Thanks! I've still never got the time to go back and build a better case. Hopefully once we are in a better place as the planet I will find time to do this :D
Thanks, I wasn't going to make this clip but Matrix Jones from MATRIXSYNTH asked me to. It has done OK for views over the years and a nice snapshot in my life of my thoughts and process around this time :D
I thought about building a DIY version too but by the time i factored in the cost of components and the time involved its cheaper to buy a Erica Synths Syntrx at €2500 and luckily they still have some of the first run available, so i bought one of those. They say it should be available some time in May with all that going on but I'm really looking for to getting it. I know its not a direct clone but it has virtually the same spec and operation but with new all analogue circuity and some extras like the sample hold and midi but the main thing is the matrix patching is the same but its an electronic digital switch matrix so no pins to loose or dodgy contacts. I have some other Erica Synths stuff I'm pretty sure it will be in the same ballpark sound wise and still a lot lot cheaper than finding a second hand one or buying a new one and having the years of waiting.
Hey there Curious Droid, first up, good channel I do enjoy watching it when I have time, well presented and well researched! I've been watching some of Hainbach's video's on the Erica synths Syntrx. Indeed its very close to the VCS3/AKS. The only thing that sounds different seems to be the filter. The rest sounds like it does pretty much the same things but with all the mods most people would like to add to the AKS! I'm sure you will enjoy! Fingers crossed not too long delayed by this horrible virus! Take care and stay safe :D
@@100ThingsIDo Thanks, nice to meet a viewer :-) I just discovered some of your videos the other day, again nicely done too. Yes, that's the killer thing with the Syntrx is how well they have kept the filter sound, there aren't many demos about which really show off the filter or any comparisons to the originals though if its a well done diode ladder it should still have that VCS/AKS character. I saw Hainbach's videos but he doesn't really do a lot the filter work in them. I will find out at some point though the only thing I can compare against it is the software versions and as good as they are we know they just don't react the same as hardware especially the way it is modulated and driven in the VCS. Maybe we could do a filter shoot out to see how well it stacks up :-)
I would love to own one of these, it was the first synth I recall seeing (Eno with Roxy Music doing Virginia Plain) my favourite 'song' is Pink Floyd's On The Run and I once saw a talk by Tristram Carey, one of the three guys who designed the VCS3 (along with Peter Zinovieff and Dave Cockrell- who is still designing ground-breaking software for Electro-Harmonix) and saw the original prototype of the VCS3 with a hand-written front panel! Great work on building one of these amazing instruments. I'm trying to save for an Arturia Matrix Brute which has a 256 point patchbay like the VCS3, but with push-button LEDs so it is programmable.
Thanks for the excellent comment Astrophonix. The VCS 3 is unlike anything else. Its much more than the sum of its parts. From what I know (and I'm happy to be corrected) David Cockrell is mostly self taught in audio eletronics. As such the VCS3 has many design choices that are not the classic 'correct' way to do things. The patch bay implimentation means besides just connecting sources it adds colouration, modulation, crazy voltage summing .. its just something that by design does things you do not expect :). The reason mine is painted white is I thought it looked unique after I saw Brian Eno playing one in thos Roxy days. I get tempted all the time to make it look more traditional with nice wood and creme panels. I hope you get the Minibrute. Its an amazing monosynth for the price. The Davie Smith Pro 2 is a good alternative as it does most of what the Mini can do but does not have the massive visual matrix. Thanks for checking out the video :D
Thanks Christopher, I was the same... I even started to plan how to make one in the early 90's but it seemed beyond my level of skill. I keep thinking about building another one to be put in a Synthi A type case.. not sure if this will happen or not. Thanks for checking out the clip :D
well thank you for the inspiration! i'm starting to look at it again. the only thing that confuses me (i think i have your version boards - purchased mine at the end of 2013 :o (wow - WHERE does the time GO???)
good job - I don't suppose you have any further documented notes on the build? i've had two sets of Phutney boards sitting around for about two years now...!! Might be just the help i need to get me started... eek! Also - incidentally - i just built another great kit - FAR easier and will yield terrific sonic dividends for years to come - the AML EZ1073 preamp... VERY useful for synthesists also.... if you want to add a lot of weight to your sound...
+antigen4 If you have a look around the net there are some PDF's of the original EMS VCS 3 / Synti A service manuals. These were really useful. Derek has taken a lot of this info and reworked It on his site but a few mystery's of the universe are hidden in the manuals. The best way to get started I normally find is the resistors .. Cheap, get them in and your well on your way.
I've found that you don't necessarily have to use the same transistors as they used in the original VCS 3, you can substitute modern BC series silicon transistors that you can buy from Jaycar Electronics with few problems, I managed to build, and get going, each of the three oscillators and I substituted common BC series silicon transistors, from memory, I used BC547s for the NPN transistors, and BC557s for the PNP transistors, they worked perfectly well.
Indeed. If there is one thing I am useless at is finding correct substitution's for Transistors. I get so overwhelmed by the spec tables :D The real magic in the VCS3 is the Amp section for the Oscillators (they way anything last 5 starts to over drive) and the cross talk on the pin matrix. The Line Input transistors on mine are blown and I still have not replaced them , any suggestion for a substitution for those I could try ?
I'm assuming that you mean the high-gain mic/line amps, I've got a circuit diagram for the mic/line amps and it uses two BC169C (silicon NPN) and a 2N4288(Silicon PNP), you should be able to substitute a BC549C for the two BC169C, the BC549C is a low-noise high gain NPN small signal silicon transistor, and you should be able to substitute a BC559 for the 2N4288, the BC559 is a PNP silicon small signal transistor.....hope that helps.
Also, for the transistors in the two power amps that drive the speakers, you may be able to replace the original germanium transistors with a BD139 (silicon NPN) and a BD140(silicon PNP) although you might need to tweak some resistor values to get them to bias properly, BD139s and BD140s are fairly common transistors.
When I go to pick substitutes for transistors, I make sure I first do a search online for some datasheets so I can see if there are any differences in the pinouts, and then make any changes before I solder in the substitute transistor, generally speaking, most common transistors usually have about 20 substitutes that will work, some have higher specs than the originally specified transistor, so I tend to pick higher specced ones as substitutes.
Nice vid. Presuming you got Ghielmetti diode pins, how did you remove the casing to put the resistors in? I find with the right amount of heat applied to the pin you can soften the plastic but there must be a better way.
+piynubbunyip Hi there , Thanks :D .. I purchased 40 of the pins second hand off ebay (as well as the Ghielmetti panel for $340aud+shipping from a seller in France) . The only way to 'mostly' remove the casing from the pin was to use a clamp wrench on the gold pin side and then VERY carefully apply force to pull the plastic casing off using a set of pliers on the plastic end. I still broke one in five of them. I might have a go at trying to 3D Print something to replace them.
+100 Things I recon I bought mine from the same seller. You could pop down to Barnes in Richmond and cast some pins in pinkysil and 1/1 white resin that takes pigment pretty well. I'm based in Sydney but am most probably having my cases CnCd in Melbourne with a 3mm Aluminium plate painted and screen printed.
my local radio shack is stuck in the 70s could literally build a synthesizer with the parts they have. if only I had the skill. your project is sweet though
How did you go about ordering those PCBs from Derek Revell?, I tried emailing him but never got a reply back from him at all, is he still selling them?
I believe he stopped production a few years back unfortunately. Cloney project on Facespace is the new source but you have to order many months in advance. :D
Ah rightio, so I'll either need to order from the Cloney project website, or build each of the circuits on separate pieces of Vero board, I have managed to order three 10k multiturn pots for the tuning controls, I'm working on building a VCS-3 for myself, have had to work out an alternative way of implementing the patching system using some 3.5mm mono plugs and sockets mounted on a square piece of perspex, the original pin-matrix boards are hideously expensive, especially the ones from Ghielmetti, they want at least Au$600.00 for a 22 X 22 pin-matrix board. .
@@simonkormendy849 Yeh I looked into tones of different options for the patch bay but everything was either crazy expensive or was going to be flaky to use. I like what Erica Synths have done with their iteration. I'm guessing that would be a simple logic array to to the LED's and switching. The circuits in the VCS3 are quite basic, if you perf board them as seperate modules it should not be too bad! I would suggest building a better output amp, its quite noisy and prone to hum. :D Let me know how you go!
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A fantastic and worthwhile project. Congratulations on getting this working. Incredible.
Thanks! I've still never got the time to go back and build a better case. Hopefully once we are in a better place as the planet I will find time to do this :D
This is ABSOLUTELY fascinating!
Thanks, I wasn't going to make this clip but Matrix Jones from MATRIXSYNTH asked me to. It has done OK for views over the years and a nice snapshot in my life of my thoughts and process around this time :D
I must make this someday. I’m completely in love with the klaus schulze/ashra sound.
I played the whole Dark Side Of The Moog series many times while I was making the VCS 3 :D
I thought about building a DIY version too but by the time i factored in the cost of components and the time involved its cheaper to buy a Erica Synths Syntrx at €2500 and luckily they still have some of the first run available, so i bought one of those. They say it should be available some time in May with all that going on but I'm really looking for to getting it.
I know its not a direct clone but it has virtually the same spec and operation but with new all analogue circuity and some extras like the sample hold and midi but the main thing is the matrix patching is the same but its an electronic digital switch matrix so no pins to loose or dodgy contacts. I have some other Erica Synths stuff I'm pretty sure it will be in the same ballpark sound wise and still a lot lot cheaper than finding a second hand one or buying a new one and having the years of waiting.
Hey there Curious Droid, first up, good channel I do enjoy watching it when I have time, well presented and well researched! I've been watching some of Hainbach's video's on the Erica synths Syntrx. Indeed its very close to the VCS3/AKS. The only thing that sounds different seems to be the filter. The rest sounds like it does pretty much the same things but with all the mods most people would like to add to the AKS! I'm sure you will enjoy! Fingers crossed not too long delayed by this horrible virus! Take care and stay safe :D
@@100ThingsIDo Thanks, nice to meet a viewer :-) I just discovered some of your videos the other day, again nicely done too.
Yes, that's the killer thing with the Syntrx is how well they have kept the filter sound, there aren't many demos about which really show off the filter or any comparisons to the originals though if its a well done diode ladder it should still have that VCS/AKS character. I saw Hainbach's videos but he doesn't really do a lot the filter work in them. I will find out at some point though the only thing I can compare against it is the software versions and as good as they are we know they just don't react the same as hardware especially the way it is modulated and driven in the VCS. Maybe we could do a filter shoot out to see how well it stacks up :-)
@@CuriousDroid Indeed, might be interesting to compare the two. Let me know when it comes in and we shall do something :D
Brilliant job. I love it!
Thanks Paul! It really pushed and helped grow my electronics knowledge at the time :D
I would love to own one of these, it was the first synth I recall seeing (Eno with Roxy Music doing Virginia Plain) my favourite 'song' is Pink Floyd's On The Run and I once saw a talk by Tristram Carey, one of the three guys who designed the VCS3 (along with Peter Zinovieff and Dave Cockrell- who is still designing ground-breaking software for Electro-Harmonix) and saw the original prototype of the VCS3 with a hand-written front panel! Great work on building one of these amazing instruments. I'm trying to save for an Arturia Matrix Brute which has a 256 point patchbay like the VCS3, but with push-button LEDs so it is programmable.
Thanks for the excellent comment Astrophonix. The VCS 3 is unlike anything else. Its much more than the sum of its parts. From what I know (and I'm happy to be corrected) David Cockrell is mostly self taught in audio eletronics. As such the VCS3 has many design choices that are not the classic 'correct' way to do things. The patch bay implimentation means besides just connecting sources it adds colouration, modulation, crazy voltage summing .. its just something that by design does things you do not expect :). The reason mine is painted white is I thought it looked unique after I saw Brian Eno playing one in thos Roxy days. I get tempted all the time to make it look more traditional with nice wood and creme panels. I hope you get the Minibrute. Its an amazing monosynth for the price. The Davie Smith Pro 2 is a good alternative as it does most of what the Mini can do but does not have the massive visual matrix. Thanks for checking out the video :D
Extremely UN-Boring!!!! Great job. Beautiful.
Thank you :D Glad you enjoyed and I did not ramble too much :D
You quoted Robin charging in dollars but its UK Pounds. Excellent vid, great to watch!
+Cray You are correct , it still seems cheap compared to the hours spent getting OSC 2 working :D Thanks for the correction
+Cray Added annotation to clip to correct. Thanks again.
You have more patience than I. Hats off to you sir ;)
+Sound Author thanks :D .. the project was started in 2013 and ended mid 2015. It actually stalled for almost a year in the middle
OH MY! that is awesome! I have a software based version of Synthi AKS that I use a good bit. But Ive always wanted a real one.
Thanks Christopher, I was the same... I even started to plan how to make one in the early 90's but it seemed beyond my level of skill. I keep thinking about building another one to be put in a Synthi A type case.. not sure if this will happen or not. Thanks for checking out the clip :D
ah yes! you have the same boards i do ... thanks for this
Hope you get it built soon :D
well thank you for the inspiration! i'm starting to look at it again. the only thing that confuses me (i think i have your version boards - purchased mine at the end of 2013 :o (wow - WHERE does the time GO???)
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks :D Hope things are good in your world!
Amazing
is this a cloney kit?
Nope. Besides the empty PCB's I did everything myself. :D
Great video! The joystick looks a lot better than your original. You must put that VU meter in for the looks :)
+El Casho I have the sheet metal for a new front panel. When I get that cut to size and in place the meter will be a go [_/_] :D
good job - I don't suppose you have any further documented notes on the build? i've had two sets of Phutney boards sitting around for about two years now...!! Might be just the help i need to get me started... eek! Also - incidentally - i just built another great kit - FAR easier and will yield terrific sonic dividends for years to come - the AML EZ1073 preamp... VERY useful for synthesists also.... if you want to add a lot of weight to your sound...
+antigen4 If you have a look around the net there are some PDF's of the original EMS VCS 3 / Synti A service manuals. These were really useful. Derek has taken a lot of this info and reworked It on his site but a few mystery's of the universe are hidden in the manuals. The best way to get started I normally find is the resistors .. Cheap, get them in and your well on your way.
I've found that you don't necessarily have to use the same transistors as they used in the original VCS 3, you can substitute modern BC series silicon transistors that you can buy from Jaycar Electronics with few problems, I managed to build, and get going, each of the three oscillators and I substituted common BC series silicon transistors, from memory, I used BC547s for the NPN transistors, and BC557s for the PNP transistors, they worked perfectly well.
Indeed. If there is one thing I am useless at is finding correct substitution's for Transistors. I get so overwhelmed by the spec tables :D The real magic in the VCS3 is the Amp section for the Oscillators (they way anything last 5 starts to over drive) and the cross talk on the pin matrix. The Line Input transistors on mine are blown and I still have not replaced them , any suggestion for a substitution for those I could try ?
I'm assuming that you mean the high-gain mic/line amps, I've got a circuit diagram for the mic/line amps and it uses two BC169C (silicon NPN) and a 2N4288(Silicon PNP), you should be able to substitute a BC549C for the two BC169C, the BC549C is a low-noise high gain NPN small signal silicon transistor, and you should be able to substitute a BC559 for the 2N4288, the BC559 is a PNP silicon small signal transistor.....hope that helps.
Also, for the transistors in the two power amps that drive the speakers, you may be able to replace the original germanium transistors with a BD139 (silicon NPN) and a BD140(silicon PNP) although you might need to tweak some resistor values to get them to bias properly, BD139s and BD140s are fairly common transistors.
When I go to pick substitutes for transistors, I make sure I first do a search online for some datasheets so I can see if there are any differences in the pinouts, and then make any changes before I solder in the substitute transistor, generally speaking, most common transistors usually have about 20 substitutes that will work, some have higher specs than the originally specified transistor, so I tend to pick higher specced ones as substitutes.
Awesome, thanks for that I will give it a go soon! I'll ping you if I get stuck :D
Hi! Is there any chance you could share the schematics of the whole synth? I would love to give it a try.
Thanks for sharing !!!!!
Thanks :D
Nice vid. Presuming you got Ghielmetti diode pins, how did you remove the casing to put the resistors in? I find with the right amount of heat applied to the pin you can soften the plastic but there must be a better way.
+piynubbunyip Hi there , Thanks :D .. I purchased 40 of the pins second hand off ebay (as well as the Ghielmetti panel for $340aud+shipping from a seller in France) . The only way to 'mostly' remove the casing from the pin was to use a clamp wrench on the gold pin side and then VERY carefully apply force to pull the plastic casing off using a set of pliers on the plastic end. I still broke one in five of them. I might have a go at trying to 3D Print something to replace them.
+100 Things I recon I bought mine from the same seller. You could pop down to Barnes in Richmond and cast some pins in pinkysil and 1/1 white resin that takes pigment pretty well. I'm based in Sydney but am most probably having my cases CnCd in Melbourne with a 3mm Aluminium plate painted and screen printed.
+piynubbunyip let me know how you go with the case & panel. If it works out well I might copy :)
+100 Things I Do I will. I'm making two - probably out of Tasmanian Blackwood. I'll keep track of costs.
can you share the schema for the VCS3? I would like to know the list of parts and where to buy it?
my local radio shack is stuck in the 70s could literally build a synthesizer with the parts they have. if only I had the skill. your project is sweet though
At least you still have an old style radioshack LOL. I have to order vinatage parts from the UK or USA these days :D
Great ! Where did you found the list of component and the matrix ?
Matrix from ebay, build details phutney.com :D
@100 Things I Do
Thank you !
may i ask which board versions you have? it seems i have version 6/7 boards as labelled on the boards themselves
Second run of first version Derek released.
How did you go about ordering those PCBs from Derek Revell?, I tried emailing him but never got a reply back from him at all, is he still selling them?
I believe he stopped production a few years back unfortunately. Cloney project on Facespace is the new source but you have to order many months in advance. :D
Ah rightio, so I'll either need to order from the Cloney project website, or build each of the circuits on separate pieces of Vero board, I have managed to order three 10k multiturn pots for the tuning controls, I'm working on building a VCS-3 for myself, have had to work out an alternative way of implementing the patching system using some 3.5mm mono plugs and sockets mounted on a square piece of perspex, the original pin-matrix boards are hideously expensive, especially the ones from Ghielmetti, they want at least Au$600.00 for a 22 X 22 pin-matrix board. .
@@simonkormendy849 Yeh I looked into tones of different options for the patch bay but everything was either crazy expensive or was going to be flaky to use. I like what Erica Synths have done with their iteration. I'm guessing that would be a simple logic array to to the LED's and switching. The circuits in the VCS3 are quite basic, if you perf board them as seperate modules it should not be too bad! I would suggest building a better output amp, its quite noisy and prone to hum. :D Let me know how you go!
Wow this is amazing! I don't have the balls to do that. I am too lazy ;-)
The Erica Synths 'tribute' is pretty close from what I have heard. I would suggest trying to pick one up :D
@@100ThingsIDo yeah, maybe one day. At the moment I am going the module way.