diy synths

[Greenfuz]

how do I get started with this


what's some cool stuff

[soldersqueeze]

How good is your electronics knowledge?

Assuming you can build a pedal, http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/ should get you started, and the projects go up to WTF levels if you have the skillz

[Dr Satan]

555 timer is probably one of the easiest for noise makers. Can be made more elaborate with filters and envelopes, but a basic single/dual oscillator sound generator is simple. http://blog.makezine.com/2008/12/16/sim ... 555-synth/

[skullservant]

Yep, 555 timer is how I started, then WSG!!

[eatyourguitar]

I started with 555 and 556 projects, then guitar pedals. music from outer space is a great resource. I would highly suggest you register on http://www.electro-music.com/forum/ or at least look around. music from outer space has a hosted forum there. also pretty cool is the lunetta sub forum that deals mostly with abusing CD4000 series CMOS but also includes 555, 556, 74HC series CMOS etc..

start with the breadboard, stripboard, pad per hole perf board. then learn eagle and start etching your own PCB's.

copy paste, what I always tell people

the two main forums are
http://www.electro-music.com
http://www.muffwiggler.com

for kits and PCB's
http://www.cgs.synth.net
http://www.bridechamber.com
http://www.elby-designs.com
http://www.oakleysound.com/projects.htm
http://www.synthcube.com
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com

a great source of information on vintage moog DIY. this guy designed the new arturia minibrute
http://www.yusynth.net

more DIY info
http://www.timstinchcombe.co.uk/
http://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs159/
http://www.sdiy.org

but there are many many synth related DIY pages in the google. search "synth DIY" "SDIY" "VCO schematic" "VCA schematic" "LFO schematic"

[Greenfuz]

all this modular synth biz and stuff confuses me deeply

I really like your synth thing skullservant



I like the sound of the trogotronic 666

and the dwarfcraft SOMM

any way I can sort of put them together like the above thing?

this is cool too

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g7DV4G_jX8[/youtube]

oh and yes I've built pedals before but this stuff is new and confusing to me

[soldersqueeze]

I'd say buy a weird sound generator PCB from music from outer space and build that up, it's no harder than a big effects pedal and you'll end up with a really useable drone/ noise synth with all the schems and mods available online

[eatyourguitar]

I really like your synth thing skullservant

oh but thats an old pic. this is skull's new rig

I like the sound of the trogotronic 666

and the dwarfcraft SOMM

any way I can sort of put them together like the above thing?

this is cool too

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g7DV4G_jX8[/youtube]

oh and yes I've built pedals before but this stuff is new and confusing to me

you have to decide if it is more important to have a 666 or to learn DIY. you can DIY something similar but not exact to the features in the 666 module but I think designing synth modules is something you do after you have been doing synth DIY for a few years. the SOMM is nothing special, no offense Ian I still love you. in the video you can see that it has the same exact problems with range being squished up towards one end of the pot. just like all the 555, 556, 40106 oscillators I have built. he uses one LFO to gate and another LFO to modulate. if you had your own modular synth you could patch that up in 2 seconds. you also get to patch other sounds too. your not as limited when you go modular. I have built the MFOS weird sound generator and I can't really say that it is my favorite drone box. it was fun to build and the panels they sell look really good but I can't say that I would trade my modular gear to have a WSG again. I can get drones out of my e340 pretty easy. music from outer space does have enough PCB's for sale that you could actually build a complete modular synth with DIY paper panels (paper on metal) using any old scrap metal.

for a basic modular synth you need at least one of each. but you can also add more VCO, VCLFO, a mixer to make a full featured modular drone box.
VCA
VCF
VCO
LFO
noise
sample & hold

you also need a power supply. you can use the MFOS diy power supply and just hardwire all your modules to save money. it all depends on how hardcore you are with your DIY or do you want something a little more polished with power sockets that fit some existing modular standard and voltage.

[Greenfuz]

I'm not entirely sure exactly what I want

i want a fuzzy synth with one of those joysticks the SOMM has to get weird noises, and a keyboard

[skullservant]

There are euro modules with joysticks for controlling stuff. They look like they rule

And I'm pretty set with even just that 3u. I didn't diy anything except for the multiples, but those were fun to make no less

[eatyourguitar]

joysticks for modular
http://www.analoguehaven.com/flightofharmony/choices/

http://www.analoguehaven.com/intellijeldesigns/planar/

[chutneyfarmer]

If you want a nice simple-ish modular type synth to build, then definitely check out the MFOS Experimenters board!! Dunno why it doesn't seem to be more popular. Has 2 of the basic synth components all on one board. 2 x VCOs, 2 x ADSRs, 2 x LFOs, 2 x Filters, mixer etc.

[Moustache_Bash]

SUPER simple: http://www.beavisaudio.com/Projects/CMOS_Synthesizers/

[eatyourguitar]

SUPER simple: http://www.beavisaudio.com/Projects/CMOS_Synthesizers/

been there done that. still not as much fun as having some traditional synth modules IMO. go crazy with multiple VCO and VC-LFO. you can do all those CMOS sounds and more. modular is kinda like an investment that pays off exponentially as the size of your system grows. the cmos was good for learning electronics though for what its worth.

[Moustache_Bash]

I'll be honest, I didn't read the entire thread. It's a good place to start, though, if by DIY he/she means building/soldering things him/herself. Totally n00b friendly.