Cynare Modifications

[Dan Lavin]

I recently built my Cynare and like some of the others who've posted here were not quite content with the operation and lack of percussive punch. Through my experiments with my own hihat circuit, which I hope to publish soon, I found that I was able to salvage this project using the front end of Thomas Henry's Clangora project.

If you use Figure 2 from the Clangora, which is the trigger input, logic switching and envelope generator and use it to replace the same circuitry of the Cynare, you'll find yourself with one smooth operating punchy percussion synth. I used the entire Clangora front end with the exception of the lower left portion (IC4c and Q2 circuitry). The envelope output of Q4 is fed to a PNP common base transistor with an input of 10K ohms and the output to the junction marked where the 100K meets the 1K resistor. (I certainly wished Ken had numbered these components!)

I also had trouble with the noise level, so I boosted the amplification at op amp C and used the shimmer mix pot as a noise level pot. I found I always want the oscillators, but want to vary the noise amount. I also lowered the mix input resistor from 100K to 22K for a further boost in signal.

On my prototype I did use op amp A for the Clangora IC1a and b, but I would suggest putting IC1a and b on the same perfboard with all the other Clangora parts to keep it clean.

There are 2 things left undone. I have not hooked up the impact generator to try that and the VCF env gen in isn't working like it does with the original circuitry. I believe a wire from the clangora env gen out signal to the 1N impact generator cap should work just fine. For the filter, I believe I need to adjust the filter envelope processor input resistor.

I'm using the classic signal source-->VCF--->VCA signal path of my unit. I like the VCA on the final signal to act as a noise gate for any stray signals.

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CynareRescue.gif
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[richardc64]

[Dan Lavin]

Richard,

Thanks much for the suggestion, but it may not be necessary. The PNP used between the output of the Clangora Env Gen and the Cynare Env In point is a voltage to current convertor needed for the 3080. I can probably isolate the VCF env input from that point (cut the trace)and just run the Clangora env gen voltage output to that point with another jumper wire from my perfboard.

When I get a moment, hopefully today, I'll give it a try....along with the impact generator add back on. I don't know, it seems pretty punchy already. On my own hihat circuit, I have a VCA trimmer and just adjust for a tiny touch of VCA thump as my impact generator.

[Dan Lavin]

Here's a link to the main Clangora article with schematics:
http://electro-music.com/forum/viewtopic.php?highlight=clangora&t=14827

Sorry! I should've included this with the original post!

[Dan Lavin]

OK, I got both the impact generator and filter env response working just fine. For the impact generator, just run a jumper from the top side of 1n cap to the top of the 1K resistor where the Clangora output goes. If you leave this out, it's no big deal. The extra tap sound is very marginal. You won't miss it if you leave it out.

For the filter correction, you need to separate the 100K resistor and the 1K resistor where I show the Clangora env gen input connecting. Now run a jumper from the ClangoraQ4/R11 junction to the 100K resistor and you're in business. In fact I think you can probably leave the 22K OTA current control input resistor and just forget about the extra PNP transistor I use on the output of the clangora as an extra voltage to current converter. I'll try that sometime later this week to be sure. I already had the extra PNP transistor wired on my perfboard, so that's what I used. If you skip the extra PNP, the 100K and 1K resistor stay attached like in my schematic above.

I'll also try to record some samples. With the envelope filter control, it can get pretty gimmicky. I really like the bandpass with cranked Q. It sounds equally good with just the oscillators or with lots of noise.

[Dan Lavin]

Here's some samples I recorded tonight with the mods as indicated above.

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CynareBPMixDownEnv.mp3
Description:	This is Bandpass filter, noise mixed in and normal/down envelope CV on the filter	Download
Filename:	CynareBPMixDownEnv.mp3
Filesize:	112.34 KB
Downloaded:	1038 Time(s)

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CynareBPMixUpEnv.mp3
Description:	This is the Bandpass filter with Noise mixed in and the inverted/up env CV to the filter	Download
Filename:	CynareBPMixUpEnv.mp3
Filesize:	125.8 KB
Downloaded:	1033 Time(s)

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CynareBPnoNoise.mp3
Description:	This is the BandPass filter (minimal settings) with no noise mixed in	Download
Filename:	CynareBPnoNoise.mp3
Filesize:	162.13 KB
Downloaded:	1019 Time(s)

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CynareBPwNoise.mp3
Description:	This is the Band Pass filter (minimum effect) with Noise set to max	Download
Filename:	CynareBPwNoise.mp3
Filesize:	103.35 KB
Downloaded:	975 Time(s)

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CynareHPMixUpEnvHiQ.mp3
Description:	This is with the High Pass Filter, Noise and Oscillators mixed, HiQ and the Up Env Generator (inverted CV)	Download
Filename:	CynareHPMixUpEnvHiQ.mp3
Filesize:	106.62 KB
Downloaded:	970 Time(s)

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[richardc64]

Some unique sounds there, Dan. Well done.

As you might have expected, I especially like the somewhat less unique 2nd one, CynareBPMixUpEnv.mp3

[Dan Lavin]

Richard,

Well I actually did this one for you: CynareBPnoNoise.mp3 (NO noise!)

Yeah, I will admit a couple of these samples are quite obnoxious, but it does show the range of the device. There's a million more sounds with various filter settings and I could've posted a lot more samples.

OTOH, my usable sounds are boring to some here while the ones I label as obnoxious could end up on someone's next CD release!

[otoskope]

Thanks a lot for this informative post. I had similar problems with the noise level in a Metalbox Cynare I just bought used.

[Dan Lavin]

Glad to hear otoskope!