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Created by
 Western Graphics
Last modified
 08 February, 2006
 

AM2000 Module - Blacet Dark Star

Overview This module is a Blacet Research Dark Star, using one of the last PCB's made by Blacet in 2003. It provides a digital noise source with variable clock, plus a noise filter, LFO, VCO, VCA and envelope  generator; a complete SFX synthesizer in just one unit.

It can be used to simulate surf, wind, rain, cymbal, explosion,  spaceships hurtling across the void and warping out type sounds. More information on this amazing module can be found on the Blacet Reaerch web site. more »

Circuit The Dark Star is based around the Texas Instruments SN76477 Sound FX generator chip, introduced back in 1978. These chips are hard to get hold of now, but Blacet still have a supply of PCB's and chips left - but no front panels.

There are plenty more circuit ideas based on the SN76477 chip which were published around 1980. Check this site for further information. more »



Build The Blacet PCB is of a high standard and it's easy enough to source and fit all the components. Mounting the PCB to the standard AM front panel required some extra thought, as the standard Blacet layout is much tighter than the spacious design we have gone for. However a solution was soon found, alternate potentiometers were mounted directly onto the PCB. ECO pot soldering brackets were then fitted, so that the PCB was held at 90 degrees. This works really well, and the Dark Star fits onto a standard 90mm AM panel.

The Dark Star uses ECO pots (they were lying around unused), and they have a 6.0mm diameter shaft. Standard AM knobs are used and there is a single Red LED mounted in a LED clip. Cool!

* Blacet Resaerch
     Web Site  more »
 

* SN76477 Datasheet and
     Applications more »
 

* Front Panel .fpd file
 

* MP3 Demo

  Coming soon...