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@@mwmacp Thank you! Good pointers! I’m using 0.8 mm solder and I switched out my default Hakko tip for a T18-B/P cone tip. I never thought to switch to thinner solder for SMD. Good to know!

Yeah I couldn't get past the intro because the background music was so....cacophonous

😂

Yeah, I’m a noise guy :) Lots of Befaco Noise Plethora in this one.

Thank you very much!

This was mentioned it in the intro - Originally he would unplug the other modules in the rack just in case the module under test messed up the power supply.

I have a 104hp case with a power supply and I would unplug everything else from that power supply to test whatever new module I was working on. Now I don’t have to do that anymore.

I used the schematic on Befaco's website to trace which connections fed into that display, worked on the ones I could reach without removing the potentiometer, and then once those were eliminated, knew I'd have to remove the pot to get at the remaining ones. It was basically educated trial-and-error.

@mtodead Ah, right. The schematic! This is my first eurorack kit and I am in process of troubleshooting an unresponsive YB CV IN jack. I tried to reflow the connections to the jack without any luck. I know the op amp down the line works because the YB pot works. I'm thinking that either the contacts in the jack are malformed or maybe the resistor before the op amp has a bad connection. Hoping it's the resistor because I don't feel like desoldering and replacing the jack. Thanks for replying! Keep makin' some noise!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Also do you have any tools you'd recommend? I bought a soldering iron but i don't know which solder to buy or what other tools might be helpful other than a multi meter, tweezer, pliers and some wire clippers.

Noise Plethora is the most difficult Befaco build I've done. (Mutable Rings was harder). Watch my video on building the Noise Plethora, I ended up having to hack the Cutoff1 potentiometer because I messed up the pogo pins underneath it. I'd say put off Noise Plethora until you've done enough kits that you know you feel comfortable. For Befaco stuff, kits like Kickall, Dual Atenuverter, Out, STMix and VC ADSR are pretty easy. Also, check out Zlob Modular stuff, especially Diode Chaos, which you can get off Amazon for ~$55. Amazon also has Gikfun practice soldering kits, maybe look into one of those, as they're usually less than $10. Practice before attempting a Noise Plethora, maybe consider doing an Ornament & Crime kit so you have some experience dealing with Teensy and Pogo Pin stuff.

@@TheMachinesWon Don't use a soldering iron, use a work station, something that you can control the temperature. I use the Hakko FX888D which a lot of DIY'ers love, but is over $100. There's a Weller one for about half that, but you need to be able to control the temperature and have it at 350 degrees C, and irons are often unreliable. If you're using an iron and it feels like you're constantly fighting, chances are the temperature isn't right. Aside from that, a multimeter is good for continuity checks (something I forgot to do with the Percall, but I demonstrate in the Noise Plethora video), you will need wire cutters to clip the legs of resistors, diodes, and the like. When looking for tweezers, you want something that's NOT magnetic, and needle noise pliers always come in handy. You'll probably also want a desoldering pump (aka "solder sucker") and/or desoldering braid in case you make mistakes. I highly recommend watching other DIY eurorack build videos too. Molten Music Technology has a bunch, that's what got me started. Also check out Skinpop, Synth DIY Guy, and Domestic Music Scene.

Oh, and if you do use a soldering iron, 25W is not good enough. I built a Paia 9700s back in 2007 using a 25W Weller soldering iron and... yeah, do not recommend. If you go the iron route, I believe the minimum wattage you want is 40W, but definitely search for more info on that.

@@mtodead thanks for the additional tips, I’ve watched Robins videos at MM. will def look into getting the right set up as you detailed for the best case scenario. That being said is the percall a tall order as a second build you think? I’m def gonna hold off on noise plethora per your suggestion. I saw both u and robin mention issues with the build at points which doesn’t sound fun lol.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thanks! I feel like it's out of focus, though. It's my first video camera ever, I've been recording these videos with an old iPhone SE. I decided to get a camera because I'd like to start recording some of my kit builds.

Thanks!

Thank you! The Zlob Triple Cap Chaos really shines with an oscillator going through it! I was surprised by just how nasty it sounded.

My first STM32 microprocessor had two circular markings on it on opposite corners - a larger one and a smaller one. I thought the larger one was the pin 1 marking, but it wasn't, so I had soldered it in upside-down. It powered on okay, it just didn't work. Once I realized it was the wrong way, I spent 3 hours trying to desolder a 64-pin chip with an iron and some desoldering wick. It did not work. By the time I had bought a hot air reflow station, I think the chip and/or the pads were already ruined, but I didn't realize it. Once the chip was oriented correctly, when I powered it on, the resistor at R2 popped with smoke coming out, and I think it also cracked the MCP6002 op amp.

@@mtodead Oh god, see that's why I don't even try, I would burn my house down! Respect for keeping at it! 👊

Thank you!