"The Sparkling riser is a brand new kind of audio FX
This effect is achieved by stacking 12 lines of 'micro-delays' lasting a few milliseconds (6 lines per audio channel) The delayed sound is mixed back into the original sound, creating a comb filter.
Each delay line has a feedback loop, and the delay time is modulated by several LFOs. In addition to the LFOs, we have 12 VCAs (1 per delay line) whose levels are synchronized to the phases of each LFO.
But when the effect is on the "infinite rise" mode, as soon as we apply randomization to the LFO phases, something very strange happens:
'phantom notes' appear. We could compare this effect to concentric waves colliding to create a splash—a “spark” that, in our example, generates notes based on the frequencies and harmonic content of the sound. This 'spark' gives the effect its name: 'Sparkling Riser.'
This effect is directly inspired by a project we're working on with electronics genius Yves Usson."
"Updated version of Divine CMOS. Wonderful module for harmonically rich sounds or use as a complex CV patter and gate generator. Thought the LEDs were superbright purple but turned out to be a mild light blue."
"This module has been thru a few cycles. The original idea for the design is from an article in Electronotes EN#98 by Lester Ludwig, spectacularly titled ‘A Square-wave Frequency-division Sub-octave Cross-product Module, it’s relationship with Lie algebra, and other related processes’ or more simply known as The Cross Product Module.
The frequencies of two VCO signals are separately divided by /2, /4, /8 & /16 ratios. The corresponding divisions are ANDed together and the results, along with all the raw divided frequencies are mixed together in various ways. You end up with a very harmonically thick, animated sound.
I did a full bloat CMOS (Ludwig’s design was TTL) version for a 4U panel back in 2008 or so, but changed the AND gates to XOR gates for a more ring-modulated effect. Then a minimal, slimmed down eurorack version, called Divine CMOS. This just used the XOR’d signal and outputted a signal determined by the pots.
After some requests for an expanded version, I re-visited the design.
"Not the most exciting name, I simply wanted a 4HP sawtooth VCO to sit next to the Spectrum Shaper.
It is based on the Utility VCO in Electronotes EN67, which was based on designs by R. Tenny (Electronic Design 11/10/75), J.L. Brice (Wireless World (6/76) and others.
It tracks very nicely, turn the CV pot to max for 1V/oct, ranges from approx 10Hz to over 100kHz and supplies 10Vp-p sawtooth and square waves.
The Sync is the hardest of hard syncs around. I left out the capacitor usually used to turn sync signals into a pulse, so if you feed a gate or slow CV signal into Sync the VCO simply stops, think of it is a bonus VCA. Of course, if you use an audio rate sync signal, it works as normal.
It is a pretty easy build. not many parts. Do not mix up the BCM847 and BCM857 dual transistors, see the build notes for where to install a 1k tempco."
"@plantssystem-ufo
KOSMOS‑RGB is a new 4×4 RGB‑keypad interface designed for the KOSMOS2 generative sound engine.
It replaces the traditional screen‑based workflow with pure LED feedback and tactile control, turning KOSMOS2 into a compact, instrument‑like device that can be played entirely by feel.
Each key is color‑coded to represent a musical parameter — Density, Pitch, Speed, Volume — while the third row selects Japanese traditional scales (Hirajoshi, Miyakobushi, Insen, Pentatonic).
The bottom row provides system functions such as Initialize, Mute, and Timbre Gacha (random Program Change with LED animation).
KOSMOS‑RGB is built for exhibitions, live generative performance, and long‑form autonomous playback, where clarity and immediacy matter more than menus or screens.
The interface runs on a Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040), keeping the entire system lightweight, responsive, and DIY‑friendly."
"Three Nand Gate Oscillators and a built-in delay that adds interesting modulations to the already far-out sounds. Create interesting soundscapes, drones, and audio textures."
- https://potardesign.com
"Inspired by a comment asking if Trace could take static filter mode outputs (LP, BP, HP etc) and add a CV controllable mode/filter type morphing to those outputs ... here's a video that does just that!
With 4 community favourite filters (thanks to the QOTD in the DivKid Discord) and 4 examples going from smooth filter mode shifts, through rhythmic sequenced filter type changes, creating a unique tone shifting VCA response out of a Wasp filter and going complex and abstract with filter pings for the finest discerning filter ping connoisseurs out there."
Trace demo // • Waveform Scanning & Modulation Morphing //... [posted here]
Expand your VCOs with Trace // • Expand your VCOs with TRACE // 5 Technique... [below]
*TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS*
00:00 Hello & previews
00:54 What are we doing here?
03:00 Beautiful filter type morphing with polymetric duophony
Joranalogue Filter 8
08:18 Exciting rhythmic filter mode sequencing
Make Noise QPAS
12:16 Expanding the idea into a unique sound morphing VCA
Doepfer Wasp
16:05 Slowed down “zoomed out” unique VCA response
Doepfer Wasp
17:53 Abstract & complex west coast filter pings + thick bass!
Instruo I-047
21.17 Mixed modulation of morphing
22.46 Adding FM tones
"A synthesizer, an amplifier, and a Bluetooth speaker, all built into a vintage projector case from a thrift store. Sound generation runs on an Electrosmith Daisy Pod.
It's the companion piece to the Banjo-Synth (BS-1) I built in 2024. The BS-1 plays it, this box makes the sounds. It was challenging and a lot of fun to build, I hope you enjoy the video.
🧰 The Parts:
Electrosmith Daisy Pod
Vintage Argus Projector Box
CME H2MIDI Pro Interface
JBL Home Audio Speaker
Vangoa PS-01 Rechargeable 9V Power
ZK-502T Bluetooth Amplifier Board"
See this previous post for additional demos and details on the Banjo Synth.
Polyphonic D50 sampler synthesizer with ESP32 in YAMAHA DX21 Hardwer :)
video upload by László Róbert Kasza
"Unfortunately, the motherboard of my dx21 synth is broken beyond repair. So she got new electronics. I have uploaded a code I wrote using Roland D50 sound samples.
So what everyone feared has come true. The Yamaha Roland DX-D50-21 :)
Abilities:
-4 d50samples
-TVA Envelope
Course, Fine, Keyfollow
-The sampling frequency is 48000Hz.
Signal on 16 bits or more
-The device is polyphonic up to 10 tones
2 LFO controlled 2 parametric EQ
-Upper Lower Choruse
-Reverb engine
-Roland D50sysex compatibility...
-hd44780 compatible LCD Display (Not implement more)
-https://data.dynareg.se/breadandbutte...
(If we are bored, we can listen to internet radio on it.)
"In this episode we edge closer to getting this legend back in full working order. Now I have my extender cards I can probe the circuits and start debugging the rest of the faults.
After checking around the recirculation circuits and shift registers I decided to remove the 'Time Extender Board'. Now it plays back recordings!
I have to do some more research on this board in the next episode.
Thank you
https://www.pcbway.com
for making the extender boards. They were perfect!
"An update on the ESP32-S3 Polysynth build.
I've got the sound engine working really well, and it now has patch storage and retrieval, along with 2 wavetables - .wav files loaded off an SD card.
Next up is making it look pretty to match the sounds it can make!
In the video, all the sound is out of the back of the DAC, but as the synth is not multitimbral ( the ESP32 would melt ) I've multitracked a couple of tunes to demo the sort of sounds it can make.
Headphones on, and bonus points if you can identify the tracks!!"
"We run a tiny hardware company in Tokyo and made this short film about why we’re obsessed with noise. We’re thinking about filming a longer documentary about Japan’s small independent instrument makers.
With this video, we want to open a door into the world of Japan’s independent music hardware scene, a world that usually remains outside the attention of a wider audience.
We are Light Reft, a small company founded by a group of enthusiasts in Tokyo. Over the past few years, we have developed and released two instruments of our own - monolit and concrete. You can learn about us on our web-site www.lightreft.jp
But we are far from alone.
In Tokyo and across Japan, there are many small independent companies, workshops, and individual makers creating unusual musical instruments, effects, and electronic devices. Many of them remain virtually unknown outside a small circle of musicians, even though this is where some genuinely interesting things are happening.
This video is only the beginning.
If you would like to see a full-length film about Japan’s independent music hardware scene, meet the people who design and build instruments themselves, visit their workshops, and find out why they do what they do - let us know in the comments.
And please share this video. If we see that people are genuinely interested in this world, we’ll continue and try to show this scene from the inside.
Video & Editing - Evgeny Joy
Sound - Sasha DZA (Light Reft)"
"An impression of the Erica Synths and Moritz Klein Compressor module. This is the most fantastic module in My Modular. The compressor works great and the Sidechaining input makes it a very valuable module.
The module is a great module to make with the explanation of Moritz. Very nice done.
As Reverb I use also a Spring Reverb from Doepfer.
All is synced from the Arturia Drumbrute to the 960 sequencer. The Sidechain comes from the Rim shot of the Drumbrute which triggers the Sidechain input of the Compressor.
For more information on my Synths see my site: https://synthsmod.rensstam.nl/"
"I socketed all the IC's and tested what I could. Found almost 20 faulty IC's through this process.
Thanks to PCBWay for making my extender boards. If my design is correct I will share the design on PCBWay so all the thousands of people that need to fix their 256's can order their own.
"Exciting times, our friends from Analogue Renaissance have developed a new BA662a clone which seems to be 2 levels above known clones. It performs exactly the same as the original chip and you can listen to it in the RE-303 here (this chip is also used in various other Roland synths and drum machines of that time, which makes it even more exciting). The comparison isn't highly scientific just with some extreme settings of the parameters, but you can get the idea that with some more penible pot adjustment they are pretty much indistinguishable. As always with a lovely resonance, which doesn't sound harsh or sibilant but always has this silky nice tone to it, where all the smd clones fail for a reason :)"
"In this video we go over the features we have added to the Akai S900 SuperOS v4.0 Firmware. We have implemented timestretch from the Akai S950 and also live/midi filter modulation to the control knob.
We have only tested this on an Akai S900 with eeproms 1.2c running a Gotek FlashFloppy emulator on version 3.42.
The synth was created by Blaine at SyntheTech about 3 years ago. [2nd set of videos here]
