Music From Outer Space Weird Sound Generator

catweazle · February 18, 2008, 09:16:02 PM

see http://www.robthefiddler.com/electronics-audio-diy/circuit-experiments/wsg-mods-for-a-sequencer-thingy/
for some explanation and mods for the WSG.

Circuitbenders · February 19, 2008, 04:40:35 PM

well there is definately a big difference between using an HCF40106 and a 74C14N, which is the stated equivalent to the CD40106 on the MFOS website. The 74C14N is a lot more 'gritty' sounding and runs a bit slower.

I think i prefer the sound of the HCF40106 but i'm not 100% sure

I've made some demos of my WSG using the HCF40106 and the 74C14N with the controls in exactly the same place. Each demo has the HCF40106 first and the 74C14N second.

http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/demos/WSGdifference1.mp3
http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/demos/WSGdifference2.mp3
http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/demos/WSGdifference3.mp3

computer at sea · February 19, 2008, 04:57:30 PM

Jeez, that is a pretty dramatic difference.

djsynchro · February 22, 2008, 10:38:02 PM

Quote from: Circuitbenders on February 19, 2008, 04:40:35 PM
I think i prefer the sound of the HCF40106 but i'm not 100% sure

HCF is much nicer... but the other one is cool too.

fegg · February 25, 2008, 09:29:16 AM

Hiya all, tis my first post so first off.. great forum here, good attitude and all!
had to post because I love the WSG, I have built two of them from the vero layout by Unkle Krunkus (anyone used that?) it sounds great to me (I used a cd40106). The LM 741 is a single op amp, has anyone tried any others in its place? I haven't yet but will do when I get hold of some

. I just checked this new PCB from the MFOS site and it has extra switches!!

Is there much difference to the original WSG? I'm hoping I can add these extra switches to my vero build

fegg.

catweazle · February 26, 2008, 11:41:18 PM

yeah, got my MFOS pcb, got to get parts ...
I think I have to build it twice one with HCF4106 and one with the 74C14
... a must have

computer at sea · February 29, 2008, 03:03:18 AM

QuoteIs there much difference to the original WSG?

I can't remember, does the original WSG have two voices? Cause that'd be a big difference.

catweazle · February 29, 2008, 03:37:10 AM

Yop, has two voices mixed together

fegg · February 29, 2008, 01:57:21 PM

the original has mostly the same pots (only coarse "oddness" cutoff and no resonance) but minus all switches apart from "Wackiness"

...I'll try and drop them in.

p.s. just realised my 2nd vero build had two resistors misplaced, but still made Noise

jamiewoody · March 08, 2010, 05:53:41 AM

hey, the red box looks NICE! very professional!

i like the idea of the old camera. i have a bunch of those, actually.

i think, before i build a wsg, i may want to learn how to print circuitboards like the bigboys do. i mean, i might could fake it with a generic pcb, but a printed board would make life a lot easier.

Circuitbenders · March 09, 2010, 01:05:40 AM

Quote from: jamiewoody on March 08, 2010, 05:53:41 AM
i think, before i build a wsg, i may want to learn how to print circuitboards like the bigboys do. i mean, i might could fake it with a generic pcb, but a printed board would make life a lot easier.

My advice is if you don't actually have to, then don't bother. If you can get a ready made board then you might as well go the easier route, although i'm sure just the PCB was a lot cheaper when i built mine.

I've never tried a WSG on stripboard but i've definately seen a layout for it somewhere on the net. Its not actually that complex component-wise. Most of the wiring is for the pots.

jamiewoody · March 09, 2010, 06:36:24 AM

yeah, i was checking the layout out, and nothing on it even resembles that of a strip board. i would have better results hand wiring everything than to do that! ;-)

computer at sea · March 10, 2010, 02:15:23 AM

Boy, I hate to disagree with the man himself, but I found a PCB to be a great help when I made one of these. There are some great tutorials out there, and it's a skill that you'll use over and over. Check out Getlofi's videos on the subject and do a search for "Muriatic acid PCB".

Totally worth your time.

Circuitbenders · March 10, 2010, 02:16:21 AM

i agree, what i was trying to say there was that its a whole lot more effort to make your own PCB than it is to just buy one if they are available, especially if you aren't that experienced at it. Plus you can more or less guarantee that a comercially produced one is going to work.

Having said that, i think it'd have to be something a little more complex than a WSG to make me actually make a PCB but as i say, i've never attempted one on veroboard

jamiewoody · March 15, 2010, 09:55:47 PM

i think from a learning standpoint, making a pcb may be bennificial. of course, i like the instant gratification standpoing too.