x0xb0x User Manual: Developing firmware
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Introduction

The VCF creates the high-frequency sub-oscillations, as controlled by the cutoff and resonance knobs.

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After (Oops! C23 is 'upside down' in this picture.)
Notes

Again, solder in the large potentiometers last.

Testing

At this point one can test whether resonance/cutoff affect the note.

  1. Power up as described in the power supply section, connect 3VDC (using a power supply or some other method as discussed in the prep section) to R90. (See below, the red hook-clip.)
  2. If you have one, use a scope to probe the potentiometer, twist the cutoff (VR3) and resonance (VR4) pots all the way down and examine the almost sinusoidal notes.
  3. Or twist them all the way up and note the high frequencies.
  4. Or, lacking a scope, use a high-impedance (32ohm) headphone to probe the same pin. Connect the sleeve to ground and use the tip to touch the point you want to hear. Make sure that its a pair of really cheap headphones: high quality ones are as low as 2ohms and will pull the signal low. Sinusoudal notes will sound "soft" whereas the high resonance notes are 'acidic.'
Tuning

There is an 'official' tuning for the VCF. According to the Roland TB-303 manual, when playing C1 (65.4Hz) with the cutoff frequency knob set to 50%, saw waveform, and resonance knob at 100%, the resonance frequency should be 500Hz (give or take 100Hz depending on how it sounds to you). You can perform this tuning by either applying 3.0VDC to the VCO or finishing the entire assembly and using something like Keyboard mode to trigger the note. The cutoff can be adjusted by tweaking TM3.

Parts
1N4148 1 D24
100 ohm 5% resistor 1 R95
2.2K 5% resistor 7 R67, R68, R69, R70, R71, R98, R108
10K 5% resistor 11 R47, R61, R64, R65, R94, R96, R97, R109, R112, R115, R116
22K 5% resistor 2 R110, R111
47K 5% resistor 1 R46
100K 5% resistor 6 R66, R72, R73, R99, R113, R114
220K 5% resistor 2 R62, R63
500K (504) trim potentiometer 1 TM3
50K D (log) potentiometer 2 VR3, VR5
50K B (linear) dual potentiometer 1 VR4
.018uF (2A183K) polyester capacitor 1 C18
.033uF (2A333K) polyester capacitor 3 C19, C24, C26
.1uF (2A104K) capacitor 2 C25, C27
10uF electrolytic capacitor 2 C16, C30
47uF electrolytic capacitor 1 C28
1uF electrolytic capacitor 7 C13, C14, C15, C17, C22, C23, C29
2SA733P, TO-92 PNP transistor 2 Q9, Q10
2SC536F, TO-92 NPN transistor 10 Q11, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q23
2SC2291 5-SIP matched pair with common base 1 Q22
2SC1583 5-SIP matched pair with common emitter 2 Q12, Q21

 

 

May 17, 2011 20:07