1
M
INI
P7
A
NALOG DRUM COMPUTER
MiniP7
V2.03
Assembly and User’s Manual
©2018
2
MiniP7 Index
1. Thank you .................................................................................................................... 1
2. Intentionally Blank ...................................................................................................... 1
3. Kit Content .................................................................................................................. 2
4. Assembling the Kit (Assembly Manual) ...................................................................... 3
4.1. Assembly of TH Components and Spacers ........................................................... 3
4.1.1. Population of the LEDs .................................................................................. 3
4.1.2. Population of the Trimmers .......................................................................... 4
4.1.3. Population of the Slide Pots & Potentiometer ............................................. 5
4.1.4. Placing the Rocker Switches ......................................................................... 6
4.1.5. Population of the Jacks ................................................................................. 6
4.1.6. Population of the Push Buttons .................................................................... 7
4.1.7. Population of the Header ............................................................................. 8
4.1.8. Mounting of the Spacers ............................................................................... 8
4.2. Tuning the MiniP7 ................................................................................................ 9
4.2.1. White Noise Level ....................................................................................... 10
4.2.2. Frequencies ................................................................................................. 10
4.3. Mounting the Front Panel .................................................................................. 11
4.3.1. Front Panel .................................................................................................. 11
4.3.2. Knobs ........................................................................................................... 11
4.3.3. Connecting the Power Supply. .................................................................... 11
5. Playing the MiniP7 (User’s Manual) .......................................................................... 12
5.1. Stand Alone ........................................................................................................ 12
5.1.1. Selecting and Deselecting Rhythms and Combinations ................................. 12
5.2. Using External Clock and Sync ............................................................................ 13
5.2.1. Introduction to external clocking. .................................................................. 13
5.2.2. Functionality of the external clock and sync. ................................................. 13
6. Specifications ............................................................................................................ 14
6.1. Technical Spec. ................................................................................................... 14
6.2. Dimensions ......................................................................................................... 15
6.3. Ref Des Positions ................................................................................................ 16
1
1. Thank you
for choosing this rhythm computer.
It’s a unique clone for sound and feeling of the famous Minipops7
TM
as used throughout
several parts of world renown music by Jean Michelle Jarre.
The MiniP7 has been designed to mimic the ‘spirit’ of the Minipops7TM as good as
possible.
Please read the assembly and operating instructions carefully to ensure the unit’s fullest
performance.
2.
Intentionally Blank
2
3. Kit Content
This summary is an overview of all parts in the kit with exclusion of the SMD populated PCB, the
Front Panel and the speed knob. To be updated
Comment Designator Description Picture Quantity
Manufacturer Order
Code
Supplier 1 Supplier Part Number 1
Bolt_M2.5x6_+
Bolt1, Bolt2, Bolt3, Bolt4, Bolt5,
Bolt6, Bolt7, Bolt8, Bolt9,
Bolt10, Bolt11, Bolt12
Bolt_M2.5x6_+
12
M2.56
PRA2MCS100-
Farnell 1420030
Led_Red D21 Standard LEDs - Through
Hole 3MM FLAT TOP RED
1 WP424SRDT Mouser 604-W P424SRDT
Led_Green D22 Standard LEDs - Through
Hole 3MM FLAT TOP Green
1 WP424GDT Mouse r 604-WP424GDT
HDR_2x5 HDR1 HDR_2x5
1 1056437 Farnell 1056437
1502-03 J1, J7, J8 1502-03 Wired Panel Mount
3 1502 03 Farnell 1270966
MH_SPCR_M2.5x8x4.5 MH1, MH2, MH3, MH4, MH5,
MH6
MH_SPCR_M2.5x8x4.5
6 24462 Mouser 534-24462
10k_Lin_Slide_45 P2, P4, P9, P14, P15 Slide Potentiometers
15MM SHAFT NO DET
45MM STRK SNG AUD
5
PTA4543-
2015DPA103
Mouser
652-
PTA45432015DPA10
100KB_PTV09_4025FB104
P6 Pot_100k_Lin_BOURNS_PTV
09A-4025F-B102
1 PTV09A-4025F-B104 Mouser 652-PTV09A4025FB104
200R P1 Trimmer Resistors -
Through Hole 1/4" SQ
V/ADJ 200
1 T73YP201KT20 Mouser 72-T70YP-200
500R P5, P11 Trimmer Resistors -
Through Hole 1/4" SQ
V/ADJ 500
2 T73YP501KT20 Mouser 72-T70YP-500
1k P3, P12, P13, P16, P18 Trimmer Resistors -
Through Hole 1/4" SQ
V/ADJ 1K
5 T73YP102KT20 Mouser 72-T70YP-1K
500k P7 Trimmer Resistors -
Through Hole 1/4" SQ
1 T73YP504KT20 Mouser 72-T70YB-500K
10k P8, P10 Trimmer Resistors -
Through Hole 1/4" SQ
2 T73YP103KT20 Mouser 72-T70YP-10K
B3W-9000-Y1N Sw1, Sw2, Sw3, Sw4, Sw5, Sw6,
Sw7, Sw8, Sw9, Sw10
Illuminated Tactile
Switches Illuminated Ylw
LED White Cap
10 B3W-9000-Y1N Farnell 1573163
DPDT Sw11, Sw12 Toggle Switches ON-OFF .45
FLAT .350 BUSHNG SOLDER
LUG 6A
2 M2021ES1W01 Mouser 633-M2021ES1W01
Push_Button Sw13 Tactile Switches OFF-(ON)
HI OPR FRCE EXT ACT SCLP
GRY CAP
1 JB15HAP-1H Mouser 633-JB15HAP-1H
3
4. Assembling the Kit (Assembly Manual)
4.1. Assembly of TH Components and Spacers
See Technical Spec for enlarged view.
4.1.1. Population of the LEDs
Mount the LEDs with the pin enlargement just above the PCB. Long Pin is Anode and should be the upper
pin. The shortest pin is Cathode and should connect to the SOT23 Transistor.
Done
Green Led
Green Led (Upper) D22
Red Led
Red Led (Lower) D21
4
4.1.2. Population of the Trimmers
Done
T73YP201KT20
200 Ohm marked 201
P1
T73YP501KT20
500 Ohm marked 501
P5, P11
T73YP102KT20
1 k Ohm marked 102
P3, P12, P13, P16, P18
T73YP103KT20
10 k Ohm marked 103
P8, P10
T73YP504KT20
500 k Ohm marked 504
P7
5
4.1.3. Population of the Slide Pots & Potentiometer
Done
652-PTA45432015DPA10
10k – 50k Slide Pot
P2, P4, P9,
P14, P15
100KB_PTV09_4025FB104
9mm pot meter
100k Lin (can be 50k as well)
P6
6
4.1.4. Placing the Rocker Switches
Sw 12 is only used as a SPDT, while Sw 11 is used as a DPDT
Done
M2021ES1W01
DPDT switch NKK
Sw 11, Sw 12
4.1.5. Population of the Jacks
Although this can be done at this time, it may
be better to assemble the jacks after the PCB
has been put on the front panel.
In the latter case be careful not to scratch the
front panel. The jacks will be at their correct
height and the pins can be bent to solder
direct to the PCB at the right vertical position.
7
Done
1502-03 Jack 3.5mm
J1, J7, J8
4.1.6. Population of the Push Buttons
Done
B3W-9000-Y1N
Sw1, Sw2, Sw3, Sw4, Sw5, Sw6, Sw7,
Sw8, Sw9, Sw10
JB15HAP
-
1H Sw13
8
4.1.7. Population of the Header
The boxed header has to be mounted
on the bottom side of PCB.
Pin 1 should be at the lower edge of the
board.
Done
1056437 Boxed Header 2x5
HDR 1
4.1.8. Mounting of the Spacers
Mount 6 spacers at their positions using an M2.5 x 6 mm bolt. No springs are foreseen. One can
always add a spring or put some lacquer to avoid unintentional loosening of the bolt.
Done
MH_SPCR_M2.5x8x4.5 Spacer
Bolt_M2.5x6_+ Bolt
MH1,MH2, MH3, MH4, MH5, MH6
9
4.2. Tuning the MiniP7
A hidden software feature allows the instruments to be triggered by the rhythm
select buttons. As there are 15 instruments and only 10 rhythm select buttons,
the instruments have been split into two groups. One 8 instruments group in the
upper rhythm bank and a 7 instruments group in the lower rhythm bank.
To enter this feature, press the rhythm buttons 1 and 2 together for about 3
seconds. The bank select LEDs will dim.
Instruments can now be triggered by pressing a rhythm select button.
To exit this feature, press the 10
th
rhythm select button.
The following table shows the instrument vs. button.
(put the balance to 50%)
Green channel
button1 BassDrum
button2 SnareDrum_1
button3 SnareDrum_2
button4 CowBell
button5 Bongo_Small
button6 Bongo_Large
button7 Conga
button8 RimShot
Red Channel
button1 HiHat
button2 Tambourine (open the slider to hear it)
button3 Cymbals_1
button4 Cymbals_2
button5 Claves
button6 Quijada (open the slider to hear it)
button7 Guiro (open the slider to hear it)
To hear the Cowbel’s high and low sound separately, probe the following points
on the PCB.
The easiest way to calibrate is by ear and compare your tuning to the samples on
our website. The samples are in the same order as the sound under the buttons.
http://nabla-instruments.com/index_htm_files/MiniP7_Sounds.mp3
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4.2.1. White Noise Level
Turn P8 to have 100 mVpp at measurement point ‘WN’ on an oscilloscope.
Amplitude [mVpp]
Relative trimmer position
White Noise Level 100
4.2.2. Frequencies
Not all instruments of the MiniP7 need to be tuned at time of assembly.
The following table provides the approximate frequencies of the tunable
instruments to be tuned to.
Using a frequency meter or audio analyzer on PC may be a quite big job to get
the tuning done. Another and swift approach is comparing with a software tone
generator or some internet samples. The latter may deviate a lot from the table
depending on the internet sample.
Instrument
Frequency [Hz]
Relative trimmer position
Cow Bell Low
P5 800
Cow Bell High
P18 4600
Claves P1 2100
Rim Shot
P13 1500
Bongo Small
P3
632
Bongo Large P12 412
Conga
P16 200
Guiro Repetition
frequency P7
80
Bass Drum
P11 60
11
4.3. Mounting the Front Panel
4.3.1. Front Panel
Place the Front Panel on top of the tuned PCB and fix with 6 philips-head screws
M2.5x6.
4.3.2. Knobs
After assembly of the Front Panel, it’s time to place the knobs.
4.3.3. Connecting the Power Supply.
The MiniP7 has a selectable power supply to
operate either under 12V or 15V conditions. Place
both jumpers on the right side for 15V operation
and on the left side for 12V operation.
The Power Supply Connector has its negative pointing
to the bottom edge of the PCB.
12
5. Playing the MiniP7 (User’s Manual)
5.1. Stand Alone
5.1.1. Selecting and Deselecting Rhythms and Combinations
The MiniP7 does not have a ‘program’ memory, so it can not recall its last used rhythm.
Therefor the MiniP7 starts up without any rhythm selected.
Tambourine, Guiro and Quijada are always active and can be played without any of the
rhythms active. The standard sequence and measure for these instruments without a
rhythm selected is 4/4 in 1/16th steps.
The MiniP7 contains two rhythm banks with each 10 selectable rhythms.
To select a rhythm, select the bank the rhythm is in, then press the respective button
beneath the rhythm. Whenever any button is pressed, all previous selected rhythms or
rhythm combination will be cleared.
Any of the rhythms can be combined with all other rhythms within the same bank.
Selecting Mambo combined with Rhumba is possible, selecting Mambo combined with
Beguine is not possible
To combine multiple rhythms, hold down one rhythm and press all the others you want
to combine.
Pressing any of the rhythm select buttons afterwards will clear all selected rhythms and
select the rhythm according to the bank selected and the button being pressed.
Deselecting all selected rhythms can be done by holding down any rhythm select switch
for about 3 seconds. This will turn all selections and respective LED’s off.
13
5.2. Using External Clock and Sync
5.2.1. Introduction to external clocking.
The MiniP7 has been foreseen with two extra inputs to provide the capability to use
external applied clocking and resetting/syncing.
The MiniP7 internal system mimics the original’s internal clocking system which
switches between 12 and 16 counts per measure depending on the selected rhythm. To
keep the duration of a measure constant, the original Minipops7TM internally alters the
clock speed in such a way that the 12 counts take about the same time as the 16 counts.
The same effect has been created in the MiniP7 by creating a system based on
‘overclocking’.
As the original has some nice and hear-able artifacts due to the asynchronous
construction of the counter, its modulus selection and reset mechanism, the
‘overclocking’ in the MiniP7 has the advantage that many of these artifacts allowed to
be reconstructed.
What does this mean with respect to the internal 1/16th clock.
For all 4/4 and 3/4 rhythms the overclocking uses 6 clock generator pulses per 1/16th
note. For all 6/8 or 12/8 rhythms the internal overclocking uses 8 generator pulses per
1/16th note. When using external clocks, this overclocking will be reconstructed with all
pulses equally spread over time to maintain the original’s artifacts.
As to be able to stop the external clock, for undefined time in between pulses, the
MiniP7 generates these internal overclocking pulses at a rate sufficiently high to cope
with 240 BPM for the first beat after a clock stop, and equally spread between all
following beats. One another on the expense of correctly mimicking all artifacts, but
when one stops the clock externally, one overrules the ‘intentions’ and ‘spirit’ of the
original. This will mainly be heard in the Guiro rhythm.
5.2.2. Functionality of the external clock and sync.
Press buttons 1 and 3 for three seconds to enter the ‘external clocking’ mode
Both Bank select LEDs will dim.
When applying a clock signal to the clock input, the selected Rhythm will start playing.
Stopping the clock will keep the rhythm in its last position.
If the clock is stooped somewhere in the middle of a bar, the Guiro may remain
sounding as on that beat its gate may be open for this beat.
Applying a Sync / Reset will put the beat counter back to the first beat, and also stop the
eventual Guiro sound.
When in external clocking mode, the start/stop button will work as a sync/reset.
The selected Bank Select LED will indicate beat 1.
The other Led will blink with the incoming Clock.
Pressing buttons 1 and 3 another three seconds will return the unit to normal function.
3 1
14
6. Specifications
6.1. Technical Spec.
PCB dimen
s
ions 242 x 110 x 1.6
Power
Supply
+
12V or
15V @ 300mA
- 12V or 15 V @ 120 mA
Front Panel
3U by 48 HP
Analog Output
Standard line level 0.7 Vrms
External Sync
Vin min =
3V3
.
Vin max = 15V.
ESD protected by 100pF cap to GND.
External Clock
Vin min = 3V3.
Vin max = 15V.
ESD protected by 100pF cap to GND.
Slide Pot travel
45 mm
Rhythm Presets
20
Percussion Instruments
15
15
6.2. Dimensions
16
6.3. Ref Des Positions
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