Projecttitel: TTSH rev3 buidling guide

Status: 

Startdate: 21.Dec.2016

Duedate: 31.Dec.2016

last update 19 Feb 2017:   known Issues - clock/s/h resistor

Manufacture link: http://thehumancomparator.net/

This guide is complete yet ( last update on 18.Jan.2017)

please check my rev.2 build guide and hardcorebuildguide, gatebooster pages, that gives you more infos and knowledge.

the TTSH project isn`t for beginners !

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as stated above, the project is NOT for beginners

nearly all professional builders have standard resistor and capacitor values at home (if the BOM miss a few standard parts like a 100K resistor)

1. Major Bug: Description:  at the Frontpanel pcb side you find some "VIAs", at the VCO 3 section the jack S/H , VCO2 section the jack ADSR, VCA section the jack Ringmod, has a via with 15V, the metalcase of the jack is connected to ground and you run in a short between ground from the jack and 15V from the via, there are 2-4 other jacks with vias too.
   check each pcb installation site for VIAs before mounting the jacks.
   Solution:  file down the jack at the position of the via (1mm is fine) or cut it down
    
   
   
2. Improvement: Powersupply Board - turn the 2pol MTA156 header if needed - otherwise the power input cable is above the powersupply.    confirmed, its not in every use case needed
   
   
3. Minor Bug:Main board – Missing trace from V- to header. (copyright of picture for thehumancomparator.net ) confirmed
   
   
   
4. Minor Bug: 4072 VCF missing trace pin 4 on LM1458 to -14V (use shrink tube for isolation) confirmed
   
   
   
5. Minor Bug: 4012 VCF Board — BC558 must be installed backwards, schematics show Ermitter to 23k2 resistor in rev.7.2 (v2) confirmed
   
   
   
6. Minor Bug: for all 2N3958 and 2N3954 change 2 pins like this,  cross the both pins - use shrink tubing for one pin for isolation. confirmed
   
   
   
7. Improvement for build: or the Filtercards use flat electrolyte capacitors, check the height of all parts - if needed use other headers, check this for both Filtercards before you solder the headers, if needed place the 47pf(50pf) MLCC capacitor (on the mainboard) on solderside of the pcb)
   on my first build i used a 10mm spacer but i prefer the usage of 12mm spacers,  (by usage of 2 spacers - its needed to cut on the VCF out jack at the bottom some metal and you need a flat screw,  in result one spacer is enough   )
   
   
   
8. Minor Bug: by usage of the banzai reverb tank, run in the reverb tank a wire from ground to ground on the RCA connectors to ground output and input
   
   

9. Minor Bug: turn 180degrees on the mainboard the 5pol MTA156 power header, otherwise the power cable is to the wrong side and maybe you run in trouble with your case/cabinet size.

   the picture shows the correct mounting:

   
10. Minor Bug/improvement: use a BC337-16 instead 2N5172 in the noise section more Details here (you don't need further mods)
    

    

11. Medium bug - the Clock LED driver (BC337) becomes hot - affect the functionality in some cases.

change the LED driver resistor LED-R17 from 220R to 1K ( its located at the Solderside bottom right, near the Clock fader)

use 3x 20k or 25k multiturn trimmer http://www.tme.eu/de/details/3339p-1-203lf/tht-potentiometer-mehrere-umdreh-516/bourns/ for V/OCT trimmer in the VCOs, this type works as a drop in replacement and gives you more room for a better calibration.

(there´s no need to mount it from the component pcb side as standard multiturn trimmer due to issues with the sizing behind the panel and pcb)

This guide is for users with experience in SDIY, you need a scope and a frequency counter, DMM/DVM/LCR-Meter)

i dont share infos about polarity of capacitors, this basics skills are required, otherwise feel free to ask me for a assembly service. (check the trusted builder list)

please use a fume extractor.

its needed to solder 6 SMT caps in 0805 format and 2 SMT power regulators.

this guide is a best practice guide, i´m not responsible for failures/malfunctions/defects.

1. lets start with the powersupply board - add all needed parts on the pcb, start with the two SMT power regulators.
   there is one missing part (a dual choke) - please use wire links here or resistor legs
   turn the 2 pol MTA header as described in the picture
   if needed - wash the pcb carfully on the solderside
   testing/trimming: use a 18-24V DC powersupply for input and set the output to 15V/-15V by usage of the both trimmers
   measure between -V and 0  and +V and 0
   
   
   
   
2. Mainboard PCB - place all IC-Sockets ( tin one ic socket from top, place the ic socket and heat the ic socket pin - the socket drop in place
   on the rear side of the PCB is for the LED driver a ic socket - we dont use this one - dont solder a ic-socket here ! see step14
3. best practise - begin with the "most use values" and end with the value range Mainboard PCB - start with 100K resistors, 10K, 1K, 1M, 100R (reverb), 10R (Amp) 10M (top right)
   if done - 47k, 4k7, 470K, 4M7, –   22K, 220K, 220R, 2M2, 33K, 3M3, 330K... — 30K1, 680R, 68K, 68K1, 680K...  ..... and all other
   please remember: on solderside are few resistors too - on VCO 4027 boards and filter boards too - its your choice to leave it for later or assembly it yet too (i prefer later)
4. Mainboard PCB - place all rectifiers 1N4148
5. solder from top all parts
6. cut the resistor and rectifier legs from bottom side
7. place all MLCC caps and solder from top
8. place all polyester/polypropylen caps - bend the legs from top
9. add all transistors in place and solder one pin from top -(except the 2N3954, both 2N3958 - if you cant test this, use a milled IC-socket and cut the pins out - use this as socket)
10. turn the pcb and solder all pins. (no switches, no fader, no jacks, no pot, no trimmers)
11. you find on solderside few resistors - but take a look at step 14 - you don´t need the 3 resistors for the LED driver ( LEDs works too)
12. wash the pcb 2-3 times if needed, i use Ispopropylen alcohole
    - make a breaktime/pause yet - the pcb needs time to dry
13. if you dont need a breaktime/pause - assembly the filterboards and 3 VCO 4027 boards - wash the pcbs too, make sure you use flat 10uF electrolyt capacitors, use c0g, polypropylen or silvamica for the 680pF cap,  don`t mount the connectionsheaders yet
14. on the PCB solder side, there is ic socket for the LED driver (near the multiples) its needed to bridge with a resistorleg the middle pins
    
    
15. Mainboard pcb: its time to add all other parts on the pcb -  i prefer multiturn trimmers for the VCO V/oct trimmers  20K or 25K, but remember this can´t mounted on the frontpanel pcb side due to sizing, you have to open your TTSH for trimming the VCOs,   begin with trimmers, faders - for faders keep attention on correct pcb side,  best practise for faders:  turn the pcb upwards on your desk add 4 faders in place, one hand holds the faders with other hand bend the faderpins with a flat screwdriver,  solder all faders,  add the Gain pot on top and solder them.
16. add the header/sockets for VCOs, Filtercard - best practise: mount each header in socket - put them in place on the pcb - add the vco pcb on top and solder at first on top (sub vco pcb to header)  not the header to mainboard pcb.
    then start the soldertask for the other side.
17. check on your pcb other parts:  you need to assembly few 2pol, 5pol MTA headers (gate/trigger/power) solder in the RCA jack for reverb, you have to add a 3 pol MTA header to powering the optional Gatebooster and/or TTSH sync board , on each section you find 6 pol holes.
18. now its nearly done - doublecheck all solderpoints, missing resistors,caps..
19. add the 13x 12mm spacers for speaker to pcb, dont fix it very strong - we need to align this in step 22
20. you find on the pcb on left bottom near the speaker hole switch adapter pcbs, cut them out and place they behind the switches
    
21. setup all 81jacks in place, don`t solder the jacks yet
22. place the frontpanel on the pcb/spacers - fix it with screws - if needed align the spacers
23. add on each corner a washer and nut to a jack and at the bottom/near of the voltageprocessor
24. at this time you need four hands if possible.. to turn the pcb without loosing jacks
25. solder at first the jacks from step 21
26. check the switch posistions, align it and solder 1-2 pins (middle pins), check again the positions, if needed correct it.
27. if the alignment of all parts are fine, solder all swicthes and jacks
28. if needed clean with eartips and isopropylene the solderpoints of silder/switches/jacks
29. add the 3 VCO 4027 modules and one filtercard in place.
30. time for wiring: speakerwiring/headphone,
    
    1. Wire first to speaker , then to headphone jack
       For the left amp :
       Connect pad L to left speaker (+ ) connect  the negative speaker out to Headphone Tip, connect the Tip Switch back to the  L connector gnd pin.
       For the right amp :
       Connect pad R to + on the right speaker and the negative on speaker goes to the Ring on the headphone jack, the Ringswitch is connected to gnd next on R connector
       And finally connect sleeve pin on jack to ground somewhere on board. (external gate ground is good choice)
       So when headphone is inserted it breaks the connection to the speakers.
31. unmount the panel,  add 3 long spacers (20-50mm to the 3 holes near voltage processor - the stands are used for the powersupply yet - mount the psu pcb on top), remount the panel
32. wire the powerswitch between + line and the powersupply pcb input

for power between powersupply and mainbaord  - doublecheck the polarity,

i runned in some difficult erros in some TTSHs, here are my experiences