[sdiy] Intro - admin questions

[Richard Le Mesurier (Investec Employee Benefits)]

Hi, all

I just subbed to this list now. I have become interested in the idea of
creating my own synth/sequencer/MIDI controlled box only in the last week or
so.

My driving force is that I am a DJ, and have a box that will analyse my
audio signal and output a MIDI timecode.

But I have no MIDI devices, and would rather build things than buy pre-made
units (especially since the Rand is 15 to the Pound, and 10 to the Dollar -
things in South Africa are REALLLLLLLY expensive and only getting worse).

Building a modular synth has also always been a sort-of dream, now is the
time to learn.

I have many many questions at the moment, but don't know enough to ask
anything useful. 
Is there an archive I can read (couldn't find anything on the web site) to
bring me a bit up to speed?

The first project I envision myself building would involve:
- MIDI interface with 2 MIDI ins, 2 MIDI thrus (one for each) and a few MIDI
outs, possibly combining the 2 MIDI ins.
- MIDI in to Control Voltage (I have found a circuit to do that)
- MIDI in to analoge (I have found a circuit to do that)
- sequencer type thing (with a MIDI in for timecode) that I can select a
signal to be output on every note, half-note, quarter-note etc. (would
probably work with the control voltage box)

What I don't knw is what I am going to end up controlling with these gadgets
. . . the more I learn, the better equippe4d I will be when that time comes
to choose.

Anyway, I am going to sit in the background of the list for a while and
watch and listen and hopefully pick up the jargon to use, and a bit of info
at that.

In the meantime, if anything I said makes sense, and you have any helpful
tips, please talk to me. I have a whole subject to learn - there is no
difference where I start.

Cheers, and I hope this is the beginning of a very long and prosperous
relationship.
Ric
Cape Town, South Africa
25 yr old actuary/programmer by day, DJ/programmer by night
and just for more interest - fave current music = psychadelic trance :)