FINEGEAR ARKIVE EFFECTS The Dust Collector User manual
ARKIVE_EFFECTS_
The Dust Collector
User’s Manual
Version 1.1
March 2021
2User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
Introduction — 3
Overview — 4
Top — 4
Side — 5
Back — 5
Effects — 6
LFOs 1 & 2 — 6
Tape Saturations 1 & 2 — 7
Spring Reverb — 8
Delay — 9
Phaser — 10
Signal Paths — 11
LFOs — 11
Tape Saturations — 11
Spring Reverb — 11
Delay — 12
Phaser — 12
Specifications — 13
Conventions — 13
Technical details — 13
Dimensions — 13
Weight — 13
INDEX
3User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
Finegear is proud to present arkive_effects_: a curated
series of effects designed for sonic experimentation.
The Dust Collector is the first of the series, aiming to
honor and expand upon the history of experimentation
in music, shaking some of the dust that has settled on
the 1970’s.
The Dust Collector contains 2 VC LFOs and 5 independent
audio effects: 2 Tape saturations, a Spring reverb, a Delay
and a Phaser. However, this is more than the standard multi-
effect box, as each module has been analyzed and tweaked to
support your creative process. You can go further inside with
several moddable features directly on the PCB.
My aim, and the goal of this manual, is to help you uncover
unique sounds and new uses for effects you thought you
knew. You can insert an effect in the Delay’s feedback loop,
add modulation to the Phaser (as well as to pretty much every
other effect), poke the tank's three springy insides hiding
behind the removable acrylic cover, and so much more.
This manual will describe in detail each effect and module,
as well as explain all the controls and interactions that are
possible with them. Useful technical information is also
provided, while signal path diagrams can be found in the
annexes.
Enjoy!
Cristian
INTRODUCTION
4User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
OVERVIEW
Top
❶2x VC LFOs
❷2x Tape saturations
❸Spring reverb
❹Delay
❺Phaser
❻Reverb spring tank, with a
removable plexi cover
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The Dust Collector
OVERVIEW
Side (left)
❼Phaser LDR with removable plexi
cover, attached with 4 hex screws
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Back
❶Phaser input and output
❷Delay input and output
❸Delay feedback loop insert
❹Spring reverb input and output
❺Tape Saturation 2 input and output
❻Tape Saturation 1 input and output
❼Power supply connector (5 mm
diameter, 2.5 mm pin)
❽Power switch
Note:
Unless indicated otherwise,
all inputs, outputs, and inserts
require 6.5 mono jacks.
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6User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
EFFECTS
LFOs 1 & 2
The two LFOs included in The Dust
Collector are identical, except for
their speed ranges, as a way to
extend the sonic possibilities.
They were included to serve as
a starting point for modulating
any of the effects, including the
LFOs themselves, even without a
modular setup (and especially if
one is not available).
❶Speed:
Sets the speed of the LFO. The two
LFOs have different ranges in order to
allow as many modulation combina-
tions as possible.
❷Waveform selector:
Selects the output waveform between
sine, triangle and square.
❸Speed modulation CV input
Input for modulating the speed of the
LFO using a CV (3.5 mm jack).
❹Speed CV modulation
amount
Sets the amount of modulation from
the CV input (❸) that will affect the
LFO’s speed.
❺Speed CV modulation
indicator
Bi-colour LED providing visual feed-
back of the CV input’s (❸) value.
❻CV outputs 1 & 2
Two identical LFO outputs.
❼Inverted CV output
Outputs the inverted LFO using a CV
(3.5 mm jack).
❽Output bi-coulour LED
indicator
Bi-colour LED providing visual feed-
back of the LFO’s output value.
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7User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
EFFECTS
Tape Saturations 1 & 2
The two “tape” saturations are
included to help spice or dirty up
sounds before or after passing
through the other effects.
The saturation effect ranges
from very subtle (type ) to more
saturated and compressed
(type V).
For The Dust Collector, this
effect is achieved through analog
electronics entirely, without any
actual tapes.
❶Type:
Sets the type, i.e. the intensity of the
saturation effect. The further the type
knob is turned to the right, the more
pronounced the effect.
❷Output volume:
Sets the output gain.
❸Bypass switch:
Bypasses the effect.
DIY tip: The schematics
for the Tape Saturations
are based on five pairs of
diodes. The Dust Collector
uses one pair of 1N4148 and
four pairs of 1N60 diodes.
Different diode models
can be mixed and matched
for (slightly) different
saturation effects.
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8User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
EFFECTS
Spring Reverb
Besides having the classic spring
tank sound, the spring reverb
was integrated to allow extensive
interaction:
• Direct physical interaction
with the springs, thanks to
the removable plexi cover ;
• Extended modularity,
thanks to input and output
CV controllable VCAs.
❶Input VCA level:
Sets the input VCA’s level.
❷Input VCA modulation CV
input:
Input for modulating the input VCA
with a CV (3.5 mm jack).
❸Input VCA CV modulation
amount:
Sets the amount of modulation from
the CV input (❷) that will affect the
input VCA).
❹Input VCA CV modulation
indicator:
Bi-colour LED providing visual
feedback of the input VCA’s CV input’s
(❷) value.
❺Output VCA level:
Sets the output VCA’s level.
❻Output VCA modulation CV
input:
Input for modulating the output VCA
with a CV (3.5 mm jack).
❼Output VCA CV modulation
amount:
Sets the amount of modulation from
the CV input (❻) that will affect the
input VCA.
❽Output VCA CV modulation
indicator:
Bi-colour LED providing visual
feedback of the output VCA’s CV
input’s (❻) value.
❾Tone control:
Sets the tone of the signal before the
output VCA and after the signal is am-
plified by the recovery amp.
Tone control is obtained thanks to
a shelving filter: to the left, the bass
frequencies are amplified and the tre-
ble is reduced, while to the right, the
treble is amplified and the bass is
reduced.
❿Dry/wet mix:
Sets the balance between the input
signal (dry/clean) and the output sig-
nal (wet/processed).
⓫Removable cover:
The spring tank has a transparent plexi
cover. Remove it using the thumb
screws, to scratch, hit, rub, place
various objects on the springs… Be
creative!
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9User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
EFFECTS
Delay
The included delay takes pride
in its dirty and raunchy sound,
as well as in its modulation
potential. It has a temper and you
can modulate it!
This particular delay circuit is
based on the
from Princeton Technologies.
It is a slightly cleaned-up version
of the well-known gritty sound of
the classic delay chip, with several
additions:
• a CV modulated delay time;
• an insert in the feedback loop;
• a momentary “Madness”
switch to max out the
feedback.
•
❶Time:
Sets the module's delay time.
❷Feedback:
Sets the amount of output signal to be
fed back into the input.
❸"Madness" switch
(momentary):
Momentary switch, sets feedback
to maximum for immediate delay
build-ups.
❹Time modulation CV input:
Input for modulating the delay’s time
with a CV (3.5 mm jack).
❺Time CV modulation
amount:
Sets the amount of modulation from
the CV input (❷) that will affect the
delay time.
❻Time CV modulation
indicator:
Bi-colour LED providing visual feed-
back of the delay time’s CV input’s
(❻) value.
❼Dry/wet mix:
Sets the balance between the input
signal (dry/clean) and the output sig-
nal (wet/processed).
❽Insert (back side):
The delay has an insert point in the
feedback loop, allowing any effect to
be inserted in order to alter the echoed
sound before reinjecting it in the Delay
again.
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10 User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
EFFECTS
Phaser
The Dust Collector's Phaser is
based on a classic model from the
1970s and it too is designed with
extensive modulation potential,
using both of the LFOs, a knob
and/or a CV input and even
ambient light...
This model uses Light Dependent
Resistors (LDR) and led's to
modulate the sound. This is why
the ldrs and leds were placed at
the edge of the PCB, and a hole
was designed in the enclosure
next to the sensors.
The hole is covered with a
black opaque plexi cover. When
removed, the Phaser can be
modulated using ambient light:
move a hand in front of the hole
or use any other light source and
place it near the hole to modulate
the effect in a new and unique
way.
❶Feedback:
Sets the Phaser’s feedback.
❷Modulation amount/manual
depth:
Sets either the modulation amount if
the Modulation selector is set on LFO
1 or LFO 2. If the selector is on Manual,
it becomes the manual depth knob.
❸Depth bi-colour LED
indicator:
Bi-colour LED providing visual feed-
back of the phaser’s depth value:
obtained by adding the modulation
from LFO 1 or 2 or the manual value
with the CV input’s (❺) value.
❹Modulation selection
switch:
Sets the phaser’s internal modulation
mode and modulates the Phaser’s
depth. If either LFO is selected, the
Depth (❷) knob sets the modulation
amount from the selected LFO.
If the switch is set on Man (manual
mode), the Depth (❷) knob sets the
Phaser’s depth, serving either as an
offset for the CV modulation, or as a
way to manually alter the depth, and
create humanized modulations.
❺Depth modulation CV input:
Input for modulating the phaser’s
depth with a CV (3.5 mm jack). This CV
value is added to the modulation set
by the Depth (❷) knob.
❻Depth CV modulation
amount:
Sets the amount of modulation from
the CV input (❺) that will affect the
phaser’s depth.
❼Dry/wet mix:
Sets the balance between the input
signal (dry/clean) and the output sig-
nal (wet/processed).
❽Light sensors panel
(right side):
This panel can be removed to mod-
ulate the phaser with “custom” light
sources and/or mechanical means in
order to enhance the “movement” of
the phased signal.
DIY tip: experiment with
different coloured LEDs
for (slightly) different
phasing effects.
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11 User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
SIGNAL PATHS
LFOs
Tape Saturations
Spring Reverb
CV
SPEED
-1
WAVEFORM
LFO
SPEED
CV INPUT
LFO
OUT 1
LFO
OUT 2
LFO
OUT 3
INV
LFO OUT
CV IN
TYPE
LEVEL
BYPASS
TAPE
SATURATION SATURATION
OUTPUT
SATURATION
INPUT
IN LEVEL
CV IN
OUT LEVEL
CV OUT
TONE
DRY/WET
MIX
SPRING
REVERB
INPUT
CV IN
CV OUT
SPRING
REVERB
OUTPUT
INPUT
VCA
SPRING
DRIVER SPRING RECOVERY
AMP
TONE
CONTROL
OUTPUT
VCA
CV IN
CV OUT
12 User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
SIGNAL PATHS
Delay
Phaser
DELAY TIME
CV IN
INSERT
FEEDBACK
MADNESS
DRY/WET
MIX
DELAY
DELAY
INPUT
CV IN
DELAY
OUTPUT
CV
FEEDBACK
CV IN
MODULATION
DEPTH
DRY/WET
MIX
PHASER
PHASER
INPUT
CV IN
LFO 1
LFO 2
PHASER
OUTPUT
MOD
13 User’s Manual
The Dust Collector
SPECIFICATIONS
Conventions
While playing and using The Dust
Collector, please remember:
LBi-colour LEDs are used to
indicate certain bi-polar CV
values. They are colored
red and green and they are
connected such that:
RED = negative CV voltages
GREEN = positive voltages.
LDelay: the insert jack is a
connected type, where:
TIP = SEND
RING = RETURN.
Technical
details
🔎LFOs CV output range:
-5 V — 5 V.
🔎Universal power supply:
24 V, 1 A, center positive
supply, with a 5.5 mm
diameter and 2.5 hole
connector.
🔎Spring tank: Accutronics
model 8AB2D1A.
🔎Delay: based on the
PT2399 memory chip from
Princeton Technologies.
🔎
Phaser LDRs: model 5516
with yellow LEDs.
Dimensions
• Width : 341 mm;
• Depth : 313 mm;
• Height : 57 mm (enclosure
only), 70.5 mm (including the
knobs);
Weight
• 2.6 kg.
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