Elektor Formant Modular

Hi peeps, as a newbie, I figure I'd better introduce myself first: my
name is Jon and I have a semi-technical background, (but no formal
electronic work - just some fooling around with stuff for fun so far).
However, I'm hoping to improve my skills soon! :)

I've been thinking for some time about building several, if not all of
the Formant modules, and initially using them separately (rather than
building the whole Formant as a monolithic unit), in their own
cases... Eventually, when I've built the lot, I'll probably put it all
together, but I'd like to be able to use bits as I create them!

So I was kinda pleased to find this group, not least because you have
the PDFs in English here (rather than the French ones that I have -
although I speak some French, my technical language is zero!)

I'm also pleased to find you guys so that I have someone to discuss
Formant related stuff with!

...But I already have a question..!

What size are the PCBs? (Initially the VCFs, but I'm also interested
in the others, if different)

I ask because in my initial investigations, the 24dB VCF (which I'm
planning to build first or second) mask in the PDF seems to be a
little rough, so I was intending to copy it out to a graphics program
(say, Paint Shop Pro) and clean it up, then print it. However, the
sizing is likely to get lost this way, so I'll need to tell the
computer what size to print it when I'm done.

TIA for any help!

I'm also new here. Back in the 70's when I was a student, I couldn't 
afford to build the Formant. Now I'm a bit older... Anyway, I too 
found all the pdfs on the web and decided to have a go. I was not 
too impressed with the scans - they were a bit rough around the 
edges, over(under?) exposed so some of the holes weren't visible and 
some of them even had discontinuities due to bad scanning. I even 
came to the conclusion that the scans weren't 1:1 so would require 
some tweaking in Photoshop. In the end, I decided (because I'm 
totally insane) to redraft the PCBs using the original scans but 
with nice clear lines/holes etc. I also took the opportunity to 
redimension some of the components e.g. nobody uses HUGE 1/2W 
resistors or those humungous presets any more so I've made the pads 
closer together. I've also incorporated some of the changes e.g. FET 
stages in the VCO and a redesigned temperature-controlled 
exponential circuit due to the non-availability of the original 
chip. Also the dual matched pairs in the VCF etc have been rejigged 
to acept available devices.

The boards are supposed to be standard Eurocard size i.e. 100mm x 
160mm, except for the VCO which is "supposed" to be double-Eurocard 
but isn't, for some strange reason. As for the 31 pin conncetors. 
Has ANYONE managed to source these? I've replaced them with 32 pin 
connectors which are commonly available.

If you give me your e-mail address I can send you a VCF file (12 or 
24 db) so you can see what I've managed to do.

I've actually redrafted all of the main boards and I'm about to 
embark on the "Formant Book 2" boards. I haven't yet managed to 
manufacture a single board as I'm in the middle of building a 
workshop (shed actually) so I can slosh Ferric Chloride around with 
gay abandon. My wife has palpitations if I even bring a bottle into 
the house!

This offer is open to anyone in this Group. Tell me which boards you 
are interested in and I'll send you the files. You can be my guinea-
pigs until I get the opportunity to make them myself!

Marek

Hi Marek,
I read your post with great interest, as I wish to build some of the 
'Book 2' modules. My problem has also been the pcb scans, however, 
your solution is just what I need - will the pcb's be in a format 
that can be manufactured by pcb-pool (or similar company)?

When first published I made all of the 'Book 1' modules (but none 
from Book 2 - yet!) and I am in the process of revamping my original 
Formant by designing new front panels so I can fit in a 4U 19" sub-
rack.

If anyone is interested I can upload the front panels (which are in 
schaeffer format) to the 'Files' section.

BTW the DIN 41617 (31-pin) are no longer available so changing the 
connector was the right choice.

Cheers
Roger



--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, 
"kuczynskimarek" <marek.kuczynski@...> wrote:
>
> I'm also new here. Back in the 70's when I was a student, I 
couldn't 
> afford to build the Formant. Now I'm a bit older... Anyway, I too 
> found all the pdfs on the web and decided to have a go. I was not 
> too impressed with the scans - they were a bit rough around the 
> edges, over(under?) exposed so some of the holes weren't visible 
and 
> some of them even had discontinuities due to bad scanning. I even 
> came to the conclusion that the scans weren't 1:1 so would require 
> some tweaking in Photoshop. In the end, I decided (because I'm 
> totally insane) to redraft the PCBs using the original scans but 
> with nice clear lines/holes etc. I also took the opportunity to 
> redimension some of the components e.g. nobody uses HUGE 1/2W 
> resistors or those humungous presets any more so I've made the 
pads 
> closer together. I've also incorporated some of the changes e.g. 
FET 
> stages in the VCO and a redesigned temperature-controlled 
> exponential circuit due to the non-availability of the original 
> chip. Also the dual matched pairs in the VCF etc have been 
rejigged 
> to acept available devices.
> 
> The boards are supposed to be standard Eurocard size i.e. 100mm x 
> 160mm, except for the VCO which is "supposed" to be double-
Eurocard 
> but isn't, for some strange reason. As for the 31 pin conncetors. 
> Has ANYONE managed to source these? I've replaced them with 32 pin 
> connectors which are commonly available.
> 
> If you give me your e-mail address I can send you a VCF file (12 
or 
> 24 db) so you can see what I've managed to do.
> 
> I've actually redrafted all of the main boards and I'm about to 
> embark on the "Formant Book 2" boards. I haven't yet managed to 
> manufacture a single board as I'm in the middle of building a 
> workshop (shed actually) so I can slosh Ferric Chloride around 
with 
> gay abandon. My wife has palpitations if I even bring a bottle 
into 
> the house!
> 
> This offer is open to anyone in this Group. Tell me which boards 
you 
> are interested in and I'll send you the files. You can be my 
guinea-

> pigs until I get the opportunity to make them myself!
> 
> Marek
>

Hi, 

I don't know where the both of you live, but here in germany these
connectors are still commonly available. Just do a quick search for
DIN 41627 at www.segor.de and you will see.

Chris

--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, "formantsyn" <formantsyn@...>
wrote:

>
> Hi Marek,
> I read your post with great interest, as I wish to build some of the 
> 'Book 2' modules. My problem has also been the pcb scans, however, 
> your solution is just what I need - will the pcb's be in a format 
> that can be manufactured by pcb-pool (or similar company)?
> 
> When first published I made all of the 'Book 1' modules (but none 
> from Book 2 - yet!) and I am in the process of revamping my original 
> Formant by designing new front panels so I can fit in a 4U 19" sub-
> rack.
> 
> If anyone is interested I can upload the front panels (which are in 
> schaeffer format) to the 'Files' section.
> 
> BTW the DIN 41617 (31-pin) are no longer available so changing the 
> connector was the right choice.
> 
> Cheers
> Roger
> 
> 
> 
> --- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, 
> "kuczynskimarek" <marek.kuczynski@> wrote:
> >
> > I'm also new here. Back in the 70's when I was a student, I 
> couldn't 
> > afford to build the Formant. Now I'm a bit older... Anyway, I too 
> > found all the pdfs on the web and decided to have a go. I was not 
> > too impressed with the scans - they were a bit rough around the 
> > edges, over(under?) exposed so some of the holes weren't visible 
> and 
> > some of them even had discontinuities due to bad scanning. I even 
> > came to the conclusion that the scans weren't 1:1 so would require 
> > some tweaking in Photoshop. In the end, I decided (because I'm 
> > totally insane) to redraft the PCBs using the original scans but 
> > with nice clear lines/holes etc. I also took the opportunity to 
> > redimension some of the components e.g. nobody uses HUGE 1/2W 
> > resistors or those humungous presets any more so I've made the 
> pads 
> > closer together. I've also incorporated some of the changes e.g. 
> FET 
> > stages in the VCO and a redesigned temperature-controlled 
> > exponential circuit due to the non-availability of the original 
> > chip. Also the dual matched pairs in the VCF etc have been 
> rejigged 
> > to acept available devices.
> > 
> > The boards are supposed to be standard Eurocard size i.e. 100mm x 
> > 160mm, except for the VCO which is "supposed" to be double-
> Eurocard 
> > but isn't, for some strange reason. As for the 31 pin conncetors. 
> > Has ANYONE managed to source these? I've replaced them with 32 pin 
> > connectors which are commonly available.
> > 
> > If you give me your e-mail address I can send you a VCF file (12 
> or 
> > 24 db) so you can see what I've managed to do.
> > 
> > I've actually redrafted all of the main boards and I'm about to 
> > embark on the "Formant Book 2" boards. I haven't yet managed to 
> > manufacture a single board as I'm in the middle of building a 
> > workshop (shed actually) so I can slosh Ferric Chloride around 
> with 
> > gay abandon. My wife has palpitations if I even bring a bottle 
> into 
> > the house!
> > 
> > This offer is open to anyone in this Group. Tell me which boards 
> you 
> > are interested in and I'll send you the files. You can be my 
> guinea-
> > pigs until I get the opportunity to make them myself!
> > 
> > Marek
> >
>

Fantastic!

Thank you

--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, 
"meistermischer" <unterton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, 
> 
> I don't know where the both of you live, but here in germany these
> connectors are still commonly available. Just do a quick search for
> DIN 41627 at www.segor.de and you will see.
> 
> Chris
> 
> --- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, "formantsyn" <formantsyn@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Marek,
> > I read your post with great interest, as I wish to build some of 
the 
> > 'Book 2' modules. My problem has also been the pcb scans, 
however, 
> > your solution is just what I need - will the pcb's be in a format 
> > that can be manufactured by pcb-pool (or similar company)?
> > 
> > When first published I made all of the 'Book 1' modules (but none 
> > from Book 2 - yet!) and I am in the process of revamping my 
original 
> > Formant by designing new front panels so I can fit in a 4U 19" 
sub-
> > rack.
> > 
> > If anyone is interested I can upload the front panels (which are 
in 
> > schaeffer format) to the 'Files' section.
> > 
> > BTW the DIN 41617 (31-pin) are no longer available so changing 
the 
> > connector was the right choice.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > Roger
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, 
> > "kuczynskimarek" <marek.kuczynski@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm also new here. Back in the 70's when I was a student, I 
> > couldn't 
> > > afford to build the Formant. Now I'm a bit older... Anyway, I 
too 
> > > found all the pdfs on the web and decided to have a go. I was 
not 
> > > too impressed with the scans - they were a bit rough around the 
> > > edges, over(under?) exposed so some of the holes weren't 
visible 
> > and 
> > > some of them even had discontinuities due to bad scanning. I 
even 
> > > came to the conclusion that the scans weren't 1:1 so would 
require 
> > > some tweaking in Photoshop. In the end, I decided (because I'm 
> > > totally insane) to redraft the PCBs using the original scans 
but 
> > > with nice clear lines/holes etc. I also took the opportunity to 
> > > redimension some of the components e.g. nobody uses HUGE 1/2W 
> > > resistors or those humungous presets any more so I've made the 
> > pads 
> > > closer together. I've also incorporated some of the changes 
e.g. 
> > FET 
> > > stages in the VCO and a redesigned temperature-controlled 
> > > exponential circuit due to the non-availability of the original 
> > > chip. Also the dual matched pairs in the VCF etc have been 
> > rejigged 
> > > to acept available devices.
> > > 
> > > The boards are supposed to be standard Eurocard size i.e. 100mm 
x 
> > > 160mm, except for the VCO which is "supposed" to be double-
> > Eurocard 
> > > but isn't, for some strange reason. As for the 31 pin 
conncetors. 
> > > Has ANYONE managed to source these? I've replaced them with 32 
pin 
> > > connectors which are commonly available.
> > > 
> > > If you give me your e-mail address I can send you a VCF file 
(12 
> > or 
> > > 24 db) so you can see what I've managed to do.
> > > 
> > > I've actually redrafted all of the main boards and I'm about to 
> > > embark on the "Formant Book 2" boards. I haven't yet managed to 
> > > manufacture a single board as I'm in the middle of building a 
> > > workshop (shed actually) so I can slosh Ferric Chloride around 
> > with 
> > > gay abandon. My wife has palpitations if I even bring a bottle 
> > into 
> > > the house!
> > > 
> > > This offer is open to anyone in this Group. Tell me which 
boards 

> > you 
> > > are interested in and I'll send you the files. You can be my 
> > guinea-
> > > pigs until I get the opportunity to make them myself!
> > > 
> > > Marek
> > >
> >
>

Hi,

I use www.reichelt.de as my prime source for all my electronics 
components - well sorted and usually a notch cheaper than all the 
others. Except ebay.de for sure, where u need be lucky. E.g. articles 
260092237821 and 260092233364 offer exactly what you need for a 
fraction of the normal price.

Cheers,

Tarek 


--- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, "meistermischer" 
<unterton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, 
> 
> I don't know where the both of you live, but here in germany these
> connectors are still commonly available. Just do a quick search for
> DIN 41627 at www.segor.de and you will see.
> 
> Chris
> 
> --- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, "formantsyn" <formantsyn@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Marek,
> > I read your post with great interest, as I wish to build some of 
the 
> > 'Book 2' modules. My problem has also been the pcb scans, 
however, 
> > your solution is just what I need - will the pcb's be in a format 
> > that can be manufactured by pcb-pool (or similar company)?
> > 
> > When first published I made all of the 'Book 1' modules (but none 
> > from Book 2 - yet!) and I am in the process of revamping my 
original 
> > Formant by designing new front panels so I can fit in a 4U 19" 
sub-
> > rack.
> > 
> > If anyone is interested I can upload the front panels (which are 
in 
> > schaeffer format) to the 'Files' section.
> > 
> > BTW the DIN 41617 (31-pin) are no longer available so changing 
the 
> > connector was the right choice.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > Roger
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In ElektorFormant@yahoogroups.com, 
> > "kuczynskimarek" <marek.kuczynski@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm also new here. Back in the 70's when I was a student, I 
> > couldn't 
> > > afford to build the Formant. Now I'm a bit older... Anyway, I 
too 
> > > found all the pdfs on the web and decided to have a go. I was 
not 
> > > too impressed with the scans - they were a bit rough around the 
> > > edges, over(under?) exposed so some of the holes weren't 
visible 
> > and 
> > > some of them even had discontinuities due to bad scanning. I 
even 
> > > came to the conclusion that the scans weren't 1:1 so would 
require 
> > > some tweaking in Photoshop. In the end, I decided (because I'm 
> > > totally insane) to redraft the PCBs using the original scans 
but 
> > > with nice clear lines/holes etc. I also took the opportunity to 
> > > redimension some of the components e.g. nobody uses HUGE 1/2W 
> > > resistors or those humungous presets any more so I've made the 
> > pads 
> > > closer together. I've also incorporated some of the changes 
e.g. 
> > FET 
> > > stages in the VCO and a redesigned temperature-controlled 
> > > exponential circuit due to the non-availability of the original 
> > > chip. Also the dual matched pairs in the VCF etc have been 
> > rejigged 
> > > to acept available devices.
> > > 
> > > The boards are supposed to be standard Eurocard size i.e. 100mm 
x 
> > > 160mm, except for the VCO which is "supposed" to be double-
> > Eurocard 
> > > but isn't, for some strange reason. As for the 31 pin 
conncetors. 
> > > Has ANYONE managed to source these? I've replaced them with 32 
pin 
> > > connectors which are commonly available.
> > > 
> > > If you give me your e-mail address I can send you a VCF file 
(12 
> > or 
> > > 24 db) so you can see what I've managed to do.
> > > 
> > > I've actually redrafted all of the main boards and I'm about to 
> > > embark on the "Formant Book 2" boards. I haven't yet managed to 
> > > manufacture a single board as I'm in the middle of building a 
> > > workshop (shed actually) so I can slosh Ferric Chloride around 
> > with 
> > > gay abandon. My wife has palpitations if I even bring a bottle 
> > into 
> > > the house!
> > > 
> > > This offer is open to anyone in this Group. Tell me which 
boards 

> > you 
> > > are interested in and I'll send you the files. You can be my 
> > guinea-
> > > pigs until I get the opportunity to make them myself!
> > > 
> > > Marek
> > >
> >
>