Grenar, a throughhole version of the MI Branches

Name: Grenar, a throughhole version of the MI Branches
SKU: 32542
Price: 26.50 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 4.75 (4 reviews)

(4 Reviews)

A throughhole, one pcb version of the Mutable Instruments Branches, as close as the original as possible. Using an Arduino Nano as the MCU

Designed by Sourcery Studios in Sweden

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$26.50

Out of Stock

Sold out since Nov 03, 2024

A throughhole, one pcb version of the Mutable Instruments Branches, as close as the original as possible. Using an Arduino Nano as the MCU

NOW with the option of a preprogrammed Arduino with the latest firmware, for those of you who dont feel comfortable programming microcontrollers. Link to project video: https://youtu.be/t9voys-Swdw L…

NOW with the option of a preprogrammed Arduino with the latest firmware, for those of you who dont feel comfortable programming microcontrollers.

Link to project video: https://youtu.be/t9voys-Swdw Link to soldering video: https://youtu.be/qQuWpthCDKk Here is a quick video that shows how to get the .HEX file onto the Arduino Nano: https://youtu.be/VhN1RtcyU-E

What is it? The Grenar is the fourth Mutable Instruments module that I make in the "Modular in a Week" series. This is another "clone" that I have designed. It is as closely resembling the original in both design and parts, except for the fact that it is a through hole variant, using only throughhole components. One change is that instead of a ATMega88 MCU, an Arduino Nano is used, since it has a ATMega328MCU on the board, which basically is a newer version of the ATMega328. I also take advantage of the power regulator onboard the Nano to keep the parts count down on the Branches.

Why did you make it? In my ongoing youtube Series "Modular in a Week" I am working through modules that you can do that is MCU driven. And after doing Braids, Peaks, and Grids I wanted to make the Branches aswell as it is one of the easiest modules from Mutable Instruments (although it wasnt the easiest to make a project video about). And this is the result of that.

What makes it special? Well if you want a fully functional Mutable Instruments Branches, but dont want to pay for the original on the second hand market and you dont feel that Surface mount soldering is for you, then this kit could be an affordable way to go.

PLEASE OBSERVE IT IS SOLD WITHOUT THE ARDUINO NANO, WHICH HAVE TO BE SOURCED ELSEWHERE.

Here is one place I have bought Arduino Nanos for around 3$ nowadays

And here you can buy the knobs I use at a much better price for 30 pcs (6colors)

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Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (4.50)

Documentation: (4.75)

Shipping: (4.75)

Communication: (5.00)

Eelco | Oct. 17, 2024

Excellent clone, even fits a Grayscale panel

Not too many components, just the order in which you solder things needs some thought, especially with a shrouded power header. Anyway, all doable!
One question: in the original design there are no 100k trimpots, just 100k resistors. What can be tweaked with these trimpots, and how? To get the original, one can just trim them all the way to 100k, but there must have been an idea behind adding these trimpots?

EDIT: the answer is in the video: these were inserted in order to not have to change the code ... setting the trimpots is not obvious but a matter of trial-and-error, I guess.

Response from Sourcery Studios | Oct. 18, 2024

I rely quite heavily on people to "build it with me" with the video as a companion, so most tips and tricks are there. However this kit needed a small extra note because of the power header being in the way. This little note lies in the component bag. And I realize when writing this that when someone just buys the PCB and Panel I need to add this note to that aswell. Noted. :)
So the trimpots are there because using the not so exact regulator on the arduino nano clones sometimes skews the probability... So using the trimpots you can hone in so that when totally to one of the sides no gates are coming on the other channel. And as you say in your edit, its trial-and-error method that works best I guess. Shown in the video. I will add some note about this.
Thanks for the honest review :)

Martin | Oct. 3, 2024

Straightforward build...

...just needs some thinking in which order to solder jacks and sockets. Good PCB quality, nice look.

Jonas | July 11, 2024

Great module! Highly recommended!

Very fast shipping and a easy pleasant build. I freestyle'd most of the build with the exception of the parts that needed to go in a particular order. Watched some snippets from the build video to double check some things. I wish there were build videos for the modules I built when I started out, it's truly a luxury. The silkscreen is very clear so there is not much one can mess up.

I was a bit intimidated at first by flashing the Arduino with the hex file from linux but I pretty much copied and executed the avrdude line used by the Arduino IDE and it worked like a charm.

I've only verified that it works so far but I immediately got some sick beats out of it when playing around with it for only a couple of minutes.

Highly recommended in every regard! Looking forward to getting GRIS next. :)

PS thank you so much for the extra gift.

Tyler | Dec. 28, 2023

Fun build and a fantastic product with great documentation!

Received product in the US(California) from Sweden 10 days after ordering which was great. Built the module in about 2 hours and was a pretty straight forward build. Beautifully laid out board with only one PCB for control and mainboard. It gets a little tight in some places but should be ok for anyone that is comfortable soldering. Firmware was easy to load and works wonderfully! I have some multifunction modules (o_C and Europi) that I usually use for Bernoulli gates and this dedicated module will allow me to free those up for other uses.

$26.50