LZX Industries Cadet Series User manual

CADET I SYNC GENERATOR
OWNER’S MANUAL

ABOUT THE CADET SERIES
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CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES
The practice of analog video synthesis has an inspiring legacy of innovators, sharers, and doers. In the early 70's, Dan Sandin released
the hardware documentation of his Sandin Image Processor, a video instrument modeled after the Moog synthesizer. It contained
several modules, an expandable architecture, and was an early example of what we now know as the open source movement.
In the mid 00's in Denton, Texas, I was diving deep into the tradition of synth DIY electronics when I stumbled across the documentation
for the Sandin Image Processor and became enchanted. Teaming up with Ed Leckie in Sydney, Australia, we labored to adapt the
circuits in ways that could be built with modern components. These efforts evolved into our own unique take on video synthesis, the LZX
Industries format, and we began selling modules for the EuroRack synthesizer market in 2010.
With the Cadet series, we aim to take our work and give it back to the synth DIY and video hardware communities in a format we wished
would have existed in the early days of our work. Each Cadet module performs a single function and is designed using through-hole
parts where possible. Circuit schematics are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. If our other
product lines are recipes, Cadets are the ingredients. We encourage you to think outside the box, and to combine these circuits in new
ways. Take the schematics, design your own modules and devices, and release them back into the world.
We salute you, Cadet! Go! Build!
Lars Larsen
September, 2016

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CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES
LZX Industries
814 SE 14th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
USA
www.lzxindustries.net
[email protected]
Creative tools for video synthesis
and analog image processing.
CADET I SYNC GENERATOR
OWNER’S MANUAL
Written by Lars Larsen
Illustrations by Jonah Lange & Lars Larsen
Circuit Design by Lars Larsen & Ed Leckie
Firmware by Ed Leckie
Published September, 2016.
LZX-C1-PCB-V1.1
LZX-C1-FPN-V1.0
LZX-C1-BOM-V1.1
LZX-C1-SW-V1.1
LZX-C1-OM-V1.0

FEATURES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
iii
CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES
SPECIFICATIONS
USER CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS
BLOCK DIAGRAM
1
1
2
2
DIY BUILD NOTES
COMPONENT PLacement DIAGRAM
BILL OF MATERIALS
CIRCUIT DESIGN Notes
5
5
6
9
CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
MANUFACTURER WARRANTY
10
10
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS 7
EXAMPLE PATCHES 4
INSTALLATION 3

Cadet I Sync Generator (C1) generates the master timing signals required for your modular video synthesizer in both NTSC and PAL
formats. C1 includes a 14-pin video sync output header which transmits timing information to other modules, such as Cadet II RGB Encod-
er, or Cadet IV Ramp Generator. It can also synchronize its timing, and consequently that of your entire video synthesizer, to an external
video source.
FEATURES
1
CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES
Horizontal Sync Pulse, Vertical Sync Pulse, and Frame Clock outputs accessible from frontpanel.
NTSC/480i and PAL/576i timing modes.
Synchronization to an external video source through Video/Sync In. Buffered pass-through of external video signal.
14-pin video sync distribution header output on rear, to transmit video sync to other modules in the system.
Buffered distribution of Horizontal Sync Pulse and Vertical Sync Pulse outs to the EuroRack power header CV/Gate bus.
SPECIFICATIONS
EuroRack Synthesizer Module
4HP
2.25 inches (57.15 mm)
30mA
10mA
Format
EuroRack Width
Mounting Depth
+12V Power Consumption
-12V Power Consumption
0.788 inches (20.015 mm) * 5.059 inches (128.5 mm)Frontpanel Dimensions
499 ohms (3.5mm outputs)
75 ohms (RCA outputs)
100K ohms (3.5mm inputs)
75 ohms (RCA inputs)
Series Output Resistance
Input Termination Resistance
0-1V DC (3.5mm outputs)
0-5V DC (14-pin video sync distribution header outputs)
2Vpk-pk (RCA input/output)
Voltage Levels
NTSC/480i & PAL/576iVideo Formats
Video Sync Distribution Header Outputs Composite Sync
Vertical Sync
Horizontal Sync
Odd/Even Field
Composite Blanking

4
5
6
1
2
3
Horizontal Sync Pulse Out. Positive-going pulse, 0-1V DC. Pulses at the beginning of each video
scanline. 15,734Hz for NTSC. 15,625Hz for PAL. Useful for synchronizing oscillators running above
these frequencies.
1
Vertical Sync Pulse Out. Positive-going pulse, 0-1V DC. Pulses at the beginning of each video field.
59.97Hz for NTSC, 50Hz for PAL. Useful for synchronizing oscillators running at frequencies above
these frequencies, but below the horizontal sync pulse frequencies.
2
Frame Clock Out. Positive going pulse, 0-1V DC. Active high at the beginning of each video frame, and
remains high during the odd numbered fields. Useful to drive sequencing at divisions of the video frame
rate, or into clock dividers to create strobe sources.
3
Video Format Select Switch. Selects between NTSC (480i) and PAL (576i) sync timings. The desired
setting must be selected prior to system power up.
4
Video/Sync In. Input an external video signal here to synchronize C1's timing to an external source.
5
Video/Sync Out. A buffered pass through of the Video/Sync Input. If you are synchronizing to an external
camera, you could pass this signal to Cadet III Video Input (C3) to prepare that signal for patching
throughout your system.
6
USER CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS
2
CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES
BLOCK DIAGRAM
Video Sync
Generator
Video/Sync In
Buffer
Video Sync Distribution Header Out
External Sync Horizontal Sync Pulse Out
Vertical Sync Pulse Out
Frame Clock Out
Video Sync Out
NTSC
PAL
Video Format Select

INSTALLATION
3
CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES
Remove the module from its packaging and connect the 16-pin power cable to the keyed power entry header on the rear of the module as
shown. Connect the other end of the power cable to an empty connector on your EuroRack power distribution busboard. Ensure pin 1
(-12V, with the red stripe) is oriented as indicated on your power distribution busboard.
This module requires connection to other video modules through the 14-pin sync distribution header. This is done through the use of the
Video Sync Distribution Cable (VSDC) available from LZX Industries. VSDC is an expandable bus cable allowing attachment to up to 5
different modules. Connect one of the female connectors on the VSDC to the rear of the module as shown. Each module in your system
with a 14-pin sync header in your system must be connected to each other in this manner. Multiple VSDCs may be chained together to
provide an expandable bus if more than five connections are required.
After connecting power and sync cables, mount the module frontpanel flush to your enclosure's EuroRack mounting rails and secure the
module with the mounting screws provided by your enclosure's manufacturer.
Power down your EuroRack case and disconnect it from AC power outlet while installing new modules.
EuroRack rail
mounting screws.
CV
Gate
+5V
+12V
0V
-12V
EuroRack module. EuroRack 16-pin
power cable.
EuroRack power distribution
bus board.
Power input header.
Red stripe on cable lines up
with -12V on bus board.
Video sync distribution cable
connected to multiple modules
with 14-pin sync connectors.
Male end may connect to additional
video sync distribution cables to
create an expandable bus.

EXAMPLE PATCHES
4
CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES
While a sync generator is an essential module for a video synthesizer, it does most of its magic by simply being there and performing its
job behind the scenes. The most commo patch you will make with C1 is to synchronize your system’s timing to an external video source
before patching that signal through to a video input amplifier, such as the Cadet III Video Input module.
Most video pattern sources and oscillators designed by LZX will receive horizontal and vertical sync pulses through distribution behind the
scenes, such as through the Video Sync Distribution output header or CV/Gate connectors on the power bus. However there may be cases
in which you want to attempt synchronizing other sources, like EuroRack audio modules or laboratory test gear.
VIDEO
INPUT
Composite or monochrome video out
from an NTSC/PAL external source,
such as a camera or DVD player.
Video image prepared for processing
throughout the video synthesizer.
After synchronizing C1 to the external source,
the video is passed through to the input of C3.
Vertical sync pulse sent to sync
input on audio VCO module to
produce a stable pattern.
SYNCHRONIZING AND PROCESSING EXTERNAL VIDEO
SENDING VIDEO SYNC TO AUDIO OSCILLATORS

COMPONENT PLACEMENT DIAGRAM
CADET I SYNC GENERATOR
LZX INDUSTRIES
5
DIY BUILD NOTES
Cadet DIY kits are intended for intermediate level builders. If this is your first DIY electronics kit, or the amount of assembly information
provided is inadequate, you may need to seek instructional material outside of the context of this owner’s manual.
We recommend mounting and installing components in the order they appear in the Bill of Materials.
If you can’t find the 10TF230 PCB mounted toggle switch or find it too expensive, any miniature toggle with a 1/4 inch bushing will
work. Just use hookup wire or resistor clippings to the switch to the PCB pads. We recommend you mount the switch to the frontpan-
el before doing this.
If you don’t want to purchase an assembled Video Sync Distribution bus cable from LZX Industries, you can make your own configura-
tion using 2X7 IDC Connectors and 14-pin ribbon cable.
We recommend securely attaching frontpanel mounted components to the frontpanel before soldering them to the PCB, if it can be
managed. Keep the screws for the M1 mounting bracket slightly loose until the assembly is finalized.
The surface mount VC Crystal Oscillator (X1) should come assembled with your PCB from LZX Industries. At the time of this writing,
this is a hard part to source and we have a limited quantity available. If you didn’t get your board with this part preassembled from
us, the last source we used was DigiKey.
We are assuming you purchased a pre-programmed ATMEGA88A microprocessor from us, with the C1 firmware already installed. If
you didn’t, you can easily install the firmware yourself via the 2X3 pin ISP header (J10) using an AVR programmer such as
AVRISP-MKII and the Atmel Studio software available from Atmel. The firmware (ELF file) may be downloaded via our website.

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2 IC, High Speed Op Amp LM6172 U1, U2
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1 IC, Microprocessor ATMEGA88A U5
1 IC, Video Sync Separator LM1881 U6
1 IC, Hex Inverter 74HC14 U7
1 IC, Dual Monostable 74HC4538 U8
1 IC, Phase-Locked Loop74HC4046 U9
1 IC, Surface Mount Crystal CSX750VCB13.500M-UT X1
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2 RCA Right Angle Jack RCJ-044 J3, J5
1 SPDT Mini Toggle Switch10TF230 S1
1 Right Angle Mounting Bracket Keystone 621 M1
2 Pan Head Philips Screw #4-40, ¼ inch M1A/M1B
BILL OF MATERIALS
6
CADET I SYNC GENERATORLZX INDUSTRIES