"AVR SYNTH is a monophonic "virtual analog" synth based, originally, on the Atmel AT90S8535 microcontroller and was designed by Jarek Ziembicki. His aim was to check to see if a simple micro could be used for sound synthesis purposes. And the result? The AT90S8535 managed to do all the tasks: service front panel switches and pots, receive and process MIDI messages, and sound generation!"
"STEP SEQUENCER
The row of potentiometers controls the pitch while the buttons toggle the steps on and off. Two additional controllers were added to manipulate the tempo and sequence length.
ABOUT MODI
Modi is a expandable controller bank system designed for AVR microcontroller platforms like Arduino and Teensy. There are four distinct module types available, each consisting of either 8 or 16 individually readable analog or digital controllers. Modi boards can be stacked to support up to 64 inputs making them ideal for MIDI/OSC projects.
First revealed back in June of 2013, we now have some additional details on the upcoming Arpeggio. Further below are three making-of videos featuring audio from the Arpeggio's built-in AVR synth engine.
Details:
"Introducing arpeggio. A new kind of electronic instrument with an interface so simple you can let your intuition take over. A design focused on seamless composition and performance which gives you the precise control to make any melody you want. Every detail of your sequence at your fingertips. No screens or menus. Arpeggio takes the notes you select and instantly plays them in a looping sequence. Tweak and save note sequences. These form the building blocks of melodic improvisation. String them together to create complex melodies. It’s a blank sketchpad for musical notes. There are no presets. You are the composer.
• Create, play, and save sequences instantly with live arpeggio sequencer.
• Up, up-down, down, down-up, sequence, & random arpeggiator modes.
• Access and chain together up to 512 user created arpeggio patterns.
• Internal 2-oscillator virtual analog monosynth.
• Note division sequencer (1/16th, 1/8th, 1/4 notes etc ).
• USB, 1/4” & 1/8” audio out, MIDI in, MIDI out, CV trigger out.
• MIDI & CV clock sync for syncing to external drum machines (master or slave)
• Control external hardware and software synths.
• High quality internal speaker.
• Takes batteries or power from an AC adapter. Make melodies anywhere!"
"Here is the 2nd Video teaser of machining for our prototype, accompanied by Arpeggio's AVR Synth Engine demo. We're cutting a block of aluminum for our button moulds."
"Here we're 3D printing our prototype for Arpeggio. An arpeggiator, sequencer, and synthesizer in one portable instrument. 3D printing has really helped us to perfect the look and feel of the case."
"Yet another Elby Designs module reviewed: this time it is 16-bit version of well-known AVR Synth. It is available since 2005, but I didn't find any really detailed review, so I decided to translate my Russian article about DIY-kit, history of the instrument and some projects-successors."
"The AVRSYN project was started by Polish experimentalist Jaroslaw Ziembicki in the year 2002 as the experiment of making a complete synth on single chip. I’d like to say that slavic people are talented with low-level programming and can get 250% efficiency from obsolete technologies. Initially, the synthesizer was built around 16-bit Atmel AT90S8535 MCU. In 2005—2006 project was continued by Paul Maddox and Laurie Biddulph. Eventually, they developed the PCB, the program code was ported to modern ATMEGA16-8 and the comments were translated to English. At the same time, Biddulph started to sell synthesizer as the Elby Designs product that is still available today.
The project was developed to number of forks like 32-version made by Daniel Kruszina. His version has extended functionality, partial MIDI-control and even the wavetables. This version is also available at Elby Designs. In 2010, James Grahame with a few friends and also, supported by the original developers, made a completely new project, that is called MeeBlip..."
The sound uses a squarewave bank of overtones which is fed to a guitar amp with flanger and reverb. I plan to upgrade to polyphonic operation by having several ATtiny2313 for each voice."
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Programmable Arduino Synth
Uploaded on Aug 16, 2011 Mark Kleeb·39 videos
"Using a synthesizer Arduino shield from Critter and Guitari (http://www.critterandguitari.com/), I constructed this enclosure so I could use this unique keyboard on my upcoming tour."
PocketPiano shield for the arduino and NastyBass sketch
Uploaded on May 28, 2008 Johan Larsby·85 videos
"A PocketPiano from http://www.critterandguitari.com/
and one Arduino. The first one soldered together from the kit I got it in then it's connected to the Arduino which is loaded with a small program I wrote. The program is creates a square pulse whose pulsewidth can be modulated by one of the knobs. Another of the knobs are controlling the very simple glide algorithm.
Note the following auction does not mention Critter & Guitari, but the Pocket Piano kit below takes you to a page with the second video above. I discovered the top video searching for more info. I'm curious how this compares to the final released and enclosed Critter & Guitari Pocket Piano we are all familiar with. Note the number of button keys are different.
The Arduino Pocket Piano got a mention back in May of 2008.
"This is the original Pocket Piano Kit fully assembled. This is an open source stand alone synthesizer, that you program with the Arduino software That can be obtained here..."
Here is more info: Pocket Piano kit – This is a board for making the Arduino into a portable stand alone music synthesizer. It plugs directly into the Arduino board and provides 25 multiplexed keys (2 full octaves), 4 pots, status LED, reset switch, digital to analog converter IC, and a RCA audio jack. The Arduino board with its powerful AVR processor is more than adequate for a wide range of sound synthesis techniques. We have experimented with simple additive / wave-table synthesis, frequency modulation, ring modulation, sampling, polyphony, various arpeggiators. The whole thing can be powered over the Arduino’s USB port for convenient experimenting. Arduino Diecimila is included. The board is designed to mount easily to 1/8″ panel material, and 1/2″ round keys can be made out of wood or plastic. Features include -
"The AVR SYNTH is a monophonic "virtual analog" synth based designed by Jarek Ziembicki. The synthesis architecture is simple:- two DCO's, a DCF, and a DCA. There is also an LFO and an AR/ASR envelope generator."
YouTube Published on Jun 4, 2012 by DJjondent Update: Two vids added to the end of the playlist. Check back later in case more come in. You can check the count at the bottom of the video, currently at 6.
"just tweaking this new synth ...the AVRSYN from Elby designs.... trying to find its sweet spots.
"The AVRSYN is a monophonic "virtual analog" synth based on the Atmel AT90S8535 microcontroller. It was originally designed by Jarek Ziembicki. His aim was to check to see if a simple micro-processing chip could be used for sound synthesis. Paul Maddox later adapted this design design using a ATMEGA16 instead as the AT90S8535 is no longer in production.
I think they succeeded.
The AVR consists of two DCO's, a DCF, and a DCA. There is also an LFO and an AR/ASR envelope generator.
All sounds are from the AVR. Thanks to Blake C for the tweaking.
Thanks to Matt from RhythmActive for the AVRSYNTH http://www.rhythmactive.com.au/"
"We are a new band called "Loved by Ghosts" which uses almost entirely DIY synthesizers that we built ourselves.
In "Sonic Hysteria", you would certainly recognize the midibox SID while the bass is Monomachine.
In “Girl Go” the bass line is Avr-X Synthesizer, various FX is midibox FM and the lead Oberheim OB-12.
In the other songs - that we will be posting soon - we use: ASM-2, Mutable Instruments Shruthi-1, Pixie (Wasp clone), Monowave(X), MFOS Soundlab, SUB-COMMANDER Guitar Synth, Weird Sound Generator, Drone Lab V2, AVR synth, Gorf Sequencer.
For guitar and voice we use various filters from the web (wasp filter clone, steiner, lm13700 filter, ssm2044, polivoks), fx's built with boards from Jürgen Haible (Frequency Shifter FS-1A, Triple Chorus, Krautrock Phaser and 20-pole Phaser), many vintage Russian fx units, and many electro-Harmonix stompboxes.
All of them are sequenced from an Elektron Monomachine (we love it !!!) and an Electribe sampler is used for drums, created with the same synths.
You will recognize some of them in the pictures. More to come on our Facebook page.
We want to thank you… Thorsten Klose, Laurie Biddulph, Paul Maddox, Ray Wilson, Jürgen Haible, Johan Severinsson and Jonas Karlsson, Olivier Gillet, Peter Edwards, Jarek Ziembicki and to MATRIXSYNTH. Without your projects,our music would be empty.
And special thanks to our pet Speakjet, Wof, Wof.
If you enjoyed our music, follow us on Facebook, YouTube and SoundCloud, there's a lot more to come."
via the description: "It is a 'Virtual analogue' hardware synthesizer based around an AVR chip which I purchased from elby designs as found here.
The rest was constructed by me onto stripboard, it has been going for years including being neglected for 1 so it is pretty rugged. Now .... I have long lost the control graphics so I had to guess which knob meant what, some are just left as mysterious! what is written on the panel should be right. Another thing is that It suffers slightly from noise from MIDI."
"quick & dirty showcase of the new UI. led matrix instead of 7 seg allows for more expressive controls and multi-function encoders. coded in Bascom. uC is a mega644"
YouTube via avrtvtube | June 12, 2008 | 17 likes, 1 dislikes
"http://www.avrtv.com What on earth is AVR? How did it become one of the biggest successes in the industry? And what does AVR really stand for? Watch this special to become enlightened, meet the AVR inventors and Atmel Norway founders, and get a peek inside the AVR design centre in Norway." via http://www.avrfreaks.net/ a source for AVR projects.
QE9s3HD)KrBRS6KPOYo!~~60_57.JPG)
