LATEST CIRCUITBENDERS NEWS:
A 'filter lock' mod is now available for the FAT Freebass / MB33. This mod locks the filter and VCA envelopes open at a constant level so you no longer need to trigger the filter with a midi note when processing external audio signals. Click HERE for more information
We now have a circuitbenders.co.uk facebook page. Click on the logo below to go there
Sample grinder mods are now available for the Akai S01 rackmount sampler. Take a look HERE for more details.
Extra mods for the Korg Poly800 mkII are now available, including delay control knobs and input path selection. Click HERE to take a look
We now have patchbay mods available for the Kawai R100 HERE and the Yamaha RX7 HERE.
The Roland TR505 mods now include the option of analogue trigger outputs for each sound. Outputs can be mixed and matched with individual audio outputs in any combination. Click HERE for more details
Roland TR626 patchbay mods now include 2 x patchable switches. Click HERE for more details
The Korg Poly 800 / EX800 mods have been expanded to include an Audio input, Filter FM controls and external VCF CV control. Click HERE to take a look.
The external VCF CV mod for the Freebass / MB33 now has the option of 0-5V or 0-10V, take your pick. Click HERE for more information
Finally the Roland SH101 mods have arrived! To take a look click HERE.
An external VCF CV input mod is now available for the FAT Freebass / MB33 mods. Click HERE for more information
Mods for the AKAI XR-10 drum machine are now up on the fourth Drum Machine mods page. Click HERE to go there.
Mods for the Cheetah MD-16 drum machine are now up on the fourth Drum Machine mods page. Click HERE to go there.
Mods for the FAT Freebass / MAM MB33 rack synths are now up on the Synth Mods page. Click HERE to go there.
Mods for the Korg DDD-1 drum machine are now up on the third Drum Machine mods page. Click HERE to go there.
Mods for the Casio RZ-1 sampling drum machine are now up on the third Drum Machine mods page. Click HERE to go there.
LATEST BENDS:
This section will be updated on a regular basis to feature pictures and demos of our most recent circuitbent machine.
Take a look in the archive section for older bends: |
MATTEL SYNSONICS DRUM MACHINE
Ahhh, the early 80's. The era of both extreme tackiness and extreme crapness, and this doesn't exclude drum machines. Luckily for you we have neither the time nor the space here to go into yet another full on rant about the feckin Roland TR606, so its straight onto that other star of overrated 80's analogue action, the Mattel Synsonics. Apparently this machine was a Kraftwerk favorite and listening to the unmodified sounds its easy to see why. It features 4 sounds, if you don't include the click that passes for a bassdrum, that make an attempt in the loosest possible sense of the word, to sound like Tom1 (with a built in pitch control), Tom2, Hats and snare. As per usual with this kind of machine the hats consist of barely shaped white noise, the snare is white noise layed with an oscillator click and the toms are just an oscillator through a pitch envelope. You can record a massive 3 patterns using the onboard pads and trigger buttons, which are lost the second you turn it off. All in all its one of those cult machines you'll get hold of, play around with for about 20 minutes and then never touch again, but this is where our mods come in and give the Synsonics a whole new lease of life!
The mods consist of:
Trigger input for each sound.
Hi Hat decay knob
Hi Hat open / closed button
Snare decay knob
Tom 1 Decay knob
Tom 1 initial click amount knob
Tom 1 level/overdrive knob
Tom 1 Boing decay switch
Tom 2 Pitch knob
Tom 2 level/overdrive knob
Tom 2 Decay knob
Each sound can now be individually triggered using a +5v analogue trigger input. All the kicks you hear on the demos are the modded toms as the original bassdrum on a synsonics is just a blip that can't be adjusted in any way
If you are considering circuitbending your own Synsonics bear in mind that these machines are very very sensitive and don't even breathe in a funny way on the synth chip. As it is, this modded machine is in fact built out of two other Synsonics both of which were developing or already had problems.
Click on the buttons below for demos of the sounds this machine can now produce.
|
 |
We're working on a new contact system, in the meantime click the button on the left and fill in the form on the page that opens. |
 |
Alternatively sign up at the circuitbenders.co.uk forum for the latest information and circuitbending related nonsense. |
