MRG VCA (2nd gen) Assembly Guide

Theory of operation:

  1. If you bought the PCB+Panel+IC only, acquire needed components (See Bill of Materials . All components used in this guide are already included in the full DIY kit.
  2. Build the Main PCB.
  3. Build the Front PCB.
  4. Install the front panel.

Main PCB build

Step A1. Solder the two 8-pin PDIP sockets.

Step A2. Solder the linear voltage regulators and the electrolytic capacitors.

NB: In the below picture the left electrolytic capacitor is put in the wrong way! It should have the same alignment as the cap on the right.

Step A3. Turn the board and solder the 14-pin PDIP socket and the 10-pin header Eurorack power connector.

Everything apart from the two 14-pin headers are soldered on the board now. It is time to solder the front PCB.

Front PCB Build

Step C1. Check the alignment of the PCB (label U1 is the top row), arrange the jack sockets and the potentiometers.

Step C2. Solder the components. Tip: in order to be sure to align the components to the front panel, install the front panel as in photo below and solder the components on the back.

Step C3. Solder the socket headers. Tip: In order to align the Main PCB’s pin headers to the Front PCB’s socket headers, assemble the two PCBs together, as in picture, and solder them in place.

Step C4. Insert ICs in the sockets.

NB: In the below picture the left electrolytic capacitor is put in the wrong way! It should have the same alignment as the cap on the right.

Congratulations! The build is nearly done.

Final Module Assembly

All that’s left now is to install the front panel, using nuts and washers to keep it attached, and adding the knobs to the potentiometers.

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