At time of writing the biggest and most ambitious project i have ever started: A completely home-built analog modular synthesizer. A project without an end, not only because i always come up with new ideas to improve my work, but also because the amount of desired modules is virtually unlimited. It will take many years to complete and will cost loads of money, but it’s definitely worth it.
It all started with building a VCO, according to the design of rene schmitz’s 4069 VCO. I hooked it up to a 12 bit DAC, controlled by an Arduino that i equipped with a midi input. I had a Nord Micromodular that I could connect to it, providing me the modules that i hadn’t made yet. So primarily digital though, and fully not self made, but i was a lot of fun to play with already. After nearly a year of exploring, playing, saving up money and being a bit reluctant to start a project that i know will never be finished, I decided to order a lot of new components and start soldering.
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I began by adding a second VCO. I can’t remember why exactly. Was it because after ordering my parts online i had to wait for a few days will they arrived and I wanted to start right away? (I always order parts at least twice in case I destroy something, so i had everything in house for a second VCO) Or was it because i rediscovered some great old electro records having these nice sounds from two detuned oscillators? Probably both.
Cardboard would be better
The parts I ordered were for a voltage controlled filter and a voltage controlled amplifier. I took both circuit designs from the Fatman. They looked quite simple and the parts were easy to obtain. I also ordered an opamp to boost my DAC range from 0-5V to 0-15 volts, so it complies to the modular standard. With some sample and holds i will be able to have 8 analog outputs on the Arduino. Currently I have soldered 6 of them, the last two I will add when i need them. The outputs will provide the pitch, velocity, filter post-ADSR, amplitude post-ADSR and LFO sginals. The ADSR values can be set over MIDI.
The midi-to-cv supports pitch bend and portamento with variable time. It is also possible to to send the pitch of the previously played note to a CV output. (only if it is still down) Connecting this output to the second VCO generates some knd of polyphony, although they share the same filter and VCA.
Started in July 2010.