Soundlab Ultimate

Three Musically Accurate VCOs (sawtooth and variable width rectangular wave forms, pulse width modulation, hard-sync, log and linear CV inputs)
White Noise Generator
Active Mixer (for VCOs, noise and external input)
Voltage Controlled LP Filter (12db/Oct doubles as a sine wave oscillator)
Voltage Controlled Amplifier (log response)
Attack Release Envelope Generator
Two Low Frequency Oscillators (square, ramp, tri and sawtooth waveforms)
Repeat Gate Generator (doubles as another square wave LFO)
Sample & Hold
Attenuator Bank
Patch Panel Design

Ultimate Expander

A State Variable Voltage Controlled Filter (doubles as a 1V/oct sine wave oscillator over several octaves)
A Voltage Controlled Amplifier (expo response)
An ADSR Envelope Generator
A Four Channel Active Mixer
A One-In Three-Out Voltage Distributor
CV Inverter
An Analog Multiplier (Ring Modulator)
An External Signal Buffer
An Envelope Follower
Two Passive Voltage Attenuators
A Headphone Amplifier
Signal Routing and Buffering for The Sound Lab ULTIMATE
Patch Panel Design

Keyboard Controller

One Volt Per Octave
Four CV outputs
Two Outputs With Glide
Trigger and Gate Outputs

As I started building it was still an evolving idea - I had a rough idea of what I wanted it to look like when I was done, and engineered it as I built.

I got all the panel holes filled, all the IC sockets are providing homes for all the IC's.
The power supply will be a perfboard version of Ray Wilson's "WallWart Bi-Polar supply - it's still in the parts bin - but that's a quick build.
Just build a case, do all the flying wires and I'm done...right?

Stuffed the Keyboard controller board - and salvaged a keyboard from an old organ. Rear panel wiring is now done on the 'Ultimate' - I'll get that done on the expander next.

I started the flying wires connecting the Ultimate board and panel.
I got the VCO's wired and a couple other bits - there are a ton of wires on this thing. I'll chip away at this then start on the Expander and keyboard assembly.

"Ultimate" all wired up and powered up for the first time....

VCO 3 was not working initially - turned out to be a bad TL072. VCA did not work - I had placed a 1.8 ohm resistor rather than 1.8k resistor in the VCA circuit... Oops. Considering the size of the project I was pleased with those being the only issues.

Flying wires for the 'Expander' done and tested it. The only issue I had on it was the single 'jumper' required on the PCBoard. As far as I was able to see from the documentation there was no mention of this jumper. It's plainly marked on the board, but I just was not looking for it. Without the jumper in place the VCF does not work.

I used Oak for the case and mounted aluminum "L" stock around the edges for the front and rear panels. I used a "Dark Walnut" stain on the Oak.
I started on the flying wires for the Aux panels and got the PC boards mounted to the back panel. I used masonite for the back panel.

With the electronics pretty well done, I started on the keyboard case

I spent quite a lot of time trying to figure out how to attach the synth unit to the keyboard. I was initially looking for a fold down panel so I could easily transport the synth, but it became clear that was going to increase the complexity and size, so I decided to 'dock it', but with the ability to remove a couple bolts to allow removal of the synth unit.
Once that decision was made they keyboard case went together quickly.

Each has it's own power supply built in, but they operate from one supply while mated.

I built a small monitor amp (LM386) and speaker into the case - it's certainly not very loud, but allows me to play it (in a quiet room) without an additional amp, or having headphones on.
I'm quite happy with how the project turned out.
The VCO's were easy to calibrate to 1 volt/octave, and the keyboard works quite well.

It sounds great, stays in tune - and is very fun to play.