Transposition and Patch Switching Box by The Electronic Peasant

video upload by epeasant

"A very useful modular synthesizer utility for VCO transposition and octave switching, as well as audio and CV signal switching.

The Transposition & Patch Select module features two six-octave switch banks, a one-octave keyboard, and four independent analogue signal switches. External volt/octave CV signals can be summed with the transposition controls, making it easy to change octaves or keys while playing or sequencing without repatching. The built-in keyboard also provides a gate output and can be used on its own as a simple control keyboard.

The four analogue switches can be used to quickly change audio or CV signal routing at the push of a button, making the module particularly handy for live performance and experimentation.

Constructed using discrete logic and analogue ICs with no microprocessor or programming required.

Complete construction details, photographs, circuit description, and the full schematic are available at The Electronic Peasant: www.epeasant.com/transwitch/transwitch.html"

"Changing keys, octaves, and patches at the push of a button!

A handy utility module for volt/octave transposition and audio/CV signal switching. Many modular synthesizer VCOs don't have built-in octave switching capabilities, which are useful for extending the range of a keyboard. Dynamically changing keys and octaves while using a sequencer is often not an easy or ergonomic process. Unplugging and plugging cables to modify a patch while playing can be cumbersome and inconvenient as well. This project provides the capability to easily and automatically do all of those things in one handy box.

The module includes a pair of six-octave latching switch banks, a one-octave switch keyboard, and four SPDT analogue switches. There is a combined output that mixes one of the octave switch banks with the keyboard output so that they can be used together, and the keyboard has a gate output included as well, so that it can be used as a freestanding keyboard. The keyboard circuit itself is adapted from Ken Stone's CGS10 Pedal board/Mini Keyboard project. Both of the octave switches and the keyboard include a CV input for precision summing of external volt/octave signals with each switch output."

See The Electronic Peasant for additional details.

Building a Rod Tube Synthesizer Module

video upload by epeasant

"A detailed demonstration of the work involved in building a modular synthesizer VCO module using Soviet cold war era vacuum tubes. This video provides an intimate look at the effort and processes required to construct a complex device from basic parts and raw materials.

As with the previous builds in this series this module uses only vacuum tubes in the audio path.

The soundtrack was created exclusively using sounds from the all-tube audio path synthesizer project and is available here:"

Vacuum Tube Modular Synthesizer Prototype by Electroserf

video upload by epeasant

"This is a unique project with an all-tube audio path using obsolete Soviet rod tubes.

A detailed demonstration of Electroserf's latest vacuum tube design is shown, featuring a focus on each module and video of the synthesizer creating music.

Designed to maximise rich vacuum tube sound, there are no semiconductors whatsoever in the audio sections of these unique creations. All of the sounds in this video are composed using only this new Electroserf synthesizer prototype."

Electroserf all-tube audio path synthesizer modules - short demo

video upload by epeasant

Also see Electroserf Vacuum Tube Synthesizer Modules from 2021.

Electroserf Vacuum Tube Synthesizer Modules

video upload by epeasant

"Introduction to The Electronic Peasant's Electroserf synthesizer modules, based on Russian 1J24b vacuum tubes from the cold war days. These subminiature pentode tubes were used in the early MiG jet fighter radios, at a time when the western world had already changed over to solid state electronics.

These tubes are long obsolete, but available in the surplus market. Their small size, low voltage requirements, and low power heaters make them suitable for synthesizer use, while their low power output, gain and directly-heated cathodes bring their own design challenges."

The ThunderWave Ribbon Controller by The Electronic Peasant

ThunderWave Ribbon Controller Demonstration Published on May 23, 2020 epeasant

A new DIY percussion instrument in via The Electronic Peasant:

"The ThunderWave is a new type of electronic percussion instrument that you can build yourself. Instead of the traditional round drum pads, the ThunderWave uses curved ribbon controllers and force sensitive technology to create an expressive and intuitive interface that is both fun and easy to play. The instrument provides standard trigger, gate, and CV outputs, including volt/octave, for use with analog synthesizers. Each ribbon can also be divided into up to thirteen different zones, for consistent sounds using two drum sticks at slightly different positions. A 'striking force' trigger output and two force based envelope generators for each ribbon are also included. The ThunderWave is designed for the advanced DIYer, and can be built using common, easily available parts and tools.

The complete ThunderWave project can be found on the Electronic Peasant website, including detailed building guides and videos."

Be sure to check out previous posts, dating back to 2005, featuring The Electronic Peasant here.

The Electronic Peasant's SynthBend Analogue Synthesizer Controller

via The Electronic Peasant

"When The Peasant started to plan the building of the SynthBend Controller, a comprehensive and innovative design was envisaged. The intent was to create an extremely versatile analogue synthesizer controller for driving the SynthCase System.

A classic control-voltage type keyboard and an Appendage ribbon controller would be the heart of the project, with many added features. A large quantity and variety of manual CV modulation controls, such as joysticks, potentiometers, and pressure sensors would also be included. The design would be rounded out with some manual triggers/gates and switches. Hopefully the comprehensive design of the SynthBend Controller will provide an exceptional playing experience.

The first step in the design of this project was to decide on the basic module layout and chassis configuration. A number of salvaged plastic cases with hinged lids, as shown below, were chosen to house the controls and electronics."

The Electronic Peasant Banjo Processor

"The Peasant is a banjo player, and so thought that it would be very interesting to use a banjo to control the analogue synthesizer. A number of years ago a pitch-to-voltage convertor circuit board, designed for guitar use, was purchased from fellow DIY enthusiast Harry Bissell. This pcb only used the bottom three guitar strings to extract the CV output, and so it was decided to expand the board to work with all five strings on the banjo."

You can find more info at The Electronic Peasant. Be sure to see the rest of the site for more.
via Deviant Synth.

The Electronic Peasant's Solid State Percussion Synth

Additional details at The Electronic Peasant

That's a whole lotta knobs; 144 of them according to Magnus Olfsson. You might recognize the Peasant from this post. Thanks Magnus!