Make: Analog Synthesizers

Ray Wilson has been interested in analog synthesizers since the first time he heard "Switched On Bach" back in 1968. That magic box on the cover of the album with all of the knobs, switches and patch cords grabbed his attention and never let it go. After working at U.S. Steel, Intec Systems, Siemens Pacesetter, and Telectronics, he now runs his popular web site Music From Outer Space full-time. Most of his electronics learning has been hard won and experiential with hundreds of hours devoted to reading, bread-boarding, experimenting and appreciating analog synthesis.

Chapter 1 What Is Synth-DIY?
A Bit of Analog Synthesizer Etymology
What Can I Build?
How Far Can I Go?
Chapter 2 Tooling Up for Building Analog Synths
Instrumenting Your Workbench
The Oscilloscope
The Digital Multimeter (DM)
Logic Probe
The Bench Power Supply
Some Nice-to-Haves
Tips for Reliable Soldering
Obtaining Electronic Components
Troubleshooting Tips
Chapter 3 Analog Synthesizer Building Blocks
Three Configurations: Normalized, Modular, and Hybrid
Voltage Control analog synthesizersvoltage control of
The Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO)
The Voltage-Controlled Filter (VCF)
The Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (VCA)
The Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO) LFO modules
The Keyboard Controller
The Envelope Generator (EG)
The White Noise Generator
The Sample and Hold (S&H)
Audio and DC Signal Mixers
The Ring Modulator
The Voltage Sequencer
Putting It All Together
Chapter 4 Make the Noise Toaster Analog Sound Synthesizer
Noise Toaster Block Diagram Noise Toastercomponents of MFOS Noise Toaster Noise Toaster
Building the Noise Toaster
Testing the Noise Toaster
Chapter 5 The Incredible Op Amp
Op Amps as Amplifiers
Negative Feedback Demystified
Op Amps as Comparators op ampsas comparators feedback resistors (RFBs)
Positive Feedback (Hysteresis)
Chapter 6 How the Noise Toaster Works
The Noise Toaster Schematics
Chapter 7 Your Electronic Music Studio
Connecting a Project to Your Computer’s Sound Card
Introducing Audacity Audacityintroduction
Recording Exercises

Appendix A Field Guide to Op Amp Circuit Applications
Buffers buffers op ampsbuffers for
Comparators
Signal Mixing audio signal mixers op ampsaudio mixers
Simple but Useful Op Amp Oscillators
Digital-to-Analog Conversion Using Binarily Weighted Resistors or the R/2R Resistor Ladder
Light Up Your Synth with LEDs
Appendix The LM13700
LM13700 Manufacturers
LM13700 Chip Details
Three Examples of LM13700 Circuits
A Simple State-Variable VCF
A Triangle-to-Sine Converter
Appendix Working with CMOS Logic Chips
Logic Chips in Synth-DIY
Index
Colophon