The Hog Shed Monster Digital Synthesizer/Sequencing Brain Instrument

Published on Aug 23, 2017 Peley Krane

"All Sounds Made Using The Hog Shed Monster"

Details via Etsy:

"-The Hog Shed Monster- A Compact Music Computer

A Digital Synthesizer And Step-Sequencing Brain In One Device That Can be "Played" in RealTime as a Performance Instrument, OR be Programmed/Sequenced to Perform Longer Polyphonic Chord Arrangements/Compositions

A SONAR-DISTANCE-SENSOR on the Front Face and [360 DIAL/Push-BUTTON] on Top of the Unit Provide Control of the Internal Synthesis Engine and Polyphonic Sequencing Brain

The Hog Shed Monster IS a Polyphonic 4-Voice WaveTable Synthesizer:

25 WaveForms Inside, Each Designed to be Digitally Vibrant and Bright, Giving the Hog Shed Monster Its
Unique Tonal Character.

Tune the 4 Voices of the Synthesizer Using the
Sonar Distance Sensor [SONAR EYE]
Use Hands, Body, Any Object to Place in Front Of the Sonar EYE
and The Pitch/Tuning of The CURRENT Voice will be Altered

as Objects Become Closer to the EYE Sensor, Pitch Decreases
as Objects Become Farther from the EYE Sensor, Pitch Increases

The Hog Shed Monster IS Also a Polyphonic Sequencing Brain:

There are a Total of 9-STEPS/SLOTS
EACH One of These 9 STEPS/SLOTS, Contain 7 Programmable Parameters
These 7 Paramters Are:

Pitch of Voice 1
Pitch of Voice 2
Pitch of Voice 3
Pitch of Voice 4
Pitch of Voices 1-4 [CHORD TUNE]
WaveForm Shape
SLOT Length [TIME] [Range 20 millis - 20 seconds]
Current Step On/OFF

The Sequencing Brain [While Running] Will "STEP" Through these STEPS/SLOTS One at a Time.
The Current STEP/SLOT CHORD/WAVEFORM will be Heard for the
Length of Time Set by the CURRENT [STEP/SLOT Length Time] Parameter
Before Automatically Progressing to the Next STEP/SLOT in the Sequence.

STEPS/SLOTS Can be Turned On/OFF Individually.
A STEP/SLOT that is Set to [OFF] Will be "Skipped"
During the Running Sequence.
This Allows for the Creation of Custom Length Sequences
Ranging From 1-9 STEPS/SLOTS in Length.

There are Different Ways to Adjust/Change the 7 Parameters Within Each of the 9 STEPS/SLOTS:

-Manual Step-Editing-

On the Top of the Unit is a 360-Dial. This Dial is Used
to Scroll Through the 9 STEP/SLOTS AND
Their Individual Parameter Settings.
This Dial also Doubles as a Button [DIAL BUTTON] and Can be Pressed Down
to Lock/Unlock Settings

ALL PITCH Settings are Either Locked or Unlocked. While Unlocked,
The SONAR EYE is Active and Used to Tune the Voice. While Locked,
The SONAR EYE is Inactive and the PITCH Remains at the Last Locked Point

To Unlock a SINGLE Voice PITCH Setting Through Manual Step Editing:

First, If the Sequencing Brain is [RUNNING]:

Navigate to this Light-Code for the Sequence Brain [START]/[STOP] Control Using the
360-Dial.

* - - * Sequencer Brain [START/STOP]

Press Down Once on the [DIAL BUTTON] to STOP the Sequence

Next,
Navigate to One of These Light Codes: (Light Code Chart in Photos)

* - - - Pitch Voice 1
- * - - Pitch Voice 2
- - * - Pitch Voice 3
- - - * Pitch Voice 4

Once at One of These PITCH Voice Settings,
Press Down Once on the [DIAL BUTTON] to Unlock It for Editing.

* It is Important to Note that this Newly Unlocked Setting is Unlocked ONLY for
[THIS VOICE] at [THIS CURRENT STEP/SLOT].

* In Total, there are 36 Individual Voice Pitch Settings
(9 STEPS/SLOTS x 4 Voices) That Can be Either Locked or Unlocked,
Each Holding Their Own Pitch Value (Note)

Now, Use the SONAR EYE Sensor to Tune The Voice.
Experiment Using Objects and Gestures at Different Distances
In Front of the SONAR-EYE to Control the Pitch of the Voice.

When The Desired PITCH is Achieved,
Press Down Again on the [DIAL BUTTON] to
Lock In THAT Value (Note) for that Voice.

Use The 360-Dial to Navigate Through all 7 Settings Of THIS Current STEP:

* - - - Pitch Voice 1
- * - - Pitch Voice 2
- - * - Pitch Voice 3
- - - * Pitch Voice 4

* - - * [BLINKING] Manual STEP Control - Press DIAL BUTTON
to Lock/Unlock this Control.
While Unlocked, Use 360-DIAL to Manually Advance Through
The STEPS/SLOTS of the Sequence, Either Forward or Backwards.
This Ability Allows for Greater Control While
-Manual Step Editing- AND Also Creates a WILD
"Remix" Playability of the Sequence While it is
[RUNNING] or [NOT RUNNING]

- * * - WaveForm Shape - Press The DIAL BUTTON to Lock/Unlock
Editing of the CURRENT STEP/SLOT WaveShape. While Unlocked
Use the 360-Dial to Cycle Through the Selectable WaveShapes. Press
DIAL BUTTON Again to Select and Lock In The WaveShape
for THE CURRENT SLOT.

*Assigning Different WaveShapes to Each One of the STEPS/SLOTS
Results in Ryhthmic Tonal Changes While Sequence is [RUNNING]

* * * - [CHORD TUNE] Voices [1-4] Pitch - Press The
DIAL BUTTON to Lock/Unlock.
While Unlocked, Use the SONAR EYE to
Adjust the PITCH of All 4 Voices at Once.
The 4 Voices Each Retain Their Relative
Frequency Relation to Eachother And Are
Adjusted Together as A Single CHORD.


*4th LIGHT Will Be [ON] IF The Setting is Unlocked
and [OFF] if Setting is Locked.

*Other 3 Lights [1-3] Will be Scrolling/Flashing
at a Rate Reflecting The CURRENT STEPS TIME


* * * * Current SLOT [ON/OFF] - If The Current STEP/SLOT is Active, All 4 Lights Will be On.
If The Current STEP/SLOT is Inactive, All 4 Lights Will be Off.
Pressing The DIAL BUTTON Will Turn The Current SLOT [ON/OFF]

* While a STEP/SLOT Is Set to [OFF], It will be Skipped
During The [RUNNING] Sequence. This Inactive STEP/SLOT
Must Now Be Navigated To Using the Manual STEP/SLOT Control
While Sequencer Is Set to [NOT RUNNING], To Edit Its Settings.


* * * * [BLINKING] Current Step Length [TIME] - All 4 Lights
Will Blink at a Speed Reflecting
The CURRENT STEPS/SLOTS Length [TIME]
Faster Blinking means a Shorter Step Length.
Blinking Slows as Step Length [TIME] is Increased.

Press the DIAL BUTTON to Lock/Unlock Editing.

While Unlocked, SPIN the 360-Dial to Adjust
The STEPS Length [TIME].

SPINNING CLOCKWISE - Increases Step Length [TIME]
SPINNING COUNTER CLOCKWISE - Decreases Step Length [TIME]

-On The Fly Editing-

While Sequence Brain is [RUNNING], Editing of STEP/SLOT Settings is Still Possible.

Set Sequence to [RUNNING], Then Navigate again to One of the 4 Voice PITCH Settings:

* - - - Pitch Voice 1
- * - - Pitch Voice 2
- - * - Pitch Voice 3
- - - * Pitch Voice 4

Now, Press and [HOLD DOWN] DIAL BUTTON [1-2 Seconds] Until LIGHT Starts Blinking.
This Blinking Indicates That the PITCH SLOT SETTINGS for THAT Voice are
Now Unlocked ACROSS ALL 9 Of The STEPS/SLOTS. The SONAR EYE is
Now Active and Ready for Tuning/Play.

Next, Navigate to The Light Code [RUNNING/NOT RUNNING] [START/STOP] for the Sequencer

Light Code: * - - * Sequencer Brain [START/STOP]

Set Sequencer to [RUNNING]

Then, Navigate Back To the PITCH Voice SETTING Previously Unlocked.
Use Hands, Body, Other Objects to Place in Front Of the Sonar EYE Sensor.
Pitch/Tuning of The Selected Voice For EACH of The Active STEPS/SLOTS
Will be Changed or "OverWritten" as The Sequence Progresses.

If An Object Placed in Front of the SONAR EYE SENSOR is Moved Around
During This -On The Fly- Input Method, Its Motion
Throughout the Sequence Will Be
"RECORDED" As Its Movements
Will Result In a Completely New Melody On the Next
Loop of the Sequence.

This Action of [HOLDING DOWN] The [DIAL BUTTON] [1-2 Seconds]
to Unlock a Setting Across ALL STEPS/SLOTS Also Works
for the [CHORD TUNE] Setting:

Light Code: * * * - [CHORD TUNE]

This Function Creates an Easy Way To Transpose The Entire Sequence
Either Up or Down by a Singular Controlled Amount
Or, In Creating Extreme Variation in An Existing Sequence by
Transposing EACH STEP/SLOT by a Separate Unique Amount.

This Action of [HOLDING DOWN] The [DIAL BUTTON] [1-2 Seconds] Initiates
Yet Another Special Functionality When Used While on the CURRENT STEP LENGTH [TIME] Parameter.

When Activated, The CURRENT STEP/SLOT Time is Copied Across
All 9 STEPS/SLOTS.
The Sequence Will Now Run at a Constant Rate, Progressing
to Each STEP/SLOT at a Singluar Speed (BPM).

This Will be The Case Until Until ONE or MORE of the Individual
STEPS/SLOTS Length [TIME] Settings are Altered, Putting
The Sequence Back into an Irregular Rate of Change.

[HOLDING DOWN] The [DIAL BUTTON] [1-2 Seconds] While on the CURRENT SLOT [ON/OFF] Parameter
Will Turn ALL 9 STEPS/SLOTS Active [ON].
This Creates the Ability to Quickly Disable/Enable Multiple STEPS/SLOTS for
Spontaneous Variations During a Running Sequence.


-SAVING- The (HSM)onster has the Ability to SAVE All CURRENT Settings of The CURRENT Sequence
(63 Total Programmable Parameters)

To SAVE: At any Point, Press and [HOLD DOWN] the [DIAL BUTTON]
[3-4] Seconds
All 4 Lights will Momentarily Flash ON and OFF to Confirm That Everything Has Saved.
These Saved Settings Will be Loaded the Next Time the Unit is Powered On.

-POWER- The (HSM)onster is Powered Exclusively Through Its USB Panel-Port
Located On the Side of the Unit.
Using A Standard USB Cable, Plug Into Any USB Power Source:
Phone Chargers, Chargable/Portable USB Power Sticks, Computers, Etc..

-SOUND SPECS-
-The (HSM)onster is Designed Using the Atmega328 8-Bit Microprocessor
14-BIT Audio is Synthesized from the 328 Chip, Then
Routed Into a Specialized HeadPhone Amplifier/Filter Circuit.
Then, Audio is Output to an 1/8 Inch "HeadPhone" Style 3.5mm Stereo Jack
Located on the Side of the Device.

-CONSTRUCTION- The (HSM)onster is Constructed From Several Species of Local Woods.
Wood is Milled, Worked, Stained, Engraved, and Assembled By Hand in The United States

The Hog Shed Monster is Built to Last
Each Unit Is Fully Tested Before
Being Packed and Shipped.


-Package Contains: (HSM)onster, USB Cable, Printed Instruction Manual, Printed Light-Code Chart."