Tindie

Name: 3080 VCO (Eurorack PCB Set)
SKU: 8796
Price: 19.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.97 (15 reviews)

3080 VCO (Eurorack PCB Set)

(15 Reviews)

Compact 6HP VCO for Eurorack Modular synthesizers

Designed by PM Foundations in United States of America

2018-08-05T01:32:04.389Z-IMG_20180804_162222.jpg

2018-08-05T01:32:04.389Z-IMG_20180804_164143.jpg

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Please always use genuine ICs. Switchcraft jacks available at DigiKey instead of Mouser: https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/35RAPC2AV/SC1457-ND/772080

Compact 6HP VCO for Eurorack Modular synthesizers

"Thomas Henry told me he is fine with it just as it is now..." This is a compact Triangle Core VCO. You can install your classic CA3080 OTA chips or use a modern LM13700 instead. The PCB has the op…

IMPORTANT NOTE

This is a PCB and Panel set only. One high quality PCB and one front panel ONLY are included. You will need to purchase your own components and build your own module. Comprehensive build instructions and BOMs are provided to help you source the components needed and we even provide links to shopping carts to simplify sourcing those components. Some product photos above show COMPLETED build.

This VCO has been shrunk to the minimum size possible so you can maximize the remaining space in your rack, while packing in a wealth of functionality:

Triangle, pulse and sine wave forms
1/V octave input + variable Linear FM CV and variable Exponential FM CV
Adjustable pulse width and variable PWM CV input
6HP Eurorack with our panel
Custom laser cut wood panel OPTION available from Filip Pietruszewski Design (see photos)

This is a low component count project so you can have high quality VCOs in your rack with minimum expense.

Build it yourself - This is a set of one high quality PCB and front panel ONLY for users who want to purchase their own components and build their own module. Some product photos above show COMPLETED build.

This module will fit perfectly into a 6HP Eurorack space.

Comprehensive manuals, parts lists and component shopping carts are provided in the documentation link for building, testing and using the module.

A note on accuracy If you want a highly accurate tracking VCO, please ensure you use very well matched transistors and also glue the thermistor and the two transistors together. The slight differences in temperature coefficients of the transistors can make the oscillator difficult to tune. If you don't need a highly accurate oscillator, you can use any transistors and even use a resistor instead of the thermistor. Here's a comment from one of our builders:

"I ended up swapping the transistors from some I got in a Mouser order vs the ones I matched from a Chinese retailer. Found some that matched less then 1mv difference and Low and behold, I can tune it now!" From Dayne, Grand Forks, BC.

So: you choose.

Thanks to musician Randy Piscione, organizer of the Toronto Sound Festival for his video of this VCO showing its range and functionality.

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Quantity	Price
1-7	$19.99
8-9	$16.99
10-19	$15.99
20+	$12.99

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (5.00)

Documentation: (5.00)

Shipping: (4.93)

Communication: (4.93)

Elton | Aug. 3, 2020

Good starter module

After much online research, I decided on the 3080 VCO as my starter oscillator for getting into Eurorack and building my first modular system.
I really liked the simple layout and look of the kit. However, I took it one step further and sourced the majority of parts myself. This ended up saving me a bit of money rather than just going with the suggested BOM by PMFoundations, but I would caution those who are starting from scratch that this is a complicated task and if you are not familiar with electronics and parts and such, you can easily order the wrong version of components and end up spending even *more* money when you have to purchase the correct (assigned) parts.
The assembly instructions are straightforward, but again this DIY kit implies that you have the necessary equipment needed to build/test/tune the module yourself. That being said, I had a good time putting together the parts, soldering everything together and got the thrill of hooking it up for the first time and getting sound!
This VCO is well rounded, having a basic Sine, Triangle and Square wave output. This makes it well suited for a variety of roles, from an LFO timer, to a modulation signal, to just a pure tonal generator. I am still exploring all that this VCO can do.
I ordered a pair of these kits (PCB and face plate only), and with all the assembly and testing, I'd say it took me about 5 hours per module.
I have since installed them in my rack, and enjoy using them as the foundational tonal source for experimenting.
These kits have sparked more interest in other functional modules and I've begun working on my own builds to add to the VCOs.
Thanks, PMFoundations for making a solid VCO anyone would be happy to include in their modular system!

Response from PM Foundations | Aug. 3, 2020

Thank you for your feedback Elton and sharing the realities of the build process.

Morgan | March 28, 2020

Solid, compact VCO.

I actually got this to use as an audio rate modulation source in a small system geared toward processing external signals, but it sounds nice enough I've been using it mostly as a sound source so far. Controls are pretty tightly packed (no surprise for the size) but since they're knurled split shaft it's easy to use them with no knobs if you want a bit more space, and I'd always take proper Alps-style 9mm pots like these over the little plastic trimmers most compact modules use. Easy build but a little fussy to calibrate - even with the multi-turn trimmers the scaling adjustment is really sensitive.

Will definitely be getting a lot of use out of it and would recommend it to anyone looking to add an oscillator that doesn't take up a ton of space and is a bit more feature rich than most compact oscillators.

Mathew | Feb. 19, 2020

Great little VCO

What a great sweet sounding little VCO, I used the 3080 reissue chips from Modular Addict and it sounds lovely! I bought 3 to make chords using the Ornament and Crime Harrington 1200, sounds awesome. I got the wooden panels which I sanded and oiled and they look sexy. Notes on the build; very easy build, it's stable after an initial warm up period, you must let it warm up for 10 mins at least, not terribly accurate over several octaves but also not too bad, still very useable with lots of smooth character, pairs really nicely with the Kassutronics Transistor ladder filter, the Sine wave is lovely. One thing to note is the right angled power header makes this module just too deep for my case with the ribbon cable attached so swap out the right angle header for a straight one. Don't just make one make 2 or 3, the hp is small, then you can create complex fat chords. Highly recommended. John is a nice guy too, sent me a free wood panel to match my set.

Austin | Jan. 15, 2020

Amazing little VCO

This was my first DIY Eurorack module and overall it was a really fun build. Sourcing the parts was easy because of the provided mouser carts and the build guide had all the information I needed. Love the square wave sound and the PWM and FM inputs give it a lot of flexibility. Might get another to detune and add some depth. Definitely recommend.

Kristofer | Jan. 1, 2020

Great VCO!

After a long time I finally got this project completed, I had trouble to get one of the needed components in Sweden but the seller was helpful and sent me what I needed together with a new order. The build is well documented and the VCO tracks well and is easy to calibrate and set up! It also sounds great!

Response from PM Foundations | Jan. 1, 2020

The first 2020 review on 1/1. Thanks Kristofer!

Morgan | Oct. 25, 2019

Amazing VCO

I've been playing this as my main square wave voice for 1 year now, I just have to say after that much time it STILL draws me back in to use it! The build process is also fun, with a lot of parts but not a super difficult build. The pwm control is GREAT. I recently started using it with a 3 channel mixer module to mix the three waveforms together which yields excellent sounding subtle results! Also one great feature is that the warm up time for stable tuning is practically zero. Nice work!

Costantino | Oct. 18, 2019

My first VCO!

Finally I had my first VCO assembled! It is a really nice device. It was the first time for me to build a DIY project with this kind of complexity. I really enjoy the building and finally it sounds really great!!!

Vidar | Dec. 20, 2018

Had this for a year now and I still love it.

This was my first eurorack module and the first time I soldered anything else than guitar leads. Got it working on the first try and been building modules since. The soldering I did is probably pretty crappy and and the panel would be easier to mount if I knew what i was doing, but it was FUN. Got a ca3080 reissue six months ago and it sounded even better. It'll always be my favourite modul. Would really recommend using T18 potentiometers if you are sourcing your own parts, since the micro knobs from thonk (Befaco style) are kinda mandatory if you are suffering from sausage fingers like I do. Would also skip the right angled 16-pin header and use a straight one, might not be ideal since it'll be a little wider, but I doubt it will ever come down to the few extra millimeters the straight header adds. I use Tip Top Z-Ears and this module is just slightly too deep with right angled headers. It would make contact with the surface, alway applying little bit of pressure before I changed it.

Response from PM Foundations | Dec. 20, 2018

Takk Vidar for din anmeldelse og for å gi kundene noen nyttige tips. 3080-VCO er ikke den grunne av moduler, men er definitivt ikke en HP hog.

(Thank you Vidar for your review and for providing customers with some useful tips. The 3080-VCO is not the shallowest of modules but is definitely not an HP hog.)

Ralphy | July 12, 2018

Great, easy to build oscillator!

Just finished my build and can say it was pretty straight forward and just took a day to build.Will definitely buy again.

Quinn | April 19, 2018

Great service, great VCO, and easy to build

Title says it all, John has done a great job cant be happier. This was my second module built ever and it booted up no problem and sounded great

Ken | Jan. 31, 2018

Awesome VCO

Built one of these and two of the scaled-down mini VCO version (which I intended to use as LFOs, but they get used for everything!). They are awesome VCOs and track better than some more expensive modules. The sine output, which can be tweaked to give a pretty pure sine wave over much of the range, is a real plus! I'm glad I put sockets in for the 13700 and the 3080 (I don't usually) - I recently came across some old 3080s (the metal can version) so must try one out and see if there is any difference.

Response from PM Foundations | Feb. 1, 2018

It will be interesting. Here's a link to the pinouts http://www.circuitboardchips.com/photo/circuitboardchips/editor/20161123140825_40790.jpg

Randy | Dec. 8, 2017

Great VCO

I have several of these (in fact, I have a performance rack that is nearly all PMF stuff) and am very happy with them. Excellent price, great sound, easy to calibrate and linear and expo FM. Lots of functionality in a small footprint.

Erik | Nov. 9, 2017

Great VCO, excellent value!

I bought two of these 3080 VCOs. Rich sound, tracks well, and with many way to patch it into your system. I built both of them at the same time and the two together took about five hours to build, probably half that time to build one. I think the price for what you get here is a really good value. I messaged the maker at one point with some questions. Quick response and very good customer service!

Morten | June 20, 2017

Top notch!

Great sounding VCO, PWM on it best I've heard from any euro VCO (Nick Batt would be proud!). Also, excellent customer service from PMFoundations, super quick shipping and all around a pleasant experience. Highly recommended!

Mike | Feb. 19, 2017

Really good VCO with excellent tracking and easy to build!

I bought the PCB and panel because I already had most of the parts needed to build this. After calibration, I plugged it into my modular and it has really excellent tracking and great sound! I had some questions about the board and messaged the maker; they got back to me right away and were incredibly helpful. Can't wait to see more modules from them!

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