Calling all synth DIY'ers!

v-un-v · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:36 am Post subject: Calling all synth DIY'ers!

I'm posting this because last night I found that Thomas Henry has torn down his site and a lot of his cool things he seems not to be making availiable any more :(

I was browsing the internet about a month ago looking for a photo of the original PE minisonic mk 1 to base my SoundLab front panel on and I stumbled across this thread on the newly founded EPE list (jeez these people are out of touch with modern times!). Anyway I added some stuff to the thread asking why most electronic construction mags have deserted us synth diy nuts (well I know they lost interest when analogue sort of died when the DX7 was introduced back in the early 80's). This was John Becker's reply and you can find it here;

http://www.chatzones.co.uk/discus/messages/7/480.html?1117552294

Incidently John Becker was the founder of Phonosonics a company not unlike Paia based here in the UK.

The bottom line is that with enough interest, they may re-ignite synthesiser construction projects if there is enough interest. Although what they suggest is a start, I feel that they are setting their goals a bit high- perhaps we can offer them some assistance?

I suppose I really should post this info on the Analogue Heaven and Synth DIY lists as well? But I'm not a member of those- far too much traffic for me. But if anyone is a member here, please do spread the word.

Lists are fine but magazines are so much better because you can't really read a list while sitting on the bog in the morning!!!

Tom

v-un-v · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:46 am Post subject:

PS- this was the inspiration that made me post;

http://www.midwest-analog.com/

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:25 am Post subject:

I bought some kits from Phonosonics Cool

Wild Zebra · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:44 am Post subject:

Man thats too bad. I was looking at some of those Midwest kits for a little until I stumbled on the sound lab. I just couldn't afford to shell out a couple hundred bucks for a kit. We need(or are there) more sites like MFOS that offer boards for sale and layouts rather than a whole kit. I hope I'm not out of line here but, 150 to 300 bucks for an oscillator or LFO or what have you. wew

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:20 am Post subject:

Do you know of the ASM2?
It's very similar to the Soundlab, just a bit more ambitious.
It's being looked after by a guy called Laurie Biddulph. He lives on the north coast of NSW not far from me. I've almost finished an ASM2, but I got a bit lost when we moved up here from Sydney.
Check out this link,
http://www.elby-designs.com/index.html
It's a big project. A bit more expensive than a Soundlab I expect, but it seems the next logical step. I'm low on funds now but I'd like to finish my ASM2 while I prepare to built a Soundlab

v-un-v · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:43 am Post subject:

Wild Zebra · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:01 am Post subject:

I checked it out that pretty cool.

Yes v-un-v I'm still amazed it runs of 2 -9 volts
Everyone who sees it says, "that runs off batteries"

v-un-v · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:15 am Post subject:

Wild Zebra · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:19 am Post subject:

I second that

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject:

I can't stand any kind of background music on web pages. That's why I turn sound off in my browser. It's just a waste of bandwidth anyway. If I want to hear something, I'll ask for it. (download it)

gasboss775 · Joined: Jan 02, 2016 Posts: 217 Location: Scotland

I think the first kit I built with actual PCB and soldering was from Phonosonics, was an echo/ reverb type effect based on a TDA1536 bucket brigade delay line. I pimped it up a few years later with a modulated clock for chorus and flanger type effects. And a pseudo stereo output.

Was a great company but out of business by the time I could afford any of their cool stuff, like digital delay based fx units.