Hi! Silicon Luthier just starting out with Arduino!

[Hashtag Octothorpe]

Hi guys!

I've been building totally analog music circuits for several months (I've got clones of the 808 kick, snare and hat, some variable state filters, primitive VCOs, VCAs etc. etc.) and I'm running into limitations with analog when it comes to sequencing.

So I'm ready to jump into the Arduino ocean, and I'm kind of overwhelmed.

I'm ready to learn to program, and the concepts so far make sense. But rather than reinventing the whole wheel, maybe somebody could point me in a helpful direction?

I'm hoping to build a 16 step sequencer, with, I dunno, four or eight or more tracks, that can do triggers or gate voltages, with the ability to program the sequencer with analog-feeling buttons and knobs, live, without the need to use a computer.

Very glad to join the community! Here's my modular synth as it is right now, mostly built inside tuna and soup cans, put together with brown paper and carpenter's glue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvzR5QGxrns

[Grumble]

Hi, welcome aboard!
If I may, one remark about your setup: First thing I would do is to get rid of the pc power supply for two reasons:
1: the noise the fan makes is just awful!
2: a switching power supply is never a good idea when using analog audio circuits.

I am building a modular synthesizer mainly based on arduino's but like you I'm trying to get the analog feel to it.
THIS is my setup, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

[Hashtag Octothorpe]

I removed one of the PSU fans, and the other one is lazily turning at 5V to provide a 5V load to the one AT power supply that won't work without it.

I have a couple medium-big caps (3,300uF?) across the power rails, so I haven't noticed any power supply noise. Not that I would notice... most of my modules are inherently... non-musical... yet... working on that. And I can always toss a couple ferrite beads in series with the +/- coming in to any particular module.

Finally, the built in short circuit protection is super important to me. I'm point-to-point building many of my circuits, and while I usually use reverse-biased rectifying diodes to protect my more complex circuits, some might burn up (or start a fire!!!) if the power supplies couldn't gracefully trip. I haven't used that feature yet, knock on wood.


Your synth!!! You have a couple Arduinos in there? I see that 8x8 LED matrix! Love the DIY look with the Sharpie labels! You've got a lot of waveforms at your disposal!

[Grumble]

there is an arduino in every module except in thepassives and the mixer.