On to the next one

Now that the DuaLFO is finished and shipping it's time to start work on the next module.  This time it's going to be an audio mixer.  And I think it's going to be very interesting.

DuaLFO Now Available

The first (short) run of DuaLFOs is complete and ready to ship.  Get'em while they're hot!

Auxiliary LFO Equally Slow

Last night I ran the same tests on the Auxiliary LFO.  It has the same maximum frequency of 46Hz, but if anything it is slightly slower than the Main LFO.  I recorded a run of 1 hour 35 minutes.

I think that's slow enough....

Main LFO Goes Slow

Last night I finally characterised the frequency range of the Main LFO of the DuaLFO.  And it is quite a range!  Highest frequency was 46Hz.  Pretty good.  The lowest frequency?  Well, probably better to think of the period rather than frequency.  In this case I measured the period to be 1 hour 25 minutes.  Or, in frequency terms, that's 196 micro-Hertz!

SSssssssllllllloooooowwwwwww...................

Next is the Auxiliary LFO, but I'm guessing that it will have similar performance.

DuaLFO #1 Comes Alive

At long last, and after a couple of minor PCB mods (ahem....) the first DuaLFO is completed, tested, and fully operational:

As you can see this first run of modules is using the Cliff KM15B knobs, and in practice they look and feel great.  The SYNC pos/neg edge button has a nice red Rean cap, and the bicolour LEDs sit nicely in the panel.  I think the graphics worked out well too - the MetalPhoto finish is very crisp.

This is an 18HP panel, offering comfortably spaced controls, jacks and indicators.  While I can understand the benefits of squeezing modules into tiny panels to get a lot of functionality into a small space, it actually takes a lot of skill to design a small panel well.  The best examples of this I know of are the Tektronix 7000-series scope and TM500-series test equipment plugin modules.

The last task to do before these modules are ready to ship is to finish the user manual and get it printed.  If that works out as well as the panels then I think its going to look quite good.

Knobs!

Design of the first CESYG module is progressing well.  The PCB is nearing completion, the order for the front panels has been sent off, and most of the parts are in.

One aspect that needs finalising is the choice of knob.  After much searching and comparing, I've whittled the choice down to two options.

Cliff KM15B

This has a very clean black-on-black look, with diamond-cut lines on the top of the knobs.  From the Cliff website:

Knurled aluminium shell on plastic inner. Standard finish is black anodised to a very high standard.

 Nice.

Sifam TP 150 006

 

With a matching red cap with a white dot - continuing the round theme of the panel graphics - this looks very red and demanding attention from the eye!  It is definitely bolder than the Cliff knobs, but is it too bold?

But.... which to choose?  Choices...choices....

Dual LFO Front Panel draft

Time for an update while I'm refining the PCB layout.  Here is the first draft of the front panel.  Its 18HP wide, and I confess I'm not a graphic designer!

The four input jacks are on the left.  Then the CV pots and the Sync mode switch.  Next column we have the Frequency controls, LEDs, and the manual Shape control,  Finally, on the right are the five output jacks.

I need to experiment with knobs and refine the layout, but I think its quite a clean layout.  The intention is to get this screen printed or perhaps Metalphoto'ed.