New Soundlab: Wooster Synth

psylux · Joined: May 15, 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Dallas, TX

I saw this on Matrixsynth:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wooster/852431003/

"It is a Fatar keyboard. I created a PIC-based keyboard matrix scanner which can output CV, gate, and velocity."

wooster.jpg

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v-un-v · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:00 am Post subject:

Beautiful Soundlab Psylux! Very Happy

edit; err Wooster! Embarassed

psylux · Joined: May 15, 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Dallas, TX

Right, just clarify, I merely reposted it! Props to Wooster!

Alienation · Joined: Jul 23, 2007 Posts: 47 Location: Midsouth

That is an awesome little synth. I wonder if Wooster would share details on construction with other DIY's??

Thought's?

LukeDI · Joined: Sep 23, 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Boston MA, USA

That may rate as the new best looking SLMS. Cute as a button (or knob in the case)

wooster · Joined: Jul 25, 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Austin, TX

Thanks everybody for the positive feedback! I'll take a picture of the inside soon. Here are some construction details:

- The synthesizer portion is a standard soundlab with some of the suggested modifications (1 V/OCT, fine tuners, S&H, intra-VCO modulation). I built this about a year ago and put it in a simple plywood box, which is why the audio output is on the front panel.
- The panels are made of aluminum from www.onlinemetals.com, laminated with paper and drilled with a press or cut with a jigsaw.
- The case is mostly made out of walnut, the bottom is made of plywood.
- The keyboard and the PB wheel are from Doepfer spare parts section of Analog Haven.
- I designed the keyboard scanner using a PIC microcontroller. It can output pitch, velocity, and gate. There is also pitch bend and portamento.
- The echo portion is not actually functional yet - I am basing it on the PT-80 delay project you can search for on google.
- It was originally battery powered, but after the first set of batteries died I switched to using a small linear power supply.

The keyboard scanner works pretty well, I think I will make another one for the modular I am building, and might do a PCB.

Alienation · Joined: Jul 23, 2007 Posts: 47 Location: Midsouth

Thanks for the detail, the pcb idea sounds great.

Is that something you would consider doing and offering as in a (PCB) group buy or strictly for your personal use?

Don't mean to jump the gun on this, I realize you may have no intention of going the business route.

What about the fatar keyboard portion? Was that removed from a small stock keyboard, I'm assuming here.

Again, congrats on a very cool synth.

crazeydazey · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:40 am Post subject:

very very nice...

Wild Zebra · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:18 am Post subject:

Looks awesome, great job!

wooster · Joined: Jul 25, 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Austin, TX

Thanks Zebra. I was thinking people might like a low cost alternative to MIDI->CV converters for DIY projects. However the Thomas Henry keyboard seems great. If its total cost is low I probably won't bother doing a PCB. Here are some pictures of the inside of the case.

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Inside Soundlab

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2007_0726_110619AA.JPG

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Keyboard scanner close-up

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