MODULE CLUSTER NUMBER 410

The only module that completely ignores the “Model” name and takes a left field turn into “Number” territory. The 410 Module Cluster is a module that Don contractually delivered to CBS during the acquisition, as part of a small system known as the Electronic Music System #3. This later became known in the depths of the web as the CBS Performance System 3, which is not actually the working title, but a good example of how the language gets altered as time passes by. The Electronic Music System #3 consisted of a 410 Module Cluster, 258 Dual Oscillator, 242 Programmable Pulser, and a 216 Touch Activated Voltage Source keyboard.

The 410 is a pseudo “best of 100” module brought into the age of integrated circuits, where most of the designs were reworked to take up less real estate now that the venerable 741 IC was available. It’s very apparent in the design that this was obligatory and done hastily. The schematics? Totally unreliable and will result in a non-working module. To make matters more difficult, the module runs on a multitude of voltages and utilizes external cards for amplifier circuits and reverb drivers, making the replication a difficult process. But, it is currently underway and boards are complete.

This specimen is owned by renowned session drummer Chris Whitten in the UK, who graciously took the time and went above and beyond to help us document this module, to which we owe him a great debt. Photos of the panel are screen grabs from one of his informative videos on drum sample creation, you can watch this here.

The PCB

The 410’s mainboard is huge, clocking in at almost 18.5” long. Many kludges on this board, with parts tacked on. The reverb/amp cards are housed in a metal enclosure with the rest of the supply components, so most of that had to be traced back to the mainboard.

410 RECREATION

Efforts to recreate the 410 are currently underway. Here are some photos of the progress so far.