Building an analog synth
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Posted on Feb 17, 2003 07:01 pm
Loki
Cone Poker
Member Since: Apr 07, 2002
I have decided that I want to venture into the world of building my own instruments and I want an analog synth... anyone have any experiance in building one?
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 17, 2003 10:32 pm Loki, I have worked on my Juno-106 for year's, so I guess rebuilding is close to building. Analog synth's are a beast. If you know someone who is willing to let you open the back of one up, take a good look at what your in for. True analog synth's are the most notorious animal's on the planet. They don't stay in tune, oscilator's drift in and out in mid song. But if you are serious about it, and have about a year to dedicate to it. I may have a book somewhere here on the history and some stuff in it about building them. If I can find it, I would be glad to donate it to the cause. But ya gotta promise to mail it back when your done, the book that is.
But like I said, if you look inside one and still want to tackle the job. I give ya all the pointer's I can. And even hook ya up with The Good Guy's. Their analog tech is the greatest in the world in my book. And they are like the elite of the elite, you have to know someone to get in for service. But once you make the hookup with these guy's, your in for life. And someitme's repair's there seem to take a lifetime.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Feb 17, 2003 10:55 pm Hey noize- I'm still thinking about it, going to ask some friends of mine for help and stuff. About the book though, I'm horrid with taking care of books so it probably wouldn't be a good idea to let me borrow it, though I appreciate it
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 17, 2003 10:59 pm Maybe I'll just scan some of the best page's and sen em to ya.
Feb 18, 2003 01:30 am yo, Loki, i know some guys online that are big electronics freaks. they recommend www.paia.com/ for anyone who wants to get into building a homebrew synth. PaIa makes some kits for exactly what you're trying to do. Sounds fun! I wish I had the time for it :O) -j
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 18, 2003 04:26 pm Thanx Jamie, that was thesite I was looking for aside from the book. Jamie is right Loki, they have some great kit's there for crankin out a home made analog noize maker.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Feb 19, 2003 03:37 pm that's an awesome sight. Me and a friedn are saving up to order one of those kits. I have one, dumb question about them though. Say I have a rackmount analog synth, how do I make sound with it, do I need to attach a keyboard to it?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 19, 2003 08:46 pm Yes, unless you crank up the resonance on a filter and it can self oscilate, then it will make noize on its own. Not very good noize but noize non the less. Otherwise, yes you will need a midi controller of some sort. It doesn't have to be a very expensive one, just a cheap one will do as most analog synth's dont have velocity or key after touch sensitivity.
Feb 19, 2003 09:07 pm hey noize, i understand velocity as being volume based on how hard the key was pressed, but what's this aftertouch i read about everywhere?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 19, 2003 09:13 pm Oh ya, Loki. I used to own one of their P4700J synth's. It was a real mind blower, although I did not build it. I loved working on it all the same. A constant battle to keep it in tune, but then again . So is my Juno-106.
If I were you, I recomend starting with the FatMan, it is cheap really and it is a really kool sounding machine. I think I may order up a kit for one and have the kid's build it with me. Man I am a genious.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 19, 2003 09:40 pm It will modify a synth's sound in some way or another as you push harder or softer on the key after the initial hit. Thus the term after touch. Most of my synth's and even some of the soft synth's react to after touch. My Proteus can be programed to do differant thing's with after touch. Sometimes it is used to meld 2 sound's together, it might increase or decrease volume after the initial hit. Or pushing harder may increase or decrease vibrato on a string patch. I sometimes use it to cross fadefrom one sample to another in SampleCell or with the Proteus. I also use it to kick in a filter bank when the after touch pressure reaches a certain point. I bought my latest controller (Fatar StudioLogic SL-1100) because it has such a great after touch control. I hope that gets it for ya, otherwise let me know and I will try to explain better.
Feb 20, 2003 05:53 am i think i get it. i guess even though some of my softsynths support it, ill never get to experience it without hardware that supports it, or a VST host where i can program it in.
i've already found a wealth of power in controlling an instrument's velocity. my MIDI drum machine even supports it
::sigh:: and i thought aftertouch was fun games with girls :O(
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 20, 2003 09:01 pm Dude, you can write in after touch just like you write in velocity in CakeWalk. And be patient, you will get a good controller with velocity and aftertouch one day.
