Introduction

December 18, 2021: some editorial changes, remove dead links, and minor updates.

This is a place to post development work about my electronic music system (EMS), which I’ve been calling the Model III. The Model I was a Mini Moog like monosynth completed in 1977, and the Model II was a large modular developed 1979-1981. The Model III has been a personal quest, ever since.

This has been a 40-year long journey, with numerous system design flip-flops along the way. I've considered digital, analog, hybrid, build with FPGA (Xilinx), build with MSI TTL (TI, NSC, AMD, Signetics, MMI), LSI multipliers (MMI, TRW) build in CMOS MSI (RCA, NSC), build with bitslice (AMD, IDT), build with precision analog, build instead with more common medium-cost analog, build with LM3900, use proprietary analog chips (ADI, SSM, CEM, TI, MOT, NSC), build in software, build a supercomputer, use a Raspberry Pi. 

I’ve considered everything — multiple times. 

In the end, direct design with discrete through-hole transistors has been most providential. Because not everything has to be implemented with an op amp. With discrete transistors all components are more similar in size for simpler PCB layouts. 

In my researches, I’m looking for a more 1960s-style modular analog system, one that is unique for experimental sound exploration. But with more advanced behaviors, and as if the analog was done in a MIL-SPEC way, using replaceable obtainable parts for the forseeable future. I’ve defnitely found that transistors can out-perform ICs, in many respects. Clearly at the price of power and density, but that tradeoff is not too extreme. Cost is extremely moderate ... most components cost pennies.

At first, the blog posts will consist of reports about system building blocks, along with some theoretical ideas about potential module designs. The ordering of posts might be a bit jumbled. As more of the system building blocks are completed, and more thoroughly characterized, module designs will come into view. 

The Model III will be implemented in mechanical form as PAiA Fracrak. As a result, the patching system will use 3.5mm jacks and cables.