choosing capacitors for DIY Synths

1

MLCC

(Multilayer Ceramic Disc Capacitor)

C0G or NP0

temperature stable, timing stable

longterm capacitor

VCO timing,

VCF Core

"Clock timer"

for small pcbs/designs,

cheaper than

expensive for bigger capactiy values

(above 100pf)

for values less 1nF mostly dark yellow colour, TDK use normally light or dark blue colours for the body

normally only in RM2, RM2.5 and RM5 avaible

2

MLCC

X5R X7R

cheap,

longterm capacitor

bypass capacitor

microphonic effect possible

read more here

normally only avaible in yellow colours from 470pF - 2uF

normally only in RM2, RM2.5 and RM5 avaible

3

Polypropylene (PP) Filmcap

(PP)

temperature stable, timing stable

longterm capacitor

VCO timing,

VCF Core

"Clock timer"

avaible in 1% tolerance, perfect for high precision application

bis size

avaiable in RM2 - RM20

4

Styroflex (Styrene)

temperature stable, timing stable

longterm capacitor

VCO timing,

VCF Core

"Clock timer"

very popular for VCF /Filtercore

the sound is different to C0G or polypropylene

avaible in 2% tolerance.

ideal for Ladder VCF (moog, arp)

big size

avaible in RM2 when mounting upwards

5

Silver Mica

temperature stable, timing stable

longterm capacitor

1% tolerance,

good for VCF because the values are matched within 1% tolerance,

good sound in VCF

rare, expensive,

not avaible in every size, please note there are some country restrictions for import

avaible in RM5 - RM ?

6

Polyester (PET) (MKP)

cheap

5-20% tolerance

avaiable in RM2 - RM20

7

8

9

10