[sdiy] Electronics class for kids

[Monse Lozano]

Thanks for the good info, sure I'll keep you posted on how it goes, I plan on posting some of the projects and videos online.


________________________________
> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 11:42:27 -0700 
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Electronics class for kids 
> From: harlan.foster at gmail.com 
> CC: panfilero at hotmail.com; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl 
> 
> Monse- 
> I have a handful of links that may be of use - all with affordability 
> and accessibility in mind, many of the circuits you'll find from these 
> links lend themselves well to experimentation. 
> 
> Some very cost effective stuff in this book by Nicholas Collins: 
> http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Electronic-Music-Hardware-Hacking/dp/0415998735 
> 
> The Atari-Punk-Console has a lot of bang for the buck (article links to 
> schematics): 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Punk_Console 
> 
> Also, the world of Lunetta synths has plenty to offer on the 
> simple/cheap side - Single sided power, mostly CMOS chips: 
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V9qerry_PsXTZqt_UDx7C-wcuMe_6_gyy6M_MyAgQoA/edit 
> The Lunetta synths are primarily aimed at cheap modular (not V/Hz 
> scaled) synth modules, but simple standalone devices can also be 
> constructed - LFO + VCOs from a single IC and a few pots, resistors, 
> and capacitors. If you have the kids breadboarding, there is plenty of 
> room for experimentation here, and then taking it to strip board is 
> pretty simple. 
> 
> Also, consider the Beavis Audio page on CMOS synths, also has some good 
> links at the bottom, including a (legal) downloadable PDF abridged 
> version of Nicholas Collins' book I listed above: 
> http://www.beavisaudio.com/Projects/CMOS_Synthesizers/ 
> 
> And, for audible reference, here is a CMOS based audio drone circuit 
> I've been working on - there are three chips at work here, with a 
> materials cost of about $1.00 US: 
> https://soundcloud.com/tengu-23/dronehive-test-3-svf-and-saw 
> While the dual-sided power supplied, temperature compensated synth 
> circuits are formidable (and musically precise) I think there is plenty 
> of interesting sound to be had by coaxing digital circuits into analog 
> audio roles. 
> 
> Back in the day, I used to teach several after school art programs for 
> kids from 5 to 16 (difficult range to work with, in general!) I've 
> wondered about teaching electronics in a similar setting, I for one 
> would be interested in hearing how this project goes. 
>>Harlan 
> 
> 
> On Tue, May 21, 2013 at 10:57 AM, David G Dixon 
> <dixon at mail.ubc.ca<mailto:dixon at mail.ubc.ca>> wrote: 
> Very worthy project, Monse. Please check out this website (known 
> colloquially as MFOS): 
> 
> www.musicfromouterspace.com<http://www.musicfromouterspace.com> 
> 
> I'm sure there will be tonnes of stuff there that you can use for the class. 
> Perhaps they can collaboratively build an MFOS Weird Sound Generator. 
> 
> 
>> I am about to start an after school programs to teach 6th-8th 
>> graders basic electronics and I would like to incorporate 
>> some audio synth type circuits into the class. I was 
>> wondering if anyone could give me any suggestions for cool 
>> noise making projects? I'm not very familiar with 
>> synthesizer design, I've been reading up on it a bit and 
>> started putting together a simple sawtooth generator, the one 
>> with an integrator and a comparator, where the output ramps 
>> up until the comparator shorts the integrator's cap and 
>> discharges it. I'm looking for simple circuits like this, 
>> I'm not worried about correcting non-linearities or 
>> temperature compensation, just noise makers to get the kids 
>> interested. 
> 
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