Interested in Tau Pipe Phaser / Flanger boards ?

jhaible

Hi,

I'm new in this forum.
Scott Stites gave me a hint that I should also post about my current project here. Smile

Many of you may already know about this strange effect device,
which sounds more like a flanger (some say, like a thru-zero flanger!),
but actually is a phaser with 20 (twenty!) all pass filter stages.

If you haven't heard it yet, go to
http://www.keyboardmuseum.org/soundsheet/soundsheet.html ,
scroll down to "The Pipe Phase Demo Record" and listen to the demo.

The service manual is located here:
http://www.musicsynthesizer.com/Diode%20Phaser/Diode%20Phaser.html

I think it's quite impressive and extreme sounding, and it's closely
related to the ARP Quadra Phaser which I've cloned some years ago:
http://home.debitel.net/user/jhaible/additional_schemos.html

And, looking for a project to further develop my pcb layout skills with
RIMU before I start that big Vocoder, I thought the Tau Pipe would be
a good choice.

I've redesigned the original circuit, such that there are no more exotic
components (no more obsolete dual FET), and all the circuitry that
originally was potted in the infamous PD-10 modules, is part of the main
circuit board in my version.
I plan to make the layout such that you can
*either*
(1) use cheap CA3086 transistor arrays
*or*
(2) - for an ultra low noise version - SSM2210, MAT-02, LM394 (expensive! 20
pairs needed!)
*or*
(3) use hand matched discrete transitors (unexpensive, but requires a lot of
work.)

Also on the board will be the complete power supply (except the mains
transformer),
and you can either connect a small transformer with 2 * 18V AC secondary
voltage,
*or* connect a single 18V AC source such as a Wall Wart.

All pots and jacks and LEDs will be connected externally with flexible wires
to allow some flexibility on the form factor (19" rack enclosure, or
tabletop box,
or even an oversized stomp box).
The PCB has a rather small size for what it contains (90mm * 160mm), but
it's probably
too big to fit behind MOTM or other typical modular front panels.

I'm currently in the process of having a first prototype made.
I may also create a Schaeffer front panel later (haven't decided on 19" 1U
or Tabletop
version yet.)

So, is there any interest for others to buy these PCBs, when / if the thing
works as
intended?
In the past, I've mainly built on veroboard and had to turn down requests
for pcb boards,
or even for readily assembled modules. Now, that I've bought a layout
software, the
situation has slightly changed for the better Smile

So, if you're interested in getting a board, let me know.
Right now, I have no idea what it will cost - keep in mind the whole project
will not
be cheap, with all these transistor pairs!
I won't offer complete kits. If there's enough demand, I'll sell the naked
PCB boards,
and publish the building information on my web site.

Let me know if you're interested, to find out if it's worth the effort.

JH.

http://home.debitel.net/user/jhaible/hj.html

Scott Stites · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject:

JH

You can certainly put me down for one! I've wanted a Tau Phaser ever since I heard the demo record for it years ago. It's the most intense phasing effect I've ever heard (yep - a lot like through-zero flanging). Thanks for posting this!!

Cheers,
Scott

andrewF · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

Hi JH
Welcome beer

count me in for a PCB too.

I've built a few of your circuits - particularly for the frequency shifter and Korg designs. Thankyou for sharing!!

23isgood · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject:

Oh boy. I have wanted one of these ever since I heard the sample on that website you mention. Put me down for one for sure!

pete

Scott Stites · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject:

Whoa - Andrew, you built the Frequency Shifter? That's a project I've always wanted to undertake. The Quadra Phase Shifter was another, but this Tau phase shifter really caught my attention listening to the sample.

The bummer of building the Pipe was the potted transistor ladder modules, but if anyone can decode those, it's JH. Someone mentioned on the SDIY list that it would be a perfect job for those THAT matched transistors, and Mediatechnology's store would be a great place to get those - last time I looked, I think he had Mouser beat on prices. Guess it boils down to if they could be implemented on JH's board.

Cheers,
Scott

Danno Gee Ray · Joined: Sep 25, 2005 Posts: 1351 Location: Telford, PA USA

That sounds very tasty.

I could be interested.

goodrevdoc · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject:

+1 on the board. You can count me in.
Also...
welcome

and thanks for sharing
-justin

The Alison Project · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 7:58 pm Post subject:

I'm in for one.

Welcome JH, been drooling over your page since I started in modulars.

shawn · Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 209 Location: savannah

Definitely put me down for one.

yusynth · Joined: Nov 24, 2005 Posts: 1314 Location: France

Hi Jürgen

Nice to see you here.
A 90x160mm PCB will fit nicely behind a 4U Synthesizers.com panel.
You may count me on for one board

Yves

modularkomplex · Joined: Feb 14, 2007 Posts: 11 Location: germany

Great stuff! I'm in for one.

Mike

jhaible · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 7:58 am Post subject:

Thanks for the welcome!

mark_olson · Joined: Oct 26, 2006 Posts: 177 Location: Lawrence, Kansas

Wow.

I would take one.

Thanks for asking.

mediatechnology · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 8:42 am Post subject:

jhaible; Good to see you here! Your SSM2040 clone is one of my favorites.

I noticed that most of these designs use an output matrix. I did a stereo synthesizer design this way using an SAD1024 and later dropped in a pair of SSM2040s for an 8 pole dynamically-controlled phaser. I really loved that prototype. One of the cool things about matrixed outputs to derive stereo is that they fold down to mono.

There's a print here: http://www.ka-electronics.com/Images/jpg/stereo_synth_large.jpg

The matrix in the above is on the right-hand side. I didn't use them in 1982 but for a matrix output today you might want to consider using THAT or SSM balanced line receivers. Their tight resistor matching for low CMR in line receivers, when used in a sum-diff network, can provide some very deep nulls. It just takes two. The circuit below uses them in a panner; the lowest 1240 can be eliminated and the phaser output taken into the upper two 1240 as pins 1 and 2. The undelayed/processed signal would go into pins 3 and 3. There's a schemo here:

http://www.ka-electronics.com/Images/jpg/Matrix_Panner_1.jpg

I do have THAT300s for the ladder filters as Scott mentions. They're a quad device.

mono-poly · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 10:36 am Post subject:

Hi Jurgen

Welcome on this nice forum.
I've read about this project on SDIY or AH.
I am really a great fan of the work you're doing in the DIY scene.
I certainly take one board at least!
Maybe i know a member on this forum who can silscreen frontpanels.
Are there any people willing to do a groupbuy one frontpanels?

Coriolis · Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 616 Location: Stilling, Denmark

Hi JH!
I'd be interested in a board, but unfortunately it would depend on the price. I'd say 30$ + shipping is the absolute max for me (to many other projects to pay for).

C

Fernando · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject:

I'm interested too!

EdisonRex · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject:

I would buy at least one board. Probably one. Maybe two depending on the bill of materials expense.

Coriolis · Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 616 Location: Stilling, Denmark

This is one of those things I'm know I'm not going to etch myself, or put on stripboard for that matter,

so I'll just get the board, put in the bottom of the pile, and buy the expensive parts as I can afford them - while I build the gazillion other projects I've planned... Wink

C

EdisonRex · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 3:08 pm Post subject:

hallo jürgen,

great to have you here!

i built your wasp clone last year and it really rocks. on the modular synth meeting today some people where really astonished about the distortion section. great feature!

jhaible · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 4:27 pm Post subject:

Funky40 · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 8:23 pm Post subject:

Salü JH.

It is very nice that you came here,
and that you will make this Board, and hopefully others more, available for us.
This way an electronics beginner as i am can benefit from your great work.
Thank you

btw.: the soundsamples from the original are amazing.
a Dream to have such a unit

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

Hi Jürgen, of course you must make a + on this, your time is valuable! Looks like my Edirol Ro9 will have to wait!

My wife constantly reminds me that time is money, she teaches Spanish part time to adults at evening classes, and worked out that if working full time she would earn £56,000 per annum - what's that in euros......E78k?? Bloody hell that's a lot more that I get!

krisp14u · Joined: Nov 11, 2006 Posts: 206 Location: uk

Hi JH
that sounds like 1 cool phaser
put me down for 1 mabe 2 pcb's
cheers

Paul D