<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>hi,</FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>compared to most of the people posting here, I'm a
quite a beginner myself. I started off building the Paia Fatman just like many
other beginners. Building the Fatman synth went very smoothly, It's not
easy to go wrong when the instruction manual is so complete. I got into building
my own synths after playing around a little with writting software VST
instruments. Before I started studying EE in school I thought that
designing or even building and understanding some electronic device was
beyond my capabilities. I'd say the biggest help getting started (besides this
list and it's members websites) was school, or rather the books we use in
school. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Some books that are currently helping me understand
electronics:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Practical Electronis for Inventors - Is real basic
stuff about electronics. This book has easy introductions into transistor
circuits although It doesn't 'show enough math to really learn how they work.
Now, I moslty look at these next three books.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fundamentals of Electric Circuits
(alexander/sadiku) - This book was used in my first two courses in school:
circuits 1, and linear systems. I still look in this alot when I forget
something. As far as text books go, I'd say this one is good. It teaches
resistor/capacitor/inductor circuit analysis starting with DC circuits and
finishing with laplace and fourier analysis for AC circuits (if you don't know
what that is, it will teach you). There are no transistors in this book, for
that I use the next two.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Art of Electronics - depending on what you
know, this my be a little more advanced to start off with, but from what I've
read so far, I'd say this is a great book to have.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Microelectronic Circuits (sedra/smith) - as
Art of Electronics, this one expects you to have some prior knowledge of
circuits. It almost jumps straight into transistors and opamps, but shows enough
math to satisfy me. I've only read a few chapters of this so far but it is
easier to read than many similar books. This one was reccomended by one of my
professors in school.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The last two here I haven't had long but I like
them both very much so far.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>other than the fatman, I think building a modular
synth would be a good way to start. You can start off building simple modules or
kits, then keep adding on with more advanced or your ownd designs as you go.
I've build several Oakley Sound modules now that are great.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>check my site: <A
href="http://www.sdiy.org/destrukto">http://www.sdiy.org/destrukto</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>..ryan</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>hey everybody, i have been on the list for a
several weeks now and have enjoyed all the information so far. although alot
of it is way over my head, i think this forum is right up my alley, as they
say. what i would like to know from you all is... how did you
get into this? what made you decide to start making your own music
machines? what was your fist diy project? how did it work out for you (
did you bite off more than you could chew, or was it a smooth operation)? what
would you say, besides sdiy, was the most important resource to you when you
started (a book or project or mentor) and what would you fine folks recomend
as a good beginner project. i know that is kind of alot, but i am
curious.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>thanks for all the info thus far and for all you
may provide in the future.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Easy Data Music<BR><A
href="http://www.easydatamusic.com">www.easydatamusic.com</A></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>