My previous attempt at binaural beat generation got a lot of positive responses, so I decided to make a second, more advanced version. Meanwhile, as a proof-of-concept, to test some of my ideas, I created the prototype I want to share with you now. Let’s call it Binaural Beat Generator 1.5. It is fully functional […]
What? Why? A simple, but useful one-day project – a laboratory PSU extender. Bench PSUs are almost always bulky, ugly and take a lot of precious space. For my usual synth-related workflow they most valuable features like current limiting and variable output voltage are not used very often – mainly during first circuit startup. Then […]
…or “16 surprising synth DIY tools that will make your builds shine “* * most clickable header due to blogging specialists Some time ago I was looking for tools which can boost my synth DIY into the next level. I watched countless YouTube videos like “Top 10 best tools for DIY” and 99% of […]
A story is really short: friend asked me to design a mixer/sync splitter which could fit between 2 3PO Pocket Operator cases from Dich Studios, so he can set the output level of each Operator separately. The cooperation was 100% remote and e-mail based, so it was very interesting experience for me. The plan […]
The purpose of my passive volume control build was simple – I just needed an analog regulation of headphones loudness my laptop was missing (and nothing feels better than a potentiometer knob in your hand). This project was so incredibly boring, that at first I didn’t want to write about it. However, apart from its […]
Introduction As Korg Volca Modular prices dropped recently to around 100 euro, it became a great and quite cheap introduction into the World of Voltage Controlled Modular Synthesizers. With additional Arduino and few components, you can ensure yourself many nights of modulation heaven (or hell, it all depends). So, how to connect Arduino to Volca […]
A friend (the one who menaged to kill few pairs of speakers with my Binaural Beat Generator) asked me if I could add an CV input to his cassette recorder, so he could use it with his modular synth. The answer was: “Yes”. The mod was preformed in a unusual “engineer way”, not the nowadays popular […]
As far as I remember, Glidophone was one of my first synth projects (May 2012), somewhere around Stylophone clone and Atari Punk Console. And as some of my early synths, it failed to generate any sound. I tried to resurrect it around 2016, but I was unable to find an error. Finally it ended in my […]
Nobody reads labels It must have happened, I just waited. When I was enjoying playing Bomberman in another part of the city, my girlfriend decided to hit some tunes on my old, trusted Microkorg. When I returned home, she seemed scared. I asked, what happened. She replied, something happened to my synthesizer, it behaves strangely. […]
“Wihajster” (from German “Wie heisst er?” – “What is his name?”) in Polish language is a word used if an actual name of an object do not come to mind. Something like “whachamacallit”. I changed a spelling to “Wieheister” to make it sound more internationally. The idea The idea for the device came from […]
After few years of fight I finally finished my eurorack drum synthesizer. I was very proud of it, till my girlfriend asked: “Why there are empty spaces in your noisy box? You still don’t have enough modules?”. I laughed, made myself hot chocolate and started to cry in the corner. Cure? Blanks. I was […]
4sum is a simple, monophonic portable audio mixer with 4 inputs and 1 output with separated level controls for each channel. I designed this one for one reason: I did not have any mixer for my Monotrons and other “toys”! (Now you can get it at patch.audio). The design The best way to design something […]
Stay calm, this is simply the beginning Durning my early synth DIY days I made a lot of simplest stuff – all kind of “beginner friendly” projects. They were cool devices to make, but after an initial exciment phase, a reflection came – they make some bleep sound and thats it :/ (It think the […]
All the designs were used only for comparison and not for any commercial purposes. At the beginning… Around a week ago I’ve got a strong internal need to synthesize a sea waves sound (we don’t have an ocean in Poland), as I try to design an updated version of my Binaural Beat Generator. Usually, […]
Back to 2006 It was year 2006 and my electronic knowledge was extending. I’ve allready build a ICL 7107 voltometer and a dekatron spinner, therefore I felt I can do something really complex. One day I saw a Syntom II, an electronic drum synthesizer project printed in Electronics and Music Maker magazine, (E&MM, 1983). I […]
Around the beginning of October 2015 I’ve got an oportunity to go for a synthmeet to show my new SDSV modules. The problem was I got no PSU or a modular case. I had only a week to DIY something and started with very simple mini PSU project, based on Doepfers A-100 MNT. As I […]
I had a lot of questions about a black box I use in almost every drum synthersizer demo. This device is just a simple 555 trigger generator, very useful in everyday synth DIY. Why? The question is: what advantage it has over a function generator? first of all, it is very handy – I […]
If you are into eurorack modular synths, this one is a must. Every device works better with power supplied. If you buy eurorack power supply ribbon cables for your own, the cost varies from 2 to 6 dollars. They are very easy to make, so… hammertime! (…and yes, I know the ribbon cable on the […]
…but why? A friend asked me to make a LFO output for his Korg Monotribe. I had some experience with synth modding, so I though its the job just for me! On Muff Wiggler, topic “Korg Monotribe modifications thread” you can read, LFO signal (fed to VCO) is avaliable at pin7 of IC15. It should be […]
This article should not be considered as a beginner-friendly do-it-yourself synth list, more as a more general showcase of possible synth DIY entry points. Some devices presented here are already obsolete or hard to find, but I kept them as good examples of what you may looking for in the future. All photos are shown only as […]
Lets go to the last part of our eurorack DIY. The PCB is designed and tested, front panel with decal and PCB holder made. The last thing is to electrically connect PCB with all panel mounted devices. There is a lot of place for mistakes, so I recommend to work slowly and stick to the […]
This is a third part of my eurorack DIY tutorial. Previously I wrote about front panel mechanical work and waterslide decal applying. Now the PCB and front panel need to be connected together. Custom PCB holder is a must if potentiometer and jacks are not included in PCB design. Lets get to work! The […]
Some techniques described here may seem weird (or stupid), but all of them are based on my own experience. For last 4 years I made around 35 eurorack DIY panels for different kind of devices using water decals. This is a part 2 of my eurorack DIY module building tutorial and it describes how to […]
So, you have tested your prototype, got the PCB manufactured and soldered. How to get from here to complete, professional looking eurorack module with mostly hand tools and minimum outsourcing? Here’s a small tutorial. It documents a creation of my Kraft Drum DIY eurorack module. Why I just won’t order a profesionally made front plate? I just […]
GF: What does this module do? Me: It shows a LEGO figure. GF: And? Me: Thats all. GF: … (gives me that you-have-wasted-a-week-of-your-life look and walks away). I was inspired by Gieskes “non-musical” modules, like “bottle opener” and “do-not-touch”. My module is a small display window with a iluminated LEGO figure. But not the ordinary one. It comes […]
It was back in 2014. Thanks to user hidden behind wutierson nickname I managed to finish digital “metallic” sound generator based on the one used in Simmons SDSV hihat / cymbal drum modules. The story SDSV drum brain was shipped with only 5 modules – bass, snare and 3 toms. Hihat didn’t belong to the […]
Every source needs an outlet. After I build about 10 drum modules, it was time to connect them and make some sounds. The requirements for my first eurorack audio mixer were simple: a lot of inputs without level control, some amplified inputs with level control for low output drum modules, output with level adjustment, output […]
Kraft Drum (aka V829 Drum) is a Vox Percussion King inspired device. VOX PK is quite rare drum synthesizer from about 1967. The most noticable use was on Kraftwerks track called Autobahn – you just cannot miss this punchy and somehow distorted bass drum. The circuit First, I got some lovely Vox Percussion King […]
Tetsuo eurorack power supply indicator was my first eurorack module and it detemined the graphics for my entire modular system. It was inspired by “Akira” movie stadium scene, when Tetsuo, sitting on the concrete armchair, sets free his power. To be specific, I made two versions of Tetsuo – one with power socket and one without it. […]
Evil’s soft first touches This eurorack multiple project was an excuse to use a controversial quality PJ3410 mini Jacks I bought online (very similar ones are JG3530-2381-000-03, Lih Sheng LJE0352 or CLIFF FC681374V). For 50 pieces I’ve got, 8 was unusable (after I put a Jack into it the internal contacts fell on the other […]
Not everybody needs an 808 Some time ago i started a DIY handclap project. The design was not based on Roland TR808, but Boss HC-2 (or Amdek HCK-100, if you like). With some problems I completed the prototype and made an eurorack module – it works really well. The circuit Boss circuit is different […]
Hip bass drum is project brought to you by Craig Anderton. Compared to other drum circiuits it’s very simple (but unique) design. The schematics scanned form Polyphony, October ’83 can be found all over internet (but if you have any problems getting one, call me). It is hard to find any clear demo of the […]
On Monday I have noticed, I don’t have a TR808 rimshot module in my drum setup. I decided to make one. The research 808 sound modules ale very popular in eurorack world, so the first thing I did was some small research. I found modules from Acidlab (8RS), Analog Soultions (RS88 and CL88) and […]
I present you simple end effective DIY solution for JG3530 / QingPu PJ3410 / Lih Sheng LJE0352 style jack nut driver. It’s very simple to make, all you need is just 15 x 2 x 150 mm aluminum flat bar and a file. Just take a alu bar, file and copy the shape below, it […]
When I first saw Korg Monotron Duo in 2014, I thougth: “Nothing to do here”. Mod points were quite boring, even with schematics there was not a lot to do. With Original Monotron, or even Delay, there were some exciting and very simple hacks. So I bought a Monotron Delay, modded it and forgot about […]
I was making synths and stuff, while my girlfriend played on Youtube a Manu Chao live performance. I noticed some familar sounds I knew from my childhood – the Executor keychain, true classic (there is also an Android app thats imitates it). I made some research and I found a specialized, proffesional device destined for […]
One day I decided to move my modular drum synth into bigger case. The main reason was my girlfriend wanted to use my previous Ikea Rast style case as an balcony table. I had no choice. The plans The design is based on Doepfers A-100 Low Cost 9U case. I made few “improvements” to […]
Some eurorack modules still use +5 V voltage busboard rail. If your PSU doesn’t supply it, you need to get a 5 V adapter (or get a new PSU). Doepfer “low cost” adapter costs around 15 euro. My alternative is much cheaper – project is very simple and all parts costs about 1 euro (but […]
There is no modular synth without busboards. My design is based on Doepfers A100-BUS. It is simple, cheap easy to make. Same as Doepfer, mine has CV and GATE buses – thus 16 pin power connector. Schematic is very simple, but you have to do it before PCB design. Nothing fancy here, 14 2×8 pin […]
When you type “Clangora” in your web browser, you will find maybe 5 different finished builds. It is not the most popular project, that’s why I feel I should show my device. The synth was designed by Thomas Henry, full description of the circuit along with printable PCB can be found in “Nuts & Volts”, […]
This a story about squeezing 16 kg of pure analog goodness into childs keyboard. Introduction For a long time i was thinking about modifying some small, cheap toy synth. I wanted to possess an unusual, battery-powered device with a built-in speaker, so I could play in a spare time. Initially, I wanted to make a […]
This is a successfull attempt to bring famous ClapTrap drum synthesizer (analog version) into eurorack synth world. It was not very easy. This particular device intrugued me for a long time. It is definitely well-known, but except pictures there is not a lot of info all over web. You can find schematics without any semiconductors […]
This article was updated slightly on 21.05.2018 and includes filtering capacitors change and some output voltage measurements. Introduction Every modular synth needs a power supply (except systems containing only blanks and Giskies 12 HP Bottle Openers). Switched power supplies sometimes cause problems (when you have a lot of small modules, all with input power […]
It’s my attempt to build a famous 808 cowbell drum module. I must say, it sounds like nothing else (including real cowbell). I made some mods in original circuit – some of them are well known: decay mode – lets you choose between 2 decay times: “original” and shorter one, filter mod – changes output […]
Stylophone is a portable, miniature sound synthesizer, designed around 1967 and build between 1968 and 1975. In 2006 it was put on market again, with some major modifications. Its most recognizable feature is a way of play – musician uses stylus and a metal keyboard. The similar instruments are Gakken SX150 and Dr Bohm Hobbyton. […]
MFOS Echo Rockit is an small, portable synth / effect processor. The original project can be found on www.musicfromouterspace.com and belongs to Ray Wilson. The device is somehow similar to Korg Monotron Delay, but it has more modulation options. In my construction I have added amplifier with small, but very pugnacious Visaton speaker. In small […]
Resonance mod, LFO to cutoff modulation mod, if you are into Monotron Delay modding you have probably done it or at least know it exists. I wanted to go step further (and keep Monotrons sexy size). Introducing: Monotron Delay Implant! What is implant? It is an additional mini PCB, containing opamp and some passive stuff […]
Every electronic engineer in his life have to build: a strobe light, a clock, adjustable LM317 power supply and guitar effect. I build all previous devices and only effect left to make. I decide to build SansAmp GT2 overdrive – I don’t own a guitar, but I like the hardcore style disorted bass drum sound. […]
I can barely remember when I started this project… After I build Atari Punk Console I decided to build similar 2-knob device. The idea was very blurry – small music box, powered by 9V battery, easy to use and fun. This is how it started and how it is ended. This is the story of […]
When two sines, with similar, but not equal frequencies are mixed together, beating effect occures. But when they are played by separated channels (f. e. in stereo), mixing happens in your head, resulting in binaural beat. This device lets you make this kind of beats. Please welcome, one and only (I couldn’t find any […]
Catophonator, first try (15.02.2015) If you ever build cacophonator DIY syntesizer, you probably experienced bleeding from your ears. Catophonator (derived from bunch of screaming cats) is more “gentle” version of cacophonator and allows for some more “musical” results. Or more unmusical, it depends on what you like. The circuit is very simple and synthesizer can […]
There is a story behind this module. Using my countless stupidity, i menaged to broke both hands while riding my bike. After that, i had a lot of free time, but i wasn’t able to many things. With some training i menaged to master computer mouse with partially plastered hand and keyboard striked with pencil. […]
Intro Prices for this deadly device starts from 25$ (!)(*) and according to some descriptions, it’s intended for intermediate DIYers (!!). It is a popular project and, i must say, at first sight I thought it is very trashy. One chip, two potentiometers – not very finesse, but I decided to give it a chance. […]
The design has over 30 years – it was created in 80’s by company named Waveform Processing. Synthesizer was sold as a kit for self-assembly . This is probably the simplest analog synthesizer, with all the basic modules, that every “adult” synthesizer has: 1x VCO , 1x VCA , 1x VCF , 1x LFO and […]
