Shruthi Phoenix

Here you find all BOMs, Schematics, Firmware for Shruthi/Phoenix

Before I built my first Shruthi from Mutable Instruments I thought to myself, 'well, can't be a big thing. If it doesn't sound good or is just a toy then I sell it on E-BAY'.

I remembered the old machines I built in the 1980/90 like the Frormant module system or the Transcendent 2000.

Such a Shruthi - let's see .......

The Kit was assembled and put into operation. Oops - what the hell was that ?

I got a really good little analog synth.

I didn't expect anything like that and it totally blew me away.

No rushing, no cracking, deep basses, nice leads and a lot of wacky functions like a 12x modulation matrix or an ARP with different patterns and a step sequencer is also included.

This synth has 2 oscillators plus a sub oscillator, 2LFO'S,

2 ADSR an analog filter and much more.

An incredible little box.

First i was impressed from the achitecture. Shruthi ( ok let us call it Phoenix - it is the same instrument - only the name had changed because it is a brand of MI ) comes as two hardware parts .

the motherboard
the filterboard

The motherboard is the digital heart of the Phoenix. It generates the different digital waveforms of the two oscillators, the LFO's and the ADSR envelopes. .

The filterboard is the analog path. It contains the VCA and the filter circuit. Digital control voltages of the motherboard are converted to analog control voltages. The now analog control voltages control the individual function modules.

It is possible to connect different filterboards to the motherboard. A selection can be found below on this website.

All in all, for me it is one of the best sounding DIY synthesizer with a lot of features.

The DIY scill is middle .

Normally it should be not a great deals to solder it together and bring it alive .

what is the difference between the normal and XT Phoenix / Shruthi ?

the normal Phoenix has 4 potentiometers and an encoder. With it you can change the parameters and scroll through all menus and submenus.

die XT Version had 29 Potis and 19 switches for nearly all functions. .

However, the modulation matrix and some special functions must be entered directly - as with the normal Phoenix.

The sound is the same and also the firmware is the same .

It is possible to use all filterboards also for the XT.

For a full working XT you need the XT motherboard and one filterboard - and a case

Buy XT MOBO , go to the shop

Soundexamples Shruthi/Phoenix

and here

Soundexamples with different Filterboards

NEW: here is the home of the SHRUTHI/Phoenix filter PCB's

in preparation are the following filterboards

NEW: WASP filter for Shruthi > coming soon /KIT/PCB

DSP digital filter for Shruthi/Phoenix > available as a PCB+preproged Atmega **Kit maybe

SSM2044 filter for Shruthi/Phoenix > available as PCB ** Kit maybe

Here the actual filtertypes for the Phoenix

SMR4MK2, usefull for all kinds of sounds , very warm and nice 12/24dB switchable per jumper, this filter comes as a default filterboard with the kit, easy to solder and DIY friendly .If you will start with the Phoenix - use this filter. DIY level - easy/middle
Four pole mission, a nice filter with 15 differen filtertypes, a little colder than the SMR4MK2 but also very usefull for all kinds of electronic sounds - and very flexible. DIY level middle
Ladder Filter, sound is crunchy , and with soft distortion . LP only DIY level - easy/middle
Shruthacon, a steiner Parker filter , gives Phoenix a very special sound. Short bevor the self oscillation it boosts the overtones. Some people says - it is like Jimmy Hendrix on dope ..... DIY level - /middle
Yellow magic, a sallen key filter with an additional delay chip is also one of my favourites , special, but also nice for Tape delay effects. DIY level - easy/middle
Polivoks, greets from russia, based on the LM4250 chip and sounds like no other filter. Dirty and a little distorted DIY level - easy
Dual VCF,this filter board features 2 independent 2-pole state variable filters with low-pass, band-pass and high-pass modes, which can be routed in serial or parallel. The routing and mode switching is digitally controlled and can be stored in patches.
The CD4069 ,this Filter is a filter based on the CD4069 and similar to the EDP WASP Synthesizer filter from the 1980. It has LP and BP and 2 levels of distortion. From deep bass to screaming lead sounds, anything is possible - and much more. It can also be soft and unspectacular when distortion is off, but who wants that? DIY level middle