If you want some inspiration on a different direction for what to make
synth hardware look like - check out the stuff done by Folktek:

http://ariusblaze.com/soundart.html

http://folktek.com/benhouston/instruments.html

http://folktek.com/ariusandben.html

Very cool looking "Steam-punk" like stuff done in old test instrument
cases. Very creative. Functional stuff that looks like it came out of
a lab in the 1800s. This is what is the coolest thing about analog -
you can make controllers out of almost anythin that works like a
switch or resistive element.

-James

On Feb 19, 2008, at 4:58 PM, partlydrone wrote:

> Hi all, great group, long time lurker, first time poster.
>
> Since I've got a bit of spare time (as if) I thought I might build an
> interesting controller for my modular (doepfer, AS, harvestman). I
> need something to send gates and control voltages, but not scaled as a
> keyboard since a lot of my stuff is microtonal, or involves switching
> between odd frequencies that work well together through eg ring
> modulators, or by setting controls on eg A112. I've got some vague
> troubleshooting and assembly skills but I am no electronics ninja, so
> I'd be grateful for pointers on the circuitry which should be very
> simple.
>
> What I am planning is this, and it's rudimentary:
>
> 1. Obviously I want a control surface which looks pretty. This one
> will be very pretty once I have attacked it with the dremel and my
> extensive collection of nice knobs.
>
> http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html method=getProduct&R=2071515#header
>
> 2. Nice big buttons (got lots lying around) to send gates
>
> 3. Nice big knobs on potentiometers which will let me set control
> voltages, with momentary switches etc to choose between them.
>
> As far as I can see the electronics side of it is going to be pretty
> simple. Here is my kludge plan, please forgive/assist me if it is
> loopy:
>
> For the gates, which are a positive going 5v, to avoid messing around
> with voltage regulators etc, I will just take the 5v from the power
> supply ribbon, and use that to feed my gate switches, with a 470 ohm
> resistor to avoid short circuits.
>
> For CV I will just take the 12v +ve from the power supply, feed it
> into linear 10k-100k pots, using those as attenuators, and then I'll
> have my nice CV out the other side in a minijack. Should I bung
> something in there so that I can use the full travel of the pots,
> instead of being stuck with 0-12v
>
> Then I will have momentary switches, and selectors, etc, to choose
> between eg which CV is going to an oscillator at a given time.
> Switching between those will of course produces horrible glitches, I'm
> sure. No problem.
>
> Does this sound okay, or do I need to delve into it more deeply and
> have some proper circuity in there Hopefully not.
>
> Later I'll built some fun stuff into the controller too. I want to
> make a mechanical sequencer with a rotating wiper on metal plates.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>