Tag Archives: Elektor Formant

ADSR Euro-rack

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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

NGF VCO Core one (Elektor Formant based) Part one

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To start with this Blog i want to write about a new PCB project which roots go back to the seventies. At this time a German electronics magazine published an diy analog synthesizer. The Elektor Formant. They sold PCB’s and some third party vendors sold kits as well.

So i bought and build my first few modules of an analog synthesizer. The VCO was build around the Fairchild uA726 temperature controlled differential pair, the same one used in the Mini Moog second oscillator board. Over the years a added some features to the VCO that i found useful. For instance: octave switch, sync in and out, fixed square out, FM lin, voltage reference, output mixer and some more. Getting rid of the 5V PSU was a big step. I made the changes recommended in the second Formant book as well. This leads to some wiring …

IMG_3639and an additional stripboard.

IMG_3638

So i decided to consolidate what i have done and put all those changes on one PCB. This was possible because i have all the used obsolete parts at hand. If you want to follow this path first make shure that you can get hold on those parts (uA726, 74LS13). They are still available at a price but you have to search for them.

I only did the core VCO here. The wave shaper will be tackled later in a separate project. There are two categories of changes i did. Additions i found usefull to have and changes to increase stability. Usefull additions: Octave switch, FM lin, Sync in, Sync (pulse) out. Increased stability: Stabilized control voltages, getting rid off the 5V power suplly. Details and schematic can be found on my website.

The PCB just arrived. Now time to stuff it.

IMG_3679