Projecttitel: Juergen Haible Trapezoid VCA

Status: 

Startdate: 12/2014

Duedate:  12/2015

Manufacture link: http://www.jhaible.com/trapezoid/trapezoid.html

further guide: http://www.dragonflyalley.com/constructionJHtrapezoidVCA.htm  BOm from Bill and Will: JHtrapeziodVCABOM.xls

 

BOM (from me)

except powersupply part

quantityPart dealer
2LM324 http://www.reichelt.de/LM-324-DIL/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=10463&artnr=LM+324+DIL&SEARCH=lm324
1 *LM394 - if you dont use both bc550c ultra rare ebay   - or use Bc550
1LM741 or uA741 http://www.reichelt.de/-A-741-DIP/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=23435&artnr=%C2%B5A+741+DIP&SEARCH=741
1TL072 everywhere TME/mouser
1RC4558 or C4558 lm4558 http://www.reichelt.de/RC-4558-DIP/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=15170&artnr=RC+4558+DIP&SEARCH=4558
12N5461 http://www.reichelt.de/index.html?&ACTION=446&LA=446
2BC560c TME/mouser

4*

+ 2x

BC550c

by usage of bc550c instead of lm394

 

 TME/mouser
1BF245C http://www.reichelt.de/BF-245C/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=5446&artnr=BF+245C&SEARCH=BF245
1zener 7v5 http://www.reichelt.de/ZF-7-5/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=23145&artnr=ZF+7%2C5&SEARCH=zener+7v5
111n4148 everywhere
11n34 or AA143 or other germanium diode http://www.reichelt.de/index.html?&ACTION=446&LA=446
1100k trimmer single turn bourns..
12M multiturn trimmer bourns
222p MLCC TME/mouser
1330p MLCC TME/mouser
1

1nF poly/mlcc

 TME/mouser
21uf  polyester ? TME/mouser
1470nF polyester ? TME/mouser
210uF electrolyt cap TME/mouser
522uF electrolyt cap TME/mouser
133uF electrolyt cap TME/mouser
 

220R, 470, 620R

100R, 1K, 10K, 100k , 1M

 2K7, 3k6, 3k9, 2k4, 30K, 51k, 91K, 160K,

15K, 33k,47k, 120K,200k, 470k, 680k

 TME/mouser
    
    

 

 

Panel:

JHtrapeziodVCA.fpd

 

 

 

copy from Juergens Website:

 

           +/-15V with MOTM and Synthesizers.com connectors

           +/-12V with "Euro standard" 10-pin connector

          15V AC Wallwart - ideal for making a standalone box

 

Built it within a few hours (a rather easy DIY project, indeed). Here's a video of me testing it: trapezoid test .
 
Component overlay (component values) (PDF)
Component overlay (reference designators) (PDF)
Component overlay for a minimal version (basically just the equivalent of the VCS3 functions, for +/-12V supply)
 
Schematics

VCA Calibration
Feed a 500mV, ca. 100Hz signal into the VCA section and monitor the VCA output.
Connect a pushbutton or switch (or use a jumper) to the PushButton connector.
Make sure that the LED is connected (use a red 2mA low current LED)
Put the Trapezoid into a mode where it doesn't self-cycle, i.e. set the "off-time" potentiometer fully clockwise.
Initial Gain Potentiometer must be set to zero (fully counterclockwise) - Remark: the Trapezoid CV is fed on the ccw end of this potentiometer, while the cw end is grounded. This is not a typo!
Turn the trimpot R68 ("CV range") fully clockwise
Make sure that the Trapezoid is "off" - pusbutton not engaged, LED is dark.
You will hear some (low volume) signal on the VCA output.
Now adjust trimpot R58 ("zero") to minimize the VCA output signal. Ideally, it should be zero. In practice, it will be almost zero.
Now turn R68 ("CV Range") carefully counterclockwise until the signal re-appears on the VCA output. When you have reached that point, turn it back clockwise just a little, to give some reserve.
Now you can trigger the Trapezoid generator with the pushbutton and check how the signal is turned on in the VCA.

Decay Time Adjustment
With a well-matched transistor pair for Q1 and Q2 (LM394, SSM2010, or hand-matched BC550C pair), you don't need any adjustment.
But you can also use completely unmatched BC550C transitors, and then might have to adjust R8 (nominal 150k) a little. A smaller value (130k or 120k) will make the overall decay time range larger - a higher value will make it shorter. Do not ask for any "right" value or further instructions how to select R8, please. Either the process of selecting this resistor is self-explanatory for you, or you should simply go for a matched pair (LM394 etc.).

Caution: Do not use the footprint for the LM394 and for the two BC550's at the same time: it's either-or.