[sdiy] wave/surf machine --- Hickman's EnviroSynth

[steve jones]

Try looking for the "Envirosynth" by Ian Hickman which was a Maplin
(UK) kit in the early 90's (order as LP67X no longer available) - I
built one myself and it does what you want and more - (great noise
source for a modular system? I should dust it down and put it to use.)
The instructions that came with it look like an electronics magazine
article.

General specs: 
mono output, 
Controls -  volume pot and 4 way switch for sounds; 
	white, 
	pink, 
	gentle breeze in the trees, 
	surf on the shore.

Can run off 2 nine volt batteries.

It really was a fantastic compact design which regularly helped us off
to sleep  when we lived with a lot of background sounds (neighbours).

Basically, a clock feeds a pseudo-random sequence generator which
leads to an envelope  controlling a VCF (HP, BP, LP) filtering an
audio noise generator.

Steve

On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:32:01 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

>I have been commissioned to build a surf synthesizer (sound of waves at a 
>beach) for an "artist party" that's coming up end of december.
>
>Here are some of the specs:
>
>a) Can't be a looped CD or a sample if possible.  Analog sounds (pink
>noise, random S/H, EG, filters) should be used.
>
>b) doesn't necessarily need a built in amp; a PA system will be provided
>
>c) Should be relatively hands-off; no complex control surface; if 
>possible some control of "big waves" vs "small waves" would be good, maybe 
>via a single pot, but this isn't critical, and an attenuator for the 
>output would be a plus.
>
>d) Must be self-contained; no external noise generators or whatever
>needed.  Mono would do but stereo is better, so, basically 2 outputs: out
>R and out L.
>
>d.5) -10dbV-ish sort of output levels--consumer type.
>
>e) Needs to be reasonably realistic sounding.
>
>f) Must be built by about Dec 1, so nothing too complex.
>
>g) Should not cost a fortune to build.  I could throw maybe $50 for parts 
>and PCB's, but not a heck of a lot more--I do have a large junk box 
>however.
>
>h) Powered by a wall wart or 117V; no need for battery power.
>
>i) Needs to sound good and reasonably realistic--these are artists after 
>all!!!
>
>Any suggestions?  PAIA once sold a kit for one of these, 
>but I think it's long gone--they still sell a "surf man" PCB, and 
>something like $15 for the documentation, but I have no idea if it's any 
>good or if it fits the above specs, or if they even have it in stock.
>
>Google searches reveal nada...maybe I'm not searching for the right thing?
>
>Any suggestions, about the Surfman or anything else, are greatly 
>appreciated.
>
>--CL