Synthcube DIY Eurorack Modular sMs Audio Electronics Doc. Rev “A”
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SCM Overall Description:
This module & SMT PCB was designed and manufactured with kind permission of
“FONITRONIK” and Thomas Henry. It is the Supercontroller Circuit published in
Polyphony Issue Sept./Oct. 1981 and his book “Build a better music Synthesizer”
1987. This version of the module is a Eurorack format with some extra
functionality added such as an extra delay mode and external sample & hold
clock. To quote Thomas Henry: “If the VCO, VCF, and VCA form the heart of a
synthesizer, then this module is surely the brain! It gives you most standard
controller options (LFO, noise source, and sample and hold), but also includes
some extras. The heart of the Super Controller Module (SCM) is the SN76477. This
chip is known as a complex sound generator and was originally designed to
provide sound effects for pinball machines and other computer type games.”
Another use of the SN76477 chip is in the famous video game from 1978 called
Space Invaders. The chips role in the Space Invaders game was to meerly produce
the flying saucer sound thus it was hardwired for this single sound on the games
sound board. Other sound generating circuits on the sound board filled the roles
of all the other sounds for the game. Seems a waste and Thomas Henry certainly
recognized all the chips possibilities many years ago. A great companion to the
Thomas Henry SCM is the SN Voice Module shown below of which is also a
Eurorack version available at Synthcube.
Eurorack Thomas Henry SN Voice
Functional description:
