Ultimate EXPANDER |
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ULTIMATE EXPANDER
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Although specifically designed to be a companion to the Sound Lab ULTIMATE
the EXPANDER has the features to stand on its own as a super "Swiss Army Knife" module
for any synthesizer. Read More...
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WSG Front Panels |
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WSG Front Panels are back in stock. WSG kits with front panel are too.
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MFOS CD Release |
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ELECTROLUMINESCENCE, is the first CD released by MFOS. This collection of
sound-scapes and classical tunes is sure to please.
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KITS BACK IN STOCK |
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WSG
and
Sound Lab
kits are back in stock!
If you've been holding your breath you can breathe now... and get out your soldering iron.
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MFOS Apparel |
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MFOS T-Shirts
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Buy a cool MFOS T-shirt. Turn your creativity, ingenuity and imagination knobs all the way up to eleven.
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Trouble-shooting |
Dear Visitors
Well I'm going back to the day job world for the next 6 months. So... I won't be able to answer as many
trouble shooting questions
as I have been so please avail yourself of the online forums and blogs in which so many cool folks have shared their
MFOS project building experiences. Feel free to send questions but I may only be able to answer the ones that I know
I have not previously addressed on the site somewhere. If you don't get a reply please look over the site material
more closely as your question may well be answered already.
Read over any project you intend to build to make sure it is presented clearly enough for you to build it
and trouble-shoot it yourself (or with local help). Breadboard it and experiment.
Here are some good circuit trouble-shooting tips.
Good learning & building
Ray
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MFOS Module/Product Makers |
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MFOS related products are available from the following sites: (If you are not listed let me know
and I'll list you)
Buyers! Please contact anyone you intend to buy a product from to make sure you know what you are getting first and what
if any return policy they may or may not have in place. Please remember that all sales are between you and the seller.
Modules/Fabricators
Allen Cox
The BrideChamber
Synthasonic
Laurie Biddulph
Health Club Music
Todd Fletcher
Laser Engraved Panels
Dan Hintz (see example)
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MFOS uses DIP |
Make sure you order DIP package chips for MFOS boards.
No offense SOP packages but gentlemen prefer chips with longer legs.
DIP Spec. vs.
SOP Spec.
They actually make adapters.
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Do MFOS circuits work at +/-15V? |
All of my circuits will work with +/- 15 volts and in all probability,
with no changes. All of the chips I recommend are rated for the higher
voltages so you should be good to go. One small consequence
is that the peak voltage of things will be a bit higher. Oscillator P-to-P
outputs will be higher at higher supply voltages and AR or ADSR voltage peaks
will be higher also. Filters and amplifiers will have more
headroom and may need a bit of re-biasing if you find that the output is not
sitting at ground anymore (when the input is at ground).
For any circuit to which you want to apply higher voltage
examine the schematic and you'll find its not difficult to reduce the
output voltage to what you want. If it absolutely, positively has to be there with
a different supply voltage; breadboard it, apply the voltage you want, and tweak as necessary.
Please read disclaimer
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My Open Source SDIY Philosophy |
Everything on Music From Outer Space is freely available for non-commercial use.
I provide glass epoxy double sided PC boards at reasonable prices for many of my projects.
If you like you can make your own from the layouts and drawings I provide or design your own if you prefer.
Please feel free to use this information for non-commercial uses to the fullest extent possible.
I do appreciate a link to MFOS if you blog or YouTube your work.
Please keep in mind that although I use these circuits in my synth and do my best to update the
information with changes or fixes, I recommend that you review them thoroughly and/or breadboard them before
relying on them to make sure they will meet your needs.
If you find errors or omissions I appreciate the feedback so I can continue to improve the website.
Before using any material commercially please
inquire via email first.
Thanks, The MFOS Team
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Help Support MFOS |
We appreciate your support.
Please click on the button
below to help support our
site with a contribution
payable via Visa, Mastercard, or PayPal.
Does not require a PayPal account.
You have our sincere thanks.
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The new and improved MFOS website is online and ready to go!
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If you have enjoyed this website we think you're going to love the new one.
We think you'll find it a more consistent and useable interface.
Tree navigation and search capabilities will help you spend less time looking and more time learning or building.
I suggest you update your MFOS bookmark to point to the new site.
While this site will remain accessible only the new site will be updated in the future.
The new MFOS site has all of your favorite DIY projects and will
continue to add new projects and applications for electronics and synth-diy enthusiasts.
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| The new URL: http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/mfosweb/home.action |
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Welcome To MFOS, Your Synth-DIY Headquarters.
What is synth-DIY?
Synth-DIY is just what the name implies. Synthesizer Do It Yourself. Many people, like me,
grew up in the dawn of the analog synthesizer age (Moog, ARP, Oberheim, Buchla, RCA, EMu, Fairlight, PAIA and many others) and although
we may have really wanted our very own analog synthesizer with dozens of knobs and switches they were
w-a-a-a-y out of our reach financially. Now many people with a modicum of electronic skills and
a renewed interest in analog synthesizers are discovering that with a schematic, a PC board and some
electronic components they can do it themselves!.
MFOS' mission is to help people realize their synthesizer dreams.
We do this by providing analog synthesizer projects with complete schematics,
assembly drawings and professionally manufactured PC boards.
If you already have electronic skills... welcome!
If you would like to learn more about electronics or analog synthesizers then try these links:
How can I start learning about electronics?,
Analog Synth 101 and/or
The MFOS Book Store.
It's never to late to develop a new skill, reignite an old passion or exercise your creativity.
Keep imagining, keep inventing, stay ingenious.
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The Sound Lab ULTIMATE packs:
Three Musically Accurate VCOs, a White Noise Generator
, an Active Mixer, a Voltage Controlled LP Filter, a Voltage Controlled Amplifier
, an Attack Release Envelope Generator
, two Low Frequency Oscillators, a Repeat Gate Generator
, a Sample & Hold, an Attenuator Bank and a Patch Panel into one
totally cool synth-DIY project. The feedback has been very positive on this project.
Check out the ULTIMATE!
NEW! ULTIMATE Block Diagram
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The Sound Lab Mini-Synth is a great project. It is a complete mini analog synth on
one PC board. It has two VCOs, one LFO, one Mixer, one State Variable Low-Pass/Band-Pass
Filter, one AR Envelope Generator with repeat, and one VCA. It runs off of two nine volt batteries for a long time
due to its low current design.
Check out the MINI-SYNTH!
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Reading really is fundamental. Have you read any good books lately? |
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These will give you something to read during the long cold winter nights or make one of your synth minded friends
an exceptionally thoughtful gift. See more books...
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The MFOS Mini-Controller
The MFOS Mini-Controller has a twenty nine note stylus keyboard (C - C - C to E) built right into the PCB.
It can be used to play your Sound Lab Mini-Synth or 1V/Oct modular.
The PCB supports four CV outputs (2 with portamento 2 without portamento).
There is one trigger output and one gate output.
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Project w/PCB |
VCO Revised and Improved
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I love this VCO and I think you will too. Can you ever have enough VCOs? I don't know anyone that does!
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Project w/PCB |
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8 Stage Phase Shifter
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This phase shifter sounds excellent. Its a great project and adds
interesting timbres to whatever you put through it.
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Project w/PCB |
Dual AR Envelope Generator
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Dual AR Envelope Generator adds more patch and sound generation capability to your synth arsenal.
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Project w/PCB |
SONIC MULTIPLIER (Ring Modulator)
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Multiply analog signals for truly cool effects. Make your voice sound like a robot. Make
your instrument sound like Saint Anthony's Cathedral.
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Component Kit |
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Weird Sound Gen.
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All the parts you need to build a WSG EXCEPT FOR A CASE. Making your own
outlandish case is half the fun. You have to build the case yourself including the front panel.
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Project w/PCB |
State Variable VCF With VC-Res.
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This 2 pole 12dB per octave state variable filter with VC
resonance will add a ton of timbres to your bag of tricks and it has
good 1V per octave tracking!
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Project w/PCB |
4P Low Pass VCF With VC-Res.
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You're going to love this 4 Pole 24dB per
octave low pass filter with voltage controlled
resonance and good 1V per octave CV tracking.
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Project w/PCB |
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1V/Oct. Keyboard Controller
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Turn anything with 1 switch per note into a synth controller. This works
very well with single buss keyboards that have one switch per key closing to a common buss.
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Project w/PCB |
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VC-LFO
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This VC-LFO has some nice features that will add to your modulation
bag of tricks.
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Project w/PCB |
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Stereo Auto Panner
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This cool stereo auto panner can add ethereal effects to your next composition.
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Project w/PCB |
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Stereo Mixer
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Stereo mixer with panning, two effect sends and headphone amp PC Board.
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Your home-built synth music on the RADIO! Read on...
Bill Fox hosts two shows that feature electronic music. He is interested in hearing the
music people make on their home built synths. The best of these compositions may get airplay.
Bill will accept CDs sent to the address below. Bill will NOT send a review to
everyone who submits a composition. If you get one great, if not, leave the guy alone.
Do not get dissapointed if you don't receive feedback or a review.
Never say die and never give up the ship.
Bill Fox
P.O. Box 632
Nazareth, Pennsylvania
18064-0632
USA
More information here:
Galactic Travels
The AM/FM Show
The fine print... This website assumes a basic level of
electronics proficiency and knowledge. To build the projects found here you must be able
to read and understand schematics, relate schematics to physical components, solder, do
panel wiring, case building, and trouble-shooting. None of these projects has step by step
instructions to follow. There are; schematics, circuit descriptions, pc board layouts,
suggested panel layouts, and suggested modifications. Please read over any project's information
in its entirety before attempting to build it to make sure there is sufficient information for
you to succeed. If you are interested in electronics or are just getting started in
electronics check out this page for some ideas to help you get going:
How Do I Get Started In Electronics?
All information contained in this site is provided "as is" without
warranty of any kind.
MFOS product prices are subject to change without notice.
The information provided by this Web site is only intended to be general
summary information to the public. Please breadboard any circuit prior
to writing to me for information that can only be gathered by
breadboarding and testing the circuit in question. Please study carefully or breadboard
circuits to be sure you will be happy with the results before you purchase
project PC boards. Thanks.
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Project w/PCB |
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Dual Log/Lin VCA
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VCAs always come in handy! Delayed vibrato, ring mod, tremolo, audio envelopes, etc.
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TRANSISTOR MATCHING |
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With the price of matched pairs going higher and manufacturers abandoning us it's time
to fight back and match transistors the old fashioned way. The DIY way!
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Project w/PCB |
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V/Oct Calibrator
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This circuit makes calibration of your volt per octave equipment way easier.
Build one today.
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Project w/PCB |
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MFOS MFM
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The MFOS Multi-Function Module (MFM).
Two DC voltage mixers, a linear lag processor, an RC lag processor and
a LED voltage level meter make this a great all around module.
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Want to be notified when MFOS releases a cool new product?
CLICK HERE!.
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Some simple mods for the WSG that will keep you making weird sounds into the next century.
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| MFOS on |  |
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Project w/PCB |
SUBCOMMANDER Guitar-Synth
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This is a very satisfying project for advanced electronic hobbyists who also play guitar.
Benders can put this to work too! You can put any instrument through it and augment
it's sound.
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Project w/PCB |
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Adjustable Supply
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This adjustable power supply is built around the LM317 and LM337 family of regulators.
It will power a lot of modules. Makes a great bench supply.
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Project w/PCB |
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10 Step Sequencer
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New simpler 10 step sequencer project. A great companion for your
Sound Lab Mini Synth.
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Project w/PCB |
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Voltage Quantizer
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Transform continuous voltage changes to discrete steps.
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Project w/PCB |
16 Step Sequencer
Watch Thomas White's YouTubes.
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The boards are back in town. This 16 step sequencer is a very cool project for
advanced diy'ers.
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Project w/PCB |
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SLMS-PLUS!
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The Sound Lab Mini Synth Plus project is a great way to upgrade your Sound Lab's
performance and flexibility. It requires an advanced level of electronics project skill.
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When using the custom wire-wound tempcos (PT146 or PT094) from MFOS I usually
put a 100pF cap across it in the voltage summer. It seems to calm down any inductance
added by the tempco's winding. As usual if you don't have any problems leave it alone. RJW
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Project w/PCB+KIT |
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Envelope Follower
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If you have been wanting to learn to build guitar effects this may be
a great place to start.
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