Utility Mixer I

Utility Mixer I
Utility Mixer I

This is an often used utility module. The mixer comes in handy for mixing CV sources. The mixer is DC coupled, so you can use it for DC and AC mixing. The input impedance is constant 1MOhm. The input signals are amplified by a maximum factor of two. It is possible to offset every input with +/- 5V. The offset is signaled with LED’s for every channel and for the summing output. The outputs are normalized, so you can remove selected channels from the output mix. The summed output has a -6dB switchable attenuator. There is an inverted summed output added as well. The added volume indicator us useful for finding the appropriate signal level.

Specs and features

  • Three inputs, three outputs
  • Inverted and non- inverted summed output
  • 2x amplification
  • +/- 5V offset for every channel
  • -6dB switch
  • Volume indicator
  • Normalized outputs
  • Runs on +/-12V and +/-15V
  • Power consumption below 20mA each rail

The documentation and the Gerber files for download can be found in my website.

Utility Mixer I: Main board
Utility Mixer I: Main board
Utility Mixer I: Control board
Utility Mixer I: Control board

Control board: Straight forward design. The mixer is completely DC coupled. So you can use it for CV mixing as well as audio mixing. IC1B,C,D buffers the three inputs and and keeps the input impedance constant. P2, P4, P6 sets the amplification from zero to 2X. P1, P3, P5 sets the offset voltage. The LED indicates the offset and signal level.

Main board: IC3B, IC4B, IC6B adds the offset voltage and the signal. IC1C, IC1D, IC1B, IC1B drive the low current LED. IC2A sums the signals and drives the negative output. IC2B drives the positive output.

Utility Mixer I: Populated control board
Utility Mixer I: Populated control board
Utility Mixer I: Populated main board
Utility Mixer I: Populated main board
Utility Mixer I: Side view
Utility Mixer I: Side view
Utility Mixer I: Back view
Utility Mixer I: Back view

ADSR Euro-rack

ADSR: Front view
ADSR: Front view

This is another derivation off the ADSR for my NGF-E project, adapted to 12V Euro-rack format. Because this one is a stand alone module I have removed all additional features from the Next Generation Formant project. Nonetheless it is still based on original Elektor Formant ADSR schematic. I made some error corrections and added my changes to the design. All parts are updated to today (2021/01) available parts. I have made a few changes to fix some shortcomings of the original. A triple range switch was added for finer adjustment of the ADSR CV-output signal. The attack rise time is shorter now as in the original. The gate input is buffered. The fixes a fault in the original when working with analog sequencers. The output voltage is slightly raised to reach really 5V. Due to the design of the original Elektor Formant ADSR the output of the original ADSR keeps a residual voltage of about 0,5V. I have put an compensation in my design to correct this. The driver circuitry for the output indicator LED is changed for better linearity.

Specs and features

  • AD/ADSR switch
  • Gate input 5V
  • CV output ..5V
  • CV output indicator
  • Range switch: fast, middle, long
  • Attack (A) 0,5ms…16s
  • Decay (D) 4ms…40s
  • Sustain (S) 0..5V
  • Release (R) 4ms..40s
  • Power consumption below 15mA each rail

The documentation and the Gerber files for download can be found in my website.

ADSR: Schenmatic main PCB
ADSR: Schematic main PCB
ADSR: Schematic control PCB
ADSR: Schematic control PCB

This is a close clone of the Elektor Formant ADSR. Here i only describe the changes i have made. The description of the other parts of the circuitry can be found in the original Elektor Formant documentation. The gate signal input resistance is raised from 33kOhm to 1megOhm with the input buffer IC1A. This protects against double triggering with the falling edge of the gate signal when using sequencers. R30 is used to fix the input to a defined potential when no signal is attached to the input. C1 was lowered to 6n8 from 10nF. In combination with C2 and the raised charging voltage through IC1B/R9 this makes for faster attack time. The load capacitor of 10u was replaced with three selectable capacitors of 2,2uF 4,7uF and 10uF. This makes for a finer adjustment of the response times of the ADSR. The voltage divider R19/R21 was adjusted to ensure that the output level of 5V is reached. If this feature is not used R25 should be lowered to 5k1. Construction conditioned the output at IC1D only reaches a minimal voltage of about 0,5V. To compensate for this i added IC2A. If the ADSR is not used the output voltage is now at -0,5V. The current consumption was lowered with using the TL064 and a low current LED.

ADSR: back view
ADSR: Back view
ADSR: Populated main PCB
ADSR: Populated main PCB
ADSR: Populated control PCB
ADSR: Populated control PCB
ADSR: Side view
ADSR: Side view