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2 layers200 × 100 mmPolykit x voice card, the printed circuit board in 3D

Polykit x voice card

polykit/polykit-x-voice-card58

Schematics and PCB layout for a voice card with multimode filter for a polyphonic synthesizer

Size
200 × 100 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
207
Nets
130
Pads
496
Tracks, vias
899, 19
Pours
2
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 6 (file 20211014)
Created
19 Jun 2022
Updated
9 May 2025

Overview

Polykit x voice card is an open-source printed circuit board by polykit, from the polykit/polykit-x-voice-card repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 200 × 100 mm with 207 parts on 130 nets, routed with 899 tracks and 19 vias.

It is built around the TL072 and CD4051BE. Its parts include 104 resistors, 40 capacitors, 10 ICs, 2 diodes and 1 transistor. It belongs with the audio and music boards of this library.

Main components

2

README

README.md

Polykit-X Voice Card

This repository contains schematics and Kicad PCB layout for a voice card with pole-mixing multimode filter. Multiple cards like this are typically used in a polyphonic synthesizer. It can also be used in a monophonic setup. There is only minimal additional circuitry like some pots, input jacks and voltage regulators needed.

Voice card specs:

  • Single oscillator with saw, triangle and pulse output
  • Multiple VCAs to blend between different input signals, a main VCA for the envelope and a panning VCA for stereo output
  • An additional external input that can be mixed in, eg. a noise signal
  • One envelope generator for the VCA. It can modulate filter frequency and resonance, also with an inverted signal
  • A pole-mixing multimode filter with 8 filter responses:
    • 4P LP
    • 2P LP
    • 4P HP
    • 2P HP
    • 4P BP
    • 2P BP
    • 3P AP + 1P LP
    • 4P N
  • There are multiple options two switch and blend between different signals and filter responses
  • PWM, FM and synchronization inputs

Video playlist on its functionality and design process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2grRbG7IwDw&list=PLUKLEU8jmlbHH4_13YZM0MI6ez4gYQPfy

Polykit-X Voice Card Rendering

Printed Circuit Boards

Geber files for PCB production can be downloaded here.

Pinout

Pin #DescriptionShortVoltage RangeTypeDirectionNote
1GroundGND
2+12V+12V
3-12V-12V
4+5V+5V
5-5V-5V
6Pitch controlPITCH±5VCV1
7PWMPWM0V to 5VCV
8FMFMSignal
9Soft syncSSYNCSignal
10Hard syncHSYNCSignal
11Envelope AttackADSR_A0V to -5VCV
12Envelope DecayADSR_D0V to -5VCV
13Envelope SustainADSR_S0V to 5VCV
14Envelope ReleaseADSR_R0V to -5VCV
15Envelope TriggerTRIG0V/5VTrig
16Envelope GateGATE0V/5VGate
17Envelope OutputADSR_OUT0V to 5VCV
18Enable saw signalSAW_ON0V/5VSwitch
19Enable triangle sig.TRIANGLE_ON0V/5VSwitch
20Enable ext. signalEXTERNAL_ON0V/5VSwitch
21Neg. freq. by ADSRFREQ_ADSR_NEQ0V/5VSwitch
22Freq. by ADSRFREQ_ADSR0V/5VSwitch
23Res. by ADSRRES_ADSR0V/5VSwitch
24Neg. res. by ADSRREF_ADSR_NEQ0V/5VSwitch
25Input level 1LVL10V to 5VCV
26Input level 2LVL20V to 5VCV
27VCAVCA_CV0V to 5VCV
28Output panningPAN_CV-2V to 2VCV
29External inputEXTERNAL_INSignal
30Freq. controlFREQ_CV0V to 5VCV
31Res. controlRES_CV0V to 5VCV
32Filter mode AFILTER_MODE_A0V/5VSwitch
33Filter mode BFILTER_MODE_B0V/5VSwitch
34Filter mode CFILTER_MODE_C0V/5VSwitch
35Output leftOUT_LSignal2
36Output rightOUT_RSignal2

Note 1: A 100k ohm resistor on pitch CV input is needed. Multiple CV sources can be added by using multiple resistors in parallel

Note 2: Max. output volume can be adjusted by changing R32/R33

Filter modes

#C B AFilter response
00 0 04P LP
10 0 12P LP
20 1 04P HP
30 1 12P HP
41 0 04P BP
51 0 12P BP
61 1 03P AP + 1P LP
71 1 14P N

Select filter mode on pins 32-34

0=GND, 1=5V

Tuning Procedure

VCO

You need a control voltage 1V/octave source like a keyboard or two fixed, precise voltages in order to tune the VCO. Also a tuning device or a mobile tuning app is needed.

RV3 (TUNE) is for trimming the overall tune, RV5 (SCALE) is for adjusting the distance between two notes.

Take two notes that are one octave apart, eg. C3 and C4. play the first note and trim RV3 to that note.

Now go back and forth between both notes and adjust RV5 so that the correct distance between them gets closer. The first note will drift away while doing this so go back to it by adjusting RV3 again from time to time. Repeat this until both notes are perfectly in tune.

RV4 (HFT) is for trimming the higher frequencies if neccessary.

BOM

ReferenceQntyValueDescription
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C17, C18, C19, C20, C22, C27, C28, C33, C34, C35, C36, C37, C38, C39, C4021100nUnpolarized capacitor
C7, C9, C13, C14, C15, C1662,2uFPolarized capacitor
C8,1330pUnpolarized capacitor, film or mylar
C10, C11, C12333nUnpolarized capacitor, film or mylar
C21, C2321nUnpolarized capacitor
C24, C25, C29, C30410nUnpolarized capacitor
C2611n*Unpolarized capacitor, *polypropylene or similar
C31110n*Unpolarized capacitor, *polypropylene or similar
C32133n*Unpolarized capacitor, *polypropylene or similar
D111N4148100V 0.15A standard switching diode, DO-35
D21LED3mm
J11Conn_01x36Pin header 2.54mm 1x36pin 90 degree angle
Q112N3904NPN Transistor, TO-92
R1, R3, R4, R43, R4451MResistor
R2, R28, R29, R38, R424470kResistor
R5, R6, R7, R21, R22, R24, R25, R54, R55, R56, R60, R63, R68, R73, R74, R75, R76, R93, R101, R102, R1032110kResistor
R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R18, R19, R20, R69, R70, R7114100kResistor
R16, R17, R23320kResistor
R26, R27, R41, R72468kResistor
R30, R31, R34, R35, R37, R64, R65, R66, R6791kResistor
R32, R33, R36, R62433kResistor
R39, R40222kResistor
R451330kResistor
R4611M5Resistor
R47, R48, R57, R58, R595470Resistor
R49124kResistor
R5015k6Resistor
R5111k8Resistor
R52110MResistor
R53147kResistor
R611680Resistor
R77, R79, R80, R81, R82, R86, R87, R89, R90, R91, R92, R961230kResistor
R78, R88, R97, R98, R99, R100615kResistor
R83, R85, R9537k5Resistor
R84, R9424k99Resistor
R10414k7Resistor
RV1110k NEG_RES_OFFSETTrim-potentiometer
RV2110k NEG_FREQ_OFFSETTrim-potentiometer
RV3110k TUNETrim-potentiometer
RV4110k HFTTrim-potentiometer
RV5110k SCALETrim-potentiometer
U1, U324016Quad Analog Switches
U21TL072Dual Low-Noise JFET-Input Operational Amplifiers, DIP-8/SOIC-8
U4, U8, U93TL074Quad Low-Noise JFET-Input Operational Amplifiers, DIP-14/SOIC-14
U51AS3372E4-pole VCF, dual channel input mixer, VCA, panning VCA
U61AS3340Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO), DIP-16/SOIC-16
U71AS3310ADSR Voltage Controlled Envelope Generator, DIP-16/SOIC-16
U101CD4051BCMOS single 8-channel analog multiplexer demultiplexer, TSSOP-16/DIP-16/SOIC-16

References

Article on Pole Mixing Filters: https://electricdruid.net/multimode-filters-part-2-pole-mixing-filters

Oberheim Matrix-12 Service Manual: https://archive.org/details/oberheim_MATRIX-12_SERVICE_MANUAL

Oberheim Xpander Service Manual: https://archive.org/details/oberheim_XPANDER_SERVICE_MANUAL

Sequential Prophet T8 Service Manual: https://archive.org/details/sm_SCI_T8_Service_Manual_Complete_sm

AS3372E Datasheet: https://www.ericasynths.lv/media/AS3372E.pdf

AS3310 Datasheet: https://www.alfarzpp.lv/eng/sc/AS3310.pdf

AS3340 Datasheet: https://www.alfarzpp.lv/eng/sc/AS3340.pdf

Parts

207
QtyValueFootprintReferences
24LOGOPolykit:blitz-silk-supertinyG***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G*** +8
21100nCapacitor_THT:C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mmC1, C2, C3, C17, C18, C19, C20, C22, C27, C28, C33, C34, C35, C36, C37, C38 +5
2110kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR5, R6, R7, R21, R22, R24, R25, R54, R55, R56, R60, R63, R68, R101, R102, R103 +5
18LOGOPolykit:star-silk-tinyG***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G***, G*** +2
14100kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R18, R19, R20, R69, R70, R71
1230kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR77, R79, R80, R81, R82, R86, R87, R89, R90, R91, R92, R96
91kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR30, R31, R34, R35, R37, R64, R65, R66, R67
615kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR78, R88, R97, R98, R99, R100
62u2Capacitor_THT:CP_Radial_D5.0mm_P2.00mmC7, C9, C13, C14, C15, C16
51MResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR1, R3, R4, R43, R44
5470Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR47, R48, R57, R58, R59
5470kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR2, R28, R29, R38, R42
410nCapacitor_THT:C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mmC24, C25, C29, C30
433kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR32, R33, R36, R62
468kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR26, R27, R41, R72
320kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR16, R17, R23
333nCapacitor_THT:C_Rect_L7.2mm_W3.0mm_P5.00mm_FKS2_FKP2_MKS2_MKP2C10, C11, C12
37k5Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR83, R85, R95
3TL074Package_DIP:DIP-14_W7.62mm_Socket_LongPadsU4, U8, U9
21nCapacitor_THT:C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mmC21, C23
222kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR39, R40
24066Package_DIP:DIP-14_W7.62mm_Socket_LongPadsU1, U3
24k99Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR84, R94
110MResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR52
110k HFTPotentiometer_THT:Potentiometer_Bourns_3296W_VerticalRV4
110k NEG_FREQ_OFFSETPotentiometer_THT:Potentiometer_Bourns_3296W_VerticalRV2
110k NEG_RES_OFFSETPotentiometer_THT:Potentiometer_Bourns_3296W_VerticalRV1
110k SCALEPotentiometer_THT:Potentiometer_Bourns_3296W_VerticalRV5
110k TUNEPotentiometer_THT:Potentiometer_Bourns_3296W_VerticalRV3
110n*Capacitor_THT:C_Rect_L7.2mm_W5.5mm_P5.00mm_FKS2_FKP2_MKS2_MKP2C31
11M5Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR46
11N4148Diode_THT:D_DO-35_SOD27_P7.62mm_HorizontalD1
11k8Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR51
11n*Capacitor_THT:C_Rect_L7.2mm_W4.5mm_P5.00mm_FKS2_FKP2_MKS2_MKP2C26
124kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR49
12N3904Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-92_Inline_WideQ1
1330kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR45
1330pCapacitor_THT:C_Rect_L7.2mm_W3.0mm_P5.00mm_FKS2_FKP2_MKS2_MKP2C8
133n*Capacitor_THT:C_Rect_L7.2mm_W5.5mm_P5.00mm_FKS2_FKP2_MKS2_MKP2C32
147kResistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR53
14k7Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR104
15k6Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR50
1680Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_HorizontalR61
1AS3310Package_DIP:DIP-16_W7.62mm_Socket_LongPadsU7
1AS3340Package_DIP:DIP-16_W7.62mm_Socket_LongPadsU6
1AS3372EPackage_DIP:DIP-24_W7.62mm_Socket_LongPadsU5
1CD4051BPackage_DIP:DIP-16_W7.62mm_Socket_LongPadsU10
1Conn_01x36Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x36_P2.54mm_HorizontalJ1
1LEDLED_THT:LED_D3.0mmD2
1LOGOPolykit:bär-smallG***
1LOGOPolykit:logo-silk-2.5cmG***
1TL072Package_DIP:DIP-8_W7.62mm_Socket_LongPadsU2

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Questions

How big is the Polykit x voice card PCB?

It measures 200 × 100 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the Polykit x voice card use?

207 parts, built around the TL072 and CD4051BE. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the Polykit x voice card KiCad files?

From the polykit/polykit-x-voice-card repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is polykit-x-voice-card.kicad_pcb and its schematic AS3310.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the Polykit x voice card design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask polykit before reusing the design.