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My first DIY synth? A good first project?
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tra



Joined: Dec 04, 2013
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Location: Chicago

PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:09 am    Post subject: My first DIY synth? A good first project? Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I'm not new to DIY, and I've been building audio electronics for the better part of a decade (also an EE student).

I am new to synths and electronic music. I'm a guitar player that has built hundreds, no exaggeration, fx pedals but want to move on to things that make their own noise.

That said, what are some good first projects? Waveform generator? Any help would be appreciated as navigating the info in this forum is daunting! Very Happy
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elmegil



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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Ray Wilson's Music From Outer Space (http://www.musicfromouterspace.com) has a lot of good stuff ranging from "toy" noisemakers to full blown synths. He seems to dislike headers, so everything is flying wire which can be kind of messy (depending on how OCD you can be Wink ), but I thought it was a good starting point.
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tra



Joined: Dec 04, 2013
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Thank you! I really appreciate it!
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Osal



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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

If you have experience as a DIYer and electronics knowledge, I would start with Thomas Henry designs, you have very good circuits and explanations. See in Scott Stites site:
http://www.birthofasynth.com/Thomas_Henry/TH_main.html
Also you have here a sub-forum for Thomas Henry's work.

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JovianPyx



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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 9:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

The PAiA Fatman MIDI triggered analog synthesizer is a nice project. I built two. One of the things I liked was the inclusion of explanation material in the manual regarding how the synthesizer works.
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RF



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PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

elmegil wrote:
Ray Wilson's Music From Outer Space (http://www.musicfromouterspace.com) has a lot of good stuff ranging from "toy" noisemakers to full blown synths. .... but I thought it was a good starting point.


+1 on Ray Wilson's stuff. Real detailed descriptions of the circuits, troubleshooting tips, and nice PCB's.

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bubzy



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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!!!! SDIY IS A CRUEL AND DEMANDING MISTRESS.....

ray wilsons stuff is great for sure, if you fancy something different you can try
http://www.yusynth.net
http://www.birthofasynth.com/
or perhaps the schematics vault
here http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-56660.html

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analog_backlash



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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Ken Stone's CGS Stuff?

http://www.cgs.synth.net/

Is it because some are a bit on the "unusual" side? I must admit, I haven't tried much myself (well, only a modified Psycho LFO really), but he does have some really interesting things on his site. It's worth a look at least Very Happy .

Gary
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bubzy



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PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

ive got several of ken stones pcbs, they are excellent, and his site is good too, he also posts here and has a yahoo group where you can ask questions. good shout, don't know how I forgot Smile
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new voodoo



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PostPosted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Heres a link to the book i gt started with-LOTS of steadily harder prjects and electronic instruments-its all circuit bending though and more along the lines of "learning what does what and makes which sound" than actually making useable instruments. If you do mst of that book, called "The Art of Hardware Hacking" youll be well on your way and have the jump on any PCBs yu purchase..just an idea: (very cheaply too)

http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Electronic-Music-Hardware-Hacking/dp/0415998735

For whatever its worth, although you appear to already have the basics down, Id think getting your feet wet cheaply might be a good idea rather than undertaking a real, "Full" prject like a MFOS Sound Lab or Guitar Synth Commander that might be fairly expensive and time consuming and VERY frustrating if it doesnt work or you mess it up smewhere along the line.

Took the PDF link out. Apparently theres some confusion with online books (baen's free library, the implication that perhaps it being available on 5 links on the first page of google results makes etc) but its certainly not worth getg anyones undies in a twist..

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Last edited by new voodoo on Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
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elmegil



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PostPosted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Has Nicolas released that for free?
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Mongo1



Joined: Aug 11, 2011
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I'd suggest Ray Wilson's Weird Sound Generator - A simple build, and tons of fun! Get it from MusicFromOuterSpace.com

Gary
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elmegil



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PostPosted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

new voodoo wrote:
Took the PDF link out. Apparently theres some confusion with online books (baen's free library, the implication that perhaps it being available on 5 links on the first page of google results makes etc) but its certainly not worth getg anyones undies in a twist..


Perhaps you got some private messages that were in a twist, I certainly didn't mean to sound that upset myself. I wouldn't call google a reliable judge of whether an author has intentionally released his work for free though Very Happy.

I would say the fact that it is NOT available at Nicolas' own site would be a more reliable indicator in any case.

I meant to simply raise the question because you certainly didn't seem to be posting it maliciously....
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