Synth Module Designer Help
N8 Synth’s Module Designer is a graphical tool for planning and optimising synthesizer module builds based on N8 Synth Eurorack Prototype Kits.
Like PCB or stripboard design software, the app lets you position components on virtual boards and perfect the layout before breaking out the soldering iron.
In addition to our Eurorack boards, the module designer can be used as design software for stripboard and breadboard circuits.
Table of Contents
GUI Overview
The key components of the user interface are as follows:
Main Menu – contains commands to open, save, export and review the Bill of Materials.
Component Toolbar – a collection of electronic components, boards and wires that can be added to the design.
Each button contains a class of components with variations available from the popout menus. Click a button to select the component to draw.
The buttons latch to the last selected variation for quick access when adding multiple components of the same type.
Component Modifers – commands that alter the position and orientation of components.
BOM & Cart – quick access to the Bill of Materials generated for the layout and your N8 Synth shopping basket.
Component Properties – displays the editable properties of the selected component, such as its value, reference name, footprint, colour and polarity.
Creating a new circuit layout
Start a new design by selecting New from the File Menu. If you are creating a Eurorack Module, the New From Template option prepopulates the new file with a standard Eurorack board configuration.
Along with the N8 Synth Eurorack Prototype boards, the application supports stripboard and sprung breadboards as the basis of the design. The appropriate boards can selected from the Boards button on the Component Tool Bar.
Tip: Solderable boards allow both the front and rear to be displayed.
Eurorack Module
Breadboard
Stripboard
Adding Components
To add components to the board, select them from the Component Toolbar and then use the mouse to “draw” them in the required position. A component can be repositioned by dragging its body or, for leaded components, by selecting them and dragging the handles on each lead. By default, the component’s reference label is visible and can be moved by the mouse.
Tip: Holding the Shift key while drawing a component allows you to draw multiple components without reselecting them from the toolbar.
Tip: Components snap to the holes in the board by default. Holding down the ALT key ( Option on MacOS ) allows them to be positioned freely.
Tip: Components, cut strips, and solder blobs can be added to the rear of boards
Select a Component
Draw the Component
Strips can be cut on rear of boards
Adding Wires
Wires are added to the board by selecting the wire’s colour from the Wire Button and then drawing it on the board with the mouse.
Tip: By default, wires are straight, and only the start and end positions can be edited. Intermediate points can be added by holding down the ALT key ( Option on MacOS ) while drawing the wire. With the ALT key held down, an intermediate point is created on mouse click. To remove an intermediate point, drag its handle over the start or end handles.
Tip: The control points of wires and leaded components snap to the board’s holes. Hold down the ALT key ( Option on MacOS ) to position them freely while dragging the control point.
Select a Wire
Drawing a Wire
Editing a Wire
Positioning Components and Wires
Align boards and labels
Boards and component labels can be aligned relative to each other. Select two or more boards or labels and select an alignment type. The selected elements will be aligned to the position of the last element selected.
Note: Components added to a board cannot be aligned this way as they automatically snap to the board’s holes.
Ordering Components
Components and wires can be ordered one above another.
Each component or wire is added to the board “above” the existing components. These controls allow components to be moved up or down relative to each other.
Rotate Components
With these controls, static components like jack sockets, pots, and Integrated Circuits can be rotated clockwise and anticlockwise to orient them to the board.
Note: Leaded components and wires can be rotated by dragging their control points.
Editing Components, Boards, and Wires
Locking Components
Lock – a component or board to stop it from being moved.
Unlock – a component or board to allow it to be moved.
Tip: Locking a board does not lock the components on the board. Locking a board stops it from being moved accidentally while positioning components.
Radial Components
Bend – a radial component, like an electrolytic capacitor, so that it lies flat (horizontal) to the board.
Standup – a radial component that has previously been bent over.
Flip – the polarity of a polarised component that has been bent over, reversing the positions of its anode and cathode.
Tip: A radial component that has been bent over can be rotated with the rotate controls.
Boards
Fade – lightens the colour of the selected board, increasing the contrast between the board and components. Components can also be faded.
Show/Hide Rear – of Eurorack style boards and stripboard. Showing the rear allows components to be placed on both sides.
Edit the header labels – of a Eurorack style board.
Tip: Header labels can be copied between boards via the edit menu.
Tip: Track cuts can be added to the rear of the stripboard, and solder bridges can be added to all boards. These are accessed from the Tools Component Button.
Editing Component Properties
When a component is selected, its editable properties are displayed in the Properties Panel. All components have Reference, Value, and Footprint properties. Some components have additional properties, such as their colour or polarity indication.
In general, properties are informational and are used to populate the Bill of Materials. An exception to this are resistors whose physical appearance is updated when their value is changed.
Several properties can be added to the drawing as labels. Clicking on the property’s name opens the controls for the property label, allowing the label’s visibility, colour and text size to be adjusted. Labels can be repositioned with the mouse.
Tip: Polarized components have a Polarity property that allows a label indicating the position of the anode or cathode to be added to the drawing.
Tip: Components are grouped by value on the Bill of Materials
Viewing and Exporting the Bill of Materials
The Bill of Materials (BOM) lists all the components added to the drawing. The BOM can be accessed from the dedicated button on the Component Modifiers Toolbar or the file menu.
The application displays an N8 Synth part number if it has been able to determine one. Generally, if the user changes the value of a component after creation, this information is lost. To add or modify the part number, click the lookup link and select the appropriate part from the Catalogue.
Components with an N8 Synth part number can be added to your N8 Synth cart. To add multiple components to the cart, tick the checkbox on the required rows and click Add Selected to Cart.
Tip: Your shopping cart can be reviewed via the Cart button on the Component Modifiers toolbar or on the main N8 Synth site
Tip: The BOM can be exported as a .CSV file by clicking the Download as CSV button at the top of the dialogue
