Builder's Choice:
Nyquist Nightmare or Dumpster Delay!

Hosted by Modular for the Masses
Sunday, Sept 10 @ 11am
Difficulty: Easy

NyquistNightmare Distortion Module Build

DESTROY ALL SIGNALS
This module accepts a signal, modulates and demodulates it with two grimy VCOs, filters and auto-gains the result, and sometimes, with careful tweaking, a reasonable copy of the incoming signal may come out. Without an input, this module can sound like an old 14.4K modem or somebody scanning an empty radio spectrum. There's two CV inputs as well that control the carrier frequencies of the two oscillators. Connect a low-amplitude LFO to one of these and listen to your signal change in unpredictable ways. Connect audio-rate signals to one or both CV inputs and you'll be able to mix the signals in strange weird ways.

My favorite way to use this module is to run movie dialogue through it. What comes out can sound like a weak radio transmission, or it can sound like the Imperial drone on Hoth transmitting the location of the rebel base.

This module is a roomy 12HP wide, and takes 45mA on the negative rail, 50mA on the positive rail. There's 18 total parts to add to the SMT-assembled PCB, so this is an easy build even though it's a very complex module. A build document can be found here if you want to study up before time: BUILD GUIDE

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the Nyquist Nightmare Kit from Modular for the Masses by sending $95 via paypal by clicking THIS LINK and put NyquistNightmare Workshop in the description.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.

DumpsterDelay Module Build

Here's a basic PT2399 delay module with a surprise twist: there's a whole dumpster worth of stuff in the delay feedback path. The builder can choose to build this very simply, for a clean, basic, boring delay module with voltage-controlled delay amount, or the builder can put two Peizo discs, stuck back-to-back, as an electromechanical way to pass the delayed audio signal. Additionally, there's a 20x14 pad-per-hole chunk of perfboard that can hang out in the delay path as well, offering the experimenter truly infinite ways to mangle and abuse the looping audio. A distortion circuit. A filter. A wave folder. A sub-octave circuit? FUZZ????? Note: the perfboard makes the module 61mm deep, or just over 2 1/2 inches. Won't fit in a really shallow skiff.

There's plenty of stuff here to sink your teeth into, with two multiple-feedback notch filters in the audio path (resistor values must be calculated) to squelch unwanted resonant frequencies from the Piezo discs. Or heck, you can stick tape, foam, glue, poster putty or a clothespin to the discs to reduce resonance.

This module is 8HP wide, takes 35mA on the positive rail, and 48mA on the negative rail. There's about 20 parts to be added to the SMT-assembled PCB, with a huge number of additional parts one might add later. There is no provision for any knobs or jacks or switches that the extra perfboard circuitry might need -- making a breakout panel for that will be up to you!

A build document is here for those who want to study beforehand: BUILD GUIDE

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the Nyquist Nightmare Kit from Modular for the Masses by sending $90 via paypal by clicking THIS LINK and put DumpsterDelay Workshop in the description.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.