arigy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7
Dear friends,
I think, at some point, the following idea visits any pro-audio DIY artist. It's like, when you building your next uber-compressor or synthesizer, you always need some standard building blocks, that you use here and there, like balanced input stage or simple +/-10 dB stereo gain control. And, instead of focusing on the core idea of your new project, you spend a lot of time on 'copying' that generic design, tracing PCBs for them etc. All of this makes our PCB larger (== cost higher), increases a chance for error (==time and effort needed to debug circuits).
And there comes an (obvious) idea. Why not design some common building blocks with simple and clean design, modding ability, intuitive connections, and, instead of replicating them in each new project, just re-use them? What do you think? Look, arduino guys has this for several years, all these shields, sensors, that does not require some special understanding of underlying processes, and the modular synthesizers has this for several decades now. I am talking not only about hi-end all-discrete stages, but also on generic circuits, found in every analog mixing desk, dynamic processors or effect unit.
And there comes my vision of these building blocks:
- Thru-hole design (where possible) - to make modding simplier.
- Screw terminals for inputs/outputs and power - no crimping, faster assembly, possibility to use almost any wire.
- Tiny panel mounted PCB - again - for simplified assembly and lower cost.
As of now, I am planning to build the following blocks: Balanced TRS Stereo Input, Unbalanced RCA Stereo Input, Stereo +/-10 dB Gain Stage, Stereo Mixer with Master Level and Balanced TRS Stereo Output. For unification I would like to use 9mm potentiometers, which are available from different manufacturers: PTD90 by Bourns, RK097 by ALPS, RD09 by Alpha, P09x by BI Technologies and P9 by Vishay Sfernice.
I think, at some point, the following idea visits any pro-audio DIY artist. It's like, when you building your next uber-compressor or synthesizer, you always need some standard building blocks, that you use here and there, like balanced input stage or simple +/-10 dB stereo gain control. And, instead of focusing on the core idea of your new project, you spend a lot of time on 'copying' that generic design, tracing PCBs for them etc. All of this makes our PCB larger (== cost higher), increases a chance for error (==time and effort needed to debug circuits).
And there comes an (obvious) idea. Why not design some common building blocks with simple and clean design, modding ability, intuitive connections, and, instead of replicating them in each new project, just re-use them? What do you think? Look, arduino guys has this for several years, all these shields, sensors, that does not require some special understanding of underlying processes, and the modular synthesizers has this for several decades now. I am talking not only about hi-end all-discrete stages, but also on generic circuits, found in every analog mixing desk, dynamic processors or effect unit.
And there comes my vision of these building blocks:
- Thru-hole design (where possible) - to make modding simplier.
- Screw terminals for inputs/outputs and power - no crimping, faster assembly, possibility to use almost any wire.
- Tiny panel mounted PCB - again - for simplified assembly and lower cost.
As of now, I am planning to build the following blocks: Balanced TRS Stereo Input, Unbalanced RCA Stereo Input, Stereo +/-10 dB Gain Stage, Stereo Mixer with Master Level and Balanced TRS Stereo Output. For unification I would like to use 9mm potentiometers, which are available from different manufacturers: PTD90 by Bourns, RK097 by ALPS, RD09 by Alpha, P09x by BI Technologies and P9 by Vishay Sfernice.