May update

Module Availability

A shipment of CVGT1 modules and CV Tools modules is in transit to Escape From Noise in Sweden (already in their Coming Soon page).  The shipment for Analogue Haven is still sitting here waiting on the bank transfer hopefully that will be very very soon.

Website

This blog site is woefully out of date and I will endevour to bring it up to scratch soon but will be looking to have a full on grown-up website sometime this year.

Screws and washers

In the mean time I have been asked about rack screws. Yes I do sell them but I have not really advertised the fact.  With all my modules I supply 8mm long M3 cap head socket screws, nylon washers and a 2.5mm hex key. These I sell separately if required. In small quantities the cost is 0.15 GBP for a screw and washer, 0.75 GBP for the hex key. For larger quantities the price will drop. Shipping is extra. If you are interested then please email me at synovatron@btinternet.com
 
This is what they look like fitted:-

April update on CVGT1 availability

All the production problems have been resolved and I have a shipment of CVGT1 and CV Tools Modules ready for UPS to collectwhich will be heading for Analogue Haven. I'm guessing they should be in the US around 23rd/24th April.

I'm now building a batch of CVGT1 Modules for Escape From Noise, Rhythm Active and Post Modular and will post details when those are about to ship out.

Update on CVGT1 and CV Tools availability

I had expected to deliver shipments of CVGT1 and CV Tools modules by early January but unfortunately the manufacturing problems surrounding defective jack sockets and poor quality front panels have not yet been resolved; read on for the details.

The good things: I'm really pleased with the pcb manufacture (by Quick Tech) and surface mount assembly work (by Phase 1 Electronics) on the CVGT1 pcbs - 100% perfect.

I'm really sorry for the delay for anyone wanting CVGT1 or CV Tools modules; I will try as hard as I can to resolve the issues. CVGT1s especially are receiving lots of interest partly down to Buchla's reintroduction of their more accessibly priced Music Easel - now that is seriously retro!

Jack Sockets

The jack socket issue was discovered after I built about ten sets of CVGT1 pcbs. The problem was that it was either impossible or very difficult to plug into a socket; a basic requirement for a socket you'd think! The new whole batch of 1000 sockets that I started using on my production run for Analogue Haven, Escape From Noise, Post Modular and Rhythm Active were defective. I had to remove the sockets that were fitted and have reported the problem back to Cliff Electronics. I had to chase them as they were not forthcoming about my plight but am glad to say that a concerned quality manager phoned me last week about the issue.  Prior to that call I ordered another batch of connectors from them to tide me over which are perfectly good; so far I have not received a refund for the defective items but here's hoping.

Front Panels

The front panel issue was discovered when I unwrapped them and found most of them have scratches. I challenged the fabricating company who said that the scratches were down to either the anodising company or the screen printing company and you guessed it they said it was down to either the other two. So basically no one to point the finger at and no one claimed responsibility. I managed to get the fabricator to strip the panels, refinish them and get them anodised. They arrived last week and I inspected them before taking them to the screen printers but all were poor quality with blemishes, dings, scratches etc. (I'm not expecting to be invoiced and certainly will not pay it if I am!).

So the upshot is that I am unable to complete the module builds and am looking for a new panel supplier; preferably one who does the manufacture, anoding and screen printing, quality control and takes responsibility.

Wishing you all a happy 2013

2012 for various reasons has been for me a real struggle and so am hoping 2013 will turn out to be a better year. My wish on this first day of 2013 is that it will be a very happy and healthy year for you and your loved ones.

2012 saw just a few successes:-

The first was the power system and trunk-line modules I designed and built for Gregg Wilson's wonderful wall sized monster synth.

The second was the development, prototyping (including two custom built modules) and preproduction run of the CVGT1 Euro Buchla translator module which are now delivered to the pre-order list customers who are putting them to good use.

Related to the CVGT1 was my first foray into surface-mount boards - the preproduction run of 30 CVGT1 modules used through-hole components which meant that I could, and did, hand build those modules. However they were so time consuming to build that I got quotes for getting them made but the cost was was prohibitive; I was advised that surface mount assembly would be much cheaper and so I set about relaying the boards for surface mounted components.  This worked well and they worked first time albeit for the most significant financial commitment I have made in Synovatron to date. 

CV Tools may get the same reworking but will keep the through-hole version in existance for you DIY enthusiasts; the CV Tools DIY Kit has continued to be a succesful product with more plaudits about the kit presentation, clear instructions and ease of build.

The downside for 2012:-

  
Following a personal loss in July I took some time out and then I pushed very hard in the last 2-3 months to produce a large batch of CV Tools and CVGT1 modules for the end of 2012 but due to supplier quality issues it now looks like those modules will not ship to distributors until late January to early February. 

I had to reject two thirds of CVGT1 front panels due to scratches and had to reject a batch of 1000 jack sockets due to varying quality from stiff to non-functional (i.e. can't insert a patch lead); unfortunately many were assembled on boards before I discovered this. So all in all a huge amount of effort and frustration with no output but I have learned lessons from this. 3.5mm connector quality is certainly the hardest component problem that Eurorack manufacturers seem to face followed closely by front panel quality issues.

Another problem encountered but Eurorack users is the ease of misconnecting the power cable. 

This was brought sharply into focus by a client who reverse connected his RS-35 using one of my ASM2DB Adaptors and blew up the tantalum capacitors and a CA3046 IC on the RS-35; notably all the TL072 ICs survived as did the F-V converter chip. 

The connection instructions are clear but we are human and our capacity to f**k goes with the territory (hence the disclaimer in the instructions); I still do it even though I know to be careful. I have fixed his module for free as a goodwill gesture but it does worry me - my plea to all designers of new modules is use protection diodes.

Synovatron Modules in build

I have been so busy that I have not updated the blog and pages in a while so apologies for seaming inactive. It is just the opposite; I have been maxed out in delivering my pre-order list for CVGT1 modules which is just about done whilst at the same time doing some evolutionary changes to module designs and preparing to meet orders from distributors.

So here's a quick update on Synovatron modules:-

CVGT1

To help reduce the manufacturing cost of the PCBs I completely relaid out both circuit boards for surface mount components. The bare boards arrived on November 21st and looked ok so went off to assembly - I'm expecting those sometime this week (December 3rd to 7th).  I will assemble the few through-hole components on those (connectors, trimmers, LEDS) and assemble into modules and test - if all goes well then those will be ready for shipping just after Christmas.

CV Tools

These are still through-hole (not surface mount) technology as they are also available in kit form. However I have relaid out both input and output boards to make assembly a tad easier and to improve access to the jumpers.  The bare boards are due in on December 7th and am preparing component kits for them in advance to ship out as DIY kits.  I will also be assembling just over half of the batch into modules. The kits will be ready to ship in just over a week from now and the modules just after Christmas.

Availability

Analogue Haven (USA), Post Modular (UK), Escape From Noise (Sweden) and Rhythm Active (Australia) have shipments pending for CV Tools and CVGT1 modules; Thonk (UK) will be stocking CV Tools Kits, ASM2DB/DM2ASB Adaptors and Euro Protyping Kits/PCBs.  Whilst I will do my utmost to get the module orders out to them ASAP the reality is that Christmas is smack bang in the middle of a realistic estimate for completion hence shipping just after Christmas is the probability making them available early January; the kits are easier to produce and should be available at Thonk sooner. 

Escape From Noise and Thonk are new distributors for Synovatron products so that is an exciting prospect for me and I really welcome their involvement. I will post again before Christmas with the latest on deliveries.

 

                                   

Euro and Buchla working together

Here's a short video by Eldancer showing the buchla and Euro systems workng together. Both the CVGT1 and a custom euro Buchla interface module I made a while back are in use here (top right hand corner). They don't get the limelight, they just allow the conversation to occur, working quitely in the background :)



mutipatch 1 from Eldancer on Vimeo.

A quick update on CVGT1 Modules

About half of my pre-order list for CVGT1 modules have been delivered and the rest will go out within the next month. Within a couple of months they will appear with distributers but I am having to look at relaying the boards for surface mount to keep assembly costs down - I don't want the price to go up and I cannot keep building them myself - after building 60 CV Tools and 20 CVGT1 modules (220 circuit boards in all) I am all soldered out. CV Tools will also get relaid for surface mount but I will still keep a through hole stock (currently sold out) for DIY kits.  Watch out for my next update in a month.

Announcing Synovatron's second module CVGT1

Sneak preview

The new module is a Eurorack format Eurorack/Buchla translator called CVGT1. It allows Eurorack and Buchla synths to interact with each other, as the name suggest it provides a CV and a Gate/Trigger interface. Not only does it provide the correct format connectors (and adheres to the Buchla color code) but it also deals with the CV scaling and offsetting and the gate/trigger and timing pulse conversion required to allow control in both directions.

The module is in final stages of build and will need to undergo design proving tests before I release it into the world. So far the front panels are complete and all the components are in stock except for the slightly important PCBs which are due in tomorrow (18th July 2012). The intended launch date is Saturday 21st July at the Brighton Modular Meet at the University of Sussex just outside Brighton UK. 

Here are some quick photos of the panels and partial assembly.  I will follow up in a few days with better photos of the fully assembled module, further details and User Manual download link.