Simple synth DIY

This page is intended to be a format-agnostic (can be built for Eurorack, 4U, 5U etc.) list of simple but useful electronic music projects.

If you're new to DIY electronics, please read the synthesizer do it yourself page first.

For more complex all-in-one synthesizer projects, see Category:Projects.

synthesizer modules are defined and differentiates from components such as amplifiers, oscillators, filters, etc. by having voltage control.

Entry level projects
Designed more for simplicity than high performance. Good enough to get an introduction to some basic principles of Synth DIY. Using just a handful of components and easily built on stripboard or perfboard.

Passive circuits
Passive circuits don't require powering.
 * CGS real ring modulator and CGS real ring modem -
 * Moog passive filters -
 * Passive mult - Probably the easiest module to possibly build, all you need is some jacks, some wire, and a soldering iron. This module allows you to split a signal to be sent to multiple destinations. Passive mults are not suitable for V/octave CV control, because the voltage may drop when split, due to varying impedances in the destinations
 * Vactrol VCF - This can do interesting things right away unlike a VCO which doesn't do much interesting on it's own.

Active circuits
Active circuits need some Volts for power.
 * Atari Punk Console - one of the simplest audio-generating circuits. There are CV-controllable versions available, however,they do not track voltage, and so are not suitable as melodic voices.
 * Baby 10 sequencer -
 * LMNC simple EG - a very cut down envelope generator
 * LMNC simple-filter - a simplified MS20 LPF
 * Tim Escobedo's Q&D VCF

General sources of schematics and layouts

 * The layout factory at Electro-music.com has hundreds of strip-board layouts for various modules. The Schematics Vault also lists lots of schematics in one thread.

Kits, PCBs and panels

 * Barton Musical Circuits - slightly more advanced projects.