PART 1
GENERATOR N.A. COOKE
With twelve rhythms that can be superimposed and eight sound generators
Rhythm Generator design compacts eight per-
THIS
cussion instruments and a percussionist into a neat
professionally styled case measuring some 300 x 130 x
60mm.
The advantage of this unit over many others is that
rhythms are selected directly and can be superimposed to
create new and musically more interesting patterns. There
are 12 basic rhythms and these are as follows:-Tango,
Waltz, Shuffle, March, Slow Rock, Swing, Pop Rock,
Rumba, Beguine, Cha Cha, Samba and Bossa Nova. By
simply selecting two or more, their patterns will be super-
imposed and a blend of the selected rhythms will result.
CIRCUIT BREAKDOWN
The block diagram (Fig. 1) shows the complete Rhythm
Generator. The various circuits can be placed within four
main groups:
1. Rhythm pattern generation.
2. Musical instrument simulators.
3. Pre -amplification.
4. Power supply.
To assist in understanding the complete circuit it is
best to deal with each of the above groups in turn.
322
RHYTHM PATTERN GENERATION
The object of this circuit is to provide the instrument
simulators with rhythmically pulsed information which in
turn is transformed into recognisable percussion sounds.
The heart is the M253AA chip which contains a
read only memory matrix pre-programmed with the
12 basic rhythm patterns. All that is required to obtain
this information is to provide the chip with a square wave
at the clock input, pin 24. By varying the frequency of this
square wave the tempo of the rhythm may be controlled.
Fig. 2 shows the circuit diagram of the Rhythm Gener-
ator with rhythm selection stop and reset switches and
downbeat indicator.
To select a rhythmthe desired input must be clamped to
the OV rail (logic 0) with the other inputs tied to 4.7V
(logic 1). Change -over switches S1-12 are required for
this function. Here the other change over section of the
switches is used to select Claves or Snare Drum as appro-
priate for the particular rhythm.
The square wave for the clock input is generated by a
simple astable multivibrator using two cmos NAND gates
together with the associated timing components C2, R2
and VR1 which control the operational frequency. This
frequency may be adjusted from approximately 5 to 50Hz
Practical Electronics January 1978
 COMPONENTS ...
Resistors R31 150k S2 C22 0.1pF polyrad
R1 22k12 R32 68k12 C23 0.33/1F polyrad
R2 100k12 R33 68k t-2 C24 0.068,uF polyrad
R3 22kt2 R34 27k S2 C25 0.22pf polyrad
R4 10k S2 R35 12k C2 C26 0.1,uF polyrad
R5 22k i2 R36 47k t2 C27 0.05µF ceramic
R6 2.2M S2 R37 10k f2 C28 4.7nF ceramic
R7 510k t2 R38 470kt2 C29 4.7nF ceramic
R8 2.71W R39 390k0 C30 0.02pF mylar
R9 220k S2 R40 390k t2 C31 0.1,uF 16V radial electrolytic
R10 150kt2 R41 390k t2 C32 0.1pf polyrad
R11 68k 12 R42 10k S2 C33 022,uF polyrad
R12 681a2 R43 22 k C2 C34 2500/tF 25V electrolytic
R13 27kI2 R44 1 M 12 C35 100,uF 25V electrolytic
R14 12ki2 R45 100k12 C36 470,uf 16V electrolytic
R15 47k12 R46 470k S2 C37 10/tF 16V electrolytic
R16 10k 12 R47 1 M 12 C38 1000pf 16V electrolytic
R17 150k12 R48 22k CI C39 1000/LF 16V electrolytic
R18 68k t2 R49 2.2k12 C40 100/./F 16V electrolytic
R19 68ki2 R50 1M t2 All Electrolytics are vertical p.c.b. mounting types
R20 27k0 R51 1M t2 Note: polyrad means polyester radial lead
R21 12k C2 R52 1MS2 capacitors Mullard C280 Range
R22 47k i2 R53 4.7k12
R23 10k S2 R54 4.7k S2
R24 150k12 R55 22kS2 Semiconductors
R25 68k12 R56 10k0. TR1 BC108B D11 12V 400mW Zener
R26 68ki2 R57 390k t2 TR2 BC108B D12 -D15 Bridge Rectifier 50V,
R27 27kS2 R58 10k12 TR3 BC108B 1A, type W0-005
R28 121W R59 2.2kt2 TR4 BC108B D16 0.15in I.e.d.
R29 47kS2 R60 22kt2 TR5 BC108B IC1 M523AA
R30 10ki2 R61 33kt2 TR6 2N1132 IC2-1C4 CD4011AE
D1-10 1N4148 IC5 741 Op Amp
All 4- W 5% Carbon Film (10 off) IC6 78L12 AWC Regulator
+12 Volt Bridge Rec-
tifier 100V 1 amp
Potentiometers IC7 78L05 AWC Regulator
VR1 1MS2 lin +5V
VR2 25k12 lin
VR3 10kS2 log Miscellaneous
VR4 470kf2 1 8 pin d.i.l. socket
VR5 470kt2 3 14 pin d.i.l. socket
VR6 470k12 1 24 pin d.i.l. socket
VR7 470kt2 All 0.1W sub min. horizontal preset 13 D.p.d.t. sub min toggle (S1 -S13)
VR8 1 S.p.s.t. sub min toggle (S14)
VR9 22Okn 1 Neon indicator (LP1)
VR10 10kL2 T1 12-0-12V 100ma transformer
L1, L2 SC60 100mH min choke
SK1 3.5mm jack socket
Capacitors SK2 5 pin DIN socket
C1 0.01,uF mylar FS1 20mm panel fuse-holder and 250mA
C2 0.1pf polyrad "quick blow" fuse
C3 0.22pF polyrad 1 kin rubber grommets
C4 0.1,aF polyrad 1 Earth tag; kin fixing lug
C5 0.15pf polyrad 10 6BA nuts and bolts
C6 0.047pF polyrad 7 6BA clearance spaces tin
C7 0.047,uF polyrad 1 Wire clamp ("P" Clip)
C8 0.15/tF polyrad 1 metre 22 s.w.g. tinned copper wire
C9 0.033,uF mylar 2 metres 3 core mains cable
C10 0.01gF mylar 2 metres single screen cable
C11 0.01AF polyrad 35 Veropins 0.1in pitch
C12 0.033pf mylar 2 Printed circuit boards
C13 0.047,aF polyester axial 3 K15 knobs
C14 0.015pf polyester axial 1 "AWAB" case 12in x 5in x 2fin. 1f metres
C15 0.015,uf polyester axial stranded connecting wire
C16 0.047/LF mylar 1 Foot switch press -to -break fitted with
C17 4.7nF ceramic 3.5mm jack plug (optional extra)
1.5nF ceramic /
C18
C19 1.5nF ceramic Note: The inside cover page for Watford Electronics
C20 4.7nF polyrad shows i.c.s. M252AA and MC253AA incorrectly priced.
C21 0.22#F polyrad These should be 750p and 795p respectively

Practical Electronics January 19'78 323

 BASS
DRUM

HIGH
BONGO

LOW
.4253A A
BONGO

CLAVES

OUTPUT

LONG
DOWNBEAT CYMBALS
INDICATOR
SHORT
CYMBALS

MARACAS 4-12V
2.0V REGULATED
STUD/START CLOCK +5V
AC POWER SUPPLY
LOGIC GENERATOR SNARE P 12V

Fig. 1. Block diagram of Rhythm Generator

+47V + 4.7 V
SNRARE
D N

TANGO S10 SI IN 24 CLOCK RI

0-
--- o-411 B 23 RESET
22k0

WALTZ 52a S2b

9

10
0-* 0-411 TO INSTRUMENT
SIMULATORS
SKI
SOCKET
SHUFFLE REMOTE
S30 S3 b)O 12
IC1 "IN- BASS DRUM
o-110 0-0 13 M 253 5
AA
MARCH 14 6 HIGH
SL- a SA
BONGO S14

\0-4h 0- 15

16
19
MARACAS
_0.20 SHORT
SLOW CYMBALS
N -S50 S51\ 0 1pF 2260

\
ROCK 7 LONG
CYMBALS
o---
-- 0-80 18 22
LW
BONGO
OV OV

D1
SWING S6 a S6b
14 12V
00 ml C1
IN 4148

POP
S7a S77
-12V 0.01pF IC2c R8
ROCK
2.760

R4 D12
RUMBA S8o S8 b 10 kfl
TRI
o-41 o- IC2d
10
IC3a
8
IC3b
10
R7
EIC1080

BEGUINE 590 590

o-- 0-0 8

C3
510

C
CHA-CHA S100 SIOb RS T0.22pF OlpF
22k fl
0-0 o-411
SAMBA
-Silo
- -SIN
R6
a-0 2 2M0
BOSSA
NOVA
-512- 0 S12b

CLAVES 7V OV
+4 7V OV P

Fig. 2. Rhythm generation circuit

324 Practical Electronics January 1978

 OUTPUT INSTRUMENTS
3072 BITS MULTIPLEXER LOGIC AND I TO 8
MATRIX DRIVER
O

EXTERNAL
RESET
0

CLOCK DECODER
0
24 -STAGE
RESET
RHYTHM
LOGIC
DETECTOR

PHASE 5 -STAGE
DIVIDER COUNTER
GENERATOR

O
DOWNBEAT

1 0 0 12

INPUTS

Fig. 3. Block diagram of M253AA

-7V
0

0
+12V

OUTPUT
INPUT 0
PULSE
INPUT

Fig. 4. The basic sinusoidal oscillator Fig. 5. Fundamental white noise circuit

by the tempo control VR I. The output of the clock gener- then lights the 1.e.d. with successive downbeats until S14 is
ator is fed to the clock input pin 24 of the M253AA. closed.
The rhythm stop/start switch S14 is connected through a A short pulse is present at the external reset/downbeat
NAND gate, operating as an inverter, to the external reset pin of the M253AA when the internal logic resets at the
pin 23. When this switch is closed the clock generator is end of the rhythm pattern. This pulse is of very short
inhibited with its output remaining at logic 1. A pulse is duration only about 2 to 3/As which is obviously too short
also supplied via the inverter through the blocking diode to light the 1.e.d. The lamp must also light at the begin-
Dl to reset the rhythm pattern to the beginning of the bar. ning of the beat and not at the end of a bar which is
On opening the switch the output of the oscillator will when the downbeat pulse is present.
immediately go to logic 0 generating the first command Two NAND gates together with R5, R6 and C3 operate
pulse which is the first beat in the bar. as a monostable and extend this pulse to some 350ms. The
third NAND gate inverts the output of the monostable in
DOWNBEAT START order that TR1 is switched on and this lights the 1.e.d.
The rhythm pattern always begins on the downbeat, it during the set state of the monostable.

Practical Electronics January 1978 325

 VR8
10060
NC
+120
TO INPUT
OF PIN 6
0
M253 AA
+ 4 7V
TR2
D6 =IP BC108B
N 4148

C22 TR5
SNARE BC 108 B
DRUM
0 1pF
R48 D7 R49 R50
2260

1N4148 2.260 IMO

R47
LONG
CYMBALS
PIN 21
M253AA
°-1-77;"-1---w"---1 0.33p F
MD C28
47nF
R55 C31
2260 0 1pF
R44 MiN C27 4120 VR9
R42 220611
SHORT
°. 0-05pF OUTPUT
R54 TO PRE -AMP
CYMBALS
PIN 20 106 C24 4.760
M253AA 0068pF C29 NM L2
4.7nF 100mu

C25 TR4
022pF BC1088
D9 R45 946
MARACAS
PIN 19 19 4148 woo 470k0
M253AA
852
R43 C26 1Mf:
2260 1N 411.8 0 1pF

Fig. 6. The four white noise instrument simulators

IC4a -Co 4011 I C4 b IC4c IC4d

3 0

VR5 VR6
RIO 47060 R17 47060 47060 R31 47060

1506n 15060 16060

R11 818 R25 R32

6860 R12 686n R19 68k0 R26 6860 R33

6860

;
C5 C9 68611
C17
0.15pF 0 033p F 1.1 0 04pF 4.7n F

C6 T. C7
HIGH BONGO
C10 C11
LOW BONGO
C15 C18 T,
0.047pF 0.047,uF 0.01),IF 0.01pF 0.01C145pF 0.015pF CLAVES 1-5nF
M253AA M253AA
BASS DRUM PIN 6 PIN 2206
C12 C20
M 253 AA 02 0-033pF 0.047p 47nF
R20 D3 R27 04 R34 05
PIN 4

2760 19 4148 2760 19 4148 2760 19 4148 2760 19 4148

0-15}18

11260 48711,60 1801660 39804160 10601

3994020 R28 R
1260 1R260
11260 47 60
R30
10601
R39
39060
R35 36
12601 47Rk0
R3738
141272620
10601 47060

C21

OUTPUT TO
I.
PRE -AMP 0 22pF

Fig. 7. The four sinusoidal oscillators

THE M253AA IC The rhythm selection input is decoded to determine the

reset point of the counter and to programme the multi-
Internal operation of the M253AA is shown in Fig. 3. plexer to read the memory matrix. Its outputs are then
Here the clock input is first divided by two and the output modified to become suitable to drive the eight instrument
fed to a five -Stage counter. The counter resets after 32 simulators by means of a driver stage. This driver stage
pulses for 4/4 time and after 24 pulses for 3/4 time. The also includes the logic to reset the memory output after
counter states are then decoded to drive the ROM (read each reading in order that successive readings occur on the
only memory) matrix which has been pre-programmed correct triggering edge of the following beat.
with the 12 different rhythm patterns. These, of course, The internal reset pulse is fed to the external pin 23 to
are defined at manufacture but customer options do exist provide downbeat indication and to allow external re-
at a price! ' setting when the generator is stopped.

326 Practical Electronics January 1978

PERCUSSION VOICES +12V

The Bass Drum, High Bongos, Low Bongos and Cloves

are created by the use of damped sinusoidal oscillators.
The long and short Cymbals and Maracas are simulated
by the use of damped filtered white noise.
An example of the simple twin T oscillator used is
shown in Fig. 4. The NAND gate is held just below con-
tinuous oscillation by the use of VRA. ft

All four oscillators in this group are identical with the COMBINED OUTPUT
exception of the values of the timing capacitors which set OUTPUTS OF
SIMULATORS
TO SK2

the frequency of oscillation (Fig. 7). The values of the

capacitors are chosen to suit the instrument being simu-
lated.
VRA regulates the decay of the oscillation and should
be adjusted to give the most realistic effect. The pulsing
output of the M253AA is a square wave and this is Fig. 8. Pre -amplifier circuit
differentiated by C3a and R1 a into two opposite spikes
FS1
S13a T1
L

r- +12V
0
5V

R61 i/p
IC6 c/P 1C7 +4.7V
corn DO
78L12 8+05
AWC ANC 330 (UNDER O
L__ LOAD)
corn 78L12
N 78L05
S13b
O C31.
OC36 38 C39
2 500pF 470)2= ,002+JF 1000pF

OV
0
D1I
12V
C37 ZENER
10pF 010 2

C35 1N1.148
ICI { PIN 1 TO +47V 100p F 1Ur
PIN 2 TO -12V
1C2 -1C1.
{ PIN 11. TO +1..7V R59 TR6
PIN 7 TO OV
22kC ri +31
PIN 7 TO +12V
[CS
Il PIN I. TO -12 V

Fig. 9. Circuit of p.s.u.

which are attenuated by R2a and rectified to a single
positive spike by D1 a. Resistor R3a is necessary to tie the
input to earth when no pulse is present as the outputs of
the M253AA are open drain types.
Fig. 5 shows the basic circuit of the white noise gener-
ators. Transistor TRIb turns on during a command pulse
from the M253AA. This charges capacitor Clb which
then discharges through R1 b to the base of transistor
TR2b.
White noise is produced by the reverse biased Zener
effect of TR3b which is selectively filtered by C2b and
LI b. The level of the white noise at the output of the
transistor follows the decaying voltage at the base until
the potential across CI b has fallen to a level which causes
the transistor to switch off.
The metallic timbre of the Snare Drum is produced
on a real instrument by a set of steel springs-the snares
which run across the diameter of the underside of the
drum. It is the snares vibrating against the skin of the
drum that give it its characteristic sound.
This sound is recreated in this unit by combining filtered
white noise with the damped oscillation of the High
Bongo. The two separate simulators are combined via a
diode which prevents the Snare Drum from sounding
when the High Bongo is activated.
The Maracas simulator is unusual in that it is the only
instrument in which the sound increases gradually and
then decreases. This effect is produced by means of the
integrator/differentiator circuit C25, D8, D9, R45, R46 and
C26 (Fig. 6).
PRE -AMPLIFICATION AND P.S.U.
Fig. 8 shows the circuit of the pre -amplifier. All eight
instruments are combined by means of a resistor, capa-
citor network. This composite signal is applied through a
potential divider VR10 to the non -inverting input of a
741. Feedback resistors R57 and R56 set the gain and a
simple high cut filter, adjusted by means of VR2, acts as a
tone control. The output to the external amplifier may be
varied by the potentiometer VR3.
Fig. 9 shows the complete power supply unit. A
12-0-12V miniature transformer is used, its output being
rectified by the bridge rectifier D12-15. The centre tap is at'
0 volts providing a dual supply. Three regulators, two of
which are cascaded, are used to provide the output volt-
ages of +12, +5 and -12 volts. The supplies must be
stable and ripple free to prevent spontaneous oscillation
from the sensitive instrument simulators. To prevent an
earth loop, which might cause hum, the case and trans-
former are earthed to the mains supply and the OV circuit
line is left floating.
Next month: Construction and setting up.

Practical Electronics January 1978 327