YuSynth Fixed Resonant Filter Bank

Introduction

A bare double sided PCB (no need for the wire jumper links shown on the PCB layout) for the Yusynth Fixed Resonant Filter Bank synth module. These PCBs are manufactured by Soundtronics with a percentage of the sale going to the creator of the YuSynth - Yves Usson. These are early days for the YuSynth Modular Synth at Soundtronics, our plan is to stock PCBs for all of the projects as well as components, kits and front panels. This is going to take time but will eventually be as comprehensive as our MFOS range.

No components are included with the PCB but check out our Synth Components section where you should find what you need. We do suggest visiting the YuSynth Fixed Resonant Filter Bank project page for detailed information including Yves panel layouts but a summary is shown below.

Description

WARNING, considering the size of the PCB (183x142mm), the number of parts, and the high density of the wiring, we would not recommend it as a beginner's project. However, if you proceed with care and method this remains a feasible project.

Although this module is often missing in many modular set-ups, a fixed filters bank (FFB) is a really useful module and Yves could not imagine a decent set-up without one. The reference FFB is the 914 module from Moog.

The FFB makes it possible to greatly enrich the sonic palette of a modular system. It is also a key element for the recreation of "natural" and environmental sounds, or of conventional music instruments. Although it evokes the principle of a mere graphic equalizer, it has marked differences. Mainly, the filter Q is higher and the BP slopes are steeper than in a graphic EQ. Furthermore when a control is set to zero, the  corresponding spectral band is completely muted.
Complex/entangled rhythms can be created on the fly by multi-band filtering a simple sequence.

Yves designed this module with the Moog 914 filter bank in mind. Therefore he tried to obtain similar characteristics for the band-pass, low-pass and high-pass filter as in the Moog 914. The original Moog's design uses passive cells based on inductors and capacitors. Nowadays, finding this type of inductors is very difficult and it would cost a lot of money to have them specially wound. This is why he chose to replace these passive components by active components. In order to design band-pass cells using active components (i.e. OP amps) with the same characteristics as in the Moog 914, there are two possible approaches :

• the first one is to simulate the inductors using gyrators or N.I.C.s (negative impedance converter). This is a very efficient solution but is very expensive because it requires at least four OP amps to recreate a single band-pass cell with the same Q and -12dB/octave attenuation slopes.
• the second one is to replace the passive cell with an active filter. There, the choice of architecture is wide. However, considering the constraints (low number of OPAs to reduce costs, ease of calculation of component values, low sensitivity to tolerance of the components...) the best choice appeared to be the Deliyannis band-pass cell also known as Rauch multiple feedback filter. 

The other advantage of using active filters is that the output level of this filter is much higher than that of Moog's.

This module has twelve fixed band-pass filters with -12dB/octave slopes, a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter with -24db/octave slopes. All the filters are resonant with a Q coefficient around 3.7. The gain of each filter is adjustable from completely silent to maximum.

Two inputs (with different gain levels) are provided as well as three outputs : a main output with all filter cells mixed, an ouput with only odd cells and the third output with only even cells. These separate outputs make it possible to use the FFB for creating pseudo-stereo sounds (spacialization).

This module uses not less than 32 OPAs (8 ICs),  125 capacitors,  95  resistors and 14 potentiometers !
The current draw of the module is 70mA both on the positive and negative power lines.
 

The PCB can accept a choice of three types of power connector, it can be either a Synthesizers.com 6 pins MTA connector, a MOTM 4 pins MTA96 connector or a 10-pin Eurorack connector.

Circuit

Click on the schematic thumbnail above for the circuit diagram.

Yves has a thourough description of the circuit description on his website for those with a good understanding of electronics.

Wiring

The wiring schematic image in the above thumbnails show the panel wiring to the pots and sockets etc.

Setting and Trimming

No setting up or trimming required but Yves has scope measurements on his website.

Parts List

The parts list below is direct from the YuSynth website.

The parts list excludes knobs although we have standardised on the Cliff KM20B but it does include 1/4" jack sockets. All parts are available individually (use the part number in the search box above) or as a components kit that excludes sockets and knobs.