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Music Thing Modular TH-VCO1 Build Instructions

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TH-VCO1
Build Instructions (detailed)
This is a detailed build instruction for
Rev 1.0 of the TH-VCO1, based on the
Eurorack Adaption by Tom Whitwell by
Music Thing Modular and the original
Circuit by Thomas Henry. Boards and
Panel were designed by David Huss in
the course of a synthesizer workshop at
HFBK Hamburg.
The TH-VCO1 is a stable and wide range
Oscillator with three different wave-
forms, two FM-inputs and CV-controlla-
ble Pulsewidth. The Panel is 10 HP wide
(50.50 mm) and the VCO uses max 55mA
on ±12V.
To build this module some basic tools
are needed: soldering iron, solder, cut-
ting pliers, flat pliers, multimeter, cutter
Make sure to to be concentrated on de-
tails. Some parts can look very similar
and should not be confused with each
other! Searching for errors afterwards
takes far more energy than doing it right
from the start.
More details (BOM, Manual, Calibration
Manual) and other projects can be found
under
<https://code.hfbk.net/t6/sdiy/
wikis/home>

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Summary of Contents for Music Thing Modular TH-VCO1

  • Page 1 Build Instructions (detailed) This is a detailed build instruction for Make sure to to be concentrated on de- Rev 1.0 of the TH-VCO1, based on the tails. Some parts can look very similar Eurorack Adaption by Tom Whitwell by and should not be confused with each...
  • Page 2 Step 1 Split PCBs with a cutter and the edge of a table. Do not attempt to break it appart with- out putting it to an edge!
  • Page 3 Step 2 6x Resistor On components PCB: solder all 10k resis- tors (6 pieces) in. Careful not to con- fuse them with 18k!
  • Page 4 Step 3 2x Resistor On components PCB: solder all 18k resis- tors (2 pieces) in. Careful not to con- fuse them with 10k!
  • Page 5 Step 4 2x Resistor On components PCB: solder all 12k resis- tors (2 pieces) in.
  • Page 6 Step 5 3x Resistor On components PCB: 2.2k solder all 2.2k resis- tors (3 pieces) in. Do not confuse with 2.2m or 22k!
  • Page 7 Step 6 2x Resistor On components PCB: 100k solder all 100k resis- tors (2 pieces) in.
  • Page 8 Step 7 2x Resistor On components PCB: 2.2M solder all 2.2M resis- tors (2 pieces) in.
  • Page 9 Step 8 1x Resistor On components PCB: 150k solder R36 with 150k in (re- place this with a different value to change PWM con- trol scale, leave this out and add a 200k precision trim- mer if you want to add the PWM Scale Trim Mod)
  • Page 10 Step 9 1x Resistor On components PCB: solder R10 with 1M...
  • Page 11 Step 10 1x Resistor On components PCB: solder R1 with 1k...
  • Page 12 Step 11 1x Resistor On components PCB: solder R16 with 20k...
  • Page 13 Step 12 1x Resistor On components PCB: solder R9 with 22k...
  • Page 14 Step 13 1x Resistor On components PCB: solder R15 with 27k...
  • Page 15 Step 14 1x Resistor On components PCB: 390R solder R24 with 390R...
  • Page 16 Step 15 1x Resistor On components PCB: solder R7 with 47R...
  • Page 17 Step 16 1x Resistor On components PCB: 5.1k solder R18 with 5.1k...
  • Page 18 Step 17 1x Resistor On components PCB: 820R solder R8 with 820R...
  • Page 19 Step 18 1x Resistor On components PCB: If you intend to use matched transistors in- solder R2 with 2k. stead of the THAT340 chip, do not solder your 2K 3300ppm tempco in yet but after soldering the transis- tors. All three parts need to be in thermal contact which can be achieved by glueing them together...
  • Page 20 Step 19 2x Diodes On components PCB: 1N4001 solder the two 1N4001 diodes in. Careful with the ori- entation! The white stripe needs to be oriented into the right direction as indicated on the silkscreen...
  • Page 21 Step 20 On components PCB: solder D1, 1N4148 Careful with the ori- entation! The black stripe needs to be oriented into the right direction as indicated on the silkscreen 1x Diode 1N4148...
  • Page 22 Step 21-22 2x IC socket On components PCB: 16+14 solder the IC sockets. Solder 4x IC socket one leg first, solder the rest once you made sure ev- erything is straight. Orient them right to avoid mis- takes when putting the ICs Do NOT solder the 14 Pin in later.
  • Page 23 Step 23 On components PCB: solder all bypass capacitors 10x Capacitor (100nF ceramic) 100nF...
  • Page 24 Step 24 1x Capacitor On components PCB: solder C1 with 1nF. Careful – do not confuse with C3!
  • Page 25 Step 25 1x Capacitor On components PCB: 47pF solder C4 with 47pF (print says 47)
  • Page 26 Step 26 1x Capacitor On components PCB: 10nF solder C2 with 10nF (print says 103)
  • Page 27 Step 27 1x Capacitor On components PCB: The value of this capacitor can be adjusted for a dif- solder C3, 1n Styrofoam/Sty- ferent frequency range. If roflex/Glimmer. you don’t need frequencies higher than 13 kHz, but want (This Capacitor is for tuning improved LFO capabilities and should be somewhat use 2.4nF.
  • Page 28 Step 28 2x Transistors On components PCB: If you intend to use matched 2N3904 transistors instead of the solder the Transistors Q3 THAT340 chip, solder the and Q4, 2N3904. transistors according to the graphic below. All three Careful to orient them ac- parts need to be in ther- cording to the silkscreen.
  • Page 29 THIS STEP IS ONLY NEEDED IF YOU DON’T USE THE THAT340 CHIP Step 28B 2x matched NPN-Transistors If you intend to use matched Also solder your 3300ppm transistors instead of the 2k Tempco now. 2N3904 THAT340 chip, solder the transistors according to the All three parts (NPN-pair graphic below.

  • Page 30: Voltage Reference

    Step 29 1x Voltage Reference On components PCB: solder the precision voltage LM4040-10.0 reference LM4040-10.0 in. Careful to orient them ac- cording to the silkscreen.

  • Page 31: Electrolytic Capacitor

    Step 30 2x Electrolytic Capacitor On components PCB: solder the electrolytic ca- 10uF 35V pacitors C6 and C7 with 10uF. Careful with the orientation. The white stripe needs to go to the round pad. The longer leg goes to the square pad. Make sure they are flat with the PCB otherwise you will run into problems later.
  • Page 32 Step 31 2x Polyfuses On components PCB: On the top side of the PCB solder the two polyfuses (print says R005 BJ6S)
  • Page 33 Step 32 1x Power Headers On components PCB: turn the PCB around and 10-Pin, 2 Rows, 2.54mm solder one leg of the power connector to the bottom of the PCB. Make sure the opening is pointing left.
  • Page 34 Step 33 1x Trimmer On components PCB: On the bottom side of the 100R PCB solder the 100R Trim- mer (print says 101) in. Make sure it sits firmly on the PCB.
  • Page 35 Step 34 1x Trimmer On components PCB: On the bottom side of the PCB solder the 50k Trimmer (print says 503) in. Make sure it sits firmly on the PCB.
  • Page 36 Step 35 2x Trimmer On components PCB: On the bottom side of the 100k PCB solder the two 100K Trimmers (print says 104) in. Make sure they sit firmly on the PCB.
  • Page 37 Step 36 1x PCB Take the other (pots) PCB...
  • Page 38 Step 37 On pots PCB: resistor R3 (2.2M) is not needed, bridge the contacts with a piece of wire (solder it there)
  • Page 39 Step 38 On pots PCB: 4x Resistor solder all 100k resistors (4 pieces) in. 100k...
  • Page 40 Step 39 On pots PCB: 2x Resistor solder all 1k resistors (2 pieces) in.
  • Page 41 Step 40 On pots PCB: 1x Resistor solder R11 with 1M...
  • Page 42 Step 41 On pots PCB: 1x Resistor solder R6 with 2.4M (or 2.2M if no 2.4M available) 2.4M or 2.2M...
  • Page 43 Step 42 On pots PCB: 1x Resistor solder R35 with 330k 330k...
  • Page 44 Step 43 On pots PCB: 1x Resistor solder R32 with 1.8k 1.8k...
  • Page 45 Step 44 On pots PCB: 1x Resistor solder R33 with 3k...
  • Page 46 Step 45 On pots PCB: 1x DC Block Capacitor solder C2POTS with 220nF (print says 0,22 63–) 220 nF...
  • Page 47 Step 46 5x Potentiometer On pots PCB: 100k If your pots have a small metal piece, break it off with pliers (twisting usually works well).
  • Page 48 5x Potentiometer Step 47 100k On pots PCB: Do not solder: push in the green pots (except PWM_ CV!) DO NOT SOLDER! (yet)
  • Page 49 7x Jack Step 48 3.5mm On pots PCB: Do not solder: push in the Jacks DO NOT SOLDER! (yet)
  • Page 50 1x Jack Step 49 100k On pots PCB: Do not solder: push in the pot with plastic shaft DO NOT SOLDER! (yet)
  • Page 51 Step 50-52 On pots PCB: Put the Panel onto Pots and Jacks. Screw it on with the fingers Solder Pots and jacks (make sure everything sits tightly, before soldering the first things). Be careful not to apply too much solder at the jacks.
  • Page 52 Step 53 On pots PCB: Sadly the 5-Pinheaders have the wrong spacing. Split the two 5-pin headers (2x male and 2x female) into four 1 pieces. Use a cutter first, then use two pliers to break them appart. result...
  • Page 53 Step 54 Take the Panel off again. Stack both PCBs together with the pinheaders inbe- tween and solder the pin- headers (if you are not sure they are straight, only solder one pin). For the single Pins, solder only one first.
  • Page 54 Step 55 On components PCB: Put the ICs into the sockets (WATCH FOR THE ORIEN- TATION! you may have to carefully bend the IC legs to make them fit).
  • Page 55 Step 56 Control all Boards. They should look somewhat like this. Note that the brown resistor on this board has a different value than your’s. Pots PCB Components PCB Bottom Bottom...
  • Page 56 Step 57 Stack everything back to- gether. Screw the Panel on. Push on the knobs. If the knob is too loose, put a little piece of paper, isolating tape or plastic on the shaft, be- fore pushing the knob on.
  • Page 57 Step 58 Assemble the powercable. Make a conductivity test with a multimeter. Make sure every wire is at 1. Place ribbon cable and press together the right place and press the -12V should be connected connector together. only to -12V, +12V should be connected only to +12V and If possbile measure for con- Ground should be only con-...
  • Page 58 TESTING Congratulations! You have new VCO now. But does it work? If you have a lab pow- er supply (with the possibil- ity to limit current), try your module with limited current first. Make sure the polarity of the powercable is right (if in doubt –...