Synthesizer do it yourself: Difference between revisions

'''Synthesizer do it yourself''', '''Synth DIY''' or '''SDIY''' is about creativity, making, modifying, or repairing [[electronic musical instrument]]s and related equipment yourself. Many people with an interest in [[electronics]] and [[music]] are now discovering that a Synth-DIY project is feasible.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130113202557/http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/index.php?MAINTAB=SYNTHDIY Synth-DIY] at Music From Outer Space.</ref> More advanced synth DIYers design and build their own [[synthesizer]]s. What’s needed is a design, parts and tools, and especially the skills.<ref name="sos">[httphttps://www.soundonsound.com/sostechniques/jan00/articles/netnotes.htmbuild-your-own-synth-websites ''Build Your Own Synth Websites''], Sound On Sound by Ken McBeth, Jan 2002</ref> Unless assembling relatively inexpensive circuits like the [[Atari Punk Console]], synth DIY can be an expensive pastime.

The single most important factor in synth DIY is your skills. You'll need to be able to read and understand [[Schematics|circuit diagrams]], identify [[electronic component]]s, and [[fault-find]] non-working circuits.<ref name="ks">[https://web.archive.org/web/20170420052751/http://www.cgs.synth.net/help.html Help page] of Ken Stone's Modular Synthesizer site] - (archived)]</ref> The best way to learn is by building. Pick a small project to start with, to find out how you get on. There is a list of popular small projects at [[simple synth DIY]].<ref name="st">Synthesis Technology's [http://www.synthtech.com/tutor/tutor1.html ''Getting Started in the Synth DIY World'']</ref>

=== EDASoftware ===

Things changed when ETI, in conjunction with a company called [[Powertran Electronics|Powertran]], released the design and a kit of parts for a single-oscillator synth called the [[Powertran Transcendant 2000|Transcendant 2000]]. The article (by [[Tim Orr]], formerly of [[EMS]]) was well planned, and Powertran provided everything you needed, down to the last nut and bolt, even including a mains plug. It was very popular, and spawned a range of synths including the [[Transcendant Polysynth]], which was the kit-builder's [[Jupiter 8]] without the memories. In 1979 ETI also published schematics for the [[Digisound 80]] modular. This, like the Transcendant Polysynth, featured [[Curtis Electro Music]] synth [[chips]]. The CEM chips made kit building much easier.<ref name="sos" />

The Elektor [[Elektor Formant synthesizer|Formant synthesizer]] design was published in 1977/78,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070110103220/http://www.euronet.nl/~rja/Emusic/Formant/ ''Formant Modular Analog Synthesizer''] by Rick Jansen</ref> also modular and based around [[Moog Modular]] styling. Another early ETI design was the [[ETI International 4600|International 4600]] and its descendants, the [[ETI 5600|5600]] and [[ETI 3800|3800]] synths, which were distributed as kits by [[Maplin Electronics]]. The 4600 and the 5600 featured a [[pin matrix]] for [[Patch|patching]] similar to that of the [[EMS VCS3]], only larger. However, these synths proved overly complex for the amateur constructor.<ref name="sos" />

* [[A timelineChronology of synth DIY]]