All About Castle (DIY) Series
Category: Legacy Docs · Tags: castle, diy, eurorack · Posts: 16
#1 — souka · 2020-06-17
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-000-adcDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The Analog to Digital Converter is used to change an analog input signal in to a 3-Bit data stream.
Link: Castle 000 ADC
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-001-dacDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The Digital to Analog Converter is a dual module to convert two 3-Bit data streams into two Analog approximations.
Link: Castle 001 DAC
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-010-clock-vcoDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The Clock VCO is a square wave Voltage Controlled Oscillator with a linear response to CV.
Link: Castle 010 Clock VCO
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-011-shift-registerDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The Shift Register is a 4 position memory of sorts.
Link: Castle 011 Shift Register
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-100-multi-gateDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The Multi-Logic Gate has 2 inputs and XNOR, XOR, NOR, OR, NAND, and AND outputs.
Link: Castle 100 Multi Gate
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-101-quad-gateDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The Quad Gate uses a single quad logic chip and combines them in 4 different ways.
Link: Castle 101 Quad Gate
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-110-counterDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The Counter is a 4-Bit clock counter/divider.
Link: Castle 110 Counter
https://lzxindustries.net/products/castle-111-d-flip-flopsDIY PCB & Frontpanel Set The D Flip Flops are three D type Flip Flops that share a common Clock and Reset.
Link: Castle 111 D Flip Flops
Image retrieved from here.
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKWq8sLfRFc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFjMQdSPDog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9SoFTBIOYQ>> Hello hello, > Here is a repost, in a more permanent place, of the live stream Castle Demonstration I did back in April 2018. > It’s a long one, feel free to skip around. > If any intrepid souls want to time stamp sections I would love that > 
>>>> > anyway, here it is.>
Specifications
MEASUREMENT DISCLAIMERI have personally measured the PCB depths. Those measures relate to the specificied board revisions. I do not know if this measurement is fixed between revisions. Measurements are fairly accurate, margin of error should be within the 0.5mm range.
POWER CONSUMPTION DISCLAIMERThe table indicated power consumption values have been collected from THONK on 17/06/2020. I do not know if this applies to the specificed board revisions.
MODULEREVISIONWIDTHDEPTH (PCB)+12V CONSUMPTION-12V CONSUMPTION000 ADCRevD4HP56mm21mA28mA001 DACRevD4HP41mm3mA4mA010 CLOCK VCORevE4HP51mm9mA7mA011 SHIFT REGISTERRevD4HP51mm21mA43mA100 MULTI GATERevD4HP57mm28mA40mA101 QUAD GATERevD4HP51mm31mA55mA110 COUNTERRevD4HP51mm39mA39mA111 D FLIP FLOPSRevD4HP51mmTBDTBD
Build Notes
@mrfang warns that, according to @pbalj, for the 000 ADC RevD, the polarity markings for C18 are reversed:
Castle ADC has reversed markings for the polarity of C18, on at least Rev D. Phil mentioned this in a message but I don’t think it’s documented anywhere. Builders beware.> That error only applies to rev d, there has since been a rev e>
Castle System Concept Overview
The Castle series is a system of binary modules. > What is binary? > Binary is discrete ON/Off, 1/0, High/Low. There can only be two states in binary. In the Castle series the transition from low to high is at 0.5V. A single binary bit would only give on or off, but the Castle series was designed to utilize 3-Bit data streams. That means 3 single bits are processed in parallel, much like processing RGB. > 3-Bit Data Streams > This combination of 3-Bits gives you 8 possible combinations or values. …>
Complete LZX Castle series manual (DIY kit version)
Castle is based around 3-bit binary digital signals: >>> Imagine 3-bit binary like an 8 layer cake. All combinations of 3 bits create 8 possible values. Ever seen NTSC color bars? If you send 3-bit binary into RGB, you get those colors. > All the inputs on the modules are comparators, so they can perform a 1-bit conversion of an analog signal: >>> The ADC module slices analog voltages up into 3-bit binary numbers: >>> If you patch a triangle waveform into the ADC, you get a step pyramid waveform out…>
LZX Castle Mod Thread
Let’s make this a Castle Modding Thread! > (as the > [Cadet Modding thread](/forum/t/213/)> already exists) > I’ll start: > Today I added a LDR to a Castle ADC gain potmeter, and it works extremely well! > pot pins 1 & 2 > so next up is voltage control. > I’ll also try the Bias pot.>
Patching Tutorials
At the end of this exercise you should be able to digitize a video source and create a posterize effect. The first piece of gear I saw posterize on was on my first video mixer, the Panasonic MX-10, it had a rotary switch that you could use to select how many ‘slices’ of Posterizing you would have. You can do the same with this patch by removing any of the Data outputs from the DAC. Tools needed for this exercise are: Castle ADC, Castle DAC, and a video source. > First take your luma video source,…> At the end of this exercise you should be able to *pixelate a digitized video source. This exercise expands upon the previous exercise; Castle Patching 001: Digitizing Luma Video Sources. I call this a digital sample and hold because like an analog sample and hold this will hold the 3-bit binary value at the D0-D2 inputs at the rising edge of an incoming clock signal until the next clock pulse comes in. The held value appears at the D0-D2 outputs. > Tools needed for this exercise are: Castle ADC,…>
Other Resources
- LZX Community Forum posts tagged #castle
- JonDent - Exploring Electronic Music: LZX - Castle -Modular synth
- Reverselandfill’s LZX Castle patch template images
- Phil Baljeu’s “Secret LZX Castle Playlist”
- LZX Industries Product Documentation
#2 — pbalj · 2020-06-17
thank you!! love that this has been compiled here.
#3 — mrfang · 2021-04-01
Castle ADC has reversed markings for the polarity of C18, on at least Rev D. Phil mentioned this in a message but I don’t think it’s documented anywhere. Builders beware.
#4 — souka · 2021-04-01
Will add to the main post, cheers for the warning.
Mine needs a resoldering then
#5 — saiteron · 2021-04-01
really? i don’t still have one around to check the PCB version but i just built a bunch according to polarity found on silkscreen with PCBs ordered from LZX and they all passed testing just fine with no exploding caps anywhere to be found. can anyone else confirm that this is still an issue on the current PCB version?
#6 — reverselandfill · 2021-04-01
yeah, I just checked the schematic. it is reversed.
mine also work fine, but to switch it around would be better!
as for the official pcb, you have to check it yourself. I made my own custom pcbs.
screenshot of rev D (where the error is)
#7 — sean · 2021-04-01
For those of us in the cheap seats (i.e. that don’t understand the electronics), what is that part doing (or not doing) that its polarity can be reversed yet the module still seemingly work as intended?
#8 — saiteron · 2021-04-01
reverselandfill wrote:
yeah, I just checked the schematic. it is reversed.
thanks for confirming! will do what i can to rectify the situation with people i’ve shipped modules to.
sean wrote:
what is that part doing (or not doing)
it looks to me like it’s a noise filter for the output of the voltage regulator (U9). not sure why it would work just fine with it facing the other way though - maybe not enough juice running through it to cause it to pop? in any case it’s likely not doing the filtering it’s supposed to be doing with it facing the wrong way.
#9 — pbalj · 2021-04-02
That error only applies to rev d, there has since been a rev e
#11 — bentoncbainbridge · 2021-08-08
What is the tool to loosen and tighten the nuts on the jacks? Also seeking part number for the washers. Thanks!
#12 — Rik_bS · 2021-08-08
Mouser part 382-0006
Xicon KNURLED NUT DRIVER
As for washers, I’d like to know too - could probably measure and seek a shim washer to suit but that takes more time than I’d bother with
#13 — saiteron · 2021-08-08
the 382-0006 rik mentioned doesn’t fit all knurled nuts perfectly (some have notches that are too tight) but if you have a Dremel or sander of some kind you can sand the nubs so they fit. i sell modified nut drivers for $12 + $5 shipping but i’m on vacation for most of August… still feel free to PM if interested & i’ll hit you up when i get back home.
#14 — bentoncbainbridge · 2021-08-08
I’d like to buy when you’re ready! Do you sell the nuts and washers too?
#15 — saiteron · 2021-08-08
i sell the knurled nuts but no washers for the jacks. i do have nuts/washers for potentiometers tho. moving this convo to PM to avoid cluttering the thread
#16 — phosphenes · 2022-06-13
Has anyone played about with a Turing machine module with the castle series? Could see a semi-random sequencer working really well with the counters and flip flops