My synth reborn!

Any of you who have seen my synth know what a pain in the ass the layout is/was.

Those stupid rolling racks which I have outgrown have modules right down near the floor - makes it so hard to use them. Plus they take up way too much space, are too far apart, are hard to move, and are ugly as hell. I get so jealous when I see someone with wooden housings for their modulars, I think that wood and modulars complement each other so well.

Anyway, I couldn't find anything available to solve my problem at all, so I took matters into my own hands. I know nothing at all about woodwork, but I put in some effort and took my time, and things worked out far, far better than I had ever hoped they would. I solved all my problems, AND the entire project only cost me $40!

Here's a couple more pics for you, as always be sure to click for fullsize...





Finally, if you'd like to see the step-by-step process of making these, have a peek here at this forum thread where I documented the whole project.

Really, REALLY happy about this. My synth finally has the enclosure it deserves, and a layout that is fun and easy to work with. It's waaaaaay overdue.

Little Drum Module Demo

Strange to post this because Matrixsynth actually got it up before I did (man he's fast!!) but hey they are MY crappy videos so I'm gonna take proper responsibility for them and post 'em on my blog. And try to actually put the right tags with 'em!

Enjoy. Or don't. I don't know. You can't really hear the drums anyway..... complaints are welcome on the forum or in the comments

either way, thanks for visiting my blog :)

Pt. 1



Pt. 2



If anyone wants to donate a digital video camera (I'm actually doing this stuff on a 3 year old digital STILL camera) I won't say no..... :)

New Synth Pics

Pulled the camera out tonight and took some new pics, been a while and the system has grown a lot since then. Check out this forum thread if you want to see more pics.

DIY Blacet Modifications

Over at the forum there's a thread about all the different modifications that can be done to wring some cool extra functionality out of Blacet modules.

Yesterday, I added more comprehensive step-by-step information, along with photos of the process, for two of the mods - one which adds an AC/DC coupling selector to the Blacet VCO's FM input, and one which moves the 'range' DIP switch on the Micro LFO's circuit board to a front panel mounted switch. These are two of the easiest mods to perform, and great place for beginners to get started - and are both mods which add some very useful functionality to the module.

Check out the VCO's AC/DC FM Coupling Switch mod here

And peep the LFO Range Switch mod over here

This was prompted by some user requests, along with the fact that I've been promising to take photos and get the information up for over a year now. Sorry for the delay... one other cool reason that gave me a push to do this was that one of our forum users, BananaPlug, pointed me to information he had written up on mods for Blacet's Improbability Drive. BananaPlug gave me the OK to post his info at the forum, which was really cool of him - so I'll point you guys to that one as well...

BananaPlug's Improbability Drive Mods can be found here

Finally, be sure to have a peek at the general 'Blacet Modifications' thread as well, for summary info on a variety of other mods, as well as a place to get news when more mod info is added.

If anyone has questions about performing any of the mods, feel free to join up into the discussion at the forum. For beginners out there, this info doesn't qualify as a primer on soldering practises or anything like that - it's assumed you have the right tools, have a rough idea how to solder, and have some patience and common sense. None of us are to be held responsible if you destroy your modules! Have fun though, and be careful not to burn your fingertips ;)

Blacet Window Comparator Video

Well, I've witnessed lots of speculation about the Window Comparator, and even engaged in some of it myself.

Anyway, the good folks over at Blacet (uh, I guess that means "John") have given us a little peek in the form of a video. Mostly a view of an oscilloscope screen so that you can see what's happening with the module, but there's the obligatory money shot of the actual unit in action at the end of the clip.

As I speculated, this thing looks like it will be FANTASTIC for deriving interesting trigger sets from audio waveforms. Currently a slowly clocked MiniWave is my favorite way to accomplish this, however this looks like a very different approach that will generate some unique results, and I can't wait to try it.

Great news, and nice to have a video from Blacet so that we can have a closer look. Also I'm very happy that this module is shipping at the amazingly attractive price of $124 assembled ($92 for the kit). Once again Blacet is bringing unique and powerful new options to the modular synth world at bargain prices. I don't know how they do it, but I like it!

Peep the video right here

Final run of Klang Werk modules!

Just noticed on the Blacet news page (thanks for the heads-up Kwote!) that the Klang Werk is in it's final production run.

Seems like the IC's it uses are out of production, and Blacet has located enough for one more run, and then the module is discontinued.

This is far more than your grandpa's Ring Modulator. It's got an internal carrier (three types!) that can be modified with both CV and/or the panel controls, as well as the ability to use an external carrier (AC or DC!). It's got an amplifier. It's got an envelope follower, it can be used as a VCA, etc etc. A mini synth in a single module. As Blacet says, it really is the "werks"! Plus it sounds fantastic, and also like nothing else out there.

This is the last chance to pick up one of these classic and legendary modules, at least on the "new" market. So hit up Blacet and make yourself happy!

Just a reminder, at my forum I keep a thread with info about all the discontinued Blacet modules. Just added the Klang Werk. Take a look at the thread here, and see all the great Blacet stuff that you're missing!

Discontinued Blacet Modules

Had this cool idea, so spent some time writing up a "closeup" look at all the different modules that have been discontinued from production at Blacet Research.

Posted it at my forum so that it's easy to have a discussion if anyone wants. I'll keep the thread updated with info on any future modules that are killed off over at Blacet.

Click here to have a look!

New Blacet Modules!

Wow, some *excellent* looking new Blacet modules, all utility stuff, but I'm excited about them all - the Window Comparator in particular!! A very nice surprise today from John Blacet, thanks John!

Click here for images and all the info on Blacet's website

The new modules are:

Window Comparator - With VC'd Level and Width, includes inverted out, trigger out, and a very cool looking ramp generator which features a number of outputs! Very, very cool stuff.

Splitter - Basically a buffered 1-into-3 multi (hmm these are popular lately, Plan B just announced one 2 days ago. Seems like a reaction to something. I wonder what? Mmmmm..., but some extra cool features - one of the outs has a phase control, one has an atten, and the other is clean (but buffered). Nice extra flexibility as always from Blacet, and in a half-size module!

Mixer - Another half-size module, the Mixer is really the reverse of the Splitter above. 3-into-1, with an atten on one channel, a phase control on the other, and a third clean channel.

Cool stuff as always, I'm going to need at least a couple of each of these.

Also, for anyone who has been waiting, the Klang Werk is back into production.

www.blacet.com

Latest Modular Pics (Featuring Wiard!)

Well, finally got a bit of time to re-do one of my towers and get all my new Wiard stuff in there, and took a few pics. I think these may be some of the nicest pics I've ever taken of my synth... (never been much of a photographer)

Anyway this is actually an up-to-date photo of my synth! It's not showing the two 'orphan' frac racks I have sitting standalone on the side with some modules in them, but anyway. Mostly I wanted to get a shot or two of my gorgeous new Wiard modules that were waiting for me when I got back from the US on Friday. Enjoy.

(Oh yeah, click on the pics for a bigger size if you want)

Hylander Mini Wave Expander

Hey, I'm very excited about this, and it's basically done and I've got pics in hand, so it's time to post this to my blog...

David Hylander has built a Mini Wave Expander for me, and he'll be shipping it in the next couple of days. If you are already familiar with David's Expander, you'll notice that he's made some changes to the design - there's now an input so that the inverter can be used for other signals, as well as dedicated positive and negative outputs for the inverter's signal. Really, really cool stuff, and I can't wait to receive this!

For those that don't know, the Expander is used along with a Blacet/Wiard Mini Wave module, allowing the MW to address a total of 10 ROMs (as opposed to the 2 ROMs that a standard Mini Wave can work with), which ultimately gives your Mini Wave 2,560 individual waveforms. Additionally, the Expander adds CV control over the currently active ROM, and a signal inverter. Personally I think Dave Hylander is absolutely friggin' AWESOME for designing this, offering the PCBs for sale, and building them for people from time to time. Really, really cool, and this will turn one of the best modules ever into a total powerhouse. I can't wait to receive this, and will be eventually trying to talk Dave into building me a second one for my other Mini Wave.

If anyone wants to know more about the Mini Wave and what makes it so cool, I've written a little review here.