#711

Once the next batch of Teletype are available I’ll be purchasing it. Regarding the Telex units, considering the rarity of them and limited run I think it would be in my best interest to get them once they come up again. Seems I could easily sell a unit or two should I decide on that path at a later date. I’ve been considering this move towards Monome for some time now, not years but relatively patiently studying what is what before taking the purchase step seriously.

Regarding my workflow…this is not an endeavor to make a thing as much as a road of discovery, a way of exploring digital nature while I’m at home. I stopped watching TV in 1985 and pretty much stopped going to the movies about 15 years ago. In the early days of Techno in Germany I taught myself 3D graphic design and made record covers. Moved back to the states to participate in the Internet economy, wrote a book along the way and I’m now using Eurorack as my primary tool of entertainment. So on a day-to-day basis I wander into the electronic woods and up the bit-driven trail to find surprise at what is across the voltage. This stuff is hard, brutal sometimes but it’s better than growing old and passive relegated to reruns out of the 70’s or playing 32 years of Mario Bros. Probably TMI but I love this human activity of communication :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#712

@unity2k have you ever tried soldering? You might enjoy it, and it’s currently the fastest way to get a TXo or TXi. A few folks around here have successfully built them, and you might be able to do so as well.

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#713

I’ve not soldered before and I read @bpcmusic’s narrative about needing to be familiar with SMD soldering which from other DIY kits seems to always be the weeding out factor. I’ve used Raph from Michigan Synth Works and was looking to him for a Turing Machine and there’s Kel over on the Orthogonal Devices forum that seems to be building a few things for people.

I’m definitely not in a hurry as first I need a Teletype, I just want to make sure that if Brendon does decide to build more Telex units that I’m not late to the party.

2 Likes
#714

I’ve built two TXis and two TXos. It’s not an easy first project due to the part sizes, but it’s definitely not an insurmountable build. @bpcmusic’s documentation is the best I’ve seen for a DIY project, especially with the part maps.

If you want to learn soldering for the sake of Eurorack DIY, I would build these three @TomWhitwell projects in this order:

  1. Mikrophonie. Very small part count. Costs next to nothing to build if you order the parts yourself.
  2. Radio Music/Chord Organ. Extremely similar build to the TX modules (4HP, Teensy, stacked PCB).
  3. Simple EQ. 4HP SMD build with easy-to-source parts.

Turing Machine mk1 was my first build. I haven’t built the mk2, but I imagine it’s quite easy. If you want another training build, I’d do the TM before the RM.

This is a great thread to read through:

8 Likes
#715

The TXo and TXi were my second and third SMD projects. With a bit of help and support I finished both and am very happy that I took the plunge! Just used a standard iron, SMD tweezers and a good magnifying glass.

I already had a bit of soldering experience with the much bigger 5U modules I built over the last 2 years and started with the Simple EQ as a first step to practise SMD. A great module to patch in feedback paths by the way!

In hindsight I cannot recommend enough to start DIY as early as possible - there are so many great things to build out there and the more of your system is actually self built the more you feel connected to it. Plus there is a lot to learn about what is actually going on there. It might safe you a lot of unnecessary expenses too and it does not feed the wide spread modular consumerism that much.

What helped me a lot was this video, which is as much fun as encouraging - I learned through hole soldering with parts 1 & 2 btw:

6 Likes
#716

Quick Update for Those Interested in Obtaining a Pre-Built TELEX

I’m mid-way through a small build of my remaining PCBs and panels. No ETA as of yet, but I’m aggressively moving forward to wrap it up soon.

There will be no pre-orders or reservations this time. I’ll be opening up a little Shopify store with the units are ready (store is already built). As they are technically a part of the previous run, pricing will be the same as before. I’ll post to the this thread when the store is launched.

I’ll also skip the step-by-step forum updates this time. I will post photos from time to time on my Instagram account (https://instagram.com/bpcmusic).

–

If you are curious, I’ve finished all of the SMD work and am on to module assembly. I’ll then be testing, packaging, and building out some of the accessories. Since the quantities are substantially smaller than the last run, this all should go fairly quickly.

Some TXi awaiting soldering:

TXi front PCB in the custom 3D printed assembly frame (OpenSCAD and STL files are in the TELEX repo):

Precision headers snipped and ready for use:

20 Likes
#717

Awesome! that’s great :slight_smile:

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#719

Much excite! 20 characters!

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#720

just what I’ve been waiting for. Awesome news!

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#722

Damn it unity2k … I saw the thread bumped and thought that I had missed out again :slight_smile:
… back to refreshing Instagram.

2 Likes
#724

I’m still deep in the build. Don’t worry about missing the store opening - I’ll give plenty of advance notice and supply an exact time.

Mid-way through the process (3/4 through the build) - though I’ve had to order some additional parts and accessories for completion. Finished the TXo and am onto the TXi back-sides next:

:slight_smile:

12 Likes
#725

What will be the price for these btw ?

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#727

Well, I just bought a Teletype, so now I guess I definitely need these too, based on how all of you are acting. #extracompetition

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#728

Are there any PCBs and panels available right now? Or should some of us who want those get together and do a run of our own?

#729

I’m starting to consider building an audio euro rack case after only having my feet planted in the ciat lonbarde world for a long time and more recently the LZX video synth

I’m thinking teletype, ER301, ornament & crime to start and eventually getting ansible with an arc and further on yet the grid

that being said these expanders seems pretty crucial to a small setup like this

I would be looking for 1 of both the TXo and TXi

1 Like
#731

I appreciate your input!

I have a ciat lonbarde cocoquantus and plumbutter
as well as a stand alone meng qi voltage memory for all the extra inputs already

I am actually already planning on a planar for the video system as well so I’m sure it will end up getting used in both places

as I think I’ll end up with a control skiff that can be used for both audio and video applications

again I can’t thank you enough for your reply as someone who already has some of these modules it is very helpful

#732

Good news: I’m almost done with another run of the modules.

I’ve used up all of my PCBs on hand and only have a small collection of panels from the first run remaining. I’ve finished my build and QA. All that is left is to build a few more europower cables and to update and print out a new version of the manual (which is going to be shorter this time and simply reference the code-generated documentation).

Once everything is accessorized and boxed up, I’ll be opening up a Shopify store to handle the business of selling them. I’ll give a 24-48 hour notice here and on Instagram with a hard date and time for the store to open. I’ve built about half as many modules as last run, but am hopeful that this will satisfy the current demand. (BTW: the store is already built; all I have to do is enter the final quantities.)

My optimistic goal is to have the store up before Thanksgiving here in the US. Based on where I’m at, there is a high likelihood that I’ll make that deadline.

Here are some recent Instagram photos from the build.

All passing modules get the orange dot under the bottom lip of the panel; TXo from this generation get the “1K” to designate their trigger resistor values.

Here are the Teensy for the TXo, lined up and ready to go into service.

Bags and bags of jumpers, screws, and plastic washers.

13 Likes
#733

Can you try to make sure that the opening time for the store is not in the middle of the night in Japan ? :slight_smile:

1 Like
#734

Which one is more immediately usefull if you had to choose between the TXo or the TXi?

#736

I’d like both but i would prefer the TXi