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tra
Joined: Dec 04, 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:09 am Post subject:
My first DIY synth? A good first project? |
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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! |
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elmegil
Joined: Mar 20, 2012 Posts: 2177 Location: Chicago
Audio files: 16
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Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:46 am Post subject:
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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 ), but I thought it was a good starting point. |
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tra
Joined: Dec 04, 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:49 am Post subject:
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Thank you! I really appreciate it! |
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Osal
Joined: Aug 16, 2011 Posts: 147 Location: Here
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Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:34 am Post subject:
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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. _________________ electronic-sea.net |
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JovianPyx
Joined: Nov 20, 2007 Posts: 1988 Location: West Red Spot, Jupiter
Audio files: 224
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Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 9:54 am Post subject:
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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. _________________ FPGA, dsPIC and Fatman Synth Stuff
Time flies like a banana. Fruit flies when you're having fun. BTW, Do these genes make my ass look fat? corruptio optimi pessima
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RF
Joined: Mar 23, 2007 Posts: 1502 Location: Northern Minnesota, USA
Audio files: 28
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Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:14 pm Post subject:
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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. _________________ www.sdiy.org/rfeng
"I want to make these sounds that go wooo-wooo-ah-woo-woo.”
(Herb Deutsch to Bob Moog ~1963) |
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bubzy
Joined: Oct 27, 2010 Posts: 594 Location: United Kingdom
Audio files: 64
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analog_backlash
Joined: Sep 04, 2012 Posts: 393 Location: Aldershot, UK
Audio files: 21
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 6:27 pm Post subject:
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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 .
Gary |
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bubzy
Joined: Oct 27, 2010 Posts: 594 Location: United Kingdom
Audio files: 64
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Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:16 am Post subject:
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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 _________________ _Richard_ |
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new voodoo
Joined: May 06, 2013 Posts: 94 Location: RVA USA
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Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:47 am Post subject:
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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.. _________________ www.newvoodoodesign.com
-my creations, bends & bendable pieces
-vintage parts & tubes, IC's & audio chips
-oddities & weird
newvoodoo.blogspot.com
-bending DIY/projects
-crap Last edited by new voodoo on Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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elmegil
Joined: Mar 20, 2012 Posts: 2177 Location: Chicago
Audio files: 16
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Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:27 am Post subject:
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Has Nicolas released that for free? |
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Mongo1
Joined: Aug 11, 2011 Posts: 411 Location: Raleigh NC
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Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:19 pm Post subject:
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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
Joined: Mar 20, 2012 Posts: 2177 Location: Chicago
Audio files: 16
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Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:18 pm Post subject:
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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 .
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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