Beers 2P4T analogue switch

Beers 2P4T

I may be the first owner of this new module from Isaac Beers. It is a 2-pole 4-throw binary-addressed bidirectional analogue switch. Isaac wrote:

Loosely intended to mimic the functionality of the 4052 CMOS multiplexor/switch IC but each channel can be individually addressed (yay!) and there is no inhibit function (boo!).

XA, XB, YA, and YB are the control inputs and any signal patched to them that crosses approx. 0.5V will be converted to a 2-bit binary word and decoded into one of 4 positions for each switch. The control inputs XA and XB will control both switches at once with nothing plugged into YA and YB.


I initially looked into using solid state relays or dedicated switch ICs to achieve this design (would have been nice) but instead went with a cheaper discrete MOSFET switch circuit using parts I already had loads of.

Caveats:
It can cleanly switch eurorack signals at ±10V or more, although as the input signal/s approach the power rails they may be clipped at 10.5-11V or so, and ‘off’ legs of the switch may leak/be forced on.
You may observe a ‘click’ or switching artifact when using the COM jack as an output and a throw with nothing patched in is selected. If this bothers you try patching unused inputs to a source of 0V in your system, or use the common jack as an input instead.

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/beers-2p4t-analogue-sw

How it came about

I was daydreaming about how to replicate the Ciat-Lonbarde Fyrall in modular. (It’s hard and maybe impossible.) One of the modules I needed was a replication of the CD4052 CMOS switch and I could not find anything. But I did find Isaac Beers’s website, where he has designed several switch modules for Eurorack and offers them for sale. The 2P4T didn’t exist yet. I messaged Isaac and he replied that he might make one. A while later and the 2P4T was real. I ordered one assembled (very reasonable price), although they are available for DIY. It is SMD.

Back of the 2P4T module

5 Responses to Beers 2P4T analogue switch

  1. Joshua Rodriquez says:

    Definitely need 1 or 2 of these!

  2. Richard says:

    Let me guess, Josh. You’re planning a modular Fyrall.

  3. Theo Sykes says:

    I have just made one, and the 3P2T, really straight forward nicely laid out SMD builds.

  4. Richard says:

    Good to know, Theo. Did you source all the parts yourself?

  5. Theo Sykes says:

    Hi Richard, yes I did source the parts, Issac has a master BOM on his front page at the bottom, which makes it very easy, I have built others of his modules so will have had some of the parts already.
    I have in the past bought full kits as well which were very well put together.
    Also your advice from a previous blog entry on using Flux paste to hold SMD parts in position, especially the IC’s, has been a game changer for my SMD soldering, so thank you.

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