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 Forum index » DIY Hardware and Software » Thomas Henry designs
The VCO Maximus
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Thomas_Henry



Joined: Jul 24, 2009
Posts: 170
Location: N. Mankato, MN
Audio files: 3

PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 5:11 pm    Post subject: The VCO Maximus
Subject description: A new design with the CEM3340!
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Hello All,

I'm delighted to announce a project that might just tickle your fancy: The VCO Maximus. It's a new design featuring the recently rereleased CEM3340 from OnChip. Besides requiring no matched pair or thermistor, yet accurately covering a huge range, the Maximus comes packed with all sorts of cool features.

-- triangle, ramp, sine and pulse outputs
-- PWM
-- pulse/sub blend
-- switchable fifth/octave, add/subtract, sub/sub-sub effects
-- strong and weak sync
-- linear and exponential FM
-- 1V/octave response
-- easy to build for what it does

I couldn't have handled all this without the inestimable help of the VCO Maximus Team: Tim Heffield, Scott Stites and Matthias Hermmann. They literally broke their bottoms (as Basil Fawlty put it) testing, correcting, suggesting and more. I'm not sure how many man-hours went into this, but the past two months were quite intense for all of us on the team, with many late night hours. I thank them all for their enthusiasm, skill and persistence!

And you get full construction details on Scott's website. He really is the best writer I know, so you get the double-treat of some fun reading as well. Look for it at:

http://birthofasynth.com/Thomas_Henry/Pages/VCO_Maximus.html

Be sure to click around on all the buttons there to see what's what.

Have fun!
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Scott Stites
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Joined: Dec 23, 2005
Posts: 4127
Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
Audio files: 96

PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

There's nothing to raise me from my Synth-DIY slumber than the double whammy of the CEM3340 being released *and* a Thomas Henry design to support it!

This. Circuit. Rocks.

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wackelpeter



Joined: May 05, 2013
Posts: 461
Location: germany
Audio files: 10

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 4:59 am    Post subject:   Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Just noticed this announcement from Fonik over at Muffs...

You both did a great job here again.

Sending a big thank you to the both of you. thumright Very Happy

Cheers,
Bastian

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Thomas_Henry



Joined: Jul 24, 2009
Posts: 170
Location: N. Mankato, MN
Audio files: 3

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

And thank you very much. Let me hasten to mention that there were four of us involved on this project: Tim Heffield, Scott Stites, Matthias Herrmann joined me for the hair-pulling revelry.
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NoodleDriver



Joined: Jun 22, 2016
Posts: 30
Location: Ireland
Audio files: 5

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 7:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very Happy
Thanks to all of you.
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THeff



Joined: Sep 01, 2006
Posts: 229
Location: Florida
Audio files: 33

PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 7:05 am    Post subject: Maximus Music
Subject description: Music Demo
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Last night spent about four hours putting together a music demo of the VCO Maximus. I used a midi file from the web composed by Morton H. Svendsen in 1997 called "Planet Arcturus".

The MP3 file is comprised of eleven tracks of multi-recording with two of the tracks being drums. All of the voices are from the VCO Maximus prototype shown on the Birth of a Synth website, except the drums. I also used a 2040 VCF clone and other synth modules but no other VCOs.

The Maximus was tuned an octave lower for the first bass track, and then retuned to A 440 using a guitar tuner for all of the other tracks. It was not re-tuned for the whole four hours of recording.

Enjoy!

-THeff


Arcturus_Maximus.mp3
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 Filename:  Arcturus_Maximus.mp3
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StephenGiles



Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 507
Location: England

PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Very nice sounding VCO, but I hate to the highest degree that drum thump thump thump - just me, but then I'm a guitarist!!!
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THeff



Joined: Sep 01, 2006
Posts: 229
Location: Florida
Audio files: 33

PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:20 am    Post subject: Annoying drum track... Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Hi Stephen,

Yeah, I listened to it several times this morning in the car on the way to work and I have to agree with you...it's very monotonous! I guess it's typical 90's for a trance kind of sound. It was part of the MIDI file so I left it that way with bad judgment. Rolling Eyes

-THeff
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Scott Stites
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Joined: Dec 23, 2005
Posts: 4127
Location: Mount Hope, KS USA
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I love it!
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NoodleDriver



Joined: Jun 22, 2016
Posts: 30
Location: Ireland
Audio files: 5

PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Susan from ONchip said:

Charges for the product are $15.00 US each up to 499 pieces.
$35 shipping to non USA countries.
.

...Fingers crossed Thonk get them in! Very Happy
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Ayab



Joined: Oct 27, 2015
Posts: 180
Location: London, UK

PostPosted: Wed May 24, 2017 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Has a lovely sound to it - and so many features like sine, pulse/sub and fifth/octave interval too. Great stuff!!

I really hope someone does a +/-12V layout for it!!

In my excitement I asked a friend from NY who is coming over to London in mid June if he can bring something over for me (CEM 3340) & sure he would but my psu is -/+12V
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fonik



Joined: Jun 07, 2006
Posts: 3950
Location: Germany
Audio files: 23

PostPosted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 5:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I am still working on the PCB layout for this one. I will provide value changes for 12V operation as well.
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cheers,
matthias
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Ayab



Joined: Oct 27, 2015
Posts: 180
Location: London, UK

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 1:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

fonik wrote:
I am still working on the PCB layout for this one. I will provide value changes for 12V operation as well.


Hi Matthias

Great news I will certainly be interested in at least one pcb and panel. I already have a couple of your TH designs - the 555 and 4046 - from Synthcube. This would complement them very well.

Btw do you by any chance have a single sided design for the sn super controller that I could etch?
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fonik



Joined: Jun 07, 2006
Posts: 3950
Location: Germany
Audio files: 23

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 2:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

the prototyp PCB for the Maximus are ordered and will arrive soon Very Happy

for the supercontroller i never had a single sided layout, sorry.

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cheers,
matthias
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Ayab



Joined: Oct 27, 2015
Posts: 180
Location: London, UK

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

fonik wrote:
the prototyp PCB for the Maximus are ordered and will arrive soon Very Happy

for the supercontroller i never had a single sided layout, sorry.


Ok, thanks for letting me know. Look forward to the Maximus pcb.
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loopcycle



Joined: Nov 06, 2006
Posts: 101
Location: California

PostPosted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

looking forward to this! bounce
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fonik



Joined: Jun 07, 2006
Posts: 3950
Location: Germany
Audio files: 23

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 1:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

prototype PCB had a few errors on it, but now it is working flawless.
i even already calculated the values for 12V operation.
it should be available before christmas.

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cheers,
matthias
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Zorn



Joined: Jul 15, 2014
Posts: 21
Location: Lafayette, LA

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Thanks for the good news Matthias !

(I've been checking here every day or two for updates
- time to start putting together a parts order)
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mhelin



Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Finland

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Is there BOM available somewhere? This must be the only 3340 design which actually uses the soft/hard sync inputs on the chip for anything, in addition to Jürgen Haible's one (http://jhaible.com/legacy/tonline_stuff/hj2vco.gif).

So this will be available also as panel/pcb kit?
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fonik



Joined: Jun 07, 2006
Posts: 3950
Location: Germany
Audio files: 23

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 4:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

the original BOM is available via the link to scots stites thomas henry pages in the 1st post of this thread.

we will offer PCBs and eurorack panels, and for 12V a few values have to be changed. furthermore the PCB offers a pulse out parallel to the submix output. i will publish a BOM soon.

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cheers,
matthias
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fonik



Joined: Jun 07, 2006
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 3:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

PCBs and Panels should be available before christmas.

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.
TH-VCO-MAXIMUS by Matthias Herrmann, on Flickr

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cheers,
matthias
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col2



Joined: Feb 15, 2014
Posts: 16
Location: Melbourne Australia

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Just ordered the PCB/Panel and a CEM3340 from Thonk. Can't wait!
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fuzzbass



Joined: Nov 29, 2015
Posts: 2
Location: Murica

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 6:49 am    Post subject:
Subject description: Fonik's VCO Maximus
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I am building this now. Is there a write up or schematic that presents the voltage regulator found on this PCB? Should I be ordering a variable or fixed voltage type? I'm also wondering about C1_B, R26_B and R27_B on the PCB. These are not described in any BOM I found. Thank you.
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fonik



Joined: Jun 07, 2006
Posts: 3950
Location: Germany
Audio files: 23

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 7:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

THONK has the build documentation on the product site:
https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/fonitronik-th-vco-maximus-panelpcb/

this is the direct link to my latest doc:
http://www.synthdiy.fonitronik.de/PDF/TH-VCO-MAXIMUS-doc-v1.pdf

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cheers,
matthias
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BobHart



Joined: May 12, 2018
Posts: 1
Location: Fort Wayne, IN

PostPosted: Sat May 12, 2018 5:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Not sure anyone here is aware of this, but there is a discussion currently happening on MuffWiggler concerning some pitch variance issues related to changing the pulse width. Several have reported that changing the pulse width changes the frequency of all waveforms, in one account by as much as 4-5Hz at 1kHz. The sub-oscillator and sub mix apparently have some influence, as does grounding between the boards. It was suggested that someone mention the issue here, so, here it is. Has anyone here experienced similar responses from the eurorack build?

I'm currently in a holding pattern with my build with only the resistors, diodes and sockets installed, I'm hoping that between the two forums an answer to the issue is found. Sad
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