while looking for something else I came across this and it got me to thinking.

You could probably program that one with the electronics tools and get some crazy ass one trick sounds from that. Or am I thinking too simplistic here?

http://www.hobbytron.net/KA905.html

Probably most of the sounds would be pretty boring. Analog in general is pretty boring until you got a lot of crazy modulation going on, AND include effects.

But on a different note, that kit looks cool! Reminds me of my Radio Shack kit I had when I was a kid! Too cool!

Devon

Does look fun (and only $30)
I want one
but it sounds like you could only make alarms and beeps...which could be inspiring in a way.
Perhaps it could be a good place to start for learning electronics and circuit bending....

I have an older version of this one:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fn ame=CTLG%5F011%5F005%5F000%5F000&product%5Fid=28%2D280

Basically a breadboard, a bagfull of components, and a few other sensors and controls. Marginally usefull for prototyping circuits, but I usually tend to just build things soldering directly onto a circuit board.

A modular synth is infintely more useful from a strictly sonic point of view.

well you could build a one-shot synthesizer that would definetly sound interesting.. just run your directly-out-of-the-wall current into a channel in your mixer. Could easily be achieved with that kit.

Sort of my next step..I was thinking PAIA Fatman, as basic starter kit (plus its MIDI). But the Thermin, com'on who doesn't want to play with one of those!

http://paia.com/catthnks.htm [/url]

doesnt the fact that you are posting about building a real hardware synth in a forum on virtual software instruments strike you as ironic?

Well daizo, when designers create virtual 3D computer models, they frequently like to start references taken from a physical model. Maybe he wants to build his own hardware synth, so he can then better emulate one in software?

daizo wrote:

doesnt the fact that you are posting about building a real hardware synth in a forum on virtual software instruments strike you as ironic?

Ironic perhaps if it had nothing to do with music-making.

I am interested in how sound comes about and I personally think it aids and helps to understand the basics of that.

And Like McLilith says; this could be interpreted back into digital design (although that would be something far ahead of me yet)

I made once an effect synth, i found the schematic ona local electronic paper.
It was a VCO based on the famous LM555 circuit. The output of the VCO was square wave, it was sent to a 14 bit frequency divider, with output from each freq/2 step. There was some connectors to get the signals of the frequency divider and send it to NAND logic. It has a feedback path from one output to the frequency control with adjustable FM.
I got some really nice sounds with that.
This was 10 years ago
Maby i will make that in Synthedit, just for fun.

daizo wrote:

doesnt the fact that you are posting about building a real hardware synth in a forum on virtual software instruments strike you as ironic?

irony


The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.

in that case no sorry next please

meeks wrote:

Sort of my next step..I was thinking PAIA Fatman, as basic starter kit (plus its MIDI). But the Thermin, com'on who doesn't want to play with one of those! http://paia.com/catthnks.htm [/url]

I've built a few PAIA kits over the years, and basically you get what you pay for. They seem like a great bargain for the features, but in the end you usually end up with with a crappy, noisy device which will leave you disappointed. Having built a Theremax myself, I would encourage you instead to go with a Big Briar Etherwave. The sound quality and general construction is much, much, much better, even in kit form.

Also, regarding the comment about discussing hardware in a virtual music forum- there are hardline fanatics in both the "hardware only" and "software only" camps, but I would venture to guess that most of us own some hardware as well as software. In the end, making some noise is the only thing that matters.

deastman wrote:

[, but I would venture to guess that most of us own some hardware as well as software. In the end, making some noise is the only thing that matters.

yeppers i got a kazzoo an a armonica an a clicky thing you swing

In a somewhat related note I was looking at guitar amps from the 1960s, and the circuits are for the most part amazingly simple- I bet that these could be built easily as long as substitute parts could be found for the unavailable ones.

vurt wrote:

deastman wrote: [, but I would venture to guess that most of us own some hardware as well as software. In the end, making some noise is the only thing that matters. yeppers i got a kazzoo an a armonica an a clicky thing you swing

I just picked up a used Autoharp (15-chord) at Sam Ash for $100. Looks to be 1960's-1970's vintage, only needed a tuning. Nice contrast to the similar-vintage Hammond and the VSTIs.

Doug

dougsyo wrote:

I just picked up a used Autoharp (15-chord) at Sam Ash for $100. Looks to be 1960's-1970's vintage, only needed a tuning.

Only needed a tuning? A friend of mine that works on non-electronic instruments for a local music store once had to tune an old autoharp. It took him forever, or so it seemed. He had to keep retuning the unit, because tuning one string affects the tension on all the other strings ever so slighly. By the time you tune all of them, you have to start over again, getting things a little closer each time. Of course, this could have been a lousy autoharp, bad strings, or perhaps my friend is just a perfectionist.

The real kicker is that this autoharp had been sitting in a corner of the repair shop for probably over 5 years, gathering dust. Everyone had long since forgotten about it. One day, this lady comes in and asks if her autoharp is ready? My friend was puzzled at first, not remembering working on an autoharp in quite some time, and didn't know what she was talking about. Then, he finds out that the old unit sitting in the corner for the last several years is the one she's asking about! Is it ready? It was ready 5 years ago!

Of course, by this time it needed tuning again, and my friend had to retune it during his lunch break while the lady waited on him. (He's such a nice fellow.)

It always reminded me of that scene in the movie "48 Hrs" where Eddie Murphy goes to a parking garage to retrieve his car that had been sitting there for years, covered in cobwebs and dust, while his character had been in prison.

Sorry for the off-topic autoharp story, but I hope someone gets a kick out of it. It was certainly one of the weirder moments I had while working at that music store.

*************************

To bring this back on topic, I would advise anyone even thinking of building their own synth hardware to visit the following Synth-DIY links:

The Synth-DIY Mailing List Homepage

The Synth-DIY Searchable Archive

This is a terrific email list dedicated to people building their own synth hardware. Everyone is welcome, no matter what the skill level. Analog and Digital are both welcome topics. Some members of the list are also working on DSP-based soft synths. If you want to make your own synth, this is a great place to learn how.

vurt wrote:

yeppers i got a kazzoo an a armonica an a clicky thing you swing

The world needs a good harmonica--one with a MIDI interface.

And let's not forget, we also need a MIDI kazzoo controller, to go with that kazzoo VST plugin.

McLilith wrote:

The world needs a good harmonica--one with a MIDI interface.

The Millioniser 2000 - kinda sorta.

McLilith wrote:

dougsyo wrote: I just picked up a used Autoharp (15-chord) at Sam Ash for $100. Looks to be 1960's-1970's vintage, only needed a tuning. Only needed a tuning? A friend of mine that works on non-electronic instruments for a local music store once had to tune an old autoharp. It took him forever, or so it seemed. He had to keep retuning the unit, because tuning one string affects the tension on all the other strings ever so slighly. By the time you tune all of them, you have to start over again, getting things a little closer each time. Of course, this could have been a lousy autoharp, bad strings, or perhaps my friend is just a perfectionist.

The first tuning "got close". I played it about an hour, put it aside for a few days, and tuned it again when I picked it up. This time it didn't take long at all.

Trivia: The Autoharp is trademarked by Oscar Schmidt (a division of Washburn), although other companies make functionally identical instruments. Based on some info in The Autoharp FAQ, there seems to be a view that "serious" players should have their harps rebuiltby someone that knows what they're doing, because the quality has been such a mixed bag.

Getting back to more MIDI-ish things, has anyone tried the Q-Chord? This is the all-digital successor to the omnichord of the early 1980's, with MIDI in and out, GM voices, etc. You play it sort-of like an autoharp.

Doug

Quote:

Having built a Theremax myself, I would encourage you instead to go with a Big Briar Etherwave. The sound quality and general construction is much, much, much better, even in kit form.

More Info Please! Where is this?

In regards to everything else: It's coming to point where both the hardware and the software merge. Much like the controllers for the B4 and the new Korg stuff. A mod and pitch wheel are not cutting it anymore. Midi controllers are not that difficult to build and more hands on approach, I feel, is needed. I'm not knocking hardware (being a guitarist and building most of my equipment), but literally stumbling over a Computer Magazine has changed my life forever...If I were to buy the hardware that is taken care of in VST form (Imposcar, CS-80, B4, etc) I'd be 1)Damn LUCKY 2) very well to do (mabey not after the purchases). I get the biggest kick out of musicians that claim an app. like fruity loops sucks or is a toy because the 'the people using them don't play an instrument, there not real musicians'. Get a grip, you have to start somewhere, be it hardware or software. Encourage all!

KVR is a place of music, period. Who here has the nerve to distinguish the line between hardware and software at this rate of technological advancement. I feel you need both. Right Muse Reasearch?

Nuff of my ramblin..thanks for listening.

dougsyo wrote:

Getting back to more MIDI-ish things, has anyone tried the Q-Chord?

No, but I've seen the Omnichord. (I've repaired several of them, actually.) This was the product that the Q-Chord replaced. I thought they were interesting, but I seem to remember thinking they were just a little bit expensive considering what you got. (Maybe my memory is fuzzy?)

If you ever buy a used one, make sure that the battery compartment isn't full of corroded batteries, or the caustic remains of corroded batteries. This was the most common problem I saw when I repaired these units. People would tend to use an AC adapter with these units and forget about the batteries in the battery compartment--until they ruptured and spread caustic gunk all through the unit. Usually a good cleaning brought them back to life, but not always.

On second thought, if it is full of corroded batteries, you might try to buy the unit for a very cheap price and take your chances that it will recover with a good cleaning. It might be a way to get a real bargain, but admittedly it is a bit of a gamble.


Trivia: The song With or Without You, by U2, actually features an Omnichord. I remember being surprised to see it in the credits. I think their producer actually played the instrument on that track.