sympleSEQ -- the simple to build analog step-sequencer [PCB]

[diablojoy]

[HexInverter]

[Paradigm X]

Well, i went for two in the end; sorry fonik!

I cant justify buying two when i havent got any VCOs or VCFs to plug them into yet! So im hoping that as it was a success there may be more in the future, if i subsequently need them.

Cheers

[fonik]

[Paradigm X]

I thought you said you had none left - did you find some?

Yeah kinda done it all backwards got ur midi2clock and sequencers but no vcos yet. Enough parts for loads of filters (for all my other gear). Can you tell I'm new to all this

I'm selling some kit then going to buy some more pcbs

Cheers

[diablojoy]

Matthias i have been looking at this and i think you may need to add some delay to the switched clock signal to allow for progation delays through
the 4017 and the dg412 switching time in your switch or risk getting extraneous stepping of your sequencers [2 steps instead of one]
I added 4 stages of a 40106 to the switched clock path to get about 240 nano secs of delay I am fairly sure it will be needed but your thoughts on this would be appreciated.

[fonik]

[bigbluewave]

Hi all,

Just put this up as a conversation piece over on Muff's.



I know quite a few folk were asking about dual Euro versions so I had a doodle and came up with one as a starting point. It's 42HP wide so you can get 4 channels in one rack! It's still quite a tight pack, avoiding the top and bottom rails and fitting in those jacks.

I'm working on a 2 channel 4MU version as well as the single version currently. As the astute will have realised, it's not really possible to squish in all the functionality onto a 1MU panel, so I'm thinking along the idea of a daughter panel with break-outs for some stuff. Then I got to thinking about an individual gate output panel and sort of merged the two ideas. No circuitry as yet, just concepts...
And then of course there's Matthias' Sequential Switch too, hmmm.

[bigbluewave]

Hi,
Here is a little update on the panel front. Just added a some crucial features to the Euro one and will do a revised 4 channel MU one shortly too...



Let me know your thoughts!

TTFN,

Ben
www.bigbluewave.co.uk & Re:Synthesis

[diablojoy]

[diablojoy]

mathias i think you need to buy another 4 sequencers
go on you know you want to

[HexInverter]

Sigh...damn you electro-music and randomly deciding to stop sending me email notifications! It does this on a monthly or so basis. So weird.

Anyway, minor public announcement (mirrored from Indiegogo):

PLEASE NOTE: I have just realized that I somehow measured things wrong when determining the knob diameters you can use.

The maximum knob diameter usable is 19mm wide. Sorry about this, I hope this doesn't seriously ruin anyone's plans. I don't know where I got the previously stated 24mm from.

I cannot stress enough just how small the sequencer is. It is really part of the design -- minimal size for portability and cost, maximum functionality packed in that small space. I personally would use knobs ~14mm in diameter, or no knobs at all (the pots have grippy shafts with pointers on them already).

Again, my apologies if this has thrown a wrench in the gear of anyone's knob decision.

If you have any concerns or wish to talk to me about this, feel free to email!

hex[AT]hexinverter.net (replace the "[AT] with "@" of course, anti-spam measure)

Other than that, things are running along nicely!

[HexInverter]

Note: I will respond to all of this awesome panel stuff after school!!!

[HexInverter]

Notes regarding wiring multiples, documentation for such things, etc, below...

I just want to make it clear for everyone that intense documentation of every possible configuration Ben is offering will likely NOT be provided by me. It is a LOT of work making one set of instructions, let alone one for every possible setup, and the sympleSEQ is intended to NOT be the end-all of sequencers.

Sorry for all of the emphases, I just don't want anyone to be bummed out down the road

That being said, I will do my best to help anyone along the way in terms of how to modify the base configuration if that entails answering questions or helping you divulge where to modify solder points/etc to do what you want to do with it.

The way the electronics work (and please keep in mind that the entire module is designed around lowest parts count/easiest solution in mind), there are some limitations on how you can set things up in terms of multiple modules. This information will be repeated in the assembly/user manual once it's done, and probably more thoroughly.

This is what I will be providing instructions on how to do:

Option 1: One master clock with X# slaves. RST chains from master, PAU chains from master, CLK chains from master. One RST/PAU input/switch. All modules are synced. (Recommended if you have no other sequencers) -- effectively, any number of channels that you make function as ONE sequencer - one clock, one reset, one pause, etc - this is how sympleSEQ was originally imagined/designed to be used.

Option 2: All separate without clocks (external clocking) - RST/PAU/CLK are all independent and rely on external input. Sync depends on clock/pause/reset sources. (Recommended if you have any other sequencers you plan to use this with) -- effectively, a bunch of independent sequencers housed in one unit. Feed in your own clock from a single source to sync them, same goes for reset/pause/etc. This is based on requests from the community to have external control of sympleSEQ to use with their more fancy sequencers.

It will be up to you to modify it so that you can switch between clock sources via switch/switching jack. Also, "program/run" functionality and "step" are not base features. You will have to do some soldering onto pads yourself and cut a trace. I would have to require jumpers on the PCB to implement this myself, and I am not doing that as it would complicate first time builders assembly (which as much as I love you guys, is what the main idea this project was created for).

WHEW -- sorry for that wall of text. Questions? Feel free to reply here! I hope I got everything, and I hope it was clear. I know words can be misinterpreted pretty easily, so before asking, maybe have a peek at the schematics and see if you can figure out the answer yourself. It really is quite a simple circuit

http://hexinverter.net/?projects=sympleseq-v10

[Etamin]

Hi Hex

I just found this thread too late for the Indiegogo funding. That site has a link to http://www.blog.hexinverter.net/ which seems to be broken.

1. How can I subscribe to your mailing list?
2. Will the pricing stay the same? I am interested in the Eurorack DIY special 2 channel, or possibly the 4 channel minimal

This looks like a great project, thanks for all the work you have put into it.

Peter

[HexInverter]

[Etamin]

Hi Hex

Thanks, that worked, and I put myself on your mailing list.

I couldn't see how to subscribe to your blog, but emailed you on your site - nice clean uncluttered layout, by the way.

Thanks, Peter

[HexInverter]

[Etamin]

Hi Hex

OK, I see the links on the right side now. However, when I add my email address and click on the 'Subscribe' button, I get a pop-up window which says 'The feed does not have subscriptions by email enabled'

Thanks, Peter

[HexInverter]

[Etamin]

Hi Hex

Well, we are getting there I get further this time, but Feedburner tells me there has been some error which they will fix.

Thanks, Peter

[HexInverter]

[HexInverter]

Well, the boards have arrived (in case you missed the Indiegogo post about it) -- they look great! White soldermask with black silk-screen! Ohh-la-la!

Anyway, we are still awaiting the headers to arrive, which means I can't ship ANYTHING yet I was hoping I could get out the minimal/bare boards before the kits so as to not have to do it in one huge sum, but lo-and-behold, the one thing that we're waiting on is integral to every type of order!

Anyway, what I'm sure you're more interested in: does it work? The answer is: YES!

I was super upset at first when I turned on the one I just built to test the boards out and it did not work properly (CV's were missing in seemingly random steps) -- I then began imagining the dreadful process of disputing the boards' integrity with the manufacturer, but then I went to look at the board and realized I forgot to solder the pots' actual connections....d'uh! That would do it...so yeah, assembling electronics projects completely while on the phone with your girlfriend = bad idea!

Anyway, soldered those up and it works exactly as intended! I could not be happier...well, I could have 64 steps

The board looks really nice with all of the parts soldered in. I am awaiting some time with my girlfriend's good camera and setup to get some real product images going, until then, you will have to wait! Sorry, I'm not wasting the final unveiling on crap-tacular cell phone images!

Anyway, until then, I have a horrendous amount of other work to do preparing kits and working on the instruction manual!

[fonik]

great news. i am looking forward to it.

[HexInverter]