[sdiy] DIY Polysynths

[Tom Wiltshire]

One or two comments in response to things other people have said:

I agree that polysynths aren't as expensive as monosynths. I doubt I  
could build an Alesis Andromeda for less than they cost. The same is  
not true of a Moog Voyager, and is *definitely* not true of a minimoog.
But then, who wants the same-old-same-old? The Minimoog is a great  
machine, but it's been done (to death). For me, SynthDIY is about  
trying to do something new, to take synthesizers off in some new  
direction that the commercial world would never bother with. That's  
why it's a *good* thing that the people on this list are such a  
diverse bunch, and not just some miscellaneous crazies. I'd love to  
see some really individual new synthesizers, with never-heard-before  
architectures and sounds. I do realise how hard that is, but not much  
worth doing is easy.

I also agree that it's only a subset of people who want to get  
involved with microprocessors. As a long-time programmer, I'm clearly  
in one camp not the other. What can us over here do to convince you  
over there to get aboard?! Matrix keyboard scanning with MIDI In/Out  
and CV/Gates for voice modules, done on Arduino? What would entice you?
To be honest, it looks pretty unavoidable to me. Even if all you want  
is a MIDI/CV, you're going to finish up having a uP in your synth.  
Why fight it? Embrace the digital age!
</soapbox>

Finally, I agree with George about CEMs. They better used for repairs  
of classic vintage gear. They're damned expensive if you can find  
them. You can't find them. If you did find them, you just built  
something you can't repair. How many more reasons do you want for not  
using them?!
(That said, I've got a SSM2047 that I bought from Maplin in the late  
80's that I'm going to use. I've got no synth that uses such a chip,  
and I'm not buying an Emulator just so I can have a spare chip for it!)
I think the world needs you to open a webshop with your analogue  
modules, George. Then people would have another option.

T.



On 28 Jul 2009, at 14:15, GEORGE HEARN wrote:

>
> Guys, I think we all need to get away from using CEM's.  With  
> modern SMT there is really no excuse for it in DIY projects  
> anymore.  Think of all those prophets, jupiters, memorymoogs etc.  
> that will die because a bunch of CEMs are rotting on some  
> breadboard in a half finished project in a  shed somewhere!
>   I put my hands up and admit to using a few myself, and I put an  
> SSM2040 in upside down once too.. though i've made a lot of effor  
> to circumvent the need for 'em..
>
> Finally I've started putting some stuff on the web at  
> www.hearnmorley.com
>
> George
>
>
> --- On Tue, 28/7/09, Florian Anwander <fanwander at mnet-online.de>  
> wrote:
>
>> From: Florian Anwander <fanwander at mnet-online.de>
>> Subject: Re: [sdiy] DIY Polysynths
>> To: "synthdiy" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
>> Date: Tuesday, 28 July, 2009, 12:08 PM
>> Hello Tom
>>
>>> these below. Can anyone add anyone else to this list?
>> It is not yet publishable, but sometimes I am continuing to
>> work on a
>> four voice expansion for my Korg Monopoly.
>>
>> Also it won't be completely diy, because I will start with
>> a readymade
>> CEM-based prototype of a Doepfer A-135-2 (a not yet
>> released product
>> http://www.doepfer.de/a1352.htm).
>> The idea is to pick the CV, Gate and  VCO-Signal from
>> the Monopoly and
>> to handle it outside in a additional four voices. Each
>> voice will
>> consist of one VCO (CEM3340), VCF, VCA (CEM3372) and two
>> Tom-Wiltshire-envelopes. No additional LFO at the moment.
>> The most complex and time consuming task shall be the
>> control panel,
>> which will provide access to the four individual voices in
>> three
>> different modes:
>> 1.) one set of controls determines the sound of all four
>> voices
>> 3.) each voice is controlled by its own set of
>> potentiometers/switches
>> 2.) one set of controls determines the sound of all four
>> voices, but the
>> other potentiometer sets should provide offsets from these
>> master values.
>>
>> Until now exists the breakout from the Monopoly, one voice
>> on a soldered
>> breadboard with the VCO and two of your envelopes (plus the
>> existing
>> VCF/VCA module). It basically works, but now I am lacking
>> much time to
>> complete it (and also there are always those small (and
>> bigger)
>> modification ideas and repair jobs, that crop up every now
>> and then.
>>
>> Florian
>>
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