FatMan - wonderful, but costs money...

[Andrew Schrock]

On Fri, 4 Jun 1999, WahwaH wrote:
>       Few days ago I asked a question about the simplest circuit to
>       generate a sound. Thank you all who replied to me with your
>       suggestions.
> 
>       Rory Mc Donald offered me to check out PAiA and FatMan.
>       Oh yea... It is great and a good thing to start at. But it costs
>       too much for me. I know, I know how much "already built" synths
>       cost. FatMan's price is really reasonable, but still for me, a
>       student with almost no income, it's not the right thing. That's
>       why I'm looking for a cheap alternative.

If the fatman is too cheap for you, you might want to reconsider exactly
how much you want to get into synth-DIY. On top of any kit price, the very
basic tools for assembly such as a soldering iron, solder, solder wick,
pliers, diagonal cutters, and a simple DMM cost $100+. (the '+' goes waaay
up) Not to disillusion you, but the initial investment needs to be made if
you're going to be constructing anything that won't frustrate the hell out
of you. 

I used a shitty radio shack soldering iron for a few months when I started
building my asm-1(s). On top of that I was a neophyte.. Anybody remember
that? I really bitched my head off over that project, I guess it was my
first after the fatman. I now think it had to have been my shorting out
components that was giving me so much trouble... and the tips on that
blasted iron would burn out every few days (pretty much literally). 

(but I did rewire my ASM-1 for a new housing 6 months ago, and it took me
about an hour from memory with no mistakes :) )

>       Isn't there a synth, schematics of which are available for free
>       and which includes documentation on how to get started?
> 
>       What would you offer me as a cheap alternative to build my own
>       synth???

I'll tell you what: I have a tomg mad mouse PC board. The PCB cost me $25
I think, I'll sell it to you for exactly that. (shipping included, even)
There's a parts list, wiring diagram, instructions, and circuit diagram
included. Parts will cost you $50 or so, you can even call into mouser
(www.mouser.com) and order one of the packages Tom has set up with them!
No guesswork at all. 

This will _definitely_ make noises, and has a filter and everything you'd
find in one of the big boys synths. (no midi, tho, but it'll make noises
anyways!) Info is at http://www.mindspring.com/~vco/madm/title.html

I'm only selling it because I'm much more into modular gear now, I already
have 3 tomg VCO-4 boards to stuff and I don't think I'll ever get to
construct it. Email me personally. (if Vytis decides he doesn't want it,
I'll sell it to the next person who emails me..) 

Andrew

-| Andrew Schrock | aschrock at cs.brandeis.edu |-