Mod-o-Tron: Modified Korg Monotron Delay Ribbon Synth

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via this auction
See the seller's other items for more unique items.

You can find video of one previously posted here.

"Circuit from a Korg Monotron Delay, put into a custom-built case with a larger ribbon and force-sensitive volume control. 3 x 17 x 1. The faceplate and backplate are both 1/8" tinted acrylic around a 3/4" MDF body. Runs efficiently on two AAA batteries (not included) replaceable by friction-fitting them from beneath. Intended for tabletop use, with clear rubber feet on the underside.

There are no mechanical means of attachment between the plexiglass front and back plates and the wooden body; they're permanently glued on with silicone. So hacking into the circuit isn't much of an option, unless you want to re-glue it all together. And the sides of the piece are black electrical tape. There are a few cosmetic flaws, in other words, but it's a handmade, one-of-a-kind prototype instrument, and it plays magnificently.

From left to right: volume knob, slide switch, volume pad (the switch disables the knob and enables the pad, and vice-versa), traditional layout of Korg Monotron Delay controls (power/waveform select slide switch, two LFO knobs, VCF knob, two delay knobs) and a switch that isn't wired to anything; Its intent was to reverse the direction of the ribbon, but I couldn't get that going, so now it just sits there."

Banshee Box: Quad NAND Gate-Based Synthesizer

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Published on Apr 12, 2012 stexe·78 videos

"Behold my wrath: the bloodcurdling terror that is The Banshee Box. This uses a single Quad NAND Gate chip (retail cost: 30 cents). Its four oscillators are patched into each other, and controlled by the four knobs on the right. On the left is a volume slider. I built the case from tinted acrylic that was salvaged from a piece of discarded furniture. Most of the other parts were bought surplus, keeping the cost of this synth under four dollars."

via this auction

See the seller's other items for more.

"A synth built around a Quad NAND Gate with four oscillators cascading into each other, and controlled by the four knobs on the right, from top to bottom. So the pitch is set by the top knob, then that goes into the oscillator below it to control filter cutoff, and so on. On the left is a volume slider. Case is built from 3/16" tinted acrylic that glows like mad under a black light. 1/8" audio out. toggle switch for power. Runs on a 9-volt battery (not included)."

Created a new stexe label for these.

Little Buddha (third eye opener)

Published on Jul 9, 2013 stexe·78 videos

"The circuit of a battery-operated prayer box with three different sample loops, fit into the case of a Little Professor (a 1978 teaching calculator).

Eyeballs are wired to add distortion or bend the pitch when touched. His third eye is a volume-sensitive LED, set behind his translucent plastic forehead. Samples are selected by pressing the lower left button (this is the only button on the original keypad that functions). 1/8" audio out, power switch, volume knob, pitch knob. Runs on two AAA batteries.

www.stexe.net"

SoundSplitter: Circuit-Bent Talkbox

Published on Jul 7, 2013 stexe·77 videos

"A circuit board from a Milton Bradley "Mall Madness" board game (first edition) fit into the casing from a handheld electronic game from the late 70's called "Split Second". Uses 4xAA batteries. Along the side are two slide switches (power on/off and speaker mute), and 1/8" audio out. On the faceplate is a sound trigger pushbutton, two scrambler pushbuttons and a volume knob. A red LED is behind the clear red window and responds to sound levels.

As this video demonstrates, it can take a while to coax a satisfying sound from this gizmo. Not so much practical for live performance as for studio work: record it for a couple minutes into a DAW and chop it up to remove all those "HI!"'s. Or, flip a switch to turn on the internal speaker and annoy everyone within earshot when you're on the go.

www.stexe.net"

Milton Bradley "Mall Madness" on eBay

FrankenSpeak

Published on Jul 4, 2013 stexe·76 videos

"three glitch toggles, loop pushbutton with locking toggle switch, pitch dial, two body contacts, reset button.

www.stexe.net"

Motorcyclone

Published on May 22, 2013 stexe·73 videos

"Circuit-bent toy. Uses a rotary switch (top) to select between eight different digital samples of motorcycle sounds. There's a pitch knob (lower right), volume knob (lower left) and two body contacts (bottom) to add modulation and pitch bending. Light-up arcade button closes the circuit and triggers the sounds. 1/8" audio out. Runs on 3 AAA batteries, easily replaceable. Case is custom-made 1/4" and 1/8" acrylic."

Update:

The Coffinator
Published on May 22, 2013

"Scratch-built synthesizer with two oscillators. Each has its own pitch knob (top) and trigger (on either side) The linear slider is for volume. Runs on a 9v battery and has 1/8" audio out. Housed inside a modified Halloween candy box."

Mod-o-Tron Mini, Mod-o-Tron & Frankenribbon

Published on Feb 13, 2013 stexe·65 videos
www.stexe.net

"Starting with a clean sine wave, then at 0:10 adding a short, high feedback delay. At 0:48 I bypass the pressure plate with a slide switch and adjust the volume knob. 1:20 demonstrates the cutoff, then the plate is turned back on for some staccato notes. LFO comes in at 1:43.

half the size of my original Mod-o-Tron: 3 x 17" faceplate, and only 1" high. Case is made from tinted acrylic and MDF. Runs efficiently on two AAA batteries. Uses a Korg Monotron Delay, linear potentiometer and force-sensitive resistor. Cost was about $90 total for all electronics and materials.

My other two ribbon synth designs:"

Mod-o-Tron

Uploaded on Dec 7, 2011
"Analog ribbon synthesizer. Uses the circuit from a Korg Monotron and a customized 18" ribbon with reversible direction. Only 3/4" deep. Runs on rechargeable batteries. Built from MDF and acrylic."

Frankenribbon Solo

Uploaded on Nov 11, 2011

"My ribbon-controlled invention, built from two "pocket" analog synthesizers (Gakken SX-150 and Korg Monotron) with many additional components and hacks."

www.stexe.net

monotrons on eBay
Gakken SX-150s on eBay

FrankenSynth

via Stephen of FUTURECHIMP where you'll find more pics and info.

"I recently finished a modular system. It's basically a Paia 9700S system in a new shell, with a built-in midi keyboard and a homemade 10-step sequencer based on the Baby 10 schematic.

I tried to make the case as small as possible, so I gutted an old midi keyboard that had miniature keys. The red plunger buttons on either side of the keyboard transpose the octave up or down, so it's possible to play all notes in the midi range. The midi cable comes out from the interior of the case and goes into the faceplate, so I can unplug the keyboard to use a different controller (like drum pads).

The case is built out of acrylic, and the lettering is dry-transfer.

19"w x 11"h x 8"d"


Some videos below for the arhives:


YouTube via stexe

"A freshly-built Paia 9700s modular synthesizer draws its first breath. Get your own at: http://www.paia.com/p9700s.asp"

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