Messages

16

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: PreenFM mk2 : Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: December 03, 2012, 01:11:06 AM »

I agree, very nice. That is not too much more complicated than the Shruthi programmer. It really depends on whether or not Xavier can include a spot to hook it all into.

Thanks for taking a run at this Funkyfli. In my future I see a Preenfm and an Ambika in one custom box controlled from a single keyboard.  Wow, what a synth!

Randy

17

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: PreenFM mk2 : Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: December 01, 2012, 03:52:25 PM »

OMG, as my kids would say! Maybe there is a middle ground.

Randy

18

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: PreenFM mk2 : Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 29, 2012, 02:22:47 PM »

Both are active. There is a menu option to tell the Shruthi to use the control surface so there must be some firmware. The control surface (programmer) hooks to a series of pins on one of the Shruthi's boards.

If you Google fcd72 Shruthi XT Flickr, you can have a look at how it hooks in.

Randy

19

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: PreenFM mk2 : Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 29, 2012, 04:54:10 AM »

I was thinking that it could be like the Shruthi, where Xavier could provide expansion capabilities and someone else could develop the programmer.

Randy

20

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: PreenFM mk2 : Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 28, 2012, 05:22:13 PM »

It's a disease, don't tell Frank!

Randy

21

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: PreenFM mk2 : Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 27, 2012, 05:12:00 PM »

Would it be possible to include expansion options that would potentially enable a "programmer" to be developed?  I'm in the midst of building an XT panel for one of my Shruthis and, while I was playing with the PreenFM last night, thought a batch of pots would be coo..

By the way, after finally fiddling with the PreenFM for a while last night, I gotta admit this thing is cool!  Even my "Indie, Folktronica, Art Rock, Experimental" son was amazed by the sounds.  One second it's gritty and industrial, then a quick turn of a knob or two and it's mellow and deep.

Randy

22

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 20, 2012, 01:16:24 AM »

Only one 'though.

23

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 19, 2012, 04:57:07 PM »

When I play live, I am constantly adjusting the volume based on the patch I'm using.  We don't have a soundman and the mixer is on the other side of the stage, so I keep a small monitor near me that has the same mix as the FOH mix. 

If you have a mixer handy and everything is running into it, adjusting the various volumes is easy enough but if the mixer is not that handy, a volume pot is essential.  My mixer is old and a bit tucked away, which is why I put output gain pots on my Shruthis.

Of course, this is just me, not sure about everyone else.

Randy

24

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / Re: Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 19, 2012, 04:47:05 AM »

You could always make it optional, like Olivier did on the Shruthi.  I have included it on the Shruthis I have.

Randy

25

preenfm2 and preenfm3 / PreenFM mk2 : Continuing the discussion from the Mutable Instruments forum

« on: November 16, 2012, 07:34:42 PM »

Not sure how many people here are also Shruthi alumni but there has been an ongoing discussion on the MI forum regarding Xavier's great little PreenFM synth.  The last reply from Xavier was:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What a big thread… there’s more discussion here about the Preen than on its own forum ;-)

I don’t have any secrets, so here is the status.
I stopped packaging PreenFM kits because it takes me too much time beside my 3 kids and my full time job.
I shipped around 90 kits and 30 PCBs and am very happy that most people like it and find it usefull.

I don’t have anymore PCB and i’m not sure it’s worth it to order an other batch… Have to order many to have a decent price.
But anyone can do it.. gerber files are online.
You can also take the Kicad source and improve the routing.

But right, like many of you i’m DIY addicted, i cannot stop and I’m working slowly on a PreenFM mk2…
Don’t expect anything before mid 2013. I said slowly ;-)
I’m using a new board (cortex-m4 based) and don’t use any more the libmaple library… so that’s a lot of work.

Please if you have any questions, you can do it on http://forum.preenfm.net

Thanks for the interest,

Xavier

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I originally started the thread, I was looking for some opinions on the PreenFM from the MI bunch, and the thread has morphed into all sorts of technical discussions.  I have since bought a PreenFM kit and have been using it for the past month or so, it's great!  So, I figured I'd try and get the discussion moving over here.

Randy

26

PreenFM1 (the blue one) / Re: Did I bag the last PCB?

« on: October 17, 2012, 02:43:31 PM »

Me too!  How about an FM board for the Mutable Ambika, or even the Shruthi?

Randy

27

PreenFM1 (the blue one) / Re: PreenFM in a box!

« on: October 16, 2012, 05:41:59 PM »

That is really cool!  Would you consider posting the flower field for others to use?  Do you have any large photos of the front panel?  I know, I'm being a pain in the, uh, butt.

Randy

28

PreenFM1 (the blue one) / Re: Tonight's the night

« on: September 17, 2012, 02:43:03 PM »

Thanks!  Not a big deal about the power switch, I was only curious.

Randy

29

PreenFM1 (the blue one) / Re: Tonight's the night

« on: September 13, 2012, 09:43:05 PM »

The PreenFM is in the case from you, the Shruthi 4PM is in a custom case that I designed and built with small tools (a Dremel and files) and the Shruthi SRM4 MK I is also in a case I designed and built, using Lego, a stock top and a bit of extra plexi for the Input and Output volume controls.  The "rack" for the three was also built by me, I had a bunch of that textured plexi around.  It worked great for the 4PM case, since it's supposed to have an icy "Arctic" theme.  The LEDs in the 4PM are RGB, they change colours constantly, kinda useless but it looks cool.  I also put extra lights in the case of the SMR4.

I'd like to add a few extra LEDs to the PreenFM someday, just not sure if there's enough power coming into it.  Also, is there a convenient spot to add a power switch?

Glad you liked it, and thanks.

You can have a look at my stuff in these videos (no PreenFM in these yet):

Part 1:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opRzWu2OIwQ&feature=plcp

Part 2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y7yQ47etjs&feature=plcp

Part 3:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBjuahssktc&feature=plcp

Part 4:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRQAsQ5_xTs&feature=plcp

Randy

30

PreenFM1 (the blue one) / Re: Tonight's the night

« on: September 13, 2012, 03:54:17 PM »

Yup, it works.



I updated the Mutable Instruments thread suggesting the PreenFM as a great first build.  I'm in the process of creating a PDF version of the operating manual and build instructions, fixing some spelling and formatting.  Nothing too fancy but if anyone is interested, I'll post it as an attachment here. 

I'd be happy to spend a bit more time on the build instructions to try and make them a bit more clear for newbies.  I certainly wouldn't hesitate to recommend the kit 'though.

Randy