week, I'll be heading back to the dollar store to pick up at LEAST 10 more of them, as I also intend to build a percussive pad set for playing 1V/octave notes, for my coming drum kit.

Tonight after work, or tomorrow morning, I'll have the 4 minute video that I should of myself hammering away on the alarm clock (who's piezo is attached to Ray's circuit) which is driving my Liquid Hihat - which I'm also adjusting the sound of near the end, before accidentally shutting off the camera.

I hope this is useful news to someone out there who will be building your own pads! This is one of the happiest discoveries that I've made in a LONG time! CHEAP piezo transducers! Get your digital alarm clock and rip the piezo out of it! Who NEEDS alarms, anyways? Very Happy

Or head to the Dollar Store nearest you and grab a few!

K - video later. Off to work. Surprised

Apps · Joined: Oct 31, 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Harrisburg, PA

oneoff · Joined: Nov 23, 2008 Posts: 47

hey Rykhaard this is great information for me , i was just thinking of using some of those piezo transducer but i dont know exactly how..

it also brings so many questions like where do i connect it? to the "trigger in"?(also what is the "triger in" used for in the mps?)
is it supposed to be connected to the cv ins?
and if i connect the piezo transducers as my mps controller , so what i have is 3 pads only?