Circuitbenders Forum
Circuitbenders Forum => Circuitbending discussion => DIY Synths => Topic started by: jamiewoody on January 06, 2010, 05:27:59 PM
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i was wondering, does anybody build things from scratch instead of circuit bending?
LFO? atari-punk? theramin? do you put your own unique twist on these things?
i'm thinking, when i have finished bending all that is on my plate, i am going to try my hand at actually building something, in a "monkey see, monkey do" fashion. then poke around and bend what i just built, making it "my own".
maybe when i do 5000 things, i will create a logo for myself! :o
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do a search on here for Wierd Sound Genrator or Catweazles Fraktal synth.
The WSG is a really good analogue drone and space sounds generator which is easy to build and the fraktal synth uses a PIC and a few pots but can be easily built on stripboard.
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I do, there's a book called "Handmade Electronic Music" by Nicholas Collins, if you want to try it out, this is definitely the place to start! the newest edition has an accompanying DVD as well :o
he goes over lots of stuff outside of logic-synth building as well that I would almost guarantee you will want to try out, all of the topics and how-to's are designed to be easily affordable as well - as in a couple of pounds affordable!
Ray Wilsons site is cool as well (thats the WSG stuff): http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/ (http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/)
as well as Bristolian Tom Bugs: http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/ (http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/)
enjoy ;)
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i saw that WSG synth! their kits are way too expensive, but bless them for sharing the schematic, photos, instructions, etc for free!
actually, i think this will be my first synth!
i want to try the atari punk and a basic lfo too. then start to experiment based on these designs.
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I'd say Ray Wilsons stuff is some of the cheapest you'll find for anything decent. Anyway, you can just buy the PCB for virtually nothing and get the parts yourself.
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Yeah if you go with the WSG and read all of the documentation around it (not only on Ray Wilson's site!) as you're building then you should have some depth to experiment further, plus you can bend the WSG!
it is kinda pricey though - I can't remember what is used for the filter but the chip that controls the main oscillators is a 40106, which cost about a pound each i think - if you get a PCB then you can avoid all the fiddly breadboard wiring which is worth it to an extent.
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the wsg kit, sans case and faceplate was around 100 bucks last time i looked.
i actually went through the trouble of pricing the components (of course, some in lots of 100, who buys ONE resistor?!!) and i think i came up with ballpark of 25 bucks.
so, that sounds like that thing to do. at least this guy is generous enough on his site to post schematics and photos of circuitboards in misc variations but different builders so you can do it.
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Do you get the official front panel in the kit? That'll probably what costs the money. Luckily you can build it into just about anything.
While i'm here i might as well provide a link to the other WSG thread on here if anyone is following this:
http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,592.0.html (http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,592.0.html)
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i haven't bought one because they are so expensive. i think i will try to make one instead, gathering components myself. of course, this way i can make more than one!
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ugg I spent 12 hours underground in an electronics lab today trying to finish my prototype synth. of course it didn't fucking work after that - I was pretty wasted by the time I was making the last connections though so hopefully there is some small mistake that I can clear up tomorrow. I will post some pics and a vid when it works!
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i was wondering, does anybody build things from scratch instead of circuit bending?
LFO? atari-punk? theramin? do you put your own unique twist on these things?
this site might help you get started with logic chips
http://www.talkingelectronics.com.au/ChipDataEbook-1d/html/ (http://www.talkingelectronics.com.au/ChipDataEbook-1d/html/)
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i notice these are usually based around either a 555 or 556 timer. i know the 556 is a dual timer, but other than that....
what are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
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I was pretty wasted by the time I was making the last connections though so hopefully there is some small mistake that I can clear up tomorrow
Yeah, it can be hard to remember to take a break when you're really dialed in on a project. I bet once you go over the board and wiring again with some fresh eyes the problem will be self-evident.
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i was wondering, does anybody build things from scratch instead of circuit bending?
yeah, that's where i started - building guitar effects. starting to understand bits and pieces here and there now.. so i tend to want to know what i'm doing when bending as well. quite against the principle of bending i guess, but hell..
some stuff in this topic.. http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1386.0.html (http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1386.0.html)
including a link to a facebook photo album that has some more.
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wow! i'd love to learn how to build guitar effects! what in that way have you built? which manufacturer do the resemble? it would be way cool to build something in the vein of MXR or electroharmonix!
i did bend a TIGER QUIZ WIZ into a glirofied LFO! this time, instead of going with the sounds which are obvious, i dug and discovered some really cool buzz sounds which i was able to variate! (i started a thread on this in the keyboard and synth folder).
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it's mainly fuzzes and distortions - they're easiest, and you can never have enough of 'em ;D
built some clones, mainly off schematics found on the net - OCD, Fuzz Factory, Rangemaster, MXR+, Wooly mammoth, Ross compressor, some tremolos, some boosters, stuff like that. modded a lot of my gear as well - not too many pedals still under warranty here :)
but blatantly copying schematics gets old pretty quick, which is why i want to read up on all this some more. that noiseswash in the video is one of the first bits that i feel has gotten a true personal touch beyond the paintjob.. getting that second LFO to work was quite the thrill ;D
i'll look into that thread you started, sounds cool - not sure i'm familiar with the Tiger Quiz Wiz though :-\
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i had a distortion + once. to me, it was more like nice creamy soft overdrive than actual distortion...i loved it!
but, i had the chance to sell it and make money, so i did. i want another one! it drives my old tube amp nicely!
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loads of places selling kits to build one, so since you know how to use an iron..
tonepad.com, buildyourownclone.com, generalguitargadgets.com,
or musikding.com, newtone-online.nl (pezrsonal favourite) if you're in europe.
going slightly off topic here, aren't we? :-X
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i think i would rather buy a dist+. i like the compactbess of mxr, but hate working that small when building things.
so, back on topic: i need to order some components to try to build an LFO from scratch. i know what i said about working small, but those LFOs in an altoids box are kinda cool looking! lol!
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Hey, new to the forum ;)
I actually started with apc's before i ever tried bending.
Recently i've completed one wsg...easy and fun project..great for beginners. Spend some time to study schematics and stuff, and it will help you understand more things about the logic of the circuit ;)
I've only bought the pcb and got all the parts from local dealers and my stock. I Build it inside a tin box...looks really cool... i'll try posting some pics later...
now I want to build a voice of saturn...
edit: i've actually added the wsg pic as my avatar ;)
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yeah, plink, i think APC is a good place to start. i have been breadboarding it for the past week or so, and experim, and an LED. i think i will also make a power off switch.
enting with the basic apc circuit. right now, i have one i am prototyping with 3 potentiometers and 4 body contacts. i am working on the box...this hip looking turquoise molded plastic cassette carry case! i am trying to think of something creative to make into body contacts. i may go thrifting tomorrow and see what i can find.
it seems the design of the box, etc is half the battle, almost harder than building the circuit! though, i found durable plastic vhs tape boxes work well, and drill easy, also allow you to spread controls out.