LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER: VCS3 Clones, Mods & Voltage Mayhem

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER kicks things off surrounded by the two hefty VCS3 clones he built last year, products of the Cloney project and a bit of synth-lust after a stint at Goldsmiths. These aren’t just showpieces; they were built for live action at the Electro Notes concert and inspired by an encounter with the rare VCS4. If you’re after the full history lesson, the links are in the video, but the main thing is: these machines were made to be used, not just dust magnets.

Of course, in true LMNC fashion, the builds weren’t exactly plug-and-play. Initial gremlins included a dead envelope generator and some oscillators that refused to oscillate – classic DIY synth drama. But after some head-scratching and a few “silly errors,” both clones were up and running. They’ve seen some action at synth nights and museum gigs, but issues kept them from being daily drivers. Now, with a few more tricks up his sleeve, LMNC is ready to take these clones further.

Next up: the art of making ancient gear speak modern. LMNC sets the stage for his Frankenstein converter—no off-the-shelf solution here, just raw DIY energy. The challenge? The VCS3’s stubborn third-of-a-volt per octave standard, totally at odds with today’s volt-per-octave synth world. Forget universal plug-and-play; these old beasts need translation just to jam with a modern sequencer.

The plan is to build a passive converter using classic Jones plugs and some multicore cable, aiming to wire up both clones for maximum flexibility. LMNC isn’t shy about the quirks: positive versus negative voltages, resistor math, and the joys of bulky connectors straight out of wartime tech. If you’ve ever wanted to see someone wrestle with synth history, this is the bit. And yes, he could have drilled extra holes, but thankfully, patience won out.

Time to get precise. LMNC dives into the dark art of tuning these VCS3 clones, where a twist of a knob can throw everything out of key faster than you can say ‘out of tune.’ Calibration here isn’t for the faint-hearted—think voltage dividers, resistor juggling, and the ever-present curse of analog drift. He opts for a straightforward voltage divider circuit, spiced up with a 10k potentiometer for some adjustment. It’s simple in theory, but in practice, the world is rarely that forgiving.

The video makes it clear: if you want to play in tune, you’d better have a good ear and a light touch. Even with the new converter, a bumped knob spells disaster mid-gig. LMNC admits some of this might be down to the synths themselves drifting, but the approach is pure hack-and-hope—just the way we like it. He even apologises for his bloody knuckles, a badge of honour in the DIY scene.

Now for the main event: sonic carnage. LMNC puts his converter to work, patching the BeatStep Pro and Cosmo into the VCS3s for sequenced mayhem. The result? Warbly drones, ratcheting sequences, and plenty of knob-twiddling chaos. The video shows off the raw, dirty potential of these mods—definitely the kind of thing you need to hear for yourself.

Patch cables fly, oscillators drone, and even the third oscillator gets in on the action as a detuned underbelly. It’s messy, unpredictable, and pure LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER. If you want the full impact—sonic grit, voltage flair, and the feel of a rave bunker in your front room—you’ll have to watch the video. Trust us, the sound alone is worth the click.