diy synths?

[Greenfuz]

analog synths are so expensive it hurts. are they hard to build? I just want some basic all around moog sounding thing

[vauxflores]

Depends on what you're after - you can build a simple drone synth for a couple bucks, but to get something fully-functioning in the Moog realm, you're probably going to have to shell out. Maybe not as much as something with walnut paneling and whatnot, but it can get up there. Same goes for difficulty - you can do wonders with a single IC, or you can go nuts matching transistors. The good news is that synth building is fairly modular - think signal chain, but instead of adding and subtracting pedals to change your signal, you're adding and subtracting aspects of the synth's voice. So you can start with an oscillator, then add a filter, then an envelope, etc instead of having to approach it as a single, monolithic build. Provided you're thinking of going that route, of course. There's a couple great kits out there that should help get you started in synth building - for instance a couple Synthrotek builds, or even something from Paia (their Fatman kit runs about $200 and includes everything but the Midi keyboard you need to play it). If you're looking to go more into your own designs, pick up a copy of Nicolas Collins' Handmade Electronic Music or take a look at the Electro-music forum's Lunetta page - both are great places to cop some decent building blocks to help you enter into the wide, wooly world of oscillators and whatnot.

Hope this helps -

[sonidero]

everything is so expensive it hurts.

I thought you were makin Hooch???