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Anushri & MCP4822

MaxZorin — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 17:12:35 -0500

I have a question to Pichenettes…
Did you ever considered / tried to use a classic solution for signals distribution, I mean DAC123x + 4051 + S&H instead of MCP482x?

First Shruthy: a Voltage Controlled Synth?

Gengisthecan — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:05:08 -0400

Hallo Shruthers,
I finisced my first board whit SMR-4 filter.
It was a very teaching experience, vary satisfactory, I enjoed myselt a lot.
Only trouble I found was at first the tuning of oscillator. The sine tone was fading quickly and, as is it told in the forum, I presume it was a problem of over heating. Before digging it, I lowered voltage in and I found that at 7,5V the Shruthy sounded well. I tuned it perfectly whit the tubeohm utility and checked later with a scope.
Responsible of over heating was 7805; with 9-12V in, it was untouchable.
Changed it presuming a defective unit. Nothing changed.

Checking the power section I mesure:

Volt in 7,45

LT1054
pin 5: -6,18V
pin 8: +6,69V same tension than after diode

7805 out: +4,89
7905 out: -4,94

Same voltages on + – rails.
Feeding 9V change nothing, heathing a part.
With note C4 sine wave is around 3V pp.

My explanation is: if 1054 must output -5V and +5V the 7805 works too much and heats. But why 7905 not?
Electromistery to me.

As soon as possible I’ll replace 1054. May be I wave it half fried with a power supply too “hot”.

Anyway, at 7,5V the instrument sounds sweet. Waves dance on scope graciously and now I can play the oscillator over 9 octaves.

I believe that every machine has is own voice. Maybe the regulator is gone, but mine has found is own regulation.

Is it a Voltage Controlled Synth? VCS

All the best to all

Gengisthecan, 56, Roma, Italy

Praise for Shruthi-1 and its developer

expliatio — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:26:41 -0500

I have just finished building my Shruthi-1 kit, after buying it way back in February this year.

It has brought back lots of memories for me. I used to enjoy building circuits from schematics I found in magazines as a teenager, from my pocket money. Every once in a while something would not work as it should after days/hours of work and I did not have a clue where to start diagnosing the faults: Still the transmitters, flashing LED's, more than made up for it.

Fast forward to 2011, when I finished soldering all the pieces of my Shruthi-1, it did not seem to produce any sounds. This time, however, thanks to Mutable Instruments, it was explained very clearly how to trace problems. 3 a.m. Saturday morning, I found myself vandalising an audio cable lying around to trace the signal on my SM-4 board. A-ha! It does produce tones... At all points, except point 8. Quick look at the schematics, and using the cheap old multimeter, it took me less than 10 minutes to narrow it down to 1 specific connection and resoldering this solve the problem!

I could not get the filter to self-oscillate. Resonance seemed to work but for some reason not as high to make a sine wave. Who cares?! I put it in the box connected the leads, to try it out...

The sound on this thing, however, is still amazing! I have loads of digital and analog equipment in my set up but none of them have the quality of presets that this little thing does. I was expecting to like the sound but I was taken aback by how MUCH I liked it.

The next day, I decided to go through the sequencer patterns. Blimey! The first 10 or so, particularly! They are exactly the patterns that I try to program on every synth...

I just want to say, THANK YOU to Olivier for developing this little gem and for the clear instructions for people like me who may or may not know what they are doing.

I need to go and play it a little more now!

Olivier Gillet - interview en français (in french)

ikkini — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:18:56 -0400

Un entretien avec Olivier Gillet principalement autour de ses nouveaux modules au format eurorack :
http://synthemodulaire.com/post/47541183644/interview-dolivier-gillet-de-mutable-instruments

Search engine not working?

Fitvideo — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 04:56:43 -0500

Is it me or is there something up with the search engine? Typing quartz , or crystal yielded nothing…

regards

Feedback on Modular Synth Rack

dkMode — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:05:21 -0500

In my haste to prepare for my Anshuri and Little Dieter build. I purchased a tiptop audio Happy Ending Kit, HEK for short. I didn’t realize at the time the HEK kit only has 84 HP – 4 HP for uzeus power panel. Leaving me 80. So by my guess, this wouldn’t fit the Anshuri 42 HP + 8 Hp expansion and Little Dieter. Also a few more modules.

I know the easiest answer would be to add more z rails but the cost is sort of high, when u look at it. So I will pack up the HEK kit and store it until needed. I will more than likely use the uzeus though with any new rack.

So after reviewing many website stores for 19” rack stands as a replacement. I found the cost too high $50-80 for 8-16u rack stands, plus they sit too low or have to be on top of a table. Cheap plywood cabinets for 8-16u run $178-278. I don’t want travel racks because I have a ton of those.

After seeing the cabinets I remember a electronics surplus store I frequent sales used 5-9 feet tall 19” 2 post and 4 post server racks. A 7 foot rack has 45u of space. Forget cheap plywood when metal is just funner to look at. :-D Ranging $75-199. Will the holes fit like a normal 19” rack?

If so, can I buy rails to go across the 19” rack? If so where? I mean to use rails to change the amount of space needed between sets? Exp. 3u, 5u, 6u spaces…..meaning change the space to my hearts content?

Thanks for any input you can provide. I already out grew my first eurorack without ever touching it. LoL

Olivier Gillet interview

snk — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:19:09 -0500

Hello
I have published a french interview from MI’s headmaster Olivier Gillet, you can read it here :
www.samplestation.net/articles/interview/interview-dolivier-gillet-mutable-instruments/

Just got my Anushri + case (missing parts and extra parts?), no candy

thecyantist — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:26:20 -0500

I just picked up my Anushri package from USPS. Inside it looks like all the main anushri components are there, but there are a couple things I cannot figure out.

1: I Got the white 4-pole mission PCB + digital control PCB for it. I did not order this.

2: The anushri case came without Set of screws, nuts and spacers. rubber stick-on feet, just the plexi.

3 and last no Candy! :( I was super excited for foreign candy.

I just took a picture to show the extent of what came in the box: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/480943_10152419642385389_790330852_n.jpg What do I do? I looks like I just needs screws/spacers for the case. I don’t mind having Shruthi pcb lol, I guess I would have to put it to use in the future.

Finally again a Polivoks was born.. :)))

john — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 20:04:31 -0500

Hey Guys

What an amazing filter the polivoks has! Cryyyyyyyyyyyyyying! :) Awesome stuff! I think i make another one.. :DDD Wow! Stunning…

22p instead 18p on digital board = no issues! ;)

Cherrrzzz

Chat?

altitude — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:55:08 -0500

So isn’t time we set up an IRC chat somewhere? Freenode is nice..

Anushri kit delivery time

Fitvideo — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:45:14 -0500

Mine has just arrived! 12.30 lunchtime here in the UK, Wednesday Nov 07 2012
that is pretty impressive to Yorkshire , England in that time …the YM boards took a while longer … way back when I built my first shruthi that was 3-4 days iirc.
Hats off to all involved , many thanks Olivier.
cheers

Yeeahhhh!! New Search Function !!

shiftr — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:22:37 -0500

new search function

great work Olivier!

Kits

thijs — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 07:04:04 -0400

I’m a bit late to the game so I’ve missed out on all the Shruthi-1 special edition kits. I was wondering if I can expect any of these to return in some shape or form as complete kits or if I really need to bite the bullet and start sourcing my own parts.

Visibility of the Wiki

Dunk — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 18:35:05 -0400

Hi, I’ve just discovered the Wiki, as a member posted a link to it. However I don’t think there i a link to it on the site. Is this correct, or have i missed it? Also is the Wiki intended to be added to by anyone?
Thanks

Forum oddities/requests

Jojjelito — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:27:22 -0400

Hi all,

I noticed that the pop-up containing Textile help from labs.metanation.com is broken. No, I even disabled popup-,ad-blocking and Ghostery on mutable-instruments.net and the metanation domain. No luck.

It would be helpful with a link back to the forum when logged out.
Also, it would be nice with a link to the mutable merch somewhere other than hidden in the forum ;)

Now back to Google Earth, NES stylee and press Quest for some old-school lurvin’

dual svf versus 4p

shimoda — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 21:11:51 -0400

I know this has been discussed and I’ve done some searching to get feedback but I’m trying to make an important decision. Buying everything is not an option. Hell, buying this shouldn’t be, however. I have a couple v2164d chips now and was planning on building the dual svf. Also I have a Red Alert case currently housing my SMR4 mkii (1st Shruthi) and I think a Polivoks would go nicely in that, and make more sense. The SMR4 mkii will likely become a permanent resident in a Roland keyboard with programmer style controls in the top deck.

So, if I’m going to build two more Shruthis (I have an SSM2044 board but it just doesn’t want to work) to go along with my sidekick (and possibly the NovaDrone) should it be a 4P or the dual svf? Thoughts on sound and how to get the widest range here would be nicest. I’ll probably be poly shruthi-ing these sometimes.

It was all Yellow.... Magic

xtrmnt — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 19:29:25 -0400

I completed the Shruthi-1 Yellow Magic build today, case and all. :) It helps that I already had a yellow case that I brought from Frank a few months ago to put it in. It sounds great. I have included a Soundcloud clip that I made that demonstrates the delay feature. The link is below along with pictures:

http://soundcloud.com/xtrmnt/shruthiyellowmagic

Can we have a link to the Wiki?

waldshrut — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:00:48 -0400

Can we have a link to the Wiki on the main page?

private message system bugs?

shimoda — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:25:01 -0400

Is anyone having problems with the PM system on the forums. I’ve had a couple of issues with not receiving messages and others not getting messages I’ve sent. It didn’t happen at first and I’m still not sure whether or not it is still not working. I want to make sure people get a PM otherwise I’ll just post in a forum thread to make sure the message is sent.

Shruthi feature request- display saved parameter value

Silverfish — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:24:57 -0400

Hey everyone. I’ve got a feature request for the Shruthi: would it be possible to have saved patches display the saved parameter value while using the encoder, in a similar way to the DSI Mopho? or maybe if not showing the saved value, then an indicator on the lcd, like when it receives midi, but.. you know… for when the parameter value changes. Anyone have any other thoughts on this?

Thanks for your consideration!

Oscar filter board

randy909 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:24:35 -0500

I've been daydreaming about designing a clone of the Oscar filter for the Shruthi-1. I'm an electronics newb but I'm trying to fix that. Is this even a possibility or am I crazy? Here is a schematic:

http://www.airburst.co.uk/oscar/schematics/oscar4.jpg

There is a computer-generated diagram that is apparently based on the drawing (attached):

Tube Filter Board

geishaballs — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:27:45 -0400

Hei!

Ok now that shruti filter boards cover a wide panel of filtering styles… And now that I’ve spent a whole night playing with a shruti through tubes…

I wonder if something is possible combining the shruti architecture, and for example eric barbour’s tube filter design…

I guess it would require a rework of the powering part of the board too…?

And of course, a specific, dreamy, unique, steampunk case…

Anyone has, like me, sparkling eyes, and waves of dreams, with punk unicorns riding them? Or is it that I haven’t got enough sleep?

Stack & Case Design

Titus Raindrops — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:07:58 -0400

It would be great if it were easier to swap out the filter boards, either in/out of Shruthis or Sidekicks. So I’m just throwing this out there for consideration. Those of you who have been in the DIY world for a long time may know of parts readily available that might get the job done.

What I was thinking is to marry a filter board to a case bottom. Keep them together no matter where they go. I realize this might break the color scheme sometimes, but I think it would be worth it in terms of convenience and productivity. Somehow we need to redesign the stack and the case so that the bottom half comes off neatly without disturbing the rest of the case or the stack.

Something that snaps on/off would be ideal, but at the very least if we could design it so that the removal of 4 screws would have the filter/case bottom assembly off and ready to attach to something else, that would be a big improvement IMO. Maybe the slotted screws could be replaced with thumb screws so no tools are required?

Well, anyway, I was thinking about this. This is not meant to in any way insult or demean the hard work that went into the current stack/case designs. I am just suggesting a tweak or an upgrade, perhaps…

Thoughts?

Shruthi-1 potentiometer

MeSKa — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:14:34 -0400

hi all , finally my Shruthi-1 work and it's so great!! sound so crazy :)

but i have a little regret: the potentiometer, i explaine:
[
for exanple: i press S1 and use P1 for modify chape of osc1. i chose the laste chape, so potentiometer is at the right.

after i whant change cutt of so i press S2 , my cutt of is 23 and i whant to increase it progressively.

BUT my P1 is at 127 so i can't increase it progressively i need to go quick at the left and efter go to the right progressively.
]

i use Shruthi-1 in live so that problematique.

Why don't change all potentiometer by Potentiometer infinite rotation and when you turn it at left decreast value and turn to the right incrast value.

you understand?
It's possible ? what you thinck about that?

Midi routing / coupling shrutis

geishaballs — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:48:57 -0500

So, the point is… I now have 3 beautiful shrutis.

Polyphony is supercool.
“Full” midi is really powerful [especially when routing audios outs in filter ins sequentially]

But I’d love to see some multi-shruti modes that wouldn’t be “full” like full the same, but things like some parameters inverted or routed to others, in order to live tweak one pot and ending with several responses on the linked shrutis.
I know controls can be assigned in a way it makes that, but maybe a special mode like that…

And then the sequencer… any idea of a chain sequencer mode? Multi sequencer modes?
I would loooove that!

OSCar filter behavior with dual SVF

randy909 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:55:05 -0500

The Oxford OSCar synthesizer featured a dual filter that could run in parallel. One of the unique features was a "separation" control that would set the filter frequencies apart from one another. The resonance and cutoff knobs would control both filters together but with the cutoffs offset from one another you would have 2 resonance peaks near each other rather than one, resulting in a very unique (i.e. awesome) sound. It would seem possible to achieve this behavior with the dual SVF board. Is this something that is currently implemented? If not, would it be terribly difficult to implement? I'm a programmer so I could try my hand at implementing it if need be...

Here's a pic of the plugin that emulates the OSCar just in case that's helpful:
http://www.gforcesoftware.com/sites/all/themes/gforce/images/1600.png

Amazing project by the way. I'm definitely getting one for christmas, just trying to decide which filter module I want.

Thanks,
-r

Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

randy909 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:38:00 -0500

Does the shruthi-1 have it? If so, is it implemented on the analog or digital side? If on the analog side, do all of the boards have it or only some? If so which ones?

I ask because I just finished building my shruthi with the SVF filter and it doesn't seem to have it (it doesn't keep the level the same when I turn down the resonance). I don't have the expansion header connected yet so maybe that's causing things not to work correctly...

PSU

randy909 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:49:09 -0500

Minor suggestion: It would have been nice to have had a part number for a power supply or at least some reminder that I needed one, probably with the digital board. I know it sounds braid-dead but I didn't even think of it until I had all the parts at home. Luckily I had one already.

Mutable Instruments FM Synth?

lazerbeat — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 08:31:31 -0400

I'm not really a technical person so I don't know how feasible this would be but how about a little ATMega based 4 or 6 op FM synth with a filter section? Something along the lines of a smaller more compact dx200 but fully editable from the front panel?