diy synth kits?

lipface · Joined: Feb 25, 2005 Posts: 4 Location: sipping, softcheese

someone once linked me to a site where you can order a kit with all the components necessary for building an analog synth. but i can't seem to find it now

rather than hunting that person down i thought i'd see if any of you know of this or any other companies (websites) like this

thanks!

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:24 pm Post subject:

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-5278.html

he is not selling complete kits though. What kind of synth are you talking about here?

http://www.paia.com/

http://www.synthesizers.com/

lipface · Joined: Feb 25, 2005 Posts: 4 Location: sipping, softcheese

ah yes! http://www.paia.com

that's what i was looking for thank you

i'm totally new to this, but i'm beginning to have an interest in building experimental instruments, circuit bending toys, etc.

great site you've got here by the way!

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:39 pm Post subject:

lipface · Joined: Feb 25, 2005 Posts: 4 Location: sipping, softcheese

btw, has anyone here every used anything from http://www.paia.com ?

sound quality? durability? their stuff looks pretty good. just wondering if anyone has had any experience with it

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:48 pm Post subject:

I recently helped a friend of mine to assemble the Theremax. He has been having his kit around for years I think, but finally he gave in and asked for help. He feels soldering is a bit like handling nuclear waste. Scary!
The kit is nice and i am thinking about getting one myself. I think it has been upgraded some since he bought it, but this version sounds just fine.

The Paia stuff is pretty popular and I guess some of the designs are absolutely decent. Is this your first synth?

jksuperstar · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject:

I built the FATMAN. It's a very good basic synth (mono, 2 VCO (sawtooth/ramp), 2 envelopes). One of it's best features is that there are many mods to do that are available all over the net. Adding LFO's, hard sync, and filter mods, plenty to choose from. The basic kit has no case, so durability is up to you.

lipface · Joined: Feb 25, 2005 Posts: 4 Location: sipping, softcheese

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:45 pm Post subject:

A DIY analog synth is great fun, but I am not sure it really gives you "more" than you already have. Analog DIY gear like that is a kind of aquired taste, and often disappointing if you don´t´know what you are getting yourself into. If you do know.. then the fun starts.. Very Happy

jksuperstar · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject:

However, it does give you very good insight into WHY synths are built the way they are...why you would choose a sawtooth instead of a square or triangle wave (what harmonics to choose?!), what Q and frequency mean to a filter, and what all the options are for an envelope. I think building a DIY kit, then tuning it & using it, really exposes you to details that are largely lost or taken for granted in most modern "monster" synths.

You might not get an obviously new sound, but you will begin to understand (immediately!) the differences between digital & analog sounds, and gain a little more insight into what to do to recreate that sound in your head.

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:

Yup, very true.

kenl666 · Joined: May 12, 2004 Posts: 66 Location: Pacific Northwest

I've completed the Fatman and the 9700s. They were a blast to build, and have a very good sound. Perhaps I should have done only one or the other, but I wanted to start with the fatman to see if I could do it at all.

The manuals are very easy to follow and do an excellent job of explaining the circuitry, and their service is phenomenal. A few parts were missing from the 9700 kit (understandable since there are so many little parts) and they expressed mailed them even though they didn't need to (I just went to the next module while waiting for the part to arrive).

ian-s · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:10 am Post subject:

kenl666 · Joined: May 12, 2004 Posts: 66 Location: Pacific Northwest

zynthetix · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:07 pm Post subject:

I have yet to build anything from paia, but they have the cheapest transducers I could find. I am ordering a few of these to build/restore a few drum triggers. The thumb drum set looks interesting and useful, but I am debating it.

has anyone had experience individual with paia parts? transducer based drum triggers as well?

State Machine · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:54 pm Post subject: diy synth kits?

I like the DIY modules from Blacet Music Research

http://blacet.com/

I have built up some modules and they are very good quality!

Check them out !