Off-the-shelf
modular synthesisers can cost upwards of £2,000, an expensive investment for today’s
musician or enthusiast. Soundtronics has partnered with MFOS (Music From Outer
Space) to bring you an extensive range of affordable, customisable, and quality
DIY synth modules, suitable for beginners and professionals alike. We’re sure
you’ll love them as much as we do!
Soundtronics’ DIY Synth modules, Lo-Fi Noise
Boxes, and Single Board Analogue Synths are available in varying levels of kit
form. This allows enthusiasts like you, with a budget big or small, to collect units until you have the final setup you require. Plus there's the added satisfaction of knowing that they were hand built by
yourself! If the idea of some soldering doesn't excite you too much, our team of technicians can expertly assemble the
units and deliver them to your door in full working condition.
Soundtronics’ modules are designed to be combined
in any desired panel setup and are currently compatible with 5U (MOTM format).
With your support, we will redesign these modules and make them available in
formats such as Euro Rack, Moog, Dotcom, and Frackrack. For a more customised feel, the module front panels
are also available in a number of colour combinations to suit the interior of any home office or recording studio!
Formed in late 2013, Soundtronics is a relatively new
division of the Technobots Online Group, passionate about making quality
analogue synths more widely available and affordable. Technobots Online is well established, having supplied mechanical and electronic components to hobbyists, education,
and trade since 2001. This means that ideal component suppliers, manufacturing
equipment, and delivery services are already in place for the modular synths.
Located in Warwickshire, the Technobots Online
team consists of technology enthusiasts, each with their own particular passions.
Soundtronics, and the DIY MFOS Synth module project, have the benefit of being
personally (and enthusiastically) managed by our director Paul Cooper.
Music From Outer Space is run by another
synthesiser enthusiast, Ray Wilson, in the USA. Back in 2003, Ray began
publishing synth designs that have continued to evolve and gain credibility
over the years. If you are not familiar with Ray’s superb designs, we cannot
stress enough how essential it is that you visit his website musicfromouterspace.com, where you will
find a complete library of information on each and every module we are offering
here.
We will also mention that you can purchase PCBs
direct from Ray, along with some front panels and other hard to find parts.
Important Update
Last November, just around the time we were going to launch this campaign, we learnt of the sad news that Ray had been diagnosed with cancer. In order for Ray and his family to fully concentrate on beating this, he stopped taking retail orders through the MFOS website. We are deeply appreciative of Ray finding the energy during these
difficult times to keep us stocked with PCBs, so that we in turn keep
them available online to MFOS builders around the world.
Since postponing this campaign, we have had the opportunity to discuss the essential role of MFOS in this Soundtronics' campaign, and Ray has encouraged us to move forward. We shall therefore be working with Ray over the coming months to not only ensure the availability of the MFOS product range, but make it the most complete DIY synth range on the market.
Many of us have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer, so we would like to take this opportunity to ask that you consider visiting Ray's crowd funding site where you can directly contribute to Ray's medical expenses.
Without sounding cliché, Soundtronics is quickly
becoming a one stop shop for all modular synth products. Our buying power
enables us to source difficult to find components at good prices, passing the
savings on to you and, of course, saving you all of the hassle of sourcing them
yourself.
Our current range of in-house manufacturing
equipment means we can produce our front panels and provide a full assembly
service to those who do not wish to partake in the DIY element.
Again, it is worth mentioning that we fully
support and appreciate all of Ray’s work, so we continue to pay the full retail
value for all PCBs.
Over the last 18 months, we’ve supplied
kits to enthusiasts across Europe and received excellent feedback. Our
laser engraved laminate front panels look great, and generally last much longer
than their screen printed counter parts.
However, as with all new products, some customers have kindly suggested
some improvements for us to make. Now, that’s where your support comes in.
Firstly, we’d love to continue receiving
feedback, good or bad, as it really helps us to understand exactly what you
want from our products. Therefore, at the end of this campaign we’ll be setting
up a forum for you to chat to us, help each other out with
projects, and benefit from our technical resources.
What are we funding?The first improvement we will to put into action,
is the introduction of a machined aluminium reinforcement layer, opposed to the
current acrylic panel, behind the laser engraved laminate panel. This will
allow us to reduce the depth of the modules, thus opening up a raft of
opportunities for additional formats such as Euro Rack. Aluminium panels are
are also the perfect solution for producing panels for the single boards
synths, so the extra equipment and investment in design time will be well utilised.
We have already invested in a CNC router to
produce the machined aluminium panels and a laser to engraver to cut out the
front laminate panels. We will therefore use funds raised from this campaign to invest in
PCB production for panel controls, and to design and produce front panels for new formats
and single board synths.
Secondly, we want to produce a range of PCBs for
panel controls, in order to reduce panel wiring and speed up assembly. Paul will be our lead
R&D expert on this, and has already begun building prototypes.
Essentially, we’d like to invest in further
research, design and development, manufacturing equipment, and up-front manufacturing
runs.
Being optimistic, if funding surpasses our
target, we’ll be looking into developing our own range of synth products to
compliment the MFOS range. First up will be a MIDI to CV and CV to MIDI
converters. As with all of Paul’s great ideas, he just couldn’t resist building
a quick prototype to show you!
How can we help you?
As mentioned earlier, membership to the forum
will give you access to all of our in-house synthesiser design files, including
PCBs (not MFOS) and front panels. We also provide full support for customers just in case you get into difficulty with the build.
See below for our perks.
We’ve chosen to do our perks a little
differently! As there is such an extensive range of permutations here, we’ve
given you free range over your choices. Think of each perk as buying a pick ‘n’
mix voucher, to spend however you wish. Don't worry if the amount you want to spend finishes between Perk values, simply purchase the nearest value below your spend, and we will then request the difference at the end of the campaign through PayPal.
We have, of course, listed some Early Bird specials
where you get that bit extra to spend on us!
Check out the info-graphics below for an overview
of our perks and module options.
For more detailed information, please download the order
form in Excel format or PDF.
Please note that all pricing is inclusive of VAT, delivery addresses outside of the EU will have the VAT element refunded prior to dispatch.
Kit Options
- Main PCB - The official PCB manufactured by MFOS, no other components included. Ideal for the DIY builder who has access to their own components and wishes to create their own front panel.
- Wiring PCB Set - Bare PCBs manufactured by Soundtronics to simplify construction. These PCBs are used to reduce the amount of panel wiring by soldering most, if not all, of the pots and connectors directly on the PCBs. These PCBs have various solderable options, i.e. creating common ground connections. Each PCB has a JST socket into which is plugged a cable, the other end of each cable is then soldered to the main PCB. Each Wiring PCB Set includes PCBs, JST connectors, cable assemblies and pot brackets.
- Components Kit - All electronic components required to complete the build of the corresponding main PCB. Top quality components from metal film resistors upwards. Excludes panel mount potentiometers, sockets and switches.
- Pots & Sockets - Includes all panel mount potentiometers, Switchcraft 1/4" sockets, switches and our Cliff KM20B knobs. These are most suitable for MOTM 5U size panels, but we will change the contents on request to suit Euro rack formats i.e. 3.5mm jack sockets.
- Engraved Panel - Our own laser engraved laminate panels available as white on black, black on brushed aluminium plus other colours on request. These engraved panels really look the part and are hard wearing, no screen print rubbing off! The engraved panels are about 1.5mm thick but do require a rigid backing sheet to provide the necessary rigidity. To date, we have used an acrylic framework that also accommodates the PCB, however our new design uses an aluminium panel behind.
- Aluminium Chassis Plate - A 6082 T6 aluminium panel 3mm thick (2mm for Euro rack) with all holes routed out to match the engraved front panel. Being aluminium, it also provides electrical screening. Also includes an acrylic panel and brackets to which the main PCB is mounted to.
- Full Kit - Basically all of the above, everything the DIYer needs to build the module / noise box / sequencer / single board synth, even down to the wiring.
-
Fully Assembled - For those without the necessary tools / equipment / experience / time. We will build the kit and fully test it so it's ready to use.
As well as supporting through the purchase of
Perks, there are other ways you can help us in achieving our aims.
Please let other similar minded builders and
musicians know about this campaign through forums and social media.
Share your experience and expertise on our user
group after the campaign ends.
What happens if you don't get all of the funding?
Our business model is such that even if we don't
reach our goal, we will be able to honour all perks purchased thanks to our
in-house capabilities. It will mean that we will not be able to bulk buy PCBs
and it may constrain future development of our synth products.
What are the risks?
As with all projects, there will be challenges to
overcome in fulfilling this campaign. Fortunately for us, we have a great
support structure in place in the form of the Technobots infrastructure, and a
team of experienced project managers and engineers.
We’re not too worried about any of these risks,
but to give you a heads up:
Manufacturing: Being a small team, we’ve only invested in one
each of larger manufacturing equipment such as the CNC cutter and laser
engraver.
This does leave us vulnerable to machine failure, but we make sure we
maintain our equipment regularly so as to reduce the probability of issues.
The Team: Of course, in a smaller team, there is little
room for illness or loss of working hours. However, we operate the same
strategy as we do with our machinery – don’t overwork them and keep them
properly oiled (perhaps with a beer or two on a Friday afternoon!)
Supply chain: We depend on MFOS for the main PCBs and, without going into detail here, we have a number of contingency options available to ensure the continued supply. Unfortunately, this particular mitigation strategy has already been put to test. If you have not already, please read the section 'MFOS - Who are they?' above. All other components in the kits are available from multiple sources, so we are still able to use the original specified components. A small number of components are becoming obsolete, and are thus quite rare, however substitutes are possible. We also share our stock holding with that of Technobots to ensure a ready supply.
Thank you for reading and we sincerely do hope you can support us in taking DIY synth building to this new level.