Doepfer Dark Energy III Announced

Doepfer announced some interesting new stuff for the upcoming NAMM  exhibition later this week.

(January 25/28 2018, Anaheim, Hall A, booth 10706)

I will post the new A-100 modules in another blogpost, but first the exciting Dark Energy III

Dark Energy III is the successor of the Dark Energy II, a monophonic stand-alone synthesizer with USB and Midi interface. Main differences between II and III are an

improved VCO (no warm-up period, additional triangle waveform, wider frequency range), resettable LFOs, improved ADSR and a lot of internal access points for DIYers.

This will make it easier for DIY-ers to create their own breakout boxes with extra functions, like Organzoner did a while ago... He posted a great video with a step-by-step tutorial on how to expand the capabilities of the Doepfer Dark Energy 2 by adding a breakout box...

The filter of the Dark Energy II has been unchanged.

The sound generation and all modulation sources are still 100% analog, only the USB/Midi interface contains digital components. 

􀂃 VCO:
o Triangle based, 10 octaves frequency range
o Tune control and Octave switch – 1 / 0 / +1 octave
o FM input with selectable source (ADSR / off / LFO1)
o Manual PW control and PWM with selectable source (ADSR / off / LFO2) for rectangle wave
o Waveform switch
o Additional external CV inputs for frequency and pulsewidth of the rectangle
􀂃 VCF:
o 12dB Multimode VCF with continuous mode control (lowpass – notch – highpass - bandpass)
o Manual Frequency control and FM with selectable source (ADSR / off / LFO2)
o Resonance control, up to self oscillation
o Additional external CV and external audio input
􀂃 VCA:
o Linear control scale
o Manual Amplitude control and AM with selectable source (ADSR / off / LFO1)
o Additional external CV input
􀂃 Envelope:
o Improved ADSR type with 3-position range switch
o Additional external gate input
o Control LED
􀂃 LFO:
o Two resettable LFOs (external Reset inputs)
o manual frequency control and 3-position range switches
o Waveform switches triangle/square
o LED controls

More info at http://www.doepfer.de/home_e.htm

Doepfer A-138 On/Off Switches Modification by Philippe Beaubrun

A-138 Mod by
Philippe Beaubrun

Philippe Beaubrun posted a few pictures on Facebook about his small Doepfer A-138 modification.
He added 2 HP wide breakout panels with 4 switches next to the A-138, to turn the individual channels on or off.


The pictures are quite clear, so re-creating this mod will be a piece of cake...

Personally I would prefer my switches on a 4HP wide panel for cosmetic reasons, but this doesn't look too bad.

More pictures HERE

Doepfer Dark Energy 2 DIY Mod. Breakout Box Walkthrough by Organzoner

Organzoner posted a great video with a step-by-step tutorial on how to expand the capabilities of the Doepfer Dark Energy 2 by adding a breakout box...

Video: Doepfer Dark Energy 2 DIY Mod. Breakout box walkthrough

" Here's a step-by-step walk through of how to get more patch points from your DEII.

All the jumpers are connected to the internal circuits according to the information found on the Doepfer website: http://www.doepfer.de/pdf/Dark_Energy...
thank you creativegallerys and other experimenters on Google for the idea.

Dieter Doepfer is legend, what an awesome semimodular synth!
nice hidden options! A great synth right out of the box. Now I just want to build an A-100!!!
...ordered an intellijel metropolis for CV gate/pitch sequencing the DEII and Moog SlimPhatty.
- organ zoner organzoner organz owner"

Uploaded by Organzoner

ADDAC210 Open Heart Surgery, Thoughts and FreqTalk Dreams

ADDAC210 Open Heart Surgery - Eurorack & Arduino Development Board

I'm still stoked about last weeks' ADDAC210 specifications announcement that i just had to write an extra blogpost about it.
At least 5 people already decided to pre-order this new Eurorack and Arduino Development Board, so the module will definitely be taken into production by ADDAC, a Portuguese company that has produced many more other innovative modules (100s Series!)over the last couple of years.

Although the idea is not completely new (see BeavisBoard), this is the first time that it is integrated in a 36HP wide Eurorack module with pre-mounted knobs, switches and mini-jacks.
Reading the comments about the ADDAC210 all over the web, the overall thought of most people seems to be "what can i do with it?"

The BeavisBoard-website has some nice examples that will also be interesting for synth-enthusiasts, but possibilities are almost limitless...

If you're a Eurorack fan, into synth DIY, and familiar with breadboards you instantly see this as an exciting and challenging module.

This must be the ultimate way to design, create and prototype your wildest synth ideas... and it will make bread-boarding so much easier!

The ADDAC210 comes with a 1 meter flat-cable and four 5.5cm. stands, so you can also keep it on your desk outside of your Eurorack while you are working on it.

The breadboards will be screwed to the front panel to allow "pre-patched" breadboards to be interchanged too. 

The knobs and the inputs on the bottom of the module will make designing new Eurorack synths/controllers feel very intuitive.

Now you can start experimenting, you will only have to get your hands on a (classic) cool (synth)-chips or other small electronics and then you can have so much fun with this... 

Expand your project on this breadboard by adding adding your favorite filter circuits and stuff... so exciting...

This module will bring Eurorack-patching to a micro-level with tiny jumper wires, resistors, diodes, microchips and more.

I'm already looking forward to the first creative online video examples...

A few random ideas:

Random spare parts

- experiment with your old chips that were always somewhere hidden on the bottom of your DIY-case

(maybe leftovers from other (old) synths, or old radio-parts)

- You can easily create a great fuzz using a single transistor and diode.

- With an added Arduino shield/board there are multiple sequencing/ timing / mathemetical- related functions that would be possible... (and even sampling !)

- How cool would it be to install various sensors on it? Adding a light-sensor/photo-resistor can turn this into a theremin-like module... but also think of a pressure-, heat-, or... lets say a humidity-sensor or Anemometer (a device used for measuring wind speed (vid)? It might sound weird now, but who knows what voltages you can use and what effect it can have on sound...

- Try to build your own Brian May treble booster; a single medium-gain transistor with low-value caps on the input boost the treble part of the signal. The original used a BC182L transistor but the 2N5087 works just the same. This circuit is very close to the original Dallas Rangemaster. (via the BeavisAudio-site)

- My ultimate wet dream would be (re-)creating something like the FreqTalk (see below) or some kind of Flame Talking Synth-clone (and HERE) with the use of one or two Magnevation SpeakJet (or other) speech-chips.
The FreqTalk is based on an Arduino board and 2 SpeakJet chips and I have a feeling that the ADDAC210 will make a speech synthesis synth like this possible, and probably quite easy too IMO.

Video 1: FreqTalk Introduction

" Narrated introduction to the FreqTalk synthesizer."

Video 2: FreqTalk freestyle demo

" FreqTalk synth playing through AdrenaLinn effects.Cameo appearance by E-Mu PX-7 drum machine.
(c) 2010 Andy Hutson"

In the comments Andy writes:
"... the SpeakJets basically cover 3 octaves (B0 to B3), but since the tuning is integer-based, and musical tuning isn't, many of the notes are slightly sharp or flat, but it's close enough for techno, so to speak. The chips are worth getting...they're a lot of fun to play with in Arduino applications. Easy serial communications, minimal wiring required."

"... It took several weeks of evenings, but I didn't keep track of all the hours. Thankfully for the new model, most of the code was a direct cut-n-paste, and I just have to add code to drive the sequencers and LCD screen. Hope to have it done and new videos posted before the end of the year.
"... I don't see mass producing these anytime soon, but the thought has crossed my mind. If I find the time, I'll post news on this channel. Currently, I am working on a new model...same sounds, but better interface, with an LCD screen and built-in step sequencer... SpeakJet chips are basically triggered via serial messages, but in conjunction with an Arduino, you can wire them up to accept almost any kind of signal to trigger them."

Videos uploaded and comments by lamatronix

I understand that you do have to have a bit of knowledge about electronics and probably about Arduino programming, but this module is ideal for anyone who wants to start realizing their own Eurorack synth or controller.
Still a great module for enthusiastic beginners...
Feel free to leave your ideas/suggestions below in the comments! (I might add more of them to this blogpost later)

Find my earlier ADDAC210 blogpost (with full specifications) at http://patchpierre.blogspot.nl/2014/02/addac210-open-heart-surgery-announced.html
Also keep an eye on the ADDAC210 Open Heart Surgery-thread on MuffWiggler  for the latest updates.

ADDAC210 website: http://www.addacsystem.com/product/addac200-series/addac210

ADDAC210 Open Heart Surgery Announced

ADDAC210 Open Heart Surgery

Wow! this is really amazing!

Pure Eurorack-DIY-p*rn if you ask me...

(a follow-up post to this can be found HERE)

ADDAC announced the details of their latest module this week.
It's a pretty cool concept: A eurorack and Arduino development board.

The ADDAC210 Open Heart Surgery features:

- On/Off Power switch
- Current consumption 3 led display with short circuit protection shutdown via electro-mechanical relays triggered when above 700mA:
150mA, 400mA, 700mA/OFF
- Arduino shield headers in the back, usb cable comes out from the side, all Arduino pins in the front panel!
- Main power connections:
-12V, GND, +12V
- Secondary power connections (variable voltage regulators) adjustable via the front panel small trimpots:
-3/10V, +3/10V
- Frontpanel parts:
1x breadboard, 2x 10K Pots, 1x 50k Pot, 2x 100k Pots, 1x 1M Pot, 4x Leds, 1x Photocell
2x SPST (normally open) push switches
1x DPDT (on/on) toggle switch
1x SPDT (on/on) toggle switch
2x SPDT (on/off/on) toggle switches
1x 3.5mm stereo jack
5x 3.5mm mono jack
1x 1/4'' stereo jack
- Comes with 1M Long power cable to have it outside any frame.

ADDAC210 Open Heart Surgery Frontpanel layout

All front panel parts: pots, switches, jacks... are available at one point in the top female headers, for ex: Pot 1&2 are available at the top left 2nd connector printed "POT 1/2" pot legs are then identified by LCR, or Left Lug, Center Lug, Right Lug.
Switches are marked UCD: up pin, center pin, down pin.
Jacks are marked: LR, left, rigth for stereo jack & T,SW for tip and tip switch, jack sleeves are internally connected to ground.
This way all points are available directly from the top.
The use of up, down, left, right, is meant to be more immediate while recalling which pins are which.

A jumper wires pack will also be provided. / An optional parts kit will also be available. 

Estimated Price: 270-320€
Early bird price: 250€
If 5 users commit to this ADDAC willl push it into production and plan of having these ready in 3-5 weeks!

ADDAC System
http://www.addacsystem.com
ADDAC210 website: http://www.addacsystem.com/product/addac200-series/addac210

Via MuffWiggler: http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=105645&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=817b8544a5186de2da925099c680405d

Random Video: DIY Acrylic Modular Syntheziser

This video comes from Jonas Karlsson via the Doepfer A-100 Analog Modular Facebook page.

It features himself, building and installing modules into his DIY acrylic Eurorack-case.

It even has some nice music...

Video: DIY Acrylic Modular Syntheziser

" DIY Building a Eurorack modular synthesizer case of acrylic and Doepfer DIY kit 1.
Stills and video, Music is made with Doepfer A-111-5 Mini synthesizer voice,
Make Noise Phonogene Sequenced with Make Noise René

And a Korg Monotron delay "

Uploaded by miip999

Zyntetix at Bandcamp

Blue LED Lights MIDI Controlled using a Doepfer MTC 64

James Bragg, member of the Doepfer Yahoo Usergroup recently shared his latest project.
He has just finished his 16-LED light-panel using a Doepfer MTC64 MIDI-to-Contact board.

The MTC64 is an universal MIDI interface that converts up to 64 succeeding MIDI note on/off or program change messages into 64 TTL voltages (0/+5V).

The TTL outputs of the MTC64 can be used to control different switching functions. 

With suitable drivers (e.g. switching transistors) relays, lamps, motors, electromagnets, even magnetic valves and so on can be controlled.

James only used 16 of the 64 switching contacts.
He explains: " When playing synth live I use an Akai  MPC1000 sampler for backing beats and I wanted to synchronize lighting with it."
In the video he shows how it is all made.

Video: Blue LED Lights MIDI Controlled using a Doepfer MTC64

" A project using a Doepfer board to Midi Control LED lights. We're going to use this for our band Phoenix-Flare so the lights can be synced perfectly to the Drum Machine "

Uploaded by James Bragg

Subscribe on YouTube: hyperdust7

Doepfer DIY Synth for Eurorack

I have a lot of respect for the DIY/synth community and their inventivity.
A Google alert notified me about this module, a Doepfer DIY-synth built into a skiff-friendly 42 TE wide Eurorack panel... the smallest one i have seen so far.
For those of you interested, it is still for sale on eBay...


"Doepfer DIY synth for Eurorack format
Fully patchable complete modular analog synth.
Size 42TE (213 mm) / Skiff friendly

The module has:
30 Patch points (3,5 Euro standard jacks)
27 Potentiometers
plus 2 switches and 2 LEDs for ADSR and LFO

You get:
A VCO, Multimode filter (LowPass, HighPass and mixed mode), LFO (trangle and rectangle), ADSR, inverter, slew (portamento)
Each with several attennuators and parameters not normally seen in other modules."

Auction ends on the 15th of March - find it on eBay HERE

BookTip XIV: Electronica for Dummies (Dutch Edition)

Electronics for Dummies, Dutch Language version

Okay, a bit of a weird BookTip this time... at first sight.

The For Dummies series is an extensive series of instructional/reference books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered.

As of December 2012, over 1800 For Dummies titles have been published with editions in numerous languages.

This Electronica (electronics) edition (published in 2005 in multiple languages) is extremely useful for the beginning electronics DIY-ers (like me), and it has already been very helpful making thing more understandable.

The book (416 pages) covers a whole range of subjects, from the basics, preparation, tools and safety-measures to easy-to-build small projects on a breadboard or with self-made printed circuit boards (pcb's).

On your way through the book you'll learn everything about diodes, resistors, capacitors and reading schematics. It even has a robotics section...

I learned a lot from this book so far, although i haven't even read it all... i mainly use it for reference.

In the English language you have the choice of a few different books about this same subject in the For Dummies series,

Closest is probably the Electronics All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies, and for the advanced DIY-ers I guess they could even try the Circuitbuilding Do-It-Yourself For Dummies, but please check before you buy because i'm not sure.

More info at http://www.dummies.com/

Written by: Gordon McComb & Earl Boysen

ISBN: 978-90-430-1162-4

Find my other BookTips HERE

A-142-4 plus Expander Demo by Hawklord2112

Regular video-uploader and contributor to the blog Hawklord2112 uploaded another nice new video.

He bought himself a new A-142-4 Quad Decay module and also an extra expander module for it.
Each of the 4 sub-units of the A-142-4 has a pin header with two pins available.

When the two pins are shortened (e.g. by means of a jumper on the PCB board or a toggle switch connected to the two pins) the corresponding sub-unit changes to a loop mode. 

In this mode the unit triggers itself like an LFO..

The expander is made of a pre-manufactured panel, punched for 8 sockets, almost identical to the A-180 front panel but without the printing.
Those panels are very useful for DIY-projects like this.
In his video he explains how it all works.

Video: A-142-4

"Basic demo of the Doepfer A142.4 Quad Decay generator and DIY breakout expander"

Uploaded by hawklord2112

A-128 Modification by Ernst van der Loo

Dutch Sound Designer, Engineer, Composer & Performer Ernst van der Loo posted a few pictures of his latest DIY-project in the Doepfer A-100 Facebook group.

Tools of the trade and lots of wire

The project involved creating 15 individual outputs for his Doepfer A-128 fixed filter bank.

Module A-128 (Fixed Filter Bank) is a filter bank, made up of 15 parallel band pass filters, all with fixed middle frequencies and bandwidth.

Each band pass filter has its own amplitude control knob, with which that frequency band can be attenuated. 

The bandwidth of each of the filters is approximately half an octave.
The signal at the original output of the A-128 contains a mix of all the filters, depending on the position of each one's amplitude control knob.

Finished project 

Ernst used an 8HP blind panel to create the expansion board for his A-128, drilled 15 holes, mounted the mini-jack-connectors and connected them with the correct terminals/outputs on the A-128 PCB board.
There is even the choice between pre-attenuator terminals (fixed volume) or post-attenuator.
You can find the document that shows how to add these single outputs to the filter bank A-128 in THIS PDF (from Doepfer's DIY page)

Ernst commented on the end-result:
 "Not too happy with the alignment of the mini-jacks yet. Maybe I'll need a new drill exercise..."

Maybe he should have saved himself the trouble, because if desired Doepfer can carry out this modification in the factory  (price for blind plate 8HP + 15 sockets + about one hour working time) for about Euro 100 altogether.

Pictures used with kind permission by
 http://www.ernstvanderloo.com

Doepfer A-197-2 / Velleman VPS10 Oscilloscope Kit

In the early days of the A-100, Doepfer also sold the A-197-2 LCD Oscilloscope Front Panel Kit.

This kit is no longer available, and was not a module manufactured by Doepfer but only a 34HP wide front panel kit to mount the one-channel Velleman Panelscope VPS10 LCD Oscilloscope into an A-100 frame.

The kit consisted of the plain front panel (punched for VPS10, without printing), an A-180 Multiples PC board (mounted crosswise below the scope) and all wires necessary to connect the VPS10 to the A-100 bus (power supply) and the A-180 board (signal input). 

A-197-2 Kit with Velleman VPS10 Oscilloscope
installed plus manual and mounting screws

The connecting lines between the sockets were made with black, waterproof felt pen. 

A little bit of mechanical skills and soldering was necessary to put this all together. 

Three wires had to be soldered to the VPS10 (GND, +12V, signal). 

One hole had to be drilled into the plastic case of the VPS10 for the passage of the wires, and the VPS10 had to be mounted to the front panel with 4 screws and nuts. 

A detailed mounting and soldering description was added to the panel kit. 

A-197-2 Kit with Velleman VPS10
Oscilloscope installed

No special measuring cable (BNC - 3.5 mm jack) was necessary as the four right sockets were internally connected to the VPS BNC input (the BNC input was connected to the right four sockets of the A-180 board) . 

The four left sockets built a second multiple without connection to the VPS10 (same as A-180).

It was also possible to run the VPS10 with an external power supply to save the "high quality" current/voltage of the A-100 bus. 

The VPS10 did not require an exactly adjusted and highly stabilized supply voltage.

Back-side of the A-197-2 Kit with Velleman VPS10
Oscilloscope installed

So... Why did Doepfer offer only the front panel kit ?
Doepfer mentioned on their website: " We do not get a better price for the VPS10 than a normal end user but have to take on the warranty and to calculate the dealers rebate into the final price.
I.e. we have to add at least the dealers rebate and the handling charges to the VPS10 price to obtain a zero profit !
This would extremely increase the price of the module and we think that this is not in the sense of the customers."

You can find the full description and support files for the Vellemann VPS10 HERE
The assembly and wiring manual is available for download from the Doepfer website: A197_2_man.pdf

The price of the A-197-2 was 40 Euro (only for the front panel kit, the VPS10 had to be ordered seperately by the customer e.g. from an electronic shop for almost 200 Euros)

Remark: We are not responsible for the features of the VPS10. 

Mounting/wiring the VPS10 may affect the warranty. 

Pictures via MATRIXSYNTH

How NOT to Modify

The rail is still visible through the
new hole i drilled

Okay... sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

I made a slight mistake while drilling a new hole in a front panel for my latest DIY-project.
(blogpost will follow soon)

Although i knew there was not a lot space where i had to drill, i did not calculate that the rail would still be visible.

Hardly visible, but i had to scrape almost
one mm. off the module's PCB

I am glad that i didn't have to put a mini jack connector but only a switch there, but that didn't even fit here.
Okay, maybe I should have drilled a smaller hole in the first place.

My bad... but still very annoying.
On the other side of the hole there's the module's PCB, so i couldn't put the switch higher without also modifying the PCB board.

Luckily i could solve the problem with an extra large ring.
It has not trned out to be my most successful modification.
More info on what i was working on will follow later this week.

Finished switch, with extra large ring

Sadly i also damaged the front-panel a little bit (bottom left and under the D from Doepfer)

I should be more careful next time, and take a little bit more time for my modifications... 

Make a plan first... and work step-by-step.

That would spare me a lot of trouble.

Doepfer MCV-24 Battery Replacement

Zoë Blade's partner Nina Richards has made an interesting short video demonstrating how to replace the Doepfer MCV-24's internal battery.

Video: Doepfer MCV-24 battery replacement

" Nina's short guide to replacing the internal battery of a Doepfer MCV-24"

Uploaded by Zoë Blade

The following Doepfer devices are (or have been) equipped with a rechargeable battery like this for memory backup:
2.4V rechargeable battery: LMK3/LMK3+
3.6V rechargeable battery, grid 10 x 20 mm.: used in d3c, MCV24, A-112 VC Sampler /Wavetable Oscillator, Schaltwerk and Regelwerk.

Find more info on Doepfer batteries at http://patchpierre.blogspot.nl/2011/09/quick-tip-vii-battery-check.html

Eurorack String and Bow Interface by Peter Speer

As most of you know i have a special interest in alternative controllers and modules.
Earlier this year i posted the Guitar-module for example (can be found HERE)
Although there is not very much innovation in the Eurorack space lately, there are still enough DIY-ers with interesting ideas.

Check out Peter Speer's eurorack String and Bow interface for example.
It consists of a hollow laser cut MDF enclosure, with a guitar string pulled across two zither pins and a contact mic underneath (connected to the front jack).

The bow is homemade (2x4 + horsehair).

The video shows a nice demonstration.

" Pressure Points and the Wogglebug's Stepped Out (triggered by the Pressure Points) are controlling the frequency on the DPO, as well as the pitch shift on the Echophon.

The envelope out from an A-119 is opening the low pass gate on the output and controlling the modulation index on the DPO."

Video: Euro bow interface prototype

Check out Peter's 'Leisure Cove' blog at http://theshamblers.blogspot.com
And subscribe to his videos via Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/53649008

Modular In A Picture Frame

A great idea for a nice modular case can be found on http://groanmaster.blogspot.nl/

This project by Andrew Dobbels involves a real picture-frame and a 208 HP Eurorack with various modules.
You can find the making-of pictures on his site with explanatory texts, so you can build your own.

More pics HERE

(via MATRIXSYNTH)

Modifying the A-124 Wasp Filter a Little More

I don't know why i didn't come up with this idea earlier, but here is a short follow-up to my earlier self-oscillation modification post for the A-124 WASP filter ( original post can be found HERE )

The (mini-) modification consists of adding a switch to toggle between self-oscillation on/off modes.
To do this i had to use an extra 4 HP wide blank panel because there isn't enough space left on the A-124's front-panel to add a switch.
This is not my first 'expansion module',
i  made one earlier for my A-127 Triple Resonance Filter

I did this modification in less than an hour; i carefully drilled a 6 mm. hole in a new 4HP blank panel, desoldered one side of the resistor that i added earlier and connected that one to the new switch.
Another piece of wire connects the other side of the switch back to the original position of where the resistor was connected.

I am very happy with the result, i can now manually switch, turn the resonance-knob up to self-oscillation and simply switch back to the original mode again...

Thanks to Tony Steventon from Synovatron for the project review

DIY Modular Case Ideas

There are many ways to house your (eurorack) modular synth, i wrote about the pre-manufactured options from Doepfer earlier, find that post HERE, but of course you can also try to build you own case.
There are many ways to make your own A-100/Eurorack case if you start out with just the basic rails and busboard, and you can make it as cheap or expensive as you can.

Check out a few ideas;
Wooden cabinets and side-panels are still very popular amongst (modular) synth enthusiasts.
These simple case standards for the pre-manufactured LC9 cases are very simple, and can be sooo useful
http://synthesizerart.blogspot.com/2011/10/dual-doepfer-lc9-case-stand-v1-design.html Also check out the other great modular pictures on his site.
Matthew Goike (@Goiks) also has some nice wooden cabinets on display and for sale on his website: http://www.goike.com/node/5

...or do what Stretta did (or rather what his brother did), make a high-end wood/brushed aluminium cabinet with integrated LED-lights and some kind of ingenious integrated cable-tree-hanger-thingy.

Stretta's Modular cabinet, made out of wood and brushed aluminium

...with an eye for detail

On his blog he writes: "The basic criteria was to widen the six row monster base/monster case combination another rack width, creating a triple-wide configuration that is easy to reach across. The width of such a configuration is about the same a standard piano keyboard. The curved design brings the top row dow to a more reachable height. The foot print of the system isn't much wider than my previous configuration." ,and
" The 1512 gets its name from the amount of hp it houses. To put this in perspective, the 1512 puts 54U of rack space, all within an arms reach."
Find more pictures of this cabinet HERE
(pictures by stretta.com )

Tony's Modular Toolcase

Tony Steventon's 'Modular in a Toolbox' case is also a very nice idea.
I personally like it's portability, plus the fact that you can travel with it without having to unpatch your whole system because the lid covers and protects all your patch-cables nicely.

Find his step-by-step building instructions at http://synovatron.blogspot.com/2011/11/modular-in-tool-case.html

Last but not least i find these custom side-panels for Dark Energy very cool. If you are handy, you could make something like this for your Dark Energy, Dark Time or Dark Matter, or try to find a pair of these on eBay.
Find more of these custom-made wooden side-panels at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI1KuWWAP8c

Wooden Ribbon Controller Project Part 2

My project is going great so far.
Most of the woodwork seems to be finished.
I carved out the whole  59.7 x  2.4 cm. strip where the fingerboard should come, about 3 mm deep across the whole surface.
I carved a bit too deep at places, but i will fill that up a bit with filler, so that should turn out fine.
The pressure sensor needs a flat surface, so that needs a little bit of extra attention.

I painted the wood 4 times now, with a glossy mahogany varnish, and it looks quite amazing IMHO...
It will get one last layer of varnish after the final assembly of the whole project
I screwed an iron ring at the top (but that might become an brassy one), and i am planning to screw one at the bottom for  attaching a shoulderband.

I changed my mind a bit about the old fingerboard that i wanted to use, but i will order a new pressure-board from Doepfer next week.
I also need to find a smaller piece of wood that can cover up the USB-connector or find another good way to hide the connections.

That does mean i have to wait a few weeks before i can take the last steps and finish the whole project.
I will keep you updated...

Wooden Ribbon Controller Project Part 1

Today I decided to pick up an old idea that i had for a long time.
Whenever i play the Ribbon Controller, i tend to hold it like a guitar, not like most do on a tabletop surface.

I have always loved the combination of wooden elements and synthesizers.
This combination was/is still very popular since the early 1970's.
Look at all those (Mini)Moogs and many other synths with wooden side-panels for example...
That is why i also decided to make my Ribbon Controller out of wood.
It looks like a found a nice solution to an earlier project too.

So today i bought myself a nice piece of wood in the local woodshop.
On forehand i had the idea that the handle of an axe might be the kind of thing that i needed.
They had a few different sizes, but i found a hardwood unpainted axe hande that was 90 centimeters (3ft.) long and perfectly shaped and curved.
I might make it a bit shorter later, but for now this will do just fine.

I dismantled my old Ribbon Controler (i do own another one, the newer version) and drawn out the shape of it on the axe handle. I used 3 screws to fixate the fingerboard while doing that.
Next up is the carving... i want to sink the fingerboard into the handle, but that means i need to carve at least half a centimeter deep.

I already carved the first bit like the last picture shows, but i still have a long way to carve.
But i need to get myself a new chisel now so you will have to wait how this project will continue.
I will keep you updated... but don't expect this to be finished before 2012.