BugBrand Ebay Clear Out

The first set of Ebay auctions is now running. There'll be plenty more added over the next days/weeks... A lot must go!

Have a check through the listings

BugBrand RingModulator

Here's a new BugBox - I was asked to make a custom ringmod for someone recently.. I figured it would be worthwhile making a couple as I'd got the parts. So here's details of the box::::

Built with modular techniques, this is a two input all analogue ring mod built with the powerful AD633 multiplier chip for quality operation.

You can either ring modulated two input signals (or feed the same signal to both inputs for great & wierd octave-up effect) or one input with an internal varispeed oscillator.

- 2 input preamps - independent gain, mono inputs accepting mic or line levels
-- internal varishape oscillator with triangle and square waveforms and speed variable from slow tremelo up to hyper freqs (three way speed switch plus rate dial). The waveshape changes the triangle from ramp-down through triangle to saw wave (ie changes the harmonic content greatly) and squarewave is changed from narrow pulses through to pure square
--- ringmodulation of either In1 vs In2 (don't see that so often?!) or In1 vs Osc. The Osc setting allows so many sounds ranging from smooth or hyperharsh tremolo up into screamy pure noise ringmods - the varishape and varispeed give so many different sounds.
---- output mix to blend the ringmod output with dry1 and dry2 signals
----- modular expansion connectors on the back -> direct 4mm banana outputs from the two preamps and from the oscillator allowing hookup to other modular devices. Standardised output levels ideal for most modular systems.
------ chunky metal case, engraved faceplates, big-assed nicey knobs.
------- AC power (supplied)

So, the 1st box has now gone to the original instigator and the 2nd one is being offered to people on the Bug-mailing list.

Cube Car Boot Sale

If you're in Bristol this Saturday (26th May) then get along to car park of the Cube Cinema between midday and 4pm for a lofi carboot / tabletop sale.

Loads of creative stuff and general good fun.

Seq-pattern Generator Module

New dual design to fit within the BugBrand Modular ways...
Four steps selected by OR'd gate inputs -- a wierd sequencer - if you're clever you could get it to go A,B,C,D,A,B,C,D,etc but generally feeding it with four different clock signals will get it rhythmically jumping between the four steps.
Schematic plans for you to DIY on the BugBrand Electronics Page

Check the squelchy technoid wobbles in this YouTube demo:::

On tour with A Hawk & A Hacksaw & the Hun Hangar Ensemble

The last couple of weeks I've been around the country doing sound for A Hawk & A Hacksaw (Jeremy Barnes & Heather Trost from New Mexico) and the Hun Hangar Ensemble (four musicians from Hungary -- Balasz - cimbalom, Ferenc - trumpet & violin, Bela - sax & clarinet & hungarian bagpipes, Zsolt - double bass). Great fun, wonderful music and a lot of learning (consider that I'm pretty much self-taught doing sound for shows, having only really worked at the Cube (100 capacity) -- so quite a step-up to be working at Brighton Dome (capacity 1400!))

More pics on the BugBrand Photo page, but here's a couple of favourites. As always, these are analogue photos taken on the wonderful little Olympus XA-2 (kind of like a high-class Lomo Kompact Automat but cheaper -- I got mine 10 years ago and its still going strong. They crop up a lot on Ebay for well under 30pounds)

EDIT --- I went to a local CarBootSale last weekend and found an XA2 with flash for the heavy heavy price of only 1pound!

Couple of Crackles

I built a few crackleboxes (kraakdoos) a couple of years ago and they were quite fun but a bit wierd. I'd got the circuit off this site but its recently been updated with some changes to the circuit and this really works a lot better now. DIY one yourself - check ebay for the elusive 709 opamp (search for LM709*).

The Butterfly is routed & tinned - the wings & antennae are touchpoints & all the circuit lives in the body. A little N 12v battery provides the power. The other one was built quickly like a Postcard Weevil to test out the new circuit changes and proved to workout really well.

[I'm not doing these for sale, by the way]

New Weevil Prototype

So, finally, here's the new Weevil07 prototype. This proto is a bit of an experiment to try a few new techniques. I've not scheduled proper production yet, but will be doing a couple more prototypes shortly - these'll certainly be a little bit bigger as this design is a little too cramped - bigger touchplates, better knobs and spread a bit further apart. Must add the internal speaker too...

The New Stuff:::
Front Panel - this tries out some CNC ideas. Its made from an engraved PCB (tinned) with 9 contact plates and dial engraving around the knobs. I've chosen not to add labels for the controls.

Oscillators - again, like previous Weevils, you get two oscillators that are ring-modulated together for a bunch of audio chaos. There's a switch for low or hi freq and there's a new pulse width control for each osc - ranging from 50% sqr wave up to a very narrow pulse. The low power circuitry is a bit different too - again this just starves the oscillators, but behaves quite differently from the old designs.

Filter - this is much more powerful than other Weevil filters. Actually, its similar to what I used on the one-off Weevil Knievel - a 2pole resonant low pass filter - pretty gnarly with the resonance turned up.

Touchpoints - there's 3 points for each osc (two pitching and one pulse width) - the outside sets of touchpoints. The central 3 are - ringmod output, ground and filter mod (touch this to open up the filter)

So, as I say, general production is still a way off, especially with a bunch of projects coming up for me... Stay informed with updates via the BugBrand mailing list

& here's a new YouTube demo of it: