MAKING A MODULAR SYNTH FOR TOOL • DANNY CAREY • CHOCOLATE CHIP TRIP Peter Grenader 2022-07-13 | I am Peter Grenader - the designer, curator and sometimes sound designer for Danny Carey's Toolbox, the modular system used live with Tool (Chocolate Chip Trip).I recently did a huge overhaul and expansion of that system and this video details that journey. --------------------Here's a list of modules in the Toolbox, by manufacturer:1010 Music: Micro Bit Box2 HP: Grain, Pluck, Rnd, EG, ADSR, Seq, Delay, Verb, LFO, Play (x3)Doepfer: A-148 Sample & Hold, A-180 Passive MultIntelligel: Mini FoldJones: O'Tool 2Make Noise: EchophonMalekko Heavy Machinery: Varigate 8, Unity Mixer (x2)Plan B/EAR: Model 15 VCO , Model 10 EG (x3), Model 13 Timbral Gate, Model 25 Multi-Tasking Audio Processor, Model 26 Multi-tasking Control Processor, Model 24 Heisenberg Generator, Model 21C Mini Milton, Model 7 Panner, Model 38 Leveler, Model 41 Steiner EVI FIlter, Model 13 Mini Low Pass Gate, EAR Output (custom), EAR Model 9 MK II Mixer (custom), EAR Leveler (custom).Subconscious Communication (Plan B) : Model 15 VCO (x2), Model 37 LFO/VCOQu-Bit: Nebulae II_____________For a recent interview detailing this system and my involvement with Tool, check out Kris West's Spiral Out podcast:spiraloutpod.podbean.com/e/peter-grenader-tool-box-mod-synthFor an article on how this synth came into being check out The Fortheye:fourtheye.net/2013/11/peter-grenader-on-dannys-toolbox-synthDarwin Gross' Art + Music + Technology Podcast talking about synth manufacturing and composing:artmusictech.libsyn.com/podcast-208-peter-grenaderEAR/Plan B Synthesizer official website:ear-synth.comPeter Grenader's POV website:pov-music.comzZyzx Society:zzyzxsociety.com
THEYRE EATING THE DOGS! Peter Grenader 2026-09-11 | ...they're eating the cats! Their eating...THE PETS!Real time manipulation of one of donald trump's more famous "truths"
EAR MODEL 24 MARK II & MODEL 10 MARK II DEMO Peter Grenader 2026-04-13 | A short video gives you an idea of the musicality of the Electro-Acoustic Research Model 24 Mark II Heisenberg Generator. Let's to hear and even see the difference between unison and gaussian random distribution and the ease of navigating between the 1st and 2nd preset scale banks.
THE FUGUE FROM BACHS TOCCATA & FUGUE • PETER GRENADER • 2001 Peter Grenader 2025-07-13 | The following is an mp3 file of my orchestration rendering of the Fugue from Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor in its entirety (4 minutes, 48 seconds). This realization of what is questionably* the most famous organ fugue over conceived was not an cheap attempt to de-throne Wendy Carlos (although it may have turned out that way - a 'cheap attempt'). It was instead simply a method used to test the basics of Digital Performer, recorded midi and digital audio.While I did study piano in college, I am far from what I would consider a keyboardist. The midi tracks were laid down as separate parts of my own conception extrapolated from the original organ score. In effect this piece also tested my orchestration (gulp). I tried at all times to keep true to Bach's score, although I did change the emphasis of the pedal right before the recapitulation, because I've always found it to be more interesting than the counterpoint at that instant. The midi information was recorded from a written score by one of three methods:1) I played them real time2) I played them at half and even quarter time.3) I step -recorded them in as close to real time as that process allowsLaying down the midi tracks was the hard part and this took me over a week - bringing them to voice via digital audio was done on a single rainy afternoon in the fall of 2001.* - 'Questionably' refers to a generally unaccepted argument by musicologist Peter Williams who has questioned the authenticity of this work to be that of Bach. One of his major points is that there is no autographed copy of the manuscript, the earliest surviving copy being that of a pupil of a pupil, which WIlliams found unusual. However, we do know that Bach felt that after a piece was performed it was in effect 'done' and there was little use for its score. Indeed, it has been told that Mrs. Bach would use her husband's old manuscripts from to time to time to wrap fish in from the market. A horror to think what jewels we lost in the process! Williams also points out that this piece alone stands out both harmonically and contrapuntally from Bach's other organ works, the main objection to this being that Bach often broke his own molds.TECHNICAL NOTESThis rendering I think gives a strong aurgument of the strengths of analog modeling over true analog and I would be curious to see the outcome of a blind taste test when asking people to pick from which it came. In fact, all of the voices present are digital - from either a Yamaha TX816 or a Waldorf Q which was on loan to me from Gary Chang.
RIP Arthur Kreiger Peter Grenader 2024-11-08 | I just realized that one of my favorite electro-acoustic composers - Arthur Kreiger - passed away last year. I've known the man since 1977. Brilliant guy.This is an excerpt from one of my favorite pieces of his: Dance For Sarah. It was composed in the late 70s. Keep in mind these gestures were all created by tape splicing and the tasteful Doppler effect - that was done by voltage controlling tape deck capstan motors. Pretty smart stuff for the day.
re:VOLT live at 2220 Arts • October 12 2024 Peter Grenader 2024-10-13 | Snippets from the re:VOLT performance opening for Olivia Block on October 12th 2024 at 2220 Arts + ArchivesJill Fraser • Digital/Analog ElectronicsPeter Grenader • Analog/Digital ElectronicsThomas Klepper • Dugutalk Electronics, Sitar with Amy Zimmitti • FOA board engineer
BEAT @ MATES STUDIOS 9/10/24 • ADRIAN BELEW • DANNY CAREY • TONY LEVIN • STEVE VAI Peter Grenader 2024-09-14 | Last Tuesday afternoon several of us from the Tool family had the great privilege of previewing Beat’s dress rehearsal at Mates in Noho
re:VOLT at the Philosophical Research Society May 31st 2024 Peter Grenader 2024-05-17 | On May 31st the PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY has an evening of electronic music you may not want to miss. The VINTAGE SYNTHESIZER MUSEUM presents a rare screening of MORTON SUBOTNICK and pioneering experimental filmmaker ED EMSHWILLER'S video opera HUNGERS , along with the LA premier oF REVOLT featuring JILL FRASER, PETER GRENADER and THOMAS KLEPPER performing SUBOTNICK’s seminal piece SIDEWINDER live - among other music For more information go to PRS.ORG/EVENT (http://prs.org/EVENTS)
Panel discussion at LA Premier of the Subotnick documentary - Philosophical Research Society 4/17/24 Peter Grenader 2024-04-21 | Excerpt from Jill Fraser, Peter Grenader and Lance Hill's panel discussion at the Los Angeles premier of Wavemaker Media's documentary SUBOTNICK: Portrait of an Electronic Music Pioneer at the Philosophical Research Society on April 17th, 2024. The discussion begins talking about Mort Subotnick's use of control tracks on A Sky of Cloudless Sulfer, a process that he developed.
DANNY CAREY • TOOL • CHOCOLATE CHIP TRIP • LIVE IN WINNIPEG 2023 Peter Grenader 2023-11-02 | live recording of Chocolate Chip Trip form the 2023 Winnipeg Tool show, featuring Danny Carey at the Toolbox synth. Images are of the Toolbox in Palm Springs, October 2023 before their Power Trip Festival performance, while installing a new LFO in the bottom row
re:VOLT • SUBOTNICK SIDEWINDER • RAVEL SCARBO Live at the San Fransisco Electronic Music Festival Peter Grenader 2023-10-10 | re:VOLT (Jill Fraser, Peter Grenader, Thomas Klepper) live at the 2023 San Fransisco Electronic Music Festival, September 16, 2023 at The LabSCARBO (Maurice Ravel) 0:15SIDEWINDER (Morton Subotnick):Part 1Section A: 10:09Section B: 11:44Section C: 16:20Coda 1: 19:33Part 2Section A Prime: 21:46Section B Prime: 23:29 Coda 2: 27:45More from re:VOLT: A live studio performance of SIdewinder filmed from Tool's studio in Hollywood CA:youtube.com/watch?v=LXWj5bV6U1QThis performance is available ss audio only here:povmusic2.bandcamp.com/album/re-volt-subotnick-ravel-live-at-the-san-fransisco-electronic-music-festival-2023-featuring-jill-fraser-peter-grenader-thomas-klepperSPECIAL THANKS:Danny CareyPamela ZAmy X NeuburgTom DuffAaron Higgins and Steve Joslin (1010 Music)Cyrus RexUsed by permission of The San Fransisco Electronic Music Festival and The Lab, SF.
Morton Subotnick • Sidewinder (Party Mix) UNLISTED Peter Grenader 2023-06-26 | The abridged video being presented at the Subotnick gathering this Sunday at the Roulette in Brooklyn. The full 16 minute version can be seen here:youtube.com/watch?v=LXWj5bV6U1Q
MUTABLE MADNESS (instant Ligeti) Peter Grenader 2023-05-07 | Tripped on a really great patch which incorporates a Mutable Rings as the sounding module, and Mutable Beads which made it magic. Enjoy
MORTON SUBOTNICK • SIDEWINDER • re:VOLT LIVE FROM TOOLS STUDIO (4K) Peter Grenader 2023-04-23 | MORTON SUBOTNICK'S SIDEWINDER:Part 1 : in four movements (9 minutes 45 seconds)Part 2: in three movements (6 minutes 45 seconds)Performed live from Tool's studio Hollywood, CA by Jill Fraser, Shiro Fujioka, Peter Grenader, Thomas Klepper (aka re:VOLT).Filming/Editing: K. DavidRecording Engineer: Tim DawsonTitle Graphics: Hyejin SunwooProduced, arranged and mixed by Peter GrenaderMorton Subotnick's seminal 1971 electronic work Sidewinder performed on March 26th, 2023 at the invitation of Joan LaBarbara, in celebration of his 90th birthday.The idea of an adaptation of Sidewinder has been on the radar of zZyzx Society's Jill Fraser and Peter Grenader - both CalArts alumni who worked with Subotnick, for years. The process began with an abridged orchestration drafted by Peter Grenader, where the quartet was encouraged to both replicate his soundscapes and develop more interpretative timbres for the individual parts. With that, two general rules applied:1. Following the original gestalts using more interpretive timbres.2. Closely replicating Mort's original timbres but taking the progression in our own direction.The performance consisted primarily of modular synthesizers, plus previously recorded samples from those instruments triggered in realtime. Along with these electronic instruments, two stopwatches were fitted with contact mics to replicate Subotnick's original rattling timbre which begins Part 1 and Part 2.The ensemble convened for a single 4 hour rehearsal on March 24th prior to taping two days later at Tool's studio in Hollywood CA. which afforded access to Danny Carey's 1975 vintage Buchla 200 and massive E-mu. It was recorded in multi-track through an API 2488 desk by Tim Dawson, Tool's primary technician and studio engineer. This console was originally owned by Rick James and used in the "Super Freak" sessions.A wav file recording of this performance is available on Bandcamp at:povmusic2.bandcamp.com/album/subotnick-sidewinder-liveINSTRUMENTATION:JILL FRASER: Prism Circuits Quasar Serge, Abelton Push IISHIRO FUJIOKA: Eurorack Modular, E-mu Modular, Elektron Digitkat, Elektron DigitonePETER GRENADER: Analog/Digital Eurorack Modular, StopwatchesTHOMAS KLEPPER: Buchla 200, Buchla Music Easel, Toolbox ModularSPECIAL THANKSDanny CareyJoan LaBarbaraSkyler King/Prism CircuitsAaron Higgins and Steve Joslin/1010 MusicKyle TerborgJames & Elisabeth Lewin/SynthopiaMatrixsynthElektronTim DawsonBlair BlakeHyejin SunwooKristi PollardMort Subotnick: In profound appreciation for his historic contribution to art and musicLINKS:Original Sidewinder technical notes/patch analysis by Morton Subotnick:http://www.mortonsubotnick.com/pdfs/sidewinder.pdfBob Gluck's analysis of Sidewinder:newmusicusa.org/nmbx/morton-subotnicks-sidewinderEssay on Sidewinder by Snows Ov Gethen:snowsovgethen.com/journal/morton-subotnick-sidewinder-1971-cbs-masterworksThe Secrets of Control - Peter Grenader's paper on Subotnick's use of control tracks:web.archive.org/web/20080929184757/http://www.buzzclick-music.com/mort_lore.htmlJeffrey Hanson's thesis on control tracks:https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4861&context=etd_theses&httpsredir=1Library of Congress listing of Morton Subotnick papers:findingaids.loc.gov/exist_collections/ead3pdf/music/2022/mu022014.pdfMorton Subotnick's official site:http://www.mortonsubotnick.comzZyzx Society official site (Jill Fraser/Peter Grenader):zzyzxsociety.comShiro Fujioka's webspace:instagram.com/voltagectrlr/?hl=enThomas Klepper's webspace:facebook.com/musicbyThomasK
SUBOTNICK • SIDEWINDER LIVE AT TOOLS STUDIO • FINAL TEASER Peter Grenader 2023-04-21 | THE ENTIRE PERFORMANCE VIDEO IS NOW LIVE AT:youtube.com/watch?v=LXWj5bV6U1QMorton Subotnick's seminal 1971 electronic work Sidewinder performed live at Tool's studio in Hollywood CA on March 26th, 2023 by Jill Fraser, Shiro Fujioka, Peter Grenader and Thomas Klepper, with access to Danny Carey's 1975 vintage Buchla 200 and massive E-mu, at the invitation of Joan LaBarbara in celebration of Morton Subotnick's 90th birthday.Filmed and edited by K. David. Produced, arranged and mixed by Peter Grenader
MUCKING ABOUT WITH THE EAR MODEL 12 MARK II Peter Grenader 2023-04-12 | The original Model 12 was super clean, and some said a bit tame. The Mark II addresses that by adding IFM SYNC and full range resonance into self oscillation. Oh, and a second filter as well. Not what I would consider a proper full-feature demo....just slapping up a quick patch, plugging things in and twiddling knobs
OFFICIAL TRAILER: MORTON SUBOTNICK • SIDEWINDER - Live from Tools studio Peter Grenader 2023-03-29 | THE ENTIRE PERFORMANCE VIDEO IS NOW LIVE AT:youtube.com/watch?v=LXWj5bV6U1Q youtu.be/LXWj5bV6U1Q Morton Subotnick's Sidewinder, performed by Jill Fraser, Shiro Fujioka, Peter Grenader and Thomas Klepper - live from Tool's studio in Hollywood, CA
TOOL • TOOLBOX SYNTH DEMO FOR DANNY CAREY • CHOCOLATE CHIP TRIP Peter Grenader 2023-01-06 | The first demo of the additions and patch changes for the Toolbox to be used by Danny Carey in upcoming Tool shows. This is the first time he has seen/heard the system since it was reconfigured, outlined in this video posted a few months back:youtube.com/watch?v=fm3Bh-b83nE
TAILS OF LUCY • part 1 Peter Grenader 2022-12-21 | We took a foster! Actually...ten of them!!!! Keep your eyes on this channel for updates
EAR MODEL 13 MINI DEMO, AGAIN Peter Grenader 2022-12-20 | Another demo of the Model 13 Mini Vactrol Low Pass Gate. Here two slightly detuned Model 15 VCO are being gated by the Mini, then through a phaser and finally through the EAR Model 27 After Effects Generator (Delay)
Vactrol Hell Peter Grenader 2022-11-23 | Entering the final stretch of vactrol testing prior to final assembly of the EAR M13 Mini Vactrol LPGs
MEASURING VACTROL DECAY TIME Peter Grenader 2022-09-17 | Thia is a quick overview how I measure the response characteristics of VTL5C3 Vactrols to identify those suited for Low Pass Gates. It's all about decay time!
PATCH OF THE DAY Mutable Musings Peter Grenader 2022-09-11 | A step by step set up of a continuation/development of the patch I uploaded yesterday (link below). Things really kick in a 1:05.Anyone who thinks Rings is just a drone generator needs to dive deeper.youtube.com/watch?v=q4YnZcG_muc
EAR Model 13 Mini Vactrol Lowpass Gate • Demo 1 Peter Grenader 2022-08-28 | Short Demo of a patch which demos the new EAR Model 13 Mini LPG
Mutable Instruments • BEADS demo Peter Grenader 2022-08-13 | Messing around with Beads. It wasn't my intention to do a complete demo of the module in this video. I am demoing it's effect on the patch i've constructed on the system. Key modules:Flame 4 VOXPlan B Model 9 MixerDoepfer A-125 Phase ShifterPlan B Model 23 Analog Shift RegisterPlan B Model 32 LFOEAR Model 27 After Effects Processor
Plan B Patch of the Day Peter Grenader 2022-08-06 | A short romp testing the Model 32 Vector Plotter as it's recently fallen under the glare of Plan B's biggest fan (or worst critic ?) Mr Tim S . The Vector Plotter is acting as a crossfader here, fading between the PT Audio Digital VCO (when paddle is down) and Plan B Model 15 (paddle up). Modulation comes via the Octavizer algorithm in the never-released Plan B Model 28 After Effects Processor, with the whole thing shaped by the Model 13 Mini Vactrol LPG then through the Plan B Model 27 Stereo Delay
Sunday Morning Mort aka Early experiments with Mutable Beads Peter Grenader 2022-07-10 | This is a lively Sunday morning jaunt with my newly acquired Beads... which, as silly as this may be, is offscreen in this video.I know, lame.Hear me out! The Mutable Beads is currently kicking the crap out of me. I have no idea of it's capabilities. It's all hunt and peck at this point. In one of those experiments, i noticed by putting a metric rhythm patch through it and syncing the Seed input with the same clock that's driving the patch that it would, magically, double the frequency of whatever it's processing. This immediately reminded me of a certain passage Mort Subotnick is famous for, so i ginned up a quicky sonic xerox. This all came about after i produced a demo of what 'real' lowpass gates can do, which hearkened back my percussive motif fetish that dominated my piece The Secret Life of Semiconductors (search 'Peter Grenader Secret Life" on apple music or bandcamp if curious).Everything you hear is being gated through vactrol-based LPGs, namely the Plan B Model 13 Timbral Gate. The first voice is from a Flame 4 Vox in which i cycle through a few of it's wavetables. The second voice is it's manifestation via the Mutable Beads in which i am controlling the wet/dry mix via Plan B Model 24 wiggly random voltage. The third voice is via a Plan B Model 15 which is getting it's pacing from Malekko Varigate 4.Panning courtesy of an EAR Model 7 Panner, driven by a second wiggly random via a second Plan B Model 24 The first and third voices are being driven by two Plan B Model 10 EGs to both open the LPG and thwap the VCO frequencies.As i sidenote, i think Apple finally chased all the demons out of iMovie. It does not piss me off anywhere near as much now. enjoy, or not!
TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE DTLA!!!! Peter Grenader 2022-06-22 | Downtown Los Angeles was shaken by what seemed like a 20.5!!!
Arduino based CV to MIDI converter Peter Grenader 2022-02-14 | The module behaves like a standard analog Sample and Hold, except it outputs MIDI note-on events instead of sampled voltages.
Designing one/off Eurorack modules for TOOL Peter Grenader 2021-12-09 | The Devil is in the details..I think people who haven't yet done a lot of PCB/faceplate design and integration will appreciate this. As some of you know, i was the designer of and now the lion tamer for the Euro system used by Tool live (Chocolate Chip Drip). I had to make them a single channel attenuator with very little time left b4 they leave on their new tour and didn't have a lot of free HP in which to do it.This video goes through the process to make sure things align perfectly when there is no time for rev. 2Enjoy (or not!):
i built an ARDUINO TRANSPORT FOR LOGIC PRO Peter Grenader 2021-05-05 | This video outlines all the steps required to build an Arduino tape transport controller for LOGIC PRO. It's easily adaptable to other DAWs with changes to ASCII codes for the Key Commands. It's just one in a series of projects I've embarked on to keep me sane during the COVID-19 lockdowns. If you want to skip to the demo of the completed unit first, i get it.... just start watching at 10:04 and back-up if you're curious how i got there. If you'd like to see the code in detail, leave a comment -or- hit me up on Facebook.Music: The Ballad of Commander Cody and his Lost Planetary Airmen by Peter Grenader from the album Secret Life - available on iTunes or Bandcamp. Here's the link:povmusic2.bandcamp.com/album/secret-lifeDarwin Gross:artmusictech.libsyn.comFront Panel Express:frontpanelexpress.comLMB Heeger:lmbheeger.comOther albums by Peter Grenader:steveroach.bandcamp.com/album/pov2-the-case-for-square-waves-while-searching-for-happy-accidentssteveroach.bandcamp.com/album/povthezzyzxsociety.bandcamp.com/album/the-zzyzx-societyVideo: Peter Grenader/Jill Fraser in performance (Zyzx Society):vimeo.com/211612842
I made an uber rack light Peter Grenader 2021-04-09 | Step by step description on how I turned a pretty lousy commercial rack light and made it pretty damn cool.If you're interested in the synth I show here, go to my previous module by module you tube video: youtube.com/watch?v=avjzYJ5sz2o
DIY solution: Signal routing into two independent 3 ch monitoring systems Peter Grenader 2021-02-10 | The following outlines a temporary solution so i can route two independent crossover/SPL config's to two sets of stereo speakers using only one subwoofer between them. Not epecting excellent quality out of set 2 - it may be fine (don't use the second set all that much), but if it's horrible, i will seek a "higher-fi" solution. enjoy (or not)
POV 3 Preview Peter Grenader 2021-01-24 | A short, 1 minute snippet of the beginning the first rack of the new POV 3 album featuring Kamal Hyder (sitar) and Peter Grenader (processed sitar). Everything you are about to hear was generated by sitar timbres only.
Review of Heritage Audio Baby Ram passive monitor controller Peter Grenader 2021-01-21 | I have to add a note to this, with my apology. I previously made a comment (below) that you CANNOT select both of the output selections at the same time. In fact you can. If you hold one down, you can press the other and it will also latch on, and unlike doing this to the inputs (also possible), it wont cause the problems of combining two signals together without so much as an passive adder.In summary - you should be able to route the input to two different outputs at the same time without problems. You will cause signal problems, and possible damage to your two device output buffers if you do this at the input stage however.I also want to apologize for the commercials that show up before and after the video. I had nothing to do with this. Youtube put them in there. My channel is not monetized.
Van Dusen Green from POV 2 feat Peter Grenader, Steve Roach, Martin Shellard Peter Grenader 2020-12-15 | Van Dusen Green from the POV2 album The Case For Square While Searching For Happy Accidents written by Peter Grenader and Martin Shellard, and available on Steve Roach's Timeroom Direct:steveroach.bandcamp.com/album/pov2-the-case-for-square-waves-while-searching-for-happy-accidentsPeter Grenader: analog/digital electronics, mellotronSteve Roach: Oberhiem ExpanderMartin Shellard: GuitarAll images via NASA (public domain). No license required.
Of pies and dogs with nothing in particular about music or synths Peter Grenader 2020-12-13 | Wiley approves this video
Programming 21/7 time for Tool in the age of COVID Peter Grenader 2020-10-14 | Testing out the new Euclidean Circles Ver.2 on the nighty Toolbox synth, namely for it's ability to create lengthy trigger patterns - in this example 21 beats against 7.
I built an eBay Bryston BP26 Preamp Clone. Peter Grenader 2020-10-13 | I decided to build the Bryston BP26 Preamp clone from the bare board sold on eBay. If you're interested just search BP26 Bryston on eBay, I'm sure they are still available. I did this because I own a Bryston 4B SST power amp and given my current preamp (Acurus) was 25 years old, I felt it was time for an upgrade and the idea of having an fully balanced, all Bryston monitoring system was too hard to resist. In the end, it was a long process - made longer because of delays in parts due to COVID restrictions, my unending search for perfect 'feeling' rotary switches, my addition of a balance pot which is not part of this board's architecture and my decision to design my own +/- 24 VDC supply. The only thing you get with the kit is the bare, unstuffed preamp board. Everything else is up to your system/mechanical design chops and of course, your imagination. Some patience is required decoding some of the parts listed on their BOM and if you're like me - Google translate (from Chinese) REALLY comes in handy here. I designed a faceplate and had one made by Front Panel Express. I'm never going to sell this, and as such don't feel bad for duplicating the Bryston logo (which I did in Illustrator, calling upon my past life as an art director). This unit ended up being a bit more complex than it needed to be, mainly due to my (wise) decision to keep the AC transformers out of the box as Bryston does which eliminated the need for hours of RFI suppression voodoo that I would have had to deal with, AND my insistence on using the rotary power on switch which i spec'd, which was not designed to handle the amplitude AC voltage i would have had to put through it, so it required four added relays to engage power to the 24 volt supply and +5 and +12 reference voltages needed by the preamp board. The relay board is a pre-assembled unit designed for Arduino projects. This is also why i had to duplicate the +5 +12 volt DC normally on the preamp board itself. I go into these details in the video.I did not use the other 24 VDC kit intended for this preamp. The BOM was dodgy and didn't spec the transformer the one i got was 56 VCT, much bigger than required. It was less expensive for me to design my own supply, given i had all the parts/perf boards to do it. Oddly, my supply isn't that much different than the one Bystron originally designed for their 1B Preamp (schematics are online (linked below) and why i assume this preamp board was made as the schematics for the entire unit are also online, published by Bryston themselves). After my final 24 VDC supply was mounted notice a large single cap hung an a 90 degree angle on the end that faces the relay board (there's a real good shot of it around 8:00). This is the 4700uf filter cap for the bridge rectifier on the small +5 and +12 volt supplies that hang off the back of the power switch assembly. It was too big to hang locally on that tiny little perf board, so i did it by routing the wires from/to the PSUs to the isolated capacitor which converts the AC to DC leading to the two switching regulators. A little kludgy, but this is to be expecting with the number of engineering decisions/solutions required to take a bare board to a completed unit designed for years of daily usage.The board comes ready for XLRs (balanced) and RCA (line level) connectors. I hate RCAs, and decided to use TRS 1/4 inch phone jacks for all of them, including the balanced I/Os. As a safeguard, I incorporated twisted pairs in all cases (highly recommended). Note: when i mention "wallwart", it's actuly a homemade box contaning the two fused AC transformers tht connect to the wall on one end and my 5 pin XLR connector which brings the secondary transformer voltage into the box itself. As reference - before you start - know that this preamp as you see here ran me about $500 all things said and done. Sorta/kinda pricey, yet still only a fraction of what a store bought BP26/Power system would run. There's a reason for this, above and beyond Bryston exercising its full right to charge a premium for their products - which i say is justified . The real BP26 has many more input selection options, including a RIAA rated phono input, a remote control and a myriad of additional monitoring mode. This clone however does have the benefit of Bryston's legendary discrete D0433 op amp design (six in total).Also take this as certification that the PCBA, when completed, is 100% functional. The art is good. If your unit isn't working, it's due to an error you made along the way. The unit is done, this video documents the journey, including the stupid mistakes i made along the way. Highlights can be found at 6:45 when i apply full system power, 9:16 when i do the initial audio tests and 11:25 when it's completed and demo'd in my rack. I can't see anyone sitting through the whole thing, but best of luck trying.Bryston B1 Preamp schematics online:manualslib.com/manual/355786/Bryston-1b.html#manual
POV : Southwestern Businessmans Association Peter Grenader 2020-08-07 | Peter Grenader, Steve Roach, Miles RichmondSouthwestern Businessman's Association from the album POV2: The Case for Square Waves While Searching for Happy Accidents on ZSR Records available on Steve's Roach's Timeroom Direct at:steveroach.bandcamp.com/album/pov2-the-case-for-square-waves-while-searching-for-happy-accidents
