Stereo Panner With Voltage Controlled L-R-L-R Panning Rate

Article by Ray Wilson
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Features

  • Leslie Spin-up/Spin-down Simulator Included on PCB
  • Mimics the Rhodes Stage Piano stereo tremolo
  • Power supply can be +/-12 or +/-15 volts.
  • Easily obtainable parts.
  • CV Control of Panning Rate.

MP3 Samples

Introduction

This circuit automatically pans your input signal back and forth between the left channel and the right channel of your stereo amplifier. You can set it for ultra low frequency where you barely perceive the change or to faster speeds that simulate Rhodes Piano stereo tremolo or a Leslie Organ speaker. This circuit can be used with synth level signals or with audio sources like guitars, organs, or microphones. You can change the gain of the input buffer very easily by changing the value of one resistor (called out in the circuit description).

This is an intermediate to advanced project and I do not recommend it as a first project if you are just getting started in synths or electronics. Only the circuit and some explanation are shown here. A lot of project building experience and electronics knowledge and equipment ownership (scope, meters, etc.) is taken for granted. If you are interested in building this project please read the entire page before ordering PC boards to ensure that the information provided is thorough enough for you to complete the project successfully.

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Please note that you are buying an un-populated PC board only. The glass epoxy, double sided, plated through-hole PC board is professionally manufactured, pre-drilled and silk-screened with a parts layout legend. You must purchase all of the parts for the project and build it yourself. But since that is the whole idea behind DIY (Do It Yourself) that's a good thing.


Stereo Panner PC Board (4.2" x 3.2")
Click for larger view (100K jpg) Click for larger view (100K jpg)

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Stereo Panner PC Board
(1) Stereo Panner PC Board $16.00


Stereo Panner Page 1 PDF

U1 and associated components comprise the voltage controlled LFO used to modulate the amplitude of the left and right output signals. Integrator U1-A and C2 works in conjunction with comparator U1-C and transconductance amp U2-A. U2-A controls the current that appears at the input of U1-A. Its transconductance is controlled by the control voltages summed by U3-A and level shifted by U3-B. When comparator output U1-C pin 8 is low (at approximately -11V) current flows into the transconductance amp and the integrator ramps up. When the ramp voltage exceeds the trip point plus hysteresis of comparator U1-C (and R15 and R9) it's output goes high (approximately +11V) and current flows out of the transconductance amp and the integrator ramps down until the negative trip point is reached and the comparator goes low. This cycle continues resulting in triangular oscillations of the voltage at the output of U1-A. U1-B is used to invert the U1-A integrator's triangle wave. Thus we have two triangle waves which are 180 degrees out of phase from one another. These signals are used to control the transconductance of the VCAs (U4-A and U4-B and associated components). The resulting output appears to float between the left and right outputs. U6 is used to buffer the input signal. The gain can be changed to suit your use. Gain formula is simply 1 + (value of R48 divided by the value of R47). If you are feeding in a high level signal like raw synth oscillators or module outputs (level of several volts) you may just want a gain of one which is accomplished by using a wire jumper for R48 and eliminating R47 and C5. Notice the changes needed to accommodate +/-15V if you use that voltage level (listed on schematic page 2). R8 is trimmed while observing both output channels on a scope while feeding in a test waveform (Suggest 1KHZ 1VPP triangle) and adjusting so that the peaks of the modulated signals of both channels are the same. R5 is trimmed while observing the same signal on both channels. Adjust R5 for the minimum desired signal level. If the small amount of DC offset in the output is a problem in your system you can add capacitors in series with the output current limiting resistors on both channels (suggested value 1uF).


Output Amplitude Symmetry Adjust PDF

Use R8 to adjust the maximum amplitude of the Left Output (LOUT) to match the maximum output of the Right Output (ROUT). R8 is trimmed while observing both output channels on a scope while feeding in a test waveform (Suggest 1KHZ 1VPP triangle) and adjusting so that the peaks of the modulated signals of both channels are the same amplitude.


Minimum Amplitude Adjust PDF

R5 is trimmed while observing the same signal on both channels. Adjust R5 for the minimum desired signal level. You can adjust R5 so that a small amount of signal remains on at the minimum level or so that no signal remains for a small period of time. In that case the minimum signal will be 0 and the valleys will be flat (at baseline) for a small time.


Stereo Panner Page 2 PDF

If you don't want to use the spin-up/spin down function then do not install any of the components within the magenta boxes on the PC board (R50, R55, R54, R53, U8, R49, D3, D4, R51, R52, D1, D2, U7, S1, LED1, C7, C6, S2, U9) because they will not be needed. This circuit provides a simple mechanism to generate two adjustable voltage levels to be fed to the CV input of the panner. Momentary N.O. pushbutton S1 is debounced by U7-A and associated components. U8-A is a flip flop wired as a toggler. The state of Q and /Q change each time the button is pressed since a clean low to high transition of the output of U7-A occurs each time the button is pressed. Note that /Q is fed to the data input. When a low to high transition is presented to the clock input the level of data on the D input is propogated to the Q output. /Q is always the opposite of Q and thus the toggling functionality. The Q and /Q outputs are used to apply voltage to either R52 or R54 via diodes D1 thru D4. Trim R51 for the high Leslie rate and R55 for the low Leslie rate. That way the LED will indicate high rate. Resistors R51 and R55 in conjunction with C7 provide lag time for the change from one voltage to another which causes the stereo tremolo to increase or decrease in rate in a manner similar to the mechanical rotors on a Leslie organ speaker. U9 buffers the voltage on C7. S2 is used to connect/disconnect the Leslie simulator output voltage to/from the CV input summer (U3-A).


PAY ATTENTION TO THE CHIP ORIENTATIONS THEY DO NOT ALL FACE THE SAME WAY!

Stereo Panner PCB Parts Layout (Parts Side Shown) PDF


Stereo Panner PCB Bottom Copper (Parts Side Shown)


Stereo Panner PCB Top Copper(Parts Side Shown)


THE BOARD CONNECTION FOR R46 POT WIPER IS CALLED "R43P2" ON THE BOARD.

Stereo Panner Panel Layout Example PDF


Stereo Panner Project Parts List

Substitutions
LM13700 - LM13600, NE5517, AU5517, NTE870
TL084 - Any quad bifet (or JFET) op amp (with matching pin-out)
TL082 - Any dual bifet (or JFET) op amp (with matching pin-out)
LF411 - Any single bifet (or JFET) op amp (with matching pin-out)
CD40106 - 74C14 (NOT HC CMOS)

Stereo Panner Parts List

Qty. Description Value Designators
1  CD40106  CD40106  U7  
1  CD4013 Dual D Flip Flop  CD4013-A  U8  
2  LF411 Op Amp(s)  LF411  U6, U9  
2  LM13700 Dual gm OpAmp(s)  LM13700  U2, U4  
2  TL082 Dual Op Amp(s)  TL082  U3, U5  
1  TL084 Quad Op Amp  TL084  U1  
1  General Purpose LED  GP-LED  LED1  
4  1N914 Sw. Diode(s)  1N914 or 1N4148  D3, D4, D1, D2  
8  Ceramic Capacitor (s)  .1uF  C4, C8, C9, C10, C12, C13, C14, C6  
1  Ceramic Capacitor (s)  1uF  C2  
3  Ceramic Capacitor (s)  47pF  C5, C1, C3  
2  Electrolytic Capacitor (s)  10uF  C11, C15  
1  Electrolytic Capacitor   47uF  C7  
1  Potentiometer  100K  R46  
3  Trim Pot(s)  100K  R8, R54, R52  
1  Trim Pot  1K  R5  
12  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  100K  R15, R35, R31, R38, R43, R2, R23, R41, R34, R30, R47, R50  
3  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  10K  R3, R40, R56  
1  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%  120K  R45  
2  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  15K  R20, R36  
3  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  1K  R22, R17, R32  
3  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  1M  R18, R33, R57  
5  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  20K  R10, R11, R29, R7, R53  
1  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%  220K  R19  
1  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%  270K  R9  
2  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  2K  R37, R21  
4  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  33K  R14, R27, R6, R28  
3  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  39K  R26, R13, R25  
1  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%  3K  R49  
2  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  4.7K  R24, R42  
1  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%  43K  R39  
5  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  47K  R44, R16, R12, R55, R51  
2  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%(s)  6.2K  R1, R4  
1  Resistor 1/4 Watt 5%  680K  R48  
1  SPST PB Switch  SPST  S1  
1  SPST Switch  SPST  S2  

Miscellaneous

  • (1) 4" x 10" 1/16" thick Aluminum plate for mounting the pots and switches.
  • Unit is typically mounted in a synth case with other synth modules.
  • Assorted hardware 1" 6-32 nuts and bolts, 1/2" #8 wood screws, etc
  • Knobs for potentiometers, wire, solder and typical assorted electronics hand tools.
  • Digital Volt Meter and a Signal Tracer or oscilloscope for testing.