GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE

When developing Erica Black Series and Pico Series modules, we accumulated quite a know-how on compact and great sounding designs, and
we decided to share some of those with DIY community. And therefore Erica Synths proudly presents – DIY Synth Voice module! It consists of all
essential blocks for versatile monosynth, and is 100% patchable for even more control options. In order to make the module more compact and
reliable in tuning, it has digital/analogue design. VCO and envelope generators/LFOs are digital, other parts are analogue. Digital parts are designed
arround pre-programmed STM controller, which comes with a kit presoldered on a small contoller board. Chain up several Erica Synths
DIY Synth Voice modules and you have a versatile polysynth!

FEATURES TECHNICAL SPECS

VCO with 16 waves and manual wave morphing VCO range: ...............................................................................................C1 – C8
-1 oct suboscillator Audio output level: ....................................................................................10V ptp
White noise generator LFO output level: ...................................................................................-5V - +5V
External audio input EG output level: .........................................................................................0-+10V
Audio Mixer EG1 attack time ..................................................................................... 0-500ms
LP/BP VCF inspired by Black Polivoks VCF EG1 release time ........................................................................................... 0-2”
Lin/log ASR envelope generator with looping function EG2 attack time ..................................................................................... 0-500ms
Lin ASR EG/LFO with looping function EG2 release time ........................................................................................... 0-1”
9 LFO waves with wave morphing LFO frequency: ................................................................................. 0,1Hz - 70Hz
Tap tempo and LFO sync VCA attenuation level: ...................................................................................80dB
LFO frequency multiplication (x2, x4) and division (/2, /4) in sync mode Panel width: ................................................................................................. 30HP
VCA with bias control Module depth: .............................................................................................35mm
Auto callibration for better 1V/oct tuning Power consumption: .................................................. 82mA@+12V, 50mA@-12V
 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE

Here are basic blocks and their connections of Erica Synths Synth Voice!
 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE
EG2/LFO gives you linear ASR envelope generator or
The Mixer is straight forward – set desired VCF has two cutoff CV level attenuators - tap tempo LFO with 16 selectable waveforms. When
EG1 is lin/log ASR envelope generator
level of audio signals before they are CV1 is internally patched to EG2/LFO, lfo is in sync mode, rate knob works as divider or dedicated to control VCA.
Set VCO frequency routed to the VCF CV2 is external CV multipler. 12 O’clock setting gives ratio 1
VCO MIXER VCF EG/LFO VCA Adjust VCA bias! 12 o’clock setting closes the
Select one of 16 waveforms! Waveforms will VCA, if 0V CV is applied, full CW setting makes
gradually morph from one to other, so in reality the VCA full open. For nice tremolo effects set
you have even more waveforms the knob somewhere arround 2 o’clock
BP LIN
Adjust VCO frequency modulation depth! This FREQUENCY VCO CUTOFF ATTACK1 BIAS
You can apply an external FM CV, and adjust
potentiometer sets internal modulation level, LP LOG its’ depth
and it takes modulation CV from EG2/LFO
Push MAN GATE1 to activate EG1 manually! But
the button has few more features.
WAVE SUBOSC RESONANCE RELEASE1 CV2 LEVEL
You can apply an external FM CV, and adjust Push and hold a button for 5’’, and EG1 looping
its’ depth mode will be activated. To go back to manual
gate mode, push and hold
a button for 5’’ again.
EG
MAN. GATE 1
Also, you use this button for 1V/oct
FM1 LEVEL NOISE CV1 LEVEL A2/WAVE
calibration – see Calibration below
This is 1V/oct input, obviously LFO

Push MAN GATE2 to activate EG2 manually!

Push and hold a button for 5’’, and EG2 looping
Patch an external CV for VCO frequency FM2 LEVEL EXT. IN CV2 LEVEL R2/RATE MAN. GATE 2 mode will be activated. To go back to manual
modulation here gate mode, push and hold
a button for 5’’ again.
When in LFO setting, it works as
Patch an external audio signal here 1V/OCT FM2 EXT. IN CV2 GATE1 GATE2 VCA CV2
tap tempo button.

This is VCO output, in case you need VCO OUT SUB OUT NOISE OUT VCF OUT EG1 OUT EG2 OUT OUTPUT
pure VCO signal Patch an external CV for VCA control here.
If nothing is patched in VCA CV2 jack, it’s
automatically routed to EG2/LFO
This is dedicated suboscillator output
Patch Gate signals here These are EG outputs. This is main output of the module
Patch an external CV for VCF cutoff to activate EGs! When
This is white noise output You can use those to
control here EG2 is in LFO setting, control other modules
This is VCF output, you can take an audio signal LFO frequency will in your setup
here before it’s routed to the VCA sync to the gate
 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE

Component designators – Control board

 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE

Component designators – Main board

 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE

Component values – Main board

 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE

Component values – Main board

 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE
DIY_Synth_Voice_control_v1_1

Erica Synths DIY Synths Voice

Controll board
BOM Bill of Materials
V 1_1

Id Designator Package Qtty Designation Supplier and ref

CERAMIC CAPACITORS
10 C8,C10,C13,C14,C20,C28,C35,C39 C-5mm 8 0.1uF
11 C53,C54 C-5mm 2 68nF
12 C66 C-5mm 1 47p
ELECOTROLYTIC CAPACITORS
http://lv.farnell.com/nichicon/uvp1e100mdd1td/aluminum-
8 C1 non polarized CE63x25_NP 1 10uFx25V
electrolytic-capacitor/dp/1823717
9 C5,C6,C11,C12 CE63x25 4 47uFx25V
SEMICONDUCTORS
22 VD3,VD6,VD13,VD14 DO-41 4 1N5817 1N4148 will work fine here, as well
23 VD15,VD16 DO-41 2 1N4001 use any from 1N4001 - 1N4007
VD18,VD19,VD24,VD25,VD27,VD28,VD29,VD30,V
24 DO-35 10 1N4148
D31,VD32
25 VT1,VT2 TO-92-M 2 2N3904
5 VD1 LED-3MM 1 RED
6 VD2 LED-3MM 1 GREEN
RESISTORS
14 R19,R45 2 1M
15 R20,R22,R28,R31,R47,R54,R55 7 100k
16 R23,R48,R64,R65 4 10k
17 R24 1 22k
18 R25,R26 2 NU
19 R92,R115,R116,R143,R144,R145,R146,R147 8 1k
20 R117,R118 2 3.3k
21 R121 1 4.7k
POTENTIOMETERS
1 R1,R2,R3,R4,R5,R6,R7,R11,R13,R14,R15,R16R18 RD901F 13 10k https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/alpha-9mm-pots/
2 R8,R9,R10,R12,R17 RD901F 5 100k https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/alpha-9mm-pots/
MISCLANEOUS
13 L1,L2 R0125W 2 100uH Ferrite bead or 10ohm resistor
28 VR1,VR2 polifuse 2 ERF-RB-090-30 http://lv.farnell.com/littelfuse/30r090uu/polyfuse-ptc-
radial-0-9a/dp/1822232
26 XP1 IDC-10MS 1 IDC-10MS comes with a kit
29 XS15,XS16,XS18,XS19,XS20,XS21 PBS-6 6 PBS-6 comes with a kit
30 XS17 PBS-20 1 PBS-20 comes with a kit
XS1,XS2,XS3,XS4,XS5,XS6,XS7,XS8,XS9,XS10,X 14 WQP-PJ301M-12
7 WQP-PJ301M-12 comes with a kit
S11,XS12,XS13,XS14
3 SW1,SW2,SW3 2MSxT1B5M2RE 3 ON-ON switch http://lv.farnell.com/multicomp/2ms1t1b5m2re/switch-
spdt-0-1a-20v-on-on/dp/9473041
http://lv.farnell.com/c-k-components/d6r10lfs/switch-
4 SW4,SW5 KS01-xxx 2 Pushbutton
spno-0-1a-32vdc-tht/dp/1201381
 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS
DIY SYNTH VOICE
DIY_Synth_Voice_main_v1_1
Erica Synths DIY Synths Voice

BOM Mainl board

Bill of Materials
V 1_1

Id Designator Package Qtty Designation Supplier and ref

CERAMIC CAPACITORS
C2,C7,C15,C16,C17,C18,C19,C22,C23,C24,C25,
1 C26,C27,C29,C30,C31,C32,C33,C34,C37,C38,C
40,C43,C48,C51,C65 C-5mm 26 0.1uF
2 C3,C4 C-5mm 2 2.2nF
3 C41,C42 C-5mm 2 150pF
4 C46,C47 C-5mm 2 15pF
5 C49 C-5mm 1 10p
6 C55 C-5mm 1 22n
7 C56,C57 C-5mm 2 10nF
8 C59,C60 C-5mm 2 68nF
9 C63,C64 C-5mm 2 6.8nF
ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS
10 C45 CE63x25 1 1uFx25V
11 C9,C21,C44,C50 CE63x25 4 10uFx25V
12 2 10uFx25V http://lv.farnell.com/nichicon/uvp1e100mdd1td/aluminum-
C36,C52 (non polarized) CE63x25_NP
electrolytic-capacitor/dp/1823717
13 C58 CE63x25 1 22uFx25V
14 C61,C62 CE63x25 2 4.7uFx25V
SEMICONDUCTORS
15 DA3,DA4,DA1,DA2 DIP-14 4 TL074
16 DA5,DA6 DIP-8 2 TL072
17 DA7,DA8 2 K140UD12 comes with a kit
18 DA9 DIP-8 1 MCP6002 http://lv.farnell.com/microchip/mcp6002-e-p/ic-op-amp-dual-1mhz-
dip8-6002/dp/1332117
19 DA10 DIP-16 1 LM13700N
20 VD4,VD5,VD7,VD8,VD9,VD10,VD11,VD12,VD17, DO-35 15 1N4148
VD20,VD21,VD22,VD23,VD33,VD34
21 VD26 TO-92 1 LM4040-10 0,1% http://lv.farnell.com/texas-instruments/lm4040aiz-10-0-nopb/voltage-
ref-shunt-10v-to-226aa/dp/1673984
22 VT3,VT6,VT8 TO-92-M 3 2N3904
23 VT5,VT7 TO-92-M 2 2N3906
24 VT4 TO-92 1 J175 http://lv.farnell.com/fairchild-semiconductor/j175-d26z/transistor-
jfet-30v-60ma-to-92/dp/2322634
RESISTORS
25 R21 1 120k
26 R27,R34,R38,R44,R57,R78,R81,R82,R102,R109
,R111,R113,R119,R123,R125,R129 16 10k
27 R29 1 150k 1%
28 R30,R84,R86 3 200k 1%
R32,R33,R41,R42,R43,R49,R50,R51,R52,R53,R
29 70,R71,R72,R73,R75,R76,R79,R95,R114,R122,R
132 21 100k
30 R35 1 49.9k 1%
31 R36,R40 2 OPTION
32 R37,R85,R87 3 33k 1%
33 R39,R46,R62,R67,R103,R104 6 1k
34 R56 1 3.3k
35 R58 1 3k
36 R59,R91 2 39k
37 R60,R61,R66 3 47k
38 R63,R68 2 110k
39 R69,R74,R90,R100,R108,R138 6 NU
40 R77,R127 2 56k
41 R80 1 220k
42 R83,R101,R110,R120 4 5.1k
43 R88,R89,R106,R107 4 510ohm
44 R93,R94 2 120k 1%
45 R96,R97 2 100k 1%
46 R98,R99 2 470k
47 R105,R112 2 2M
48 R124,R126,R135,R137,R139,R141 6 6.8k
49 R128,R130,R131,R142 4 4.7k
50 R134 1 33k
51 R136,R140 2 12k
TRIMPOTS
52 R133 1 470k
MISCLANEOUS
53 L3,L4 Ferrite bead 2 0R option
54 XP2,XP3,XP5,XP6,XP7,XP8 PLS-6 6 PLS-6 comes with a kit
55 XP4 PLS-20 1 PLS-20 comes with a kit
56 IC SOCKET DIP-8 3
57 IC SOCKET DIP-14 4
58 IC SOCKET DIP-16 1
 GUIDE ON ASSEMBLY OF THE ERICA SYNTHS DIY SYNTH VOICE

What you get?

The Synth Voice kit comes in three versions:

1) Set of 2 PCBs + MCU board + 2xK140UD12 opamps + mechanical
parts (PCB connectors and spacers)
2) S et of 2 PCBs + MCU board + 2xK140UD12 opamps + mechanical
parts (PCB connectors, spacers) + panel
3) F ull kit, so you do not need to worry about ordering parts.
 ASSEMBLY

1. Take precautions with regard to electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety. Handling components should be done in electrostatically safe environment. Use
personal and workplace grounding. Any discharge (even a minor one) from body to a component may permanently damage it.
2. Solder all resistors and diodes on main PCB! The silkscreen has both resistor values and designators, so, theoretically, you do will not go wrong
with assembly and troubleshooting later. Please, pay attention on silkscreen – some resistors in the VCO circuit have to be 1%. Also – mind polarity
of diodes!
 ASSEMBLY

3. There are optional ferrite beads and capacitors for noise generator power supply filtering
in order to prevent possible noise getting into PSU circuit. You may omit those and replace
ferrite beads with wire jumpers (leave capacitors unpopulated). As our experiments show,
the module works fine with wire jumpers.

4. Populate all resistors and diodes on the Control board! Mind the polarity of diodes!
 ASSEMBLY

5. Install also ferrite beads and reverse

polarity protection diodes.

6. Now, let’s sort ceramic and film capacitors!

Capacitors provided with kit look like this:

15 pF 47 pF 150 pF 2n2 6n8 22 nF 47 nF 68 nF 100 nF

 ASSEMBLY

7. Populate all cearmic and film capacitors on both PCBs!

 ASSEMBLY

8. Insert and solder IC sockets! Pay attention on the orientation key!

9. Install K140UD12 opamps in the VCF circuit! Pay attention on

orientation key – it has to fit one on the silkscreen. Use tweezers to
align pins of the ICs. Also solder transistors on both PCBs and voltage
reference LM4040! Transistors and voltage reference look similar,
therefore follow the silkscreen and make sure, you do not mix up
NPN 2N3904 and PNP 2N3906 and LM4040!
 ASSEMBLY

10. Now let’s figure out, how to install electrolytic capacitors!

This is polarized electrolytic

capacitor. Minus lug of the
capacitor goes to the hole next
to the stripe

This is non polarized

electrolytic capacitor
 ASSEMBLY

11. Solder electrolytic capacitors on the Main board. Pay attention on polarity for polarized capacitors.
 ASSEMBLY

12. Solder electrolytic capacitors on the back side of the Controll PCB! Note that non 13. Solder noise level adjustment trimpot!
polarized capacitor C1 has to be installed horizontally
 ASSEMBLY

14. Solder PCB connector male pins on the Main PCB!

15. Cut off orientation pins of potentiometers!

 ASSEMBLY

16. Solder potentiometers on the Controll PCB! 17. Turn Controll PCB arround and solder female connector sockets! Also
solder PSU ribbon cable socket! Mind orientation! Solder fuses (yellow
ones). You can replace those by wire jumpers on your own risk.
 ASSEMBLY

18. Insert jacks and pushbuttons on the Control PCB, but do not 19. Insert 3 toggle switches and LEDs (pay attention on the orientation – follow
solder them yet!! the silkscfreen) in relevant places, but do not solder them yet!

20. Install the front panel! Now jacks, pushbuttons, switches will be in correct
position, switches will be in correct position, and you can solder those.
Same goes with LEDs – push them through holes on the front panel and
solder! Cut off excess of pins.
 ASSEMBLY

21. Solder male connectors on the small MCU board! 22. Connect all three PCBs! Pay attention on MCU board orientation!
 CALIBRATION

23. install potentiometer knobs! Calibration is easy. Only thing, you have to do, is adjust desired noise
level using trimpot.
The VCO comes 1V/oct calibrated, but PSUs on modular synths are
so different, therefore, if needed, you can perform the calibration
procedure specifically for your modular setup. You will need precise
5,000V CV source:
1. Disconnect your Synth Voice from the PSU.
2. Connect a patch cable to the CV source and make sure, you get
5,000V (exactly five volts) on the output.
3. Push and hold MAN GATE1 button on the Synth Voice and
connect it to the PSU on your modular! Both LEDs will start to
blink. Now you can release MAN GATE1 button.
4. Connect 5,000V patch cable to 1V/oct input of the module!
5. Push MAN GATE1 button promptly to initiate the calibration!
Both LEDs will go off, and this means that you have successfully
calibrated the VCO!
ENJOY!

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED ERICA SYNTHS

DIY SYNTH VOICE! If your module doesn’t work, please check the Erica Synths
Now you can connect the module to PSU, and see, what happens. If you haven’t Synth Voice build thread on Muffwiggler or contact us on the email
make mistakes in assembly process, the module should work straight away. info@ericasynths.lv!