For a shot of the entire studio, click here
Click here for a listing of modules by function
Click here for a listing of modifications to existing third-party modules
Click here for a my home-designed, home built, home-brewed modules
Click here to jump directly to MILTON, the 16 by X voltage controlled sequencer
Click here for description of the Eclectic Music Box's design conventions
Below is a description and listing of modules in the Eclectic Music Box (shown above)
MODULES BY COLUMN/ROW.....(top to bottom, left to right):
EXPANSION MODULE:
Two Blacet Miniwaves, Steiner-Parker Multimode Matrix Filter (adaptation of his standard filter with attenuation on each mode (at filter input) ) allowing for either a single ganged input or separate inputs per mode), Multimode Vactrol Filter (a homebrew consisting of a modified Low Pass Gate core with a feedback loop introducing resonance and a high pass/band reject filer modes) Homebrew Sample and Hold with stepped and smooth outs (soon to be adiosed), DOD Flanger w/VC sweep, Serge Tripe Waveshaper with a second attentuator fitted per section), Analogue Systems ADSR (with modifications), DoepferA-149-1, Modified A. Systems Slew (range swtich added), the prototype Plan B Model 15 VCO, Doepfer Mixer, another Homebrew, the Dual Event Timer (see homebrew page dfor description) and Doepfer Envelope Follower/ Comparator.
It's not Photoshop! The small triangular block seen at the lefthand side of the Expansion Module's base is one of two (there's another on the righthand side) 1 1/2 inch thick plexiglass blocks which neatly secure the expansion module at a 13.5 degree angle the top of the main panel. The corners of these blocks have been removed a half inch from their apex to keep the expansion module from slipping off the top of the main chassis. The textured Zoletone outer finish used on both cabinets provide a pretty snug fit while resting against one another.
Totally self-contained, the expansion module will be equipped with it's own +/- 15, +/- 12 and +5 volt supplies so it may used by itself, or with other equipment. It has all of the components of a small synth onto itself. Sans a sequencer, its functionally close to a Music Easel, yet does offer more control generators.
Click here for close ups:
Expansion panel left side modules Miniwaves, Steiner FIlter, Vactrol Filter, Sample + Hold, Triple Waveshaper
Expansion panel center modules VC Flanger, A. Sys ADSR, Doepfer SOurce of Uncertainty, A. Sys Slew
Expansion panel right side modules Plan B VCO prototype, Doepfer Mixer, Dual Comparator (Event Timer), Doepher EG Follower
MAIN CABINET:.
UTILITY STRIP:
Directly underneath the expansion module is a single rack high strip which houses the panel illumination, key system I/Os plus a bank of mults. Functions are (from left to right): main power outputs (common, +/- 12 VDC, +/- 15 VDC, +5 VDC), CV to Midi converter, external Audio input 3 (left and right), external mixer Bus inputs (4), three banks of 3 x 5 mults, external Audio I/O 2 (one stereo input to external device, three sets of outputs from external device), external Audio I/O 1 (one stereo input to external device, three sets of outputs from external device), Main system outs to mixer and illumination controls (switch and fader)
The CV to Midi Converter is a homebrew module which currently converts an analog trigger to a MIDI note-on message of a single pitch - but it can be recorded into a sequencer or used to trigger midi devices. These devices think a single fixed key of a midi keyboard has been depressed every time the trigger voltage rises above 1.5 volts. In the future, this device will be multi-tonal - in that both a trigger AND a voltage will be sampled, and the resulting midi key depression will be one of 64, based on the amplitude of the analog voltage sampled (next project after Mitlon's completion).
Click here for close ups:
Row 2 - Custom faceplates with 2 Blacet EGs, Triple Low Pass Gates, 2 Blacet Mixer/Processor, Buchla Fluctuating Random Voltage clone, Serge Resonant Filter Bnak, A. SOoutions Mixer (snuck in as part of the Serge Bank), Home brew modules: Bloolean Gate, Positive biased voltage inverter, Noise Source, Pulse Shaper, Home Brew 8 x 2 Sequencer - the predecessor to Milton.
Click here for close ups:
Buchla Fluctuating Random , Serge Resonant EQ, homebrew Boolean Gates/Noise/Inverter/Pulse Shaper
Row 34 Blacet Osc, Buchla 291 Bandpass FIler clone (w/EG), Homebrew Dual Processor, Blacet Ring, Analogue Systems Mixer, Doepfer VC Switch, Doepfer Control Voltage Source, Analogue Systems Oscillator, Doepfer Panner
Click here for close-ups:
Blacet osc 1-3 This photo is old and is before Gizmotron's were added. see next picture for current Blacet VCO config
Blacet osc4 (showing Gizmotron fitted) , Fiter, Processor, Ring
Analogue Systems and Doepfer modules from row 3
Row 4 - Doepfer Dual S+H, Doepfer Dual Slew, Analogue Solutions LFO/Noise/S+H, Doepfer LFO (with modifications), 2 Analogue Systems'
Multi-mode filters, Analogue Systems Gate Delay (with modifications),, Doepfer ADSR/Trigger Modifier (two of each), 4 Doepfer
VCAs, Doepfer Trigger Divider and Doepfer Frequency Shifter
Click here for close-ups:
Analogue Systems filters from row4
Analogue Systems and Doepfer modules from row4
Row 5 - Motivity Input Port (see below for desciption), Milton VCS Voltage Controlled Sequencer
Click here for close-ups:
Motivity Input Port ( homebrew 5 key touchplate keyboard with 2-axis joystick)
Milton VCS - Voltage Controlled Sequencer
Left Side Cabinet
This is the newest addtiokn to the system, hich was constructed nitially for the Analogue Systems RS300 CV to Midi Converter, I electerd to make it over twice the size required for that unit, mostly to allocate space for future expansion. There are already plas for this...
Click here for the Left Side Cabinet
For pictures of the Eclectic Music Box in various stages of completion, click here
Check back for updates. In the coming months schematics and circuit descriptions will be posted of the homebrew equipment in this box
For a description of original and modified classic circuit designs in the Eclectic Music Box, click here
This system was given to me at the request of its original owner, my life long friend, mentor and first electronic mussic;/theory instructor John Waddell, who passed in 2002 from complications of non hotchkins lymphoma. It's a wonderful instrument.
Second row: Novation SuperNova II
Third Row: Waldorf Micro Q
Forth Row: Modular analog equipment by Deopfer, Analogue Solutions and Analogue Systems used exclusively to control the digital equipment via the Doepfer A-192 CV to Midi converter (seen at far right of analog rack).
Fifth Row: Homebrew docking module consisting of Midi selector, MAQ input midi/power controls, dual voltage processor, and/nand gate, positive-biased voltage inverter, mults, envelope follower, Midi to CV converter outs.
Shelf: Doepfer MAQ 16/3 Midi/CV sequencer
Bottom row 1: (partially hidden) Fostex 16 in/2 out line mixer
Bottom row 2: Yamaha TX-816
Bottom row 3: Yamaha TX-802
Bottom row 4: Ensoniq KMX-8 Midi router
Not shown: Six voice Oberheim OB-MX
Taken by a friend without the aid photoshop filters. But the blur is interesting and the only reason I've included this snapshot, as I look about as tired as I was feeling at the moment...