DIY Adaptor/Multiple Panel for scope and DMM connections

This is an adaptor panel I put together in an hour or two to help with testing and setting up the CV Tools Modules. 

I used one of my 8HP DIY panels and  DIY kit 3 for the 3.5mm jacks. 

It is essentially an adaptor and multiple to allow easy connection to the scope via BNC connectors and to a DMM (digital multimeter) via the 4mm sockets. 

The top 3.5mm jack and BNC socket are connected together, the next jack down and BNC are similarly connected; i.e. a pair of 3.5mm jack to BNC adaptors. The lower pair of 3.5mm jacks. 1/4" jack, BNC and red 4mm socket are all connected together and the black 4mm socket is connected to 0V.

This is really useful for DIY applications too and very easy to make. I think an adaptor or multiple panel would make a great first DIY project.


I can also make these to order if anyone wants one (or something similar) but it is unlikely to become a standard product as all you really need is a pre-drilled front-panel and a few connectors.

Here it is (bottom right) in use in my CV Tools test rig routing the scope, DMM and sig gen to the module under test

CV Tools UK distributor announcement

Updated 20/04/2011: The Synovatron CV Tools Module is now available from Post Modular in the UK - see their website now!.

Check out Post Modular's huge range of cool and unusual modules while you're there!

US distribution is currently being arranged and details will be posted as soon as possible.

In addition to the ready-to-use modules from Post Modular CV Tools DIY kits are available now directly from Synovatron for £85 GBP plus delivery. Please e-mail for details. The kits are complete with all components, pre-built & tested ribbon cable assemblies, circuit board assembly instructions and setting up procedure. You only need to provide the solder, tools and time. 

Note: This is a medium complexity kit and is not recommended for a first time constructor - you will need to be able to solder well and use a digital multimeter for setting up. It is recommended that you take anti-static precautions to protect the ICs.

CV Tools DIY Kit contents

CV Tools User Manual available

Hi and thanks for all the interest and well wishes.

The User Manual is now complete - Click here to download the latest manual (23 Oct 2011). There will also be a set of construction steps (basically just my assembly data sheets) for anyone interested in buying the module as a DIY kit.  As per my last post I'm still working on pricing of modules and kits and distribution details - all will be revealed in due course.

CV Tools Modules are now in production

It's been a while in coming but CV Tools Modules are now coming off the production line and going through a burn-in and test process to weed out any faults. The launch date is just over a week away - 9th April. The user manual is nearly done too. Details of distributors and price will be available very shortly.

So what's taken all this time? Well I just wanted to get the design right and pack all the features I could into it that make sense - I had several good suggestions from Muffs and other places and have built the best ideas into the design - the main one being the signal polarity LEDs to replace the channel routing LEDs (they really didn't add a great deal). There are jumper selectable coarse and fine normalled offsets for each channel and Channel 4 can be jumper configured to pass an accurate normalled bus CV into the mix for mixing VCO CVs. Check out the preliminary spec below.

Someone asked about these being available in kit form - if you would prefer to do this then please contact me.

Here is a preliminary spec:-

CV Tools Specification (updated 08.04.2011)

4-channel Polarizing Cascade Mixer

Channel 1

Input: 3.5mm jack IN1

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, 0.5V-2.5V or none

Bandwidth: DC-15kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable 0 to ±2 (±3%)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT1 - Normalled to Channel 2 output mixer

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Channel 2

Input: 3.5mm jack IN2

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, 0.5V-2.5V or none

Bandwidth: DC-16kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable 0 to ±2 (±3%)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT2 - Normalled to Channel 3 output mixer

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Channel 3

Input: 3.5mm jack IN3

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, 0.5V-2.5V or none

Bandwidth: DC-15kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable 0 to ±2 (±3%)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT3 - Normalled to Channel 4 output mixer

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Channel 4

Input: 3.5mm jack IN4

Input impedance: 100kΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: VREF - jumper selectable to +5V, A-100 Bus CV or none

Bandwidth: DC-15kHz (-3db)

Gain: LEVEL control variable - jumper selectable to ±2 (±3%) or 1 (set by RV7)

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT4 and Slew Limiter input

Output impedance: 1kΩ (±1%)

Output indication: ±LEDs

Slew Limiter

Input: 3.5mm jack IN

Input impedance: 1MΩ (±1%)

Normalled input: Channel 4 output OUT4

Slew range: 0.5ms-1s

Gain: 1

Output: 3.5mm jack OUT

Output impedance: 100Ω (±1%)

General

Dimensions

3U x 12HP (128.5mm x 60.6mm).

Power consumption

+12V @ 20mA max, -12V @ 20mA max, +5V is not used.

Reference voltage (VREF)

Jumper selectable at each mixer input. Channels 1-3: 5.00V (set by RV6), 0.5V-2.5V (set by RV8), Channel 4: 5.00V (set by RV6), CV from A-100 bus.

A-100 Bus utilisation

±12V, 0V, CV used; +5V and Gate are not used.

Contents

CV Tools Module, 200mm long 16-way ribbon cable, 4 sets of M3 cap head socket screws, nylon washers and a 2.5mm hex key.

New generic front panels for DIY kits

I now have stock of a range of 4HP and 8HP front panels to suit the Synovatron DIY Prototyping Kits. These can be purchased with the kits as an option or separately. 

The 8HP panel suits DIY Kit 1 and has two variants, one to suit a column of jacks (8.2mm holes) and a column of pots (7.5mm holes). The other variant has 3mm pilot holes to give you the flexibility to mix and match front panel components by drilling out to suit jacks, pots or switches, or left as is for 3mm LEDs.

The 4HP panel suits DIY Kit 3 and also has two variants, one to suit jack sockets (8.2mm holes) and the other with just 3mm pilot holes so they can easily be modified to larger diameters for jacks or switches or left as is for LEDs.

The panels are made from 2mm aluminium and have a brushed, clear anodised finish.  The mounting holes (slots) are suitable for both Doepfer and Analogue Systems hole pitches.

These panels make the kits more complete and I will also offer a set of knobs in DIY Kit 1 to finish it off.

Kit 1 options: The soft-touch knobs can be ordered in white, grey, red, orange, yellow, green or blue.

Prices range from £5.99 to £8.99 if ordered separately, a bit cheaper if ordered with a kit. The knobs are £1.25 for 5 if ordered with a kit.

The panels will also include a set of M3x6 screws and plain washers.

Update:

Here's a 8HP pilot hole panel that I drilled out for a customer so he could mount a mult on the left and an OSC303 on the right (Note: he bought the OSC303 as a kit without front panel and jacks. There's no point in trying to do this if you have one DinSyncs's excellent clear blue panels). The jacks were drilled out to 8mm, the pot to 7.5mm and the switch to 6mm. Looks pretty sexy!

Tone's top tips:  

(1) Cover the panel in masking tape so the swarf doesn't scratch the front finish. 

(2) start with smaller drill sizes and work up to the final size else you may end up with odd shaped holes.

(3) Deburr holes on both sides with a countersink bit.

Cliff CL1384 (S6) 3.5mm Jack Sockets - Rumours vs Facts

Following a really useful blog post by PatchPierre about dealing with poor connections on jack sockets I started to wonder if the jack sockets that I have used on my kits and intend using on my forthcoming CV Tools and Diode modules may have quality issues. I read through a few forums (fora?) and blogs on the subject and it does leave you with the impression that there could still be issues with Cliff sockets unless you get the right ones. So I approached Cliff directly who have clarified the situation as follows:-

• Synovatron: "I've been using CL1384 jacks for several years now without any issues but am aware that there have been poor contact issues in the past. Your website refers to type C contacts for far-eastern jack plugs and also to be aware of counterfeit types. I read that Doepfer now use CL13841 sockets due to earlier problems (are CL13841 and C contacts the same thing?). Can you please clarify the situation for me?"

• Cliff: "Thank you for your mail. I can clear any confusion up very clearly by saying that we use the C contacts on all S6 jack sockets. The CL13841 part is no longer sold but CL1384 is now exactly the same as we are using the C contacts as standard."

So in summary you should get no problems with current standard Cliff jacks but older ones can be fixed using PatchPierre's advice.

Analogue Systems to Doepfer Reverse Adaptor

Here is the prototype of the Analogue Systems to Doepfer Adaptor variant that I promised a few days back (The production version is now available. Edit Jan 2012) The adaptor uses a 16 way DIL turned-pin IC socket on one side and a PCB mount header socket on the other side; the version shown below is just a prototype using a cut-down header socket, it's a bit rough but demonstrates the principle - which is it allows you to use an Analogue Systems module with its cable in a Doepfer rack.

AS ribbon cable connector - note the red stripe at pin 1 (top) end

Here you can see the pin 1 and TOP markings

Doepfer bus board connector

Adaptor fitted to my AS RS-35 Module - note the red stripe at the top

The order code for the socket-to-socket version (above) is ASM2DB Adaptor (or Analogue Systems Module to Doepfer Bus Adaptor). The code for the plug-to-plug version is DM2ASB Adaptor (or Doepfer Module to Analogue Systems Bus Adaptor). The product page has been updated showing the production versions available for sale.