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 Who is SynthModules.com?
(Last updated
Tuesday February 20, 2007 at
01:01 PM)
So,
who exactly is SynthModules? Well, that would be me. Brice
D. Hornback of Indianapolis, IN. My background is in computer
networking and robotics. I have a B.S. in Computer Engineering
Technology. My hobbies include analog modular synthesizers
(obviously),
robotics, amateur radio, astronomy, meteorites, and home coffee roasting (coffee
roaster / fresh roasted beans).
The photo at the right is of my first "real" synthesizer. It is a
wonderful Moog Rogue that I purchased "NEW and UNUSED" still sealed in the
box. Some guy had bought two of them and kept one as a spare and
forgot about it. Well, I now own it. Yes, I was the first
person to ever play it. It works perfectly and I absolutely love it.
It was a dream come true for me. However, I wanted more... and
decided modular was the way to go. So... I decided to build a
modular synthesizer using primarily Blacet modules.
I ordered my first module (Blacet Time Machine Kit) from John Blacet on
September 4, 2003.
September 14, 2003
Anyway, this is how my first modular
synthesizer looked like in the beginning. It didn't do much at this
point.
It DOES however provide a very quiet +/- 15VDC and has (what I thought at the time)
lots of room for modules.
October 25, 2003
So, I started ordering modules (kits) from
Blacet. By the way, ALL of the modules I've ordered from
Blacet have been kits. I am proud of the fact I built each and every
module that was available as a kit. The Time Machine was actually
the first module I purchased, but it was the 7th that I built. Above
is a photo of how I *thought* it was going to stay (plus the Time Machine
in the second rack cage) for a while at least. Yes... I thought it would
stay like this for a while. VCO, a pair of Multi's, Final Filter,
EG1, and a VCA. Just the basics... but nope... I wanted (needed) more.
The "obsession" had begun.
September 19, 2003
Here you can see (to the left of the SKB
case) I added a Frostwave FatController Analog Sequencer. Talk about
built like a tank and a LOT of fun! Again... I thought this was it.
I couldn't possibly add more module right now. Well... I was wrong.
I just needed a larger SKB case to put it all in!
January 13, 2004
Oh my! Three months
later!!!
The two Blacet racks in the center of the
12-space SKB case are filled with Blacet modules. There are two of
Ken Stone's Psycho LFOs at the upper left with a Blacet Frequency Divider
to the right of that followed by a Blacet Klang Werk, a simple keyboard
CV/Gate interface module I built to use the keyboard on my Moog Rogue with
my modular, a 1U space, and a customized EFM VCF6c. The bottom rack contains
two joystick controllers, and Wiard Noise Ring, the first PSIM-1
prototype, and a Blacet I/O Processor. There is now a 6-space SKB
case sitting on top of this one waiting on two more Blacet rack cages to
fill up. I still have more modules than available rack space!
Anyway, I have also ordered several "kits" from
EFM. I have also arranged to provide a few
of Ken
Stone's designs as completed modules and ordered and received several of
his boards. Watch for those real soon both in my system and
available for sale.
I really enjoy building kits. I have been building kits for over 30
years. I have also designed and built many robots and amateur radio
transceivers. When I was growing up, my dad worked at Heath Company
designing Heathkits and I guess some of that rubbed off on me. I
started building kits when I was six. I've been designing and
selling kits since around 1995. My first was an Oak & Brass
single slider Crystal Radio. I later moved on to amateur radio gear.
My entry into synthesizer design was a simple Theremin called the
"Theremin-C". So... I started with Theremins... and now modular
synthesizer gear. Hmmm.... sound familiar?
This is where I build modules (among other
things). Notice the Metcal soldering station. I became
MIL-STD-2000 certified in soldering on a Metcal just like this back in
1993-1994. I absolutely love it! Let's see... the notebook PC
is connected via 802.11G wireless to my home network which currently
consists of two servers and three workstations. What you can't see
in the photo is the vertical milling machines and metal lathes off to the
right and behind me (as I took the photo). However, that Delta drill
press does see a lot of action! Sometimes, a hole is a hole and a
drill press (when used correctly) can do a good job of drilling a hole.
However, when it needs to be precise, it's time to set up the milling
machine.
Above is a photo of the
first REV1.0a modules. There was a third built but is not shown in
the photo.
Above is a photo of the three REV1.0b
modules that shipped on 2/17/2004. There were some minor changes to
the faceplate and PCB. The REV1.0c modules currently in production
will be using the same faceplates.
Anyway, I now have all of the Blacet
modules and all of the newly released Wiard 1200 series modules.
You're just going to have to trust me on this one... but ANYTHING Grant
Richter or John Blacet produces is pure genius! Of course (as I pat
myself on the back), the PSIM-1
module is the most revolutionary module in the history of analog modular
synthesis and is the flagship entry into a new era of hybrid
digital/analog modular synthesizers! That said... I have Grant to
thank for giving me the push (shove) in the right direction as I headed
off to design the PSIM-1. That's why there is a special "Thank
You" on the PCB of each PSIM-1.
That's me on the far left. This photo
was taken on March 27th, 2003 in Park Forest, IL. I'm holding a
172.3 gram meteorite that was recovered shortly after it fell that same
day. The other three people are meteorite dealers and collectors.
We were the first four to arrive at the strewn field. By the next
morning, dozens of dealers and collectors had flown in from around the
world.
Here's a larger photo of the meteorite.
It currently resides in my personal collection. Notice the huge
troilite nodule? This metorite was
classified as an L5 chondrite: mean olivine composition
Fa24.7, mean low-Ca pyroxene Fs20.7Wo1.6. Shock stage S5.
Anyway... back to synthesizers...
BEFORE the PSIM-1... there was the
programmable event arranger. This is how it
all began...
Read the History of the PSIM-1
Theremin-C
(770k)
Above sample is of the
Theremin-C. This is currently being redesigned as a
module.
Here is a link to the original
Theremin-C page. Yes, you can
still order them but they do not output a 10V signal. They
were designed as a stand-alone effects unit. You must
amplify the output to use with your modular synth.
AHMW 2004
Saturday March 20th, 2004
Michael Firman, Grant Richter, & Brice
Hornback
AHMW 2004
Grant Richter creating an awesome patch on
Brice's gear.
Notice the Wiard Joystick Axis Generator near the upper left of the
6-space SKB case?
More AHMW 2004 Photos
Here
4/22/04 - I have a second Wiard JAG and Noise
Ring on the way... as well as the two new Blacet module kits (dual Linear
VCA and new Dual Filter)... which means I've outgrown the two SKB cases.
In the photo above... sitting on top of the cases is an Ibanez AD202
analog delay and Electrix WarpFactory Vocoder. You can also see my
Moog Rogue near the lower right. I seriously need to get more cases
or build a nice wooden enclosure for all my modules. I still have
approximately 50 more modules to build (from kits and/or PCB's) and no
where to put them. I currently have 33 modules in my system not
counting a couple of prototypes that aren't behind panels yet or the four
modules that should arrive in the mail at any time. Of course...
I've been so busy building PSIM-1 modules that I haven't had a chance to
even play with my synth for more than a couple hours in the last month and
have two new Wiard Joystick Controller just sitting on the top of the
cases as I haven't had time to mount them yet! By the end of the
month, I should have (time allowing for building the two Blacet kits and a
Quad Low Pass Gate) 40 functional modules in my system... not counting my
newly acquired Roland SC-7 MIDI Sound Module which I consider an integral
part of my Analog Modular Synthesizer. You haven't had fun yet until
you've experienced CV to MIDI. Trust me!
By the way... tonight was the premier of the
SynthModules PSIM-1 and
Wiard Joystick Axis Generator on
Primetime TV! Film composer Gary Chang used the SynthModules PSIM-1
and Wiard Joystick Axis Generator in the music score for the remaining
episodes of Stephen
King's "Kingdom Hospital" on ABC.
Anyway... back to building more PSIM-1
modules. Well... okay, time for some sleep first. I just
realized it's almost 4:00 AM. I'm hoping to get the next set of five
shipped on Saturday... or Monday at the latest. There's more stories
about the PSIM-1 building experience... but that's for another page and
another time. It's taking me longer to build them than I thought it
would. If anyone who has ordered one and is still waiting on it to
arrive... thank you for your patience.
8/15/05 - Okay, it's taking me a LOT
longer to finish the modules than I thought it would. Here are a
couple photos of a whole bunch of PSIM-1 modules getting ready for
testing and final assembly.
More later...
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