[sdiy] Hello, and some questions

[Florian Anwander]

Hello John,

My experience is: developing the circuit is finally not that difficult, 
but creating then the module or synth as a real physical/mechanical 
thing can kill you (making pcbs; making frontplates; choosing the right 
parts, that fit the mechanical requirements;...).

So I recommend to start with some kind of kit based or at least fully 
instructed project, like something from
http://www.cgs.synth.net/
or
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/
here especially
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth_new/SOUNDLABMINISYNTH/page1.html
If you managed to build one of these, you may start modifying it, and 
then finally you may add own developments to it.

That way you can start rehearsing the mechanical side (which definitely 
needs to be learned mostly by experience). And you will learn already a 
lot about electronics.

Florian