Variscan Synthesis - Revision history

Cornish semiconductor at 09:49, 14 August 2026

2026-08-14T09:49:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:49, 14 August 2026
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	* Incorporate 1920s [[Semiconductor history\|crystal wireless technology]].		* Incorporate 1920s [[Semiconductor history\|crystal wireless technology]].
	* No tuning.		* No tuning.

			[[File:Catswhiskers.jpg\|500px\|right]]

	In practice:		In practice:

2026-07-16T07:18:09Z

Modules

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:18, 16 July 2026
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	Filters & processing:		Filters & processing:
	* [[diode ladder filter]] [diode xtal]		* [[diode ladder filter]] [diode xtal]
	* [[~~4 way~~ low pass gate]] [utility]		* [[low pass gate]] [utility]

	Glue & sequencing:		Glue & sequencing:

2026-07-12T12:43:32Z

Modules

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:43, 12 July 2026
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	* [[chaotic relaxation]] [diode xtal]		* [[chaotic relaxation]] [diode xtal]

	Filters:		Filters & processing:
	* [[diode ladder filter]] [diode xtal]		* [[diode ladder filter]] [diode xtal]
	* [[4 way low pass gate]]		* [[4 way low pass gate]] [utility]

	Glue & sequencing:		Glue & sequencing:
	* [[general purpose amp]]		* [[general purpose amp]] [utility]
	* [[noisegen amp]]		* [[noisegen amp]] [utility]
	* [[shift sequencer]]		* [[shift sequencer]] [utility]
	* [[counter]]		* [[counter]] [utility]

	All hardware circuits and designs licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]]		All hardware circuits and designs licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]]

2026-07-12T12:42:52Z

Modules

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:42, 12 July 2026
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	Generators:		Generators:

	* [[noisegen]]		* [[noisegen]] [diode xtal]
	* [[squarewave]]		* [[squarewave]] [transistor xtal]
	* [[chaotic triangle]]		* [[chaotic triangle]] [diode xtal]
	* [[chaotic relaxation]]		* [[chaotic relaxation]] [diode xtal]

	Filters:		Filters:
	* [[diode ladder filter]]		* [[diode ladder filter]] [diode xtal]
	* [[4 way low pass gate]]		* [[4 way low pass gate]]

2026-07-12T12:41:21Z

Modules

2026-07-01T09:52:26Z

Modules

2026-07-01T07:37:39Z

Modules

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:37, 1 July 2026
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	* [[shift sequencer]]		* [[shift sequencer]]
	* [[counter]]		* [[counter]]

			All hardware circuits and designs licenced under the [[CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal]]

	= Building blocks used =		= Building blocks used =

2026-07-01T07:35:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:35, 1 July 2026
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	* [[shift sequencer]]		* [[shift sequencer]]
	* [[counter]]		* [[counter]]

			= Building blocks used =

			I'm using surface mount parts partly because I find them easier and faster to build than through hole, they consume less resources, and because they are much cheaper. Interestingly they do not seem to actually result in much smaller circuit boards, but that's partly down to my technique of CNC cutting boards. My trace width is 0.5mm with 0.2mm clearance, and they are single sided boards, so pretty huge in comparison to standard parameters. One of the surprising things I've found out is that surface mount done this way is very easy to modify - a bit easier than even matrix board prototyping. You can easily cut a trace and add a resistor, or solder a part on vertically to a trace and connect it somewhere else with an enameled copper wire. I've also sometimes piggybacked e.g. capacitors together if I need a bigger value.

			These are the parts I'm using in all these circuits:

			* CD40106BM96 Logic IC, Inverter, Hex, 1 Inputs, 14 Pins, SOIC, 40106
			* LM358DT OP-AMP, 1.1MHZ, 0 TO 70DEG C, SOIC-8
			* LM324ADT OP AMP, QUAD, 1.3MHZ, 0.4V/µS, 14SOIC
			* HCF4094YM013TR Shift Register, HCF4094, Serial to Parallel, 1 Element, 8 bit, SOIC, 16 Pins
			* MC14070BDR2G Logic IC, XOR (Exclusive OR), Quad, 2 Inputs, 14 Pins, SOIC, 4070
			* MC14516BDG Binary Up / Down Counter, 4 MHz, 3 V to 18 V, SOIC-16

2026-06-27T13:47:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:47, 27 June 2026
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	* Single sided PCBs glued to neodymium magnets, so they can be rearranged inside a repurposed tool box (protects them during travelling/storage). Modular without (so many) patch cables, structure follows flow.		* Single sided PCBs glued to neodymium magnets, so they can be rearranged inside a repurposed tool box (protects them during travelling/storage). Modular without (so many) patch cables, structure follows flow.
			* Coping with components with wildly differing resistances, behaviours and other electrical characteristics means opening up control parameters much wider than when you tune them for a specific circuit or standardised ranges. This also means that for individual crystals a lot of the range of e.g. a potentiometer's range will not be useful.
	* Extensive use of vactrols (LED/light dependent resistor). This is to make circuits simpler and be able to see what's going on at the same time.		* Extensive use of vactrols (LED/light dependent resistor). This is to make circuits simpler and be able to see what's going on at the same time.
	* Sequencing via simple building blocks, binary counters and shift registers.		* Sequencing via simple building blocks, binary counters and shift registers.

2026-06-26T16:25:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:25, 26 June 2026
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	Theory and silly rules:		Theory and silly rules:

	* Trying to give a voice to 370 million year old electronic components - this is 'variscan coast' synthesis.		* Trying to give a voice to 370 million year old electronic components - this is '[[variscan coast]]' synthesis.
	* Changing/adjusting the crystal should have a clear result in most circumstances - they need to be in the centre of the circuit, so e.g. taking them away stops the sound for that signal path.		* Changing/adjusting the crystal should have a clear result in most circumstances - they need to be in the centre of the circuit, so e.g. taking them away stops the sound for that signal path.
	* If possible circuits should highlight the differences between different minerals and source localities - these sounds have a kind of '[[terroir]]'.		* If possible circuits should highlight the differences between different minerals and source localities - these sounds have a kind of '[[terroir]]'.