Percall

Percall is a percussive oriented module that will shape four different sound sources into percussive sounds. Percall has four VCAs with dedicated decay envelopes and a mixer so that you can prepare a percussion submix.  (Source : befaco.org)

Freshly finished

As soon as Befaco introduced this module about 2 years ago, I wanted to have one.

However, at the time, available space in the suitcase and other priorities forced me to hold off.

Using my need for a new VCO and my choice of the Pony VCO, I upped my order to Befaco with a Percall kit.



This kit is qualified as "high grade", the maximum difficulty level at Befaco. And this is not misleading.  It is indeed the densest kit I have ever assembled.

Under construction

The two PCBs come grappled together.  This is unprecedented for me, and actually quite practical.
The instructions are basic and very clear. 

The PCB is dense. You have to be extra careful with the labelling, since some of the designations can be confusing if you are not paying attention. As usual, I proceeded methodically and slowly, in small sessions, highlighting the parts on the instructions as they were placed.

There were no particular issues with the soldering of the components.
 

Bob cuts components leads

 

Assembling the front panel was not as challenging as I expected.  I followed the instructions not to solder the parts before assembly, so that I could fit them precisely.  Small problem: I ended up with too few a black nut to fix the jacks.  Either I lost it or it was not in the kit.
It doesn't matter.  I used a plain old nut that was lying around in a drawer.
Did you notice it in the first picture?  I don't think so.

No empty space. The whole volume between the PCBs and the front panel seems to be occupied.

 

The boards before assembly

The edge

Here it is, mounted in the rack with its little friends. It gives me a nice envelope generation and manipulation section.

In the rack