CV Tools arrives in the USA

Finally after many trials and tribulations a batch of CV Tools Modules has arrived at Analogue Haven in Santa Monica USA.

Watch this space for a distributer in Australia too.

Having sold all of the first batch of CV Tools I'm now hastily preparing the next batch of 50 of which 10-20 will be allocated as kits. 

Some may also remember my DioDe module, well that took a back seat to lots of things, but am actively completing the design and will announce some news soon.

Cheap DIY front panels from UK DIY store!!!

Tone's Top Tip for July

Whilst wandering around my local Homebase DIY store I noticed a rack of metal and plastic extrusions. In there was a range of 2mm thick aluminium clear anodised strip in 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm and 30mm widths i.e. approximately 2HP, 3HP, 4HP, 5HP and 6HP respectively (note that the online links wrongly refer to it as flat tube and not all widths are listed online). The strips are 1m long and cost between £4.50 and £8.00 each. They have a similar finish to Doepfer front panels but with a slight vertical graining. Here's a pic of 6HP and 4HP strips.

If you are OK at cutting and drilling they are a cheap solution to narrow DIY panels. Good dimension info here. I guess they are available in most large DIY stores so it's worth having a look next time you are there.

CV Tools US Distributor Announcement

I am very pleased to announce that Analogue Haven will be distributing CV Tools Modules (not kits) in the United States. I am aiming to get a sizable stock to AH by mid-July. (Sorry 2 months late but they are there now: Edit)

Any enquiries for kits or specials (e.g. plain front panel, faster/slower slew rate, less/more gain etc., please e-mail me.

CV Tools Module Front Panel Update

Following on from my last post about customer feedback I have now changed the front panel subtly from a graphic overlay to a standard screen-printed clear-anodised panel. I think my customers were right (aren't they always!); it looks better, more professional and in keeping with all the other lovely modules out there. 

All kits and modules ordered from now on will have this type of panel fitted. Current stock at Post Modular will be retrofitted with the new panels by next week. I will keep a few unprinted panels back for those who prefer a plain metal panel (two sold so far). Anybody wishing to convert their CV Tools Module to the new panel please contact me and I will arrange a low cost swap out (either you can buy a new panel and swap over yourself, or return to me to do the swap; if I get the old panel back then I'll knock something off the price - details yet to be finalised).

First review comments and user's video for the CV Tools Module

Over half of the first batch of CV Tools have been sold, many in kit form. Here is some feedback from a few kit builders and module users:-

"Finished the CV Tools module. It works as advertised ;) No warts!

I must compliment you on your kit. The packing and organisation of components are as good as I've ever seen. Documentation is on the money for newbies ... All in all, I'm extremely satisfied ..." Steven H (VICMOD)

"An excellent simple tool. Great for cascading polyrhythms. Really easy to use and very surprising differences depending on where you tap the signal." Stephen R (VICMOD)

"...I was really impressed with the documentation and the way everything (in the kit) was bagged/labelled...CV Tools seems like a real Swiss Army Knife. I can already think of countless ways I'll be using it with my Oberheim SEM ... and humble modular." Alex M

"Tinkerbell lives!  Tonight I patched a triangle wave LFO into channel 3 of CV Tools and took the slew output into a quantizer (A156) set up to run minor arpeggios.  I can control the range of the arpeggiaic ascend/descend and even build in rhythm just using pots 3 & 4 - then out to two VCO's tuned apart. Out through a digital delay and reverb in ProTools and  . . . instant magic - fairy dust!  What fun . . " George B

Also check out this thread on Muff's entitled Some thoughts on the Synovatron CV Tools
 

Just to keep things balanced some people have expressed a lack of enthusiasm for the front panel, some about the font and some about the fact that the graphics is on a matt laminated laser printed vinyl overlay. The beauty of the overlay is that multiple colours, shades and fading effects can be easily implemented, the down-side (for me) is they are expensive and difficult to fit accurately. 

The solution is that the second batch of CV Tools will have a standard screen printed front panel (something like TipTop Audio quality). I will be offering either a very low cost swappout or a low-cost retro-purchase to existing users who would prefer a more conventional graphic - I prefer happy customers over a few extra £. Hopefully you'll come back for more!

Here is the current overlay panel next to the artwork that will be taken to the screen printers (where there is grey it will be the brushed anodised aluminium showing through so it will look a bit better). Any comments, likes and dislikes gratefully received - I will give the artwork to the screen printer in just over a week's time.

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