Will the ESG have 14 pin sync?
No, the 14-pin sync standard has been deprecated. Part of the point of Gen3 is to eliminate variations in how we’re handling different circuits like sync and power especially. If you have older systems that need 14-pin sync, we recommend you hang on to your C1, Cortex, or Visionary VSG, and use it as a video/RCA sync to 14-pin sync converter.
100 keep the acronyms! long live lzx!
This one may be a little farfetched, but might the “clean-power backpacks” become available separately as OEM parts for DIY projects?
“new power entry board”
This one may be a little farfetched, but might the “clean-power backpacks” become available separately as OEM parts for DIY projects?
“new power entry board”
Absolutely! That’s what the OEM catalog is all about. We also have a library of Diptrace PCB template projects with the header parts, pinouts, for a core or control PCB all standardized, and library of subcircuit schematics, that we are planning to open source as DIY/community owned resources. We are just getting through the first production cycle on this stuff first, so that we can be confident in the material and have had time to work through all the issues. This has been @eyesnoface 's world this whole year.
So there will be tons of ways Gen3 circuits can be made DIY, or recombined into other module concepts, or benefit from the new power standard, even if LZX isn’t the one doing all of that. We just want to provide a singular design reference for everyone, that represents the best of our work with this so far, rather than a version of it that may or may not be outdated or conflict with current standards.
Incredible! I’m really looking forward to more of the lzxdocs.
Is there a list of these modes anywhere?
No, the 14-pin sync standard has been deprecated. Part of the point of Gen3 is to eliminate variations in how we’re handling different circuits like sync and power especially. If you have older systems that need 14-pin sync, we recommend you hang on to your C1, Cortex, or Visionary VSG, and use it as a video/RCA sync to 14-pin sync converter.>
Well, that’s a huge bummer. I picked up that recently refurbished 14-pin sync Prismatic Ray based on prior posts about a forthcoming 14-pin / RCA sync distro module.
Anybody got a 14-pin sync generator they don’t need? Or, sadly, the inverse: anybody need a Prismatic Ray?
I think the revised Cadet I will still have 14-pin sync? @pbalj ?
I think the revised Cadet I will still have 14-pin sync? @pbalj ?
Yes, that is correct.
However, I am confused – there has never been a Prismatic Ray with a 14-pin sync input on the rear. The first version accepts sync via the frontpanel sync input or the CV/Gate bus on the EuroRack power header. So you can still use Prismatic Ray, by syncing it from the front, from a sync out, a ramp, or anything else – you just won’t have the automatic rear distribution via the Euro power bus (which is probably a good thing.)
Ah, got it. I was under the impression that I’d need a sync gen module that delivers sync from the power header, and from Chromagnon onwards, that wouldn’t be possible. But, if the front panel sync works just as well, that’s good enough for me!
but fr if someone has an unloved VC, I’ll still take it 
Sync that Prismatic Ray to one of those ART-3 outputs and patch the other 3 to it’s CV ins. That would be monstrous!
Another cool use of the Ray you might be underestimating is how awesome it is even in low frequency ranges, to have those simultaneous slope outputs. In the low speed/animation context, you get subtle “response curve” variations that can lead to very organic animations. I feel like Prismatic Ray is underappreciated as a low frequency modulation source.
There are 15 supported sync generator standards, programmed across the first 4 bits of the DIP switch. There is a 5th bit to select YPbPr vs RGsB output colorspace modes. The last 3 bits are currently unused.
The CVBS output is only enabled in the NTSC/PAL modes.
CVBS + Component Encoders Enabled
NTSC/486i5994
PAL/576i50
CVBS Encoder Disabled / Component Encoder Enabled
486p5994
576p50
720p50
720p5994
720p60
1080i50
1080i5994
1080i60
1080p2398
1080p24
1080p25
1080p2997
1080p30
Note
This isn’t the same as input formats for TBC2 (which supports VESA standards and has its own integrated format converter/scaler.) So the list of supported TBC input formats is longer. This is the list of “house sync” standards recognized across all Gen3 modules. It’s the same list for TBC2 and Chromagnon.
ESG-3 plus Cadets[1] and Expedition = 1080p24 cinematic experience???
That would be a really cool upgrade path if so.
[1] Probably including a revised C1 for VCO and ramps sync
ESG-3 plus Cadets[1] and Expedition = 1080p24 cinematic experience???
That would be a really cool upgrade path if so.
Yes! Maybe add the FKG-3 as an ESG-3 frontend, so you have a Cortex keyer type workflow. But Marble Index or Color Chords would work well in that spot too.
A few in this first set of Gen3 modules are designed to pad out some missing parts of Expedition series for sure, so if your Expedition/Cadet set is lacking sources, the DSG, ART, and DWO are all good for “packing in the missing functions,” as each is an independent dual oscillator or dual ramp gen.
But yep, ESG-3 is all that’s needed to start encoding HD video immediately.
[1] Probably including a revised C1 for VCO and ramps sync
There is an off the shelf eval board for the LMH1980 (the sync separator on all Gen3 modules) that anyone could use to add HD/SD RCA sync to Cadet VCO or Cadet Ramps.
Maybe we can make a little LMH1980 based RCA sync IO adapter board that can be easily retrofitted onto those Cadets.
You may want to make a couple kludges to the frequency range (maybe different caps) as well, but that is all possible. For a DIYer “tuning up” to a specific video standard of choice, I imagine any of these modules can be tweaked to taste.
I’m happy to consult on any DIY project like this.
Remember, the jump from SD to HD is not huge! It is about 3-4 times faster than SD, that’s all. That’s an octave and a half, or two. By comparison, that’s not nearly as much as the speed difference between an audio and a video synthesizer (the video synthesizer is more like 500 times faster than an audio synthesizer!)
I like the names and layout—everything reads clearly and I can already picture patches. I would prefer plain metal or white panels for better legibility in the dark rooms where I often work
I’ll take that PR!
I think these look beautiful. The names are difficult for me to remember because I’m not good with acronyms and I like interesting names. To me Visual Cortex is one of the absolute coolest names ever. If cash flow is an issue, I am glad to buy any of these you put out. I’ve scanned the thread, but want to ask about the SMX-3. Is that similar to the Color Chords?
VCO LFO SEG CRT PWM ENG LCD
3-letter diminutives are quite familiar to me, as are 3-letter model names / prefixes, like BVM BVU DVR CCU
I’m somewhere in the midst of making a mashup of bits of cadet 1 and lm1980 to make an rca->old sync adapter. Idk if you were suggesting that, as a DIY project but I’d appreciate any insight you’ve got on what I’ve sketched so Far if you feel you’re able. Will post in its state once cleaned up a bit .
After living with them a little while longer, I think the main thing that trips me up with the names is that three modules include a G for “generator” — but they’re all generating different things. So the shared letter isn’t really meaningful in any way.
…And then two of those different things being generated both start with S: “shape” and “sync.” One would expect two *SG modules to basically be two flavors of the same thing, would they not?
Having each name/abbreviation be as distinct as possible would certainly help with mnemonics. Or, if there is going to be redundancy, it should be meaningful. Multiple “duals” seems helpful/descriptive, actually.
OUT-3 (output encoder), TKF-3 (triple keying fader), DSG-3 (dual shape generator)?
(Full disclosure: part of my design work includes “branding” stuff where I sometimes have to help name things. Which isn’t to claim any special authority on the matter, but just to say that things like this probably get stuck in my craw more than it would/does others.)