The Thomas Henry Mega Percussive Synthesizer

creatorlars · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

I think UD1 kits & PCBs are still available from sMs. Check the thread in this subforum for details. The Clangora board was self-etched and a huge project, but I think that documentation is still available somewhere here in the forum too. I can reupload if you can't find it. I love the Clangora, especially the separate open/closed hat input/trigger structure.

iceowl · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject:

Hi all,
My first post to em. Advanced apologies for any internet media / forum culture screwups.

I'm getting into DIY after decades of synthesis love and ownership. I've got my hands on the MPS board, the schematics/parts list from the Thomas Henry site, and enough parts to fill a couple small railroad cars.

As I proceed on my board population quest, I notice I am going to have to trace the schematics to figure out how the pinout on the MTA100 connectors relates to the various pots/switches/jacks.

I have found the Bugbrand panel layout post which also contains a schematic representation of the pinout, but it appears that was done PRE-board manufacture.

Can anyone say if that layout is still valid, or if there's another readily available description of the pinouts? Following the traces on the board and mapping them to the schematics I'm sure is the way true believers in the cause do it. But I'm wondering if there's a lazy man's aid.

Cheers,

Joe

State Machine · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

fadeddata · Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 43 Location: Nashville TN

I've started designing my front panel and I'm working off of other peoples panels, the schematics, and Scott's original post about the front panel controls. I see on schematic 2 a "Status" LED. Is this the same as the trigger LED? Should it be in close proximity to the Impact section of the front panel?

Thanks all!

-dustin

fadeddata · Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 43 Location: Nashville TN

Ok...worked on this tonight. Thoughts?

-dustin

tommi · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:39 am Post subject:

Hello dustin,
Nice panel. Good choice to have a twin! Much better than a single one. I can confirm this because I just finished to build and test my double mps module (soon I 'll come with a picture). It's GREAT !
It seems you forgot (or you made the choice to leave out) the triggered/locked switch... but it is a great feature for the MPS because it gives infinite decay to all oscillators transforming the MPS in a 4 voice traditional synth.
I also noticed that the resonance pot is in the impact section... this could may be a bit confusing...

sduck · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:59 am Post subject:

Very nice Dustin! And it gives me some impetus to get going on my panel. I've managed to squeeze the whole thing onto a 2u motm style panel, although I haven't got the labeling figured out yet.

fadeddata · Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 43 Location: Nashville TN

tommi:

Thanks for the input! Greatly appreciated, here is a new one with the changes you mentioned. I really like the community response as it helps development.

Steve,

Hope to see the fruits of your labor soon! Your work as always is fantastic.

-dustin

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asafnetzer · Joined: Jun 16, 2007 Posts: 112 Location: Israel

Nice panel design, now i'm really sorry for only ordering one pcb

tommi · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:52 am Post subject:

Happy holydays to everybody.
Here's a picture of my completed MPS.
Cheers, t

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mosc · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

Great pics of the gear. Congrats to all who have built this project.

Now, let's hear some music. Very Happy

American Gladiator · Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: USA

I am proud to report a successful build on this project. Oh, and it sounds very nice.

lexvortex · Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 155 Location: Toronto

Hi,

I'm just starting my build of the MPS and have gone through this thread as best I could (lots to read Shocked

) as well as read some of Scotts site. I would like some feedback on my panel to make sure it's correct Very Happy

(I think I have everything in the right place).
Right now I've got everything on there. I also saw Uncle Krunkus's panel with the three CV inputs which is what I would like to do, has anyone come up with a "safe" way to do this?
If anybody sees anything out of place or a mod that I missed please let me know Very Happy

Thanks,
Dave

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

Here's a pic of the 1st of my 2 x MPSes that I completed finally, last night:

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

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

She's working beautifully! Many great thanks and respect to Thomas Henry, Scott Stites and everyone else involved with this project.

There're a few more details on it, posted within my Blog - URL below.

State Machine · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject:

Rych

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

Thanks much Bill! Really glad that you like that pic THAT much! Smile

Looking at the close-up of the "drummer's" head - 2 months since I drew the panel, I think mostly likely, that it were meant to be a tube. A mohawk though, with me in life thoughts, is very possible. Heh.

discoslut · Joined: Dec 04, 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Netherlands

Hi all,

I'm currently building 4 MPS but I seem to have some troubles with the impact section. As soon as I connect the the power to the board the IC 4 gets really hot and dies. The led does not respond to the trigger but lights continous until the IC dies.
I checked the orientation of the IC, all the resistors and caps etc.
but they all seem to be in the right place and the right value.
I also checked with all de wires (except power) disconnected, same problem. For IC 4 i use the MC74HC4046AN wich I think is the right one.
The problem occurs with all my boards. (The rest of the board seems to work fine and even without the IC 4 I can get some pretty cool sounds out of the MPS)

Is there anybody who has a clue what could cause the IC to die?

Oh, and here's my design for the frontplate.

thanks

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

If I'm not mistaken, the problem is with your MC74HC4046AN. The HC version of the 74 hundred CMOS series is limited to a -0.5 to +7V operating range. (If I'm not mistaken again, the C only series of 7400's will operate up to +15 or +1 Cool

.

Stick with the standard CD4046 series and you'll be fine up to +20V.

lexvortex · Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 155 Location: Toronto

Hi,

I would like to be able to manually trigger the MPS, how can I do this?

Thanks,
Dave

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject:

I reckon the best way would be with one of Ray's drum trigger circuits, they put out a trigger and a CV you can plug straight into the MPS.

BTW Rykhaard's right, use the standard CD4046 instead.

discoslut · Joined: Dec 04, 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Netherlands

Thanks for the quick response guys! I'll try that.

lexvortex · Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 155 Location: Toronto

Thanks

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject:

I'd put a momentary switch from the junction of R45/36 to the socket side of C3. This way the "sensitivity" pot will still control how big the pulse is.

lexvortex · Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 155 Location: Toronto

Great!! I'll try that out Very Happy

I really appreciate your help

Dave

discoslut · Joined: Dec 04, 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Netherlands