I, Me, We and She, likey arty viddy gamey techy singy songy funny makey posty. Believe, we’re tailing the bliss like white on rice and frown on sad clown. And isn’t that all there is to it? Send messages to
I’ve been working on a guitar effects pedal based around the rare and coveted Ampeg Scrambler. I used almost all the original components specified in the schematic and integrated a simple polarity protection for the DC jack. The biggest enhancement I’ve added is a sort of vibrato effect as an optional modifier to the texture control. I find the effect quite interesting, but I have a hunch there’s a simpler way to achieve it. Currently, I have a timer circuit driving a makeshift vactrol (LED taped to photoresitor). The main circuit’s texture control is then fed through the vactrol’s variable resistance. I’m concerned that driving the vactrol’s LED and 555 timer in addition to the rest of the pedal will create an impractical strain on battery life. Hmm, I should probably measure the circuit’s current consumption to learn more. More to come.
Chaos Schematics Posted on October 15th, 2007 at 3:42 pm by Collin
These synthesizer module schematics by Ian Fritz are quite awesome. Intended for use as sources of randomization, they utilize concepts in mathematics which are a bit over my head - but they definitely inspire one to learn more. Check out the whole Electronic Sound-House site, good stuff.
Hopefully my EZ Chaos Circuit will be up and unpredictable soon.
I ran across this video posted a while back on Hacked Gadgets regarding a research project being conducted at the University of Plymouth.
I am currently conducting research along the same lines but my concept for utilizing the EEG signal differs signifigantly. In this usage the computer is basically “playing along” with a live reading of the subjects mental state. This approach is intruiging (and seems quite enjoyable for the test subject) but I see the interpretation or judgement made by the programming as a major leap in assumption. The researcher seems to acknowledge this. Perhaps it was the only way to make the dynamic legible and fun. Amplifying the EEG readings and retaining a version to-scale of their raw form is what attracts me to the topic. The ability to flatly reference a commonly invisible/inaudible organic characteristic - and apply that characteristic to active expression. That seems useful.
I had a great time at the Create Digital Music / Make / Etsy Handmade Music Night. Many awesome projects were featured, check them out @ CDM and Make (and their respective Flickr pools).
What made this event extra fun for me was the fact that it was the first time I was able to demonstrate some instruments I’ve been working on to a very supportive and interested community. I have to say, the positive feedback I received (regarding the atari tube in particular) warmed my heart. I have spent so much time learning the language of electronics over the past few months - toiling over wire and solder - that I almost forgot how good it feels to see someone else enjoy something that I’ve made. What I see as a noisemaker with a couple of knobs on it becomes an instrument once someone else picks it up and begins to play. That is a very good thing.
A big thanks to everyone who came out to the event - Hope to see you again soon.
The ArduinoSynth is my first attempt at microcontroller programming( and pretty much any coding at all beyond a little html). It took me a bit to get started but it’s turning out to be a fun way to learn the language.
So far it’s a 12-note monophonic synth with transposition selection via one 10K pot. I’m using a gutted toy keyboard for the switches and a simple low pass filter to smooth the output a bit. Here’s the schematic:
Features I’d like to add:
- Another octave (maybe add a transpose switch on each of the next octave, then they can share pins with the first)
- Last note hit priority
- Portamento (note-slide)
- Real sine wave out (no external filter, please)
- Polyphony (I had it working badly, need better math)
- any real keyboard feature in existence(or not) attack, decay, waveform, vibrato, etc.
Source can be found here.
Audio sample here
Sample with no LPF here
Some years back I was in the habit of taking requests. You made the title, I made the tune. I’d almost forgotten about that era til someone sent me a very kind email asking if those songs were still available for download. Well now, yes, they are . . . once again:
I recently attended an Arduino class at Lemur here in Brooklyn. It was fun and moved at a brisk pace. The Arduino programming environment is pretty damn friendly and intuitive.
I’m a bit staggered by all the possibilities microcontrollers open up but keep wondering - how do I turn this thing into a synth? Well I seem to be making pretty good headway via hacking bits of others’ sketches. Will report back soon.
Here is the “Smooth Cube” - Two squarewave oscillators pass through a timer to gate rhythms, then a low-pass filter takes the edge before greeting your ears. It also has an input jack to utilize the timer/filter chain for other instruments.
Listen: Smooth Cube v1.0 (dry) - mp3 2mb guitar through gate/filter mp3 1mb
The heart of the smoothcube is a circuit I found on Worth Ekik’s site:
www.geocities.com/worthekik//segen.html
followed by:
www.geocities.com/worthekik//hysteresis.html
and then capped off with an filter from:
www.oldtemecula.com/theremin/sixthvoice/index.htm
My First Synth Posted on July 5th, 2007 at 10:09 pm by Collin
My version of Ray Wilson’s Weird Sound Generator is complete! This thing was a joy to build and I learned a lot in the process. I debated adding labels to each knob but in the end I decided I’d accentuate the mystery by leaving them blank. Does that make it an MSG instead of a WSG?
Sample to come . . .
