Making my first little synthesizer

Wavedude · Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Florida

Hello, I'm new here. I came to this forum hoping that someone could tell me how to make a cheap and small synth. Ive gotten alot of the parts and board to start. But I really just need to know how I can connect it all into a simple VCO or a small synth or something. Ive looked at circuit board diaphragms and tried to understand them, but I think I might be looking at to big of synths.
Can anyone help me? All I need is a place to give me good instructions on how to make an easy synth.
Thanks ^_^.

kokoon · Joined: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 158 Location: slovenia

well what boards do you have?

toybox · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject:

http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/
is a good place to start if you are starting out
vary good instructions and if you are looking for a nice small synth the sound lab project is vary nice
hope this helps

Wavedude · Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Florida

endif · Joined: Jul 14, 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Reno, NV

@ wavedude

I'm a noob too, and have found that:

- Kits, such as the Blacet modules, are a great way to start. You become familiar very quickly with the parts, how they are put in, what not to do, what you must, do, etc because it's all spelled out for you step by step. Paiint by number. Plus you don't have to source out the parts.

- MFOS and CGS are excellent PCB makers, IMO, because not only do the designs rock in and of themselves, but the documentation is all very detailed; it's easy to follow the silkscreens vs. the parts lists, there are images of the finished board are supplied on the website, etc. Another really detailed PCB I got was the Mankato board from Magic Smoke. Very easy to put together, and the parts list includes Mouser part numbers so you know you're getting the right stuff. Really helped my learning curve. =]

For a full synth in a single project, I suggest the MFOS Sound Lab. Building one now, pretty easy so far for such a full featured unit.

=]

Wavedude · Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Florida

So, I should buy the kits online instead? That would be good, but I spent $67 dollars on supplies at Radioshack...
Nothing has been soldered yet, but the boxes have been opened and some of the parts have been bent a little. Could I take some parts back, and get a kit from online?

blue hell · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:43 am Post subject:

What did you buy parts for then?

Wavedude · Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Florida

23isgood · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

Well its ok if you got all those parts from Radio Shack. If you stick with DIY sooner or later you will use those parts. I would follow everyones advice and build something from MFOS. Why don't you just buy the full kit for the Weird Sound Generator? Its a really fun little project, great for a beginner. Check it out,

http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH/WSG_Reborn/WEIRDSOUNDGENERATORREBORN.html

pete

Wavedude · Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Florida

blue hell · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:42 pm Post subject:

fluxmonkey · Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 708 Location: cleve

EdisonRex · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject:

I think that what is being said, and I'll happily repeat it here, is that you should hold onto what you've bought, and just get the right parts for the kit you want to build, so you can be successful at a build and get some confidence up. The parts keep. Some people trade them away for others (yes, that is a hint to post what you have). Some people figure out stuff to build once the bug bites.

What you need is to be successful in a build, and I think the advice you are getting is sound. But don't even think about getting rid of what you've bought so far. DIY has, as a side effect, collecting parts.

Something you should buy, and I am not kidding, is a breadboard kit. Then you can really play. You can download all of the circuits and application notes for things, and then try building them on a pinboard, and then you get intimately familiar with what you are building. I think that's the big DIY draw, you actually understand what's going on in the circuit. The breadboard is the way to that.

However, first, have some successes building kits. It's more important to know how to build properly, first.

Wavedude · Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Florida

Well, thank you so much. I will try to see what I can do about getting the right things for this kit.

Also, There is some things I am missing. (I really should have bought the kit Crying or Very sad

.)

I guess I'm missing some of the right ceramic capacitors, and I am missing the CD40601. So, Ive gotta get those. I really don't want to spend $70 on the kit. Especially since I got all these parts for $70, lol.

Wavedude · Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Florida

loss1234 · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: wsg

In july, i went out and also bought a ton of parts to build a wsg. I DID Not buy a pc board, had NO knowledge of electronics, and at the time there was no kit for the wsg.

anyway, to make a long story short, it was alot of fun. i first made it on a breadboard, to make sure it worked, and i learned alot in the process. then i transffered it to a perfboard (they sell one at radio shack that looks just like a breadboard pattern so its easy to transfer)

and it worked out great.

Now i am not saying you shouldnt buy the pcb, but once you get the CD40106 chip, if you have all the other parts, well then you will be fine.
the lm741 is available at radio shack.

since the summer, i have now built tons of different projects, filters, vco's, and am now also building a soundlab and starting a modular. the sky is the limit. and so far, i have NEVER even bought a pc board. i have done everything on perfboard.

and with the help of this forum and a bunch of internet sites and books, i have learned a ton about electronics.

hope this advice helps.

btw-pulling your hair out can be lots of fun when it leads to a big payoff

blue hell · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

amos_joseph · Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Lincoln, NE