I built a Serge paperface modular synthesizer

Ok, let's break this down. What are we talking about, and how tiny of a niche is this?

Start with the main topic and then break it down:

1. Music

2. Electronic Music

3. Hardware-based electronic music

4. Modular synthesis

5. Circa 73-75, Los Angeles, Cal-Arts scene with Serge Tcherepnin

6. 4U Modular synthesizer Paperface panels from DIY builds

That's 5 niches deeper than our main topic: Music.

And most people could care less after #2, once they've defined the genre.

All this to say, this is some deep, PHD-level, nerdy-ass synthy shit.

So why the interest in DIY and specifically in the 4U format?

Well, my DIY interest started as a kid with Heath Kits (aging myself here) and then haven't returned, but have always missed the smell of solder and the feeling of making something from electronic components. So seeing a lot of the DIY scene in eurorack, I've been itching to get going again.

But, my interest in the 4U format takes a little more splainin', Lucy.

I got into Eurorack (ie: 3U. Three rack spaces in height) in 2018, and until about a year ago, the GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) was so bad that I could barely make music. I was totally into (and yet lost in) this huge franken-synth of a system comprised of modules from many manufacturers with their own rules, problems, successes, and paradigms. Sound familiar?

In fact, I'd see the Make Noise shared system, and other systems made of only one manufacturer and wonder WHY ON EARTH you'd want to limit yourself to the modules of one creator. Now I see it differently.

Distractions of shiny pennies..everywhere!

I see a lot of my eurorack situation as distractions from the main thing I'm here for : learning SYNTHESIS and making music. I love synthesis so much. I'm totally fascinated...smitten?

But the GAS thing...I have to accept that this problem is on me...

I've gone down the rabbit hole of the next shiny penny like so many of my friends and contemporaries. It's hard. The innovations are incredible...and constant, especially in the digital domain. But in my humble opinion, the eurorack industry is incredibly over-saturated right now. Everything has been done. We all have some amazing digital modules that do 70 things really well and are also, sadly, barely usable with all the shift functions, menus, and over-engineering.

I've been longing for simplicity. No screens, and back to the basics of synthesis - not the latest update to a module's firmware. This isn't an analog vs. digital thing either, btw. I love my samplers and digital effects modules in eurorack. So...yeah..no analog snobbery here. :)

But, I feel that eurorack can sometimes do a lot of the work for you. With the paradigm of "patch programmability" (ie: everything is everything) with Serge systems, you have to do it all yourself, all the while with these rudimentary and historical circuits that are the very building blocks of synthesis.

Sound exciting? Read on...

Prism Circuits

Skyler King and Johno Wells, Analog Haven, 2018. This was one of the first visits to the 'mothership'.

My journey into modular synthesis has had a Yoda-type character at every turn, and he's here for this one too. Of course, he is.

In 2018, Skyler King welcomed me to the modular scene in L.A. when he was involved with Modular on the Spot and was working at Analog Haven.

Here's a shot of a very new and excited Johno Wells, on his first trip to the mothership to Santa Monica to hang with this guy named SKY.

7 years later, now Sky stands next to his re-issues of Serge Paperface panels with his company, Prism Circuits.

We're making the choices for which modules will be in my 2 panels.

Printed from an inkjet printer. Yes, seriously.

Here, I'm just drooling over Sky's system as he prints the paper that will be my panels.

Another shot of Sky's paperface system.

Working on the back of the (PCB!) panel, Sky is doing some of the first mods. I'm cringing as he's drilling into my panels!

This simple inkjet print is being trimmed and ready for mounting on the panel.

Working on top of a light panel is a great way to make sure all the artwork lines up with the columns of holes that make up a Serge system.

Lined up perfectly, and now peeling off the sticker-paper and setting on the panel.

The large roll is clear sticky paper (matte) we'll mount over the inkjet prints to protect the panels. Here, Sky is cutting it to size.

Sky is pulling the back of the sticky paper off as he rolls out any bubbles.

Final inspection of panel 1 before putting it in the heat press.

Sky presses it down and locked it for a few minutes of high heat baking.

Panel 1!

Panel 2!

This is the bottom of the two-panel instrument.

Flipped over...

I can't wait to start building the 14 modules that will live behind these hieroglyphics.

The wooden ears that hold the panels to form an instrument are a nice touch!

Pride and joy. And hope that I can actually solder decently! You can see where all the knobs and jacks will go. So exciting!

The Pelican 1600 fits it perfectly.

This was ALL THE COMPONENTS for panel 1.

This photo doesn't do this clusterf#$% justice. This is a literal mountain of components (for soldering all the modules).

Semi-sorted into bags per module. I'll never do it like this again (ie: buy for multiple modules and then sort it all out). For me, it's a lot more fun to order components for one module at a time. Yes, I pay another $7 in shipping for parts, but it's only the parts for the one module I'm making. Zero sorting. Just soldering, which, as it turns out...I STILL LOVE.

There ya go! Not too shabby.

This will be a breakout box to convert minijacks (for eurorack) to banana jacks (Serge). It's called a 'format jumbler'.

Finished! A good way to start and get my soldering skills moving.

Close-up of the panel--you can see the matter cover. And now I'm supposed to JAM banana jacks through the paper, and through these holes?

Yes, Johno, that's exactly what you're going to do!

The bananas for panel one have been stuck through. Now I can start learning all these hieroglyphics, so I might have a chance at understanding what ends up being a life-changing experience.

Building multiple modules at the same time. Not super fun. Panel 2 was so much more relaxed having parts for only one module at a time. Highly recommend.

Completed modules to be mounted into the panels.

I built the power supply!

These are the individual stages of my 5-step programmer (sequencer).

A couple diodes next to a module. Components will be soldered onto this. Many, many components.

Almost done with this module!

A trip up to Sky's studio to "button up" panel 1.

Working on the underside of the panel, mounting the modules.

Completed and mounted the powered side, and the passive (underneath) side.

Clean wiring, Johno!

Great to see it falling into place. The modules sit on top of the banana jacks and then you solder them in.

Like this...

Getting there!

Panel 1 modules are mounted and ready for testing and calibration.

Plugged in and ready for testing. I'm so giddy, it's insane.

Panel 1 complete and working fantastically. You can see the banana jacks installed on panel 2, but there's nothing behind them yet...

This is how the programmer (sequencer) works. All 5 stages are attached together, and then there's a loop-back so it will play in loop if you want / need it to.

Top side of the programmer. I literally poked holes through the panel for the LEDs with a pen.

Dual Mixer is done (minus knobs).

Panel 2 coming together really quickly.

Underside of panel 2. Completed! Now to test and calibrate.

Front shot of panel 2 with all the LEDs installed now!

Plug these bad boys in and see who works!

The finished instrument.

The Master tests the system. I sat and watched (and listened) and wondered if I'd ever be able to coax the sounds out of this system that Sky SO effortlessly did. We shall see...

Yeah, I'm in love. I made this. And it works! With time away from the project, waiting for parts, and the holidays, this took me most of 6 months to make.

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"I built a Serge paperface modular synthesizer", by Johno Wells, published April 5, 2025

For information on building a paperface Serge system from Prism Circuits, start here.