Friday 6 January 2017

8HP Triple Sloth



This module contains 3 Sloth chaos circuits. Each one runs at a different rate; Torpor takes approx. 15-30 seconds to travel around 2 strange attractors, Apathy takes 60-90 seconds and Inertia takes 30-40 minutes.
There are no controls for Inertia, it does what it wants.
The pots for Apathy and Torpor do not specifically alter the frequencies, rather the weight of the outputs. Various settings will cause the signals to spend more time travelling around one strange attractor rather than the other.
Apathy and Torpor also have CV inputs. Sometimes the CV signals are injected onto the chaotic signals but depending upon conditions may cause windows of periodicity or voltage jumps. Generally the results are good.
The X, Y & Z outputs for each Sloth are taken from different stages of the circuit and are all different to each other, although Z is simply the inverted version of Y. The three Z outputs are also fed into a Difference Rectifier and the results of this are available from the + and – outputs at the bottom of the panel. The Difference Rectifier outputs are (ignoring diode voltage drops):
out + = VApathy +VInertia - VTorpor  If greater than 0, otherwise 0
out - = VApathy +VInertia - VTorpor  If less than 0, otherwise 0

 PCB set (2) - US$24
White Panel - US$20
Ltd run Black Panel - US$21
assembled - US$210

This is not a suitable build for beginners, if you are new to synth DIY, I suggest you get the thru-hole single Sloth.




 Note - for versions 1-4 of the bottom PCB; jacks, pots and LEDs go on the BACK of the PCB. 
For version 5, follow the labels printed on the PCB.




18 comments:

  1. I want this! Where can I buy?

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    1. Directly from me, contact details on the right side of the page

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  3. Note for other builders: solder the panel components to the pcb side without writing (not the side with the printed squares marking the pots, etc.) otherwise the pins that connect the two pcbs will be misrouted -- no connection for inertia or +/-

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    1. Hot damn I just bought a used broken never worked module off MW with these EXACT SYMPTOMS! Stoked to repair and finally have some NLC in my rack!

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  4. I love my 4 hp Sloths! Do you know the voltage range of these?
    Thanks!

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  5. Is there a mouser cart for this unit? Thanx!

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    1. Not that I know of, don't use Mouser much myself. Much cheaper & easier to buy most of the parts from Tayda
      Get the jacks from Modular Addict or Thonk, bi polar LEDs off ebay.

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  6. Hi, how physically deep is the 8HP Triple Sloth module? Wondering if it will fit in my case, which is 2in deep.

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  7. You’ll have over half an inch spare

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  8. Hello !! :) oh what a module... Looks so fantastic. Congrats !!.
    Please. Is the diy still available for purchase ??. Thank you very much ! Have a great day! :)

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    1. Yes plenty of boards in stock. Email to order, address at top of page

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  9. The Tayda potentiometers indicated in BOM have plastic shafts which are already the mini-knobs. What are the bigger black knobs you put on them and are there alternative matching knobs ?

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    1. The pots in the BOM have steel shafts, I don't really use the plastic ones so much. Mainly NLC modules use Davies 1900H clones for knobs. It is best to find the ones with the brass insert otherwise the screw doesn't tighten well.

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  10. The link to the build guide & bom above needs to be updated, looks like you moved the files. Looking forward to building this!

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