[sdiy] new guy - how did you start

[Oren Leavitt]

Hello and Welcome!

My interest in electronics started around 1971 when I was in the 3rd grade. I would save up some money and go down to Radio Shack buy myself some Tandy Radio Shack 'P-Box' project kits (the 'Goofy Light' one was my favorite!), and eventually the Science Fair 100 in 1 project kit. That pretty much kicked my electronics DIY interest into high gear. 100 projects was not enough. Wherever there was space in the 100 in 1, I started adding more parts as I explored more complex circuits - even attached a heat sinked power transistor to side of its wooden box!
By the late '70s, electronic music and synthesizers were catching my interest, so I was playing with various oscillators and noise makers. In 1983, I bought a copy of Barry Kleins 'Electronic Music Circuits' at a local Heathkit store - this led me to hunt down copies of Electronotes. I built my first modular synth from circuits in Barry's book. It consisted of: 2 VCOs, 1 noise source, 1 VCF, 1 VCA, 1 ADSR envelope gen, 1 LFO, a signal output interface and a power supply. I used scraps of masonite for module fronts. Also built the Radio Shack reverb kit that used the SAD1024, and a small one octave organ that used one LM566 oscillator chip for each key - my first intro to polyphony! At that time, I also found a beat up but functional PAIA 2700 synth at a Goodwill thriftstore for $10.00 - my first 'real' keyboard! During the later part of the 1980's, I built a larger modular synth.
During the 1990's, I hadn't done very much with synth electronics - and then...I found the SynthDIY list.......

The only way I have learned new things is to bite off more than I can chew!

Oren

-----Original Message-----
From: wood <buck75 at easydatamusic.com>
Sent: Feb 8, 2004 7:54 PM
To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: [sdiy] new guy -  how did you start

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.
thanks for all the info thus far and for all you may provide in the future.

Easy Data Music
www.easydatamusic.com