#153

Today’s fun experience: I handed the patch cords to five 11~13 year olds and walked them through their first patch on a Serge. Simple stuff:

   DTG (self trigger) ---> PVCO --(x3)--> MIX ---> VQF ---> OUT
                            DTG (self trigger) ----/

Endless fun with knob twiddling, and while looking at an Oscilliscope of the output.

End of class came and I had to physically shoo them out!

10 Likes
#154

For any of you who were interested in the 73-75.com Serge homebuilt, the board/panel kit is available again. Decided to pick one up since it’s a somewhat affordable option and I’ve been reading about it since last spring. This will be the most ambitious project DIY project I’ve done, so I’m going to take it slow. For the most part it looks straightforward if you tackle and test 1 module at a time.

There’s a mouser cart linked in the BOM, although some parts are not in-stock or missing. Those of you who DIY a lot – how do you pick a comparable part when capacitors seem similar but may have slightly different specs? Also, has anybody else here built one of these?

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#155

Just read through the build instructions, seem a bit spartan to me, so probably out of my depth.

Please keep us posted with your progress, super curious about this build/synth.

1 Like
#156

I’ve been reading through threads on MW and FB, where there’s a group you can join. Looking at pictures of what other people have done with their builds is helping me better understand technical challenges and inaccuracies.

Most of the parts can be ordered from mouser except for knobs (better value on tayda), spring reverb (grounding config is slightly different than usual), and 2 types of IC’s.

These parts aren’t specified, but can be also obtained at mouser:

  • Hammond 1444-1773 boats
  • Meanwell power supply and 2.1 barrel jack
  • Pomona stackable banana cables

This will definitely be a bit more work than a Random Source build, but I should end up with 2 panels of early Serge for under a grand. Hoping I can complete it before springtime.

5 Likes
#157

For caps I guess it depends which specs are different :). In my experience with Serge circuits the most important things for caps are that they are the right type, right capacitance, and the size will fit the pcb holes. Other things like voltage rating aren’t as important to match exactly.

Edit to add that you can also look at other suppliers to see if they have the exact part. I use Mouser and Digikey.

3 Likes
#158

Hi, i just released a 100% Serge album for anyone interested :slight_smile:

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#159

I scored a used Human Compator TKB for a nice price and am keen to put it through its paces. Along with the ResEQ, it has this reputation as a classic Serge Modular design that I’ve yet to use. I’m really looking forward to 16 steps of gate sequencing.

1 Like
#160

@thetaflux has compiled an unofficial RandomSource Serge 3U manual which looks useful for anyone curious about Serge designs and/or those who have recently entered the world of Serge via Eurorack:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ar0iHk-LKylUdf9NMSS91ZtRwCGAQesF/view?fbclid=IwAR3cOFCS-rUkwmEk8wK4lL3oTkB6RglM_-f6IYoL6onRKcXpwqDfPUoq6IQ

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#161

Currently working my way backwards through Jim O’Rourke’s Steamroom releases on Bandcamp, and now I’m curious if anyone here has any insight into what’s going on in his Serge rig. I’m guessing it’s a few panels worth of STS Serge stuff, but I’ve been unable to find many clear images of exactly what he’s using.

3 Likes
#162

I’ve been down this path too - not sure where I found this image, but it looks like has a bunch of paperface and STS panels:

4293_orourke_1
4293_orourke_1.jpg1024×765 129 KB

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#163

Lots of crazy old and custom (from back when STS would do custom layout panels) stuff in there. He has a rare Pitch and Envelope Follower panel and an Ian Fritz graphic waveform vco panel. Plus god knows what else… what are the yellow (old paperface?) and black panels?

Scope the background of this vid:

Also my personal fav:

7 Likes
#164

There is apparently also a black panel Serge at Cal Arts and the panels were created using something called Scotchcal.

https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121842

Quoting CJ Milller from the above thread:

Yes indeed. I have done a lot of research into Serge panel graphics. Panels of this era were printed on a special adhesive aluminum film called Scotchcal. (I think there is still something sold called Scotchcal, but it is not comparable - their product names are confusing) Basically, it is a thin sheet of aluminum with a photoresist sheet. You apply the graphics to the photoresist and peel it apart. So if you get black, usually you’d keep the half with black text, and apply it to the aluminum. The aluminum with the graphics then gets adhered to the thicker drilled panel, and sealed over with a clear film.

What happened with black Serges is that they used the other half of the Scotchcal, the one which was solid black but with the letters, lines, and swooshes removed. So once this was applied to the panel you get black with the metal shining through for your graphics. They just did this on a lark, because they had the extra layers of Scotchcal. In theory, there could be a black counterpart for every silver Serge which used this process. But the black films tended to be discarded.

2 Likes
#166

It’s also a safe bet that the Res EQ is a key O’rourke module. There’s a thread on mw somewhere where he says he tried to order a full panel of only Res EQs and that’s when Rex stopped doing custom builds - ha.

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#167

“Black Serge” made me wonder if it was Driscoll, which I only know about because a friend of mine has a couple panels, but clearly it’s not.

1 Like
#168

Hmm, anything’s possible. The panels Jim has resemble Serge, with them having the boxes around the different module sections. He’s been using Serge since the 90’s I think, so he’s probably picked these all up in a span of 20-25 or more years?

1 Like
#169

Those black panels in the picture @Jonny posted don’t look like Serge graphics, and it looks like they are 5u height. Not sure what they are.

#170

Most of that stuff is Serge of various ages, some paperface, some early STS Serge custom panels, except for the black Modcan A modular, Fritz Panel and the EMS Synthi. That’s quite a collection of rare Serge stuff he has. I watched him play a live in Tokyo last November supporting Suzanne Ciani. It was difficult to make out what he was using. Here’s a clip I took

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#171

Of course! Good eye.

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#172

Looks like we have a match!

#173

15%20AM

I haven’t found a single bit of information about this panel anywhere. Reminded me a bit of the Hinton SwitchMix that has been integrated into a few notable Serge-centric setups.

4 Likes