| When the Dark Star first
appeared
in 1982, the brochure had the following description:
"Need an amazing source of synthesized sounds at an absurd
price? Here
you go....a noise oriented prepatched minisynthesizer built around a
powerful
LSI chip.
The Dark Star TM provides a
digital
noise source with variable clock, plus a noise filter, LFO, VCO, VCA
and
envelope generator; a whole panel of synthesizer modules in just a tiny
6 x 4 x 3" package...
You can use it to simulate all those surf, wind, rain, cymbal,
explosion,
spaceships hurtling across the void and warping out type sounds.
Careful
design and wide range controls give you a real sound exploration tool;
don't be fooled by the low price. Try it as a percussion kit addition,
a drone voice, even as a modulation source. The Dark Star just doesn't
sound like anything else--we guarantee it!"
Unavailable for many years, the Dark
Star now
makes a swing through our planetary system....
This reissue of the Dark
Star uses
the same basic circuit and updates the design with expanded control
ranges
and CV inputs for the Noise Clock, Noise Filter, VCO and PWM. Use it as
a standalone sound generator or interface it with a modular system for
some truly wild sounds!
With the interest in chaos theory and fractals in the past few
years,
this unit provides an excellent means to explore the effects of chaotic
(noise) modulation. The results cover quite a wide range from the haunting
to the apocalyptic...
The size has been altered to fit a 5.25 (3U) high standard
rack space
and has mounting holes drilled for the PAiA FracRak.
(The DSC will sort of fit in the Doepfer system. However, their
rack
case has 2mm lips on the top and bottom which makes their panel size
4mm
smaller than standard. We can supply a Doepfer power connector at no
extra
charge.
The PCB and front panel are
professionally designed
and fabricated. All pots are PCB mounted--no panel wiring required
except
for the jacks. The kit includes all parts and assembly instructions.
Note
that a basic bipolar power supply is required.
Specifications
Front Panel Size: 5.25 x 3" W (Mounting holes and screws
provided for
Paia FracRack)
PCB depth required: 6"
Input/Output Jacks: 3.5 mm
Gate Input Level: 5 V*
CV Range: 0-5V *
VCO Range: 0-6.5 KHz (linear response)***
VCO Waveform: pulse with width modulation
Noise Clock Range: 50 Hz-32 KHz
Attack/Decay Time: up to 12 S
Output Level: 1 V**
Power: +/-12 to +/-15 Vdc @+25/-6 mA
*All inputs will tolerate +/-15 V
**Up to 3 V with resistor change
***Not recommended for accurate keyboard tracking
applications
Final Production Run on 10-03 (Rev B). Price $159 Assembled.
This is the "Classic" DSC with some new features such as Noise
Clock/Noise
Filter Output, three way Gate option switch and +/-5V output levels.
|
