Builder's Choice:
Germanium Fuzz Distortion or Rechargable Power Supply!

Hosted by Modular for the Masses
Saturday, Sept 7 @ 11am
Difficulty: Easy

Build a Germanium Fuzz Module

This is a limited Knobcon-only release!

I've got a bag of antique germanium transistors I got from a friend I met at Knobcon. Germanium transistors are unique little monsters, and one of their most storied (musical) uses was inside distortion guitar pedals, specifically, the Fuzz Face (Ivor Arbiter, 1966). This original circuit had literally seven or eight important parts, but made an outsized impact on the musical world.

Well, we synth people can't leave the classics alone, so I developed the HungryFuzz, which has as many knobs in as many spots as seemed to do anything, but added the feature of CV-controllable power rail starve, a guitar-pedal-style tone control, and trimmable output gain to allow for variances in these antique transistors. But Juanito, I hear you saying, What About Transistor Variances? And What If The Transistors Fail? (germanium transistors are notoriously unreliable). Well! There's a little workshop area of each module that allows you to test the leakage and gain of each transistor using even the cheapest multimeter, and test and select germanium transistors that will work well inside this circuit.

The module is 8HP.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the Etch Kit from Modular for the Masses by sending $140 via paypal by clicking THIS LINK and put Fuzz 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.

Rechargeable Power Supply Module Build

Turn a couple modules into a portable, self-powered effects box! The POWER to the People module is a rechargeable Eurorack power supply capable of powering two, three, or more (depending on how current-hungry they are) Eurorack modules. It includes an option to enable a 5V rail, two outputs, and most excitingly, a stereo-capable headphone amplifier. Everything you need to turn a micro-scale skiff into your own little private groovebox to take on the train. The module charges with USB-C, and there's protection circuitry for the battery. AND you can charge the battery while it's plugged in and charging.

Lithium-ion batteries can be dramatic, so your kit will come with a pre-wired 18650 cell, all wrapped up and insulated, with wires ready to plug right into a keyed header.

The module is 6HP, less than 40mm deep, assuming one uses a standard 18650 cell and mounts it using the intended tie-down spots.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the POWER Kit from Modular for the Masses by sending $140 via paypal by clicking THIS LINK and put POWER 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.