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This guide is complete yet ( last update on 18.Jan.2017)
order the 100K resistors, 2N3906, 2N3904, 1N4148 from a local dealer to save money, make sure the 2N3904/2N3904 is from tape - for better transistor value matching.
dont miss to order the parts for the gatebooster too.
old Printable BOM as listed, (rev.2 plus additional list for filter and psu)
ttshv2BOM.pdf (mainboard pcb) - i update the list in next 2 days. (remove the above listed SMT chokes and replace with chokes from SecondFilter_BOM)
TTSHrev3_SecondFilter_BOMv1.1.pdf (filter board) please use matched pairs 4 pairs of 2N5087 and only matched pairs for 2N3906/2N3904 (exept the single trannys)
for the rare parts, please check thonk.co.uk
if you need matched pair trannys or single tested trannys like 2N3954/8 or others, please contact me.
RCA/Chinch cable 0,5m - 1m (double or triple isolated/shielded otherwise you gets hum issues)
DC Powersupply 12V DC/1,5A - 24V/1A DC works, middle pin is + (5,5mm/2,1mm size)
Cable for Power wiring and Speaker wiring (1mm² diameter for power, 0,5mm² for speaker)
13 x 12mm Spacer M3, black flat Screws for frontpanel, screws for speaker at the rear and spacermounting, washers, nuts, cable shrink, silicon for matched pairs or glue the trannys together
1 x 10mm spacer + washer for filtercard mounting (ignore the second hole for a spacer in VCF section)
3x long spacers to mount the powersupply (25mm-50mm preferred to minimize the risk of EMV issues )
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)
Known Issues
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
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
Minor Bug:Main board – Missing trace from V- to header. (copyright of picture for thehumancomparator.net ) confirmed
Minor Bug: 4072 VCF missing trace pin 4 on LM1458 to -14V (use shrink tube for isolation) confirmed
Minor Bug: 4012 VCF Board — BC558 must be installed backwards, schematics show Ermitter to 23k2 resistor in rev.7.2 (v2) confirmed
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
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 )
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
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:
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)
(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)
rev.3 Build Guide
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.
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
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
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)
Mainboard PCB - place all rectifiers 1N4148
solder from top all parts
cut the resistor and rectifier legs from bottom side
place all MLCC caps and solder from top
place all polyester/polypropylen caps - bend the legs from top
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)
turn the pcb and solder all pins. (no switches, no fader, no jacks, no pot, no trimmers)
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)
wash the pcb 2-3 times if needed, i use Ispopropylen alcohole - make a breaktime/pause yet - the pcb needs time to dry
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
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
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.
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.
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.
now its nearly done - doublecheck all solderpoints, missing resistors,caps..
add the 13x 12mm spacers for speaker to pcb, dont fix it very strong - we need to align this in step 22
you find on the pcb on left bottom near the speaker hole switch adapter pcbs, cut them out and place they behind the switches
setup all 81jacks in place, don`t solder the jacks yet
place the frontpanel on the pcb/spacers - fix it with screws - if needed align the spacers
add on each corner a washer and nut to a jack and at the bottom/near of the voltageprocessor
at this time you need four hands if possible.. to turn the pcb without loosing jacks
solder at first the jacks from step 21
check the switch posistions, align it and solder 1-2 pins (middle pins), check again the positions, if needed correct it.
if the alignment of all parts are fine, solder all swicthes and jacks
if needed clean with eartips and isopropylene the solderpoints of silder/switches/jacks
add the 3 VCO 4027 modules and one filtercard in place.
time for wiring: speakerwiring/headphone,
Wire first to speaker , then to headphone jack
For the left amp :
Connect pad L to left speaker (+ ) connect the ( - ) to Headphone Tip, connect Tip Switch back to the L connector gnd.
For the right amp :
Connect pad R to + on right speaker the from speaker - to 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.
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
wire the powerswitch between + line and the powersupply pcb input
for power between powersupply and mainbaord - doublecheck the polarity,
TTSH Trimming - calibration
last update: June 2020 for 4072 Filtercard, big thanks to Anthony A Flagg
works best with Scope and good DMM (4,5digits with less than 1% tolerance)
make sure your device works without smoke, smell, all LEDs are on, your VCO/VCF/VCA works.
before you start, let the TTSH in a room with stable temperature, power on the TTSH for 30 min. before you start the calibration.
make sure you have no jumper on kbd/cv pcb header (was used in TTSH rev.1 buildguide)
trim to excactly -15V/15V by usage of the Powersupply Multiturn trimmer, measure between -V and 0 and +V and 0
use a 12V - 24DC powersupply at the input.
Ring modulator
before you start with the Ringmodulator calibrate the VCO2 Sinewave and check the function of VCO1
Positive Null 01) Put switch in DC position 02) Raise VCO 1 slider only 03) Monitor output with oscilloscope and adjust POS NULL for minimum output
Negative Null 01) Put switch in AC position 02) Raise VCO 1 slider only 03) Monitor output with oscilloscope and adjust NEG NULL for minimum output
Gain 01) Raise both sliders into Ring Modulator and set switch to DC 02) Adjust GAIN trimmer for 20Vpp maximum
VCO 1 to 3
V/oct adjustments (own Info: start with VCO1 - use the Mixer to doublecheck the same initial frequency and lowest/highest frequency to get the same values on all VCOs) 01) Monitor output with frequency counter or tuning standard 02) Depress low C and adjust frequency for 100Hz using coarse or fine tune slider 03) Depress high C and adjust 1V/OCT trimmer for 1600Hz 04) repeat 2 and 3 until C are correct
Frequency calibrate 01) Monitor output with oscilloscope or frequency counter 02) All FM sliders down 03) Remove keyboard CV from selected VCO 04) Put frequency slider far right (maximum) 05) Put fine tune slider – mid range 06) Adjust FREQ CAL for 8.33kHz
VCO-1 Pulse width 01) Monitor square wave output with oscilloscope and adjust SYMMETRY trimmer for 50% duty cycle.
VCO-2 Wave shape adjustments Symmetry 01) Monitor triangle output with oscilloscope 02) Adjust the "Symmetry" trimmer for best triangle waveform (you move the waveform to an triangle - you find at the waveform a spike which must be moved to get a sharp peak/top notch
DC offset adjust for the Sine Wave
01) Monitor sine wave output with oscilloscope
02) Adjust "OFFSET" trimmer so the peaks of the triangle waveform is not flat or either end - (the waveform voltage for -/+ Volt must be balanced to get the best waveform balance)
Gain adjust 01) Monitor sine wave output with oscilloscope 02) Adjust GAIN for 10Vpp output
Mostly this step is combined with Purity - sometimes you have to give more than 10VPP to start the bending of an triangle to an Sine Wave
Purity adjust 01) Adjust PURITY for best sine waveform It might b e necessary to readjust calibrations after performed in the order listed.
note: if you don`t get a SINE wave , but often its just an failure from the calibration method - if you have trouble change the gain to 12-15VPP, then turn the purity trimmer)
but sometimes is a faulty 2N3958 the problem, mostly cheap Chinese fakes
VCF with 4012 VCF (original TTSH)
Frequency calibration 01) Monitor VCF output with an oscilloscope or frequency couter 02) Initial frequency slider – left 03) Fine tune slider – mid range 04) Resonance slider – right 05) All VCF inputs sliders – down 06) Disconnect or use dummy plug for KYBD CV in 07) Adjust FREQ CALIBRATE for 10Hz output
V/oct adjust 01) Repeat steps for frequency calibration but reconnect the CV keyboard 02) Depress low C (0 volts) 03) Adjust initial frequency slider and fine tune slider for 200Hz 04) Depress C three octaves higher and adjust 1V OCT trimmer for 1600Hz 05) Repeat step 2-4 until low C remains at 200Hz and C3 remains at 1600Hz
Output offset 01) Monitor VCF output with oscilloscope 02) Initial frequency, fine tune, and resonance slider – left 03) All input sliders down 04) Adjust OUTPUT OFFSET for minimum DC output. Movement of the initial frequency slider should not cause more than 1V deflection
Gain adjust 01) Open VCF initial frequency slider – right 02) Resonance slider – left 03) Raise VCO1 input slider and adjust GAIN for same amplitude as measure at VCO1 output
VCF 4072
The only calibration adjustment that seems to make any difference with the 4072 filter module is Initial Frequency. When you remove the 4012 filter and install the 4072 filter, the Initial Frequency is shifted way down, so that the cutoff frequency is at sub audio range somewhere around 75% on the Coarse Frequency control. This one calibration needs to be repeated when changing between filter modules. The 1V/Oct panel trimmer is efficacious with the 4012 filter module, so should be adjusted for that unit, and should be undisturbed when swapping. The Offset and Gain trims work the same for both filters, and should also be undisturbed when changing filters.
The following procedure is written for end-user, and is simplified. Obviously a builder may have a more precise means of measurement.
This is based on the following standards: a. Note C1 (MIDI note 24) = 32.70Hz b. 0.00VDC on KBD CV bus produces note C1 at VCO1-3 and VCF cutoff frequency
If you have a different standard, adjust the target frequency you adjust to in step 8 accordingly.
1. Disconnect power and open the case, or unmount the panel if using the standard steel case. 2. Remove the in-use filter module, and install the alternate one. 3. Re-assemble, and power up the instrument. Let it warm up for 20 minutes. 4. Using a midi keyboard and midi to CV device, drive C5 (midi note 72), to produce +4.00V on the KBD CV bus. 5. Adjust the filter’s Coarse Frequency control to minimized, the Fine Frequency control is in the middle, and the Resonance control to maximum. 6. Disconnect any audio and CV inputs, and minimize their controls to the filter. 7. Connect the output of the filter into a guitar tuner. It may help to use the mixer section to attenuate the signal down to guitar level, which is something like .5V p-p (-20dB from the VCF output of 10V p-p). 8. Adjust the Freq. Calibrate trimmer from the front panel in the VCF to get C5/523hZ on the tuner. Getting close is probably good enough here.
VCA
Linear gain 01) Monitor VCA output with oscilloscope 02) Patch VCO3 saw to VCA ‘VCF Input’ jack and raise audio slider fully 03) Put initial gain slider – left (minimum) 04) Raise VCA AR control slider all way 05) Depress and hold the manual start button and adjust LINEAR GAIN for 10Vpp maximum signal output
Control rejection 01) Repeat steps 1-3 for linear gain adjustment 02) Patch VCO2 LF sine wave (2Hz) into VCA AR control input 03) Close VCA VCF input slider 04) Adjust CONTROL REJ for minimum output
High frequency reject 01) No adjustment necessary
Exponential gain 01) Set EXP’L GAIN trimmer fully clockwise Experiment with exponential setting…
Internal Clock
Init. frequency 01) Monitor the internal clock output with an oscilloscope 02) Put rate slider at max 03) Adjust INIT trimmer so the square wave doesn’t disappear at max rate setting
Pulse width 01) Monitor Internal clock output with an oscilloscope 02) Put RATE slider at max 03) Adjust WIDTH trimmer for 50% duty cycle
Troubleshooting knowledge
i runned in some difficult erros in some TTSHs, here are my experiences
Knowledge number
symptom
Probable error source
Probability of occurrence
pre check
testing
workaround
fix
lessons learned
TTSH-1
VCO bleed (usage of frequency slider from one OSC influenced other VCOs frequency
or
Frequency range isn´t good enough
or
screaming VCO - weird frequency / instable Frequency
LFO/VCO switch (LF switch)
80%
insert a stable v/oct signal
(doublecheck with other devices your v/oct signal)
press/push/wiggle the LF switch,
if you hear or measure a better result ->
heat up the 6 switch pins
normally a resolder/heatup fix the issue
the switch pins must be soldered with other soldercore or better heated/other solder tip.
TTSH-2
all Slider LEDs are off
Trimmer, LED Driver
turn on the frontpanel (left hand) the LED trimmer clockwise,
check on the frontpanel side on the empty IC socket next that you bridged pin 6+7 and no IC is plugged inside the socket.
if not fixed: measure on the 5 pole powerheader all voltages
n/a
dont forget the jumper/bridge on pin 6-7
TTSH-3
few Slider LEDs are off
Trimmer, LED Driver
50%
turn on the frontpanel (left hand) the LED trimmer clockwise,
the TTSH LEDs are connected in 6? chains and in each chain are all slider LEDs in series -
so you must check the correct LED polarisation (you can see the cathode/anode without demounting)
swap the LED to correct orientation
dont trust machines/roboter
TTSH-4
all VCOs dont work
VCO 4027 boards
10%
are the VCO subboards correct mounted ? (check the board connectors)
are the CA3046 ICs inside ?
check the soldering of the board connectors
solder all VCO conenctor pins before mounting the silders, add the CA3046 while mounting the connectors to the subboards
TTSH-5
cant get a VCO sine wave in trimming/calibration process.
(you get only a triangle)
VCO-2 section
80%
check OP-amp orientation
check J-FET (2N3954) instead 2N3958
oscilloscope shows at the TRI out a Triangle - if not fix it before.
check the symmetry at first for the triangle,
use gain to setup 10v
then use the offset to bend the triangle spikes - they must form a corner in combination with purity.
setup again 10v.
its not a easy job - try it again - the trick is the combination of offset and gain not the purity !
before you swap the 2N3954 try other ways as before by trimming the 4 trimmers , many guys swapped the working jfets..
TTSH-6
ttsh works as a drone synth (by usage of cv/gate - the ttsh plays always sound instead of note on/off control)
80%
check your silder settings -
at the VCA output mixer - only VCA output instead of VCF or VCF and VCF.
read the usermanual
TTSH-7
by usage of the reverb function, a hum/noise occurs
80
check your noise is off
check the wiring
use double or triple shielded cable with good RCA connectors
the reverb distance must around 10cm or more from pcb to minimize the risk of EMV to the tank.
check the grounding of signal input in the reverb, input and output must be grounded.
check the cable with a rectifier test, check the soldering of the RCA connectors on the ttsh pcb.
make sure you have the correct reverb type (grounding and impedance)
reverbs are very sensitive for EMV*
TTSH-8
ADSR Release time opens the VCA and at 20fader way, the releasetime is too long
50
check all parts for correct value, check my pictures subpage