Reading, what next?

[SineHacker]

I have read Nicolas Collins "Handmade Electronic Music" cover to cover, many times! I have both editions and the second revision was excellent! This book really transformed my music practice and has helped me begin carving out my own philosophy in design and composition - I don't think I am alone in this.

I am looking for any suggestions in further reading now, my favorite sections in HMEM were the CMOS based circuits (drones, distortion etc.), the contact mic applications, optocoupling, amplification and the passive matrix mixers.

I don't want to write an essay here (I am prone to doing such) but basically I'd like to keep going in the same direction and I'm a motivated learner so I think I can tackle some more focused / advanced material.

Any suggestions?

[frijitz]

[bubzy]

wish electronotes was available in pdf

[cbm]

[ashleym]

I dont blame Electronotes keeping hard copy only. The dear old internet would rip them off rotten if they were available electronically. But there is quite a lot on their website that can be downloaded.

However back to the OP, I agree 100% with the Electronotes recommendations- they are SDIY's holy scriptures (can I say that on a Sunday?). Outside that you have endless circuit cookbooks. Looking at you name, Sine Hacker, how much "formal" information do you want? My moment of understanding came from reading Don Lancaster's "Active filter Cookbook". His "CMOS Cookbook" is also a useful read (I cant find mine at the moment and yes I did have the "have you seen my CMOS cookbook?" "All the cookbooks are in the kitchen" conversation with my girlfriend).

Handmade Music is a great book. I use it with the apprentices at work, they love making a noise a lot more than the usual traffic lights with logic tasks

[ashleym]

Perhaps you could persuade Tom Bugs to do a workshop and work with like minded people?

http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/forums.html?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=34

But looking at your website this might not be "advanced" enough, however Tom is THE man so any excuse to work with him etc

[bubzy]

[SineHacker]

thanks, top replies! I'm not SineHacker anymore but yeah I guess the name does provide some insight into what I do

I build stuff in a sort of modular way, in the sense that I like to make lots of 9v battery powered boxes that can be combined in different ways. I like the fact that they exist individually and also that I can make music with them that doesn't have to make them the subject of the composition (if that makes sense).

I met Tom Bugs at Supernormal, I am a short train journey away normally - need to get on his case

[-minus-]

OK I'm going to post this. After looking again at Don Lancaster's CMOS Cookbook, I did a bit of research into the man. I discovered the TV Typewriter and... The Incredible Secret Money Machine! Faaaaar out. What a trip maaaan. Definitely recommend it, whatever your ego trip may be. Don posted a link to the PDF on his site:

http://www.tinaja.com/ebooks/ismm.pdf

[Uncle Krunkus]

I thought "The TV Typewriter" and "The Incredible Secret Money Machine" were circuits in the CMOS cookbook! Proceeded to click on the link for said cookbook and scrolled right through it thinking "Where are all the schematics?"

[-minus-]

Haha! Here's the TV Typewriter:

http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/RadioElectronics/TV_Typewriter.htm

No link to the Incredible Secret Money Machine schematic, sorry. I'm happy to test build a stripboard layout if you can come up with one though.

So I read the whole Money machine book last night. A lot of it is out of date but there is some good advice in there. It's from a different era. It's a bit like watching Easy Rider or something. Although published in '78, the stench of patchouli surrounded Don for a good decade after the Summer of Love. Here's a quote:

A clean, neat, and orderly work
place is a sure sign of a sick mind.

No matter where, your workplace must be just that-something with
a sense of place. You have to feel you belong there and that it is a part
of you. You should be able to fingerpaint it purple, nail up obscene
posters, play ELO wall-to-wall, grow exotic plants, work barefoot,
munch magic cookies, drink beer-or whatever-and do any of these
with nobody objecting.

[SineHacker]

Ha, well thanks for the advice guys, I have browsed over the various CMOS/OP-Amp cookbooks in the past, maybe I should delve into some of those