Inverter-Based Synths

I have mentioned before that my synths are inverter-based. Now this makes them "digital" rather than "analog" op-amp based synths. The great thing about inverter synths is how easy it is for beginners to mod them and bend them. They are low voltage, and incredibly versatile. In all my bending and re-wiring of inverters, I still haven't managed to ruin any parts like I used to with basic circuit-bending.

[super-secret song at the end]

Beavis Audio Research has a great page on these types of synths here: beavisaudio.com/Projects/CMOS_Synthesizers The above video involves my digisynth v1, beavis audio's Heterodyne Space Explorer (a quad-oscillator with starve), and a "Mr Rogers in my Pocket." The starve and quad-osc combined with an input patched in makes some great digital, squeaky distortion. Almost akin to a high-gain bitcrusher.


I'm currently working on some Jar Monsters, a few songs, updating my recording studio, transcribing the full digisynth schematic to photoshop, and a commissioned digisynth v3 for a friend. Recap: v0 was the OrcaSynth, v1 was the DigiSynth, v2 was the SynthZilla, and v3 is in the works with many improvements over v2.


Also, here is something I drew on harmony:
By the way, I will hold myself to posting at least once a month!

Odds & Ends

Lately I've been working on a few projects, but I have been spending a large amount of time drawing and playing/editing music.
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Here are some electronic happenings:
I replaced the jack, switch, and pots in my friend's Telecaster. It was informative and eliminated a ton of scratchy interference. I bought a parts kit here for the job. It's a little pricey, but the parts are all matched exactly.

I also got a daisy chain and searched through my stash of wall-warts so that now all my music gear (10 items) is powered by 3 power blocks! consequentially, it's all insanely lighter.

I managed to mod this design to make a 16-step sequencer. With help from Michael Una and Bill Bowden.
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Works in progress:
- 4-channel, 16-step Circuit-Bent Drum Toy
- JWJ's Monster
- Thingamahands
- "The Perfect Clock Unit"
- A few StudioFactory projects

SynthZilla Is Complete!

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It started as the OrcaSynth (a mod of a HackADay project), turned into the DigiSynth, and now has finished off as SynthZilla!

The final build includes control over pitch, duty, portamento, 2 LFOs, tone, body, gain, vol, 8-step voltage sequencer, and more!


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Below is the schematic I used. Not all the components are labelled and I didn't draw in the bypass jacks for all the knobs, but you get the idea. Let me know if you'd like a cleaner, complete schematic and I will happily oblige.

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A couple notes: I used a quad-amp simply because I was out of single amp ICs. Also, the tone/body filter only works well through headphones or an external amp, not the onboard speaker.

Video-Making Time

I finished Synthzilla! I will post that asap; but for now, enjoy these videos I made just for you.

Monsters in Jars & WIP Panels

Well every time I promise something is "upcoming" I get side-tracked. So today I have something completely different to appease you.

These are two monsters I sculpted as gifts for a couple friends. More info in the set.

Here are some incomplete projects:

Top two are my Digisynth panel being built. Bottom left is a WIP Circuit-Bent Casio CZ-101. Bottom right is a MysteryMonster; any ideas as to what it does?