Analogue Sequencer (DIY Rhythm Box)

YouTube via nathanielscott | July 07, 2010

"This video shows an old project I started nearly a year ago and then forgot about. I pulled it out of the closet and got it to work enough to at least make this video. What it is is a self contained sequencer (runs off its own 9V battery) that has one channel of voltage control and two channels of gate/triggers.

In this video you can see the little sequencer driving my modular synth which has Paia, Dot Com, and some of my self designed modules. The next step for this little sequencer is to build in three oscillators: one with a bass sound to be controlled by the voltage control to create simple bass lines, and a snare and drum sound generators to be triggered by the channels of gate/triggers. This would then make a simple self contained rhythm section box.

If all goes well I will likely sell the little device. Let me know if you are interested in it.

Lastly, you may notice that there are some shots of a spider and spider web cut in with the video. While I was shooting the video I discovered this spider above and to the right of my modular synth. So I decided to include the little beast. I believe that the spider is a male araneus gemmoides, but if you know better please let me know."

Note: I added a Nathaniel Scott label below.

Slow, Random - Modular Synthesizer

YouTube via nathanielscott — June 18, 2010 — "This is a short video I shot of a patch that was part of series of patches I was developing for a performance at the Boise Art Meuseum's members party for the Robot Exhibit last spring (2010).

I was going for an automatic mechanical theme. I had created long loops with a combination of sequencers and to increase the appearance of extra length I used a noise generator in conjunction with a sample and hold module to control some of the sequencer functions. This gives the patch a sense of endless progression. To create what I thought was a mechanical sound I was using oscillators at high frequencies to modulate the oscillators used for tone. The result is obvious."

DSC_0020_1.f4v

YouTube via nathanielscott — April 29, 2010 —

Printed Circuit Board (home made)

YouTube via nathanielscott — April 03, 2010 — "This video shows the multi-step process I use to print my own circuit boards that I use in my synthesizers and other audio circuits."

The Haunted Spaceship - or - How an Arp Axxe sounds with my modular synth for Halloween sounds

YouTube via nathanielscott
"Any analogue synth with a noise generator and a semi-decent filter is great for making spaceship noises. The AXXE is no exception.

My friend Stephen has had an idea about doing a short sci-fi film about ghosts in space (no not Space Ghost). If he an I ever get the film made I hope it has campy sounds like this."

ARP AXXE + minimoog

YouTube via nathanielscott
"Recently, Mike Johnston asked me if I could work on his ARP AXXE and cure some of its weird behavior. I was not sure I could fix it but I told him I would take a look because I have never got to fool with an ARP synth. The AXXE is a very cool little synth and I would say that it complements the minimoog well. It has things the minimoog does not like 'sample and hold' and ADSR control over the OSC, not to mention keyboard repeat which is tied tot he main LFO clock. This video shows the first time I got to noodle around with the two synths. I ran the main oudio out from the minimoog into the AXXE audio in which really just goes into the filter just like the minimoog. You can still hear some weirdness with the AXXE but I am close to getting it all tightened up.

The sounds in thi video are all just a minimoog and the ARP AXXE shown. A little delay was added to the recording later to sweeten up the sound.

Again I would like to thank Andrew Cortens for use of the minimoog, and Mike Johnston for letting me make a vidie with his ARP."

Atari Punk Console Sequenced

YouTube via nathanielscott. follow-up to this post with a Minimoog.
"This is my variation of the APC. The video starts showing what looks like a normal APC with a built in speaker. Then the voltage output from a sequencer is plugged into the APC. The general schematic can be found on my website: http://owyheesound.com/sequencer.php"

Atari Punk Console and Mini Moog and owyheesound sequencer

YouTube via nathanielscott
"Recently someone asked me if my DIY sequencer would work with an Atari punk Console.

I was so motivated that I worked out the design and then created my own Atari Punk Console with a Voltage control input. This video shows my APC being used with my own 8 step sequencer and a minimoog. There is a quick shot of one of the Printed Circuit Boards that I am developing for my latest sequencer design. The Reuseum in Garden City Idaho is sponsering much of my work which is why the Reuseums name appears on the PCB. The Reuseum will also make the PCBs and full kits available for sale for those who want them."

Yamaha CS01 S8VG sequencer

YouTube via nathanielscott
"Just a little vidie I made with my CS01 and my home made sequencer. The sequencer is not outputting any voltage but is acting in a passive resistance mode. The resistance for each step is determined by a 10k pot on the main panel of the sequencer. The sequencer is plugged directly into the breathe control of the CS01. The connection is made by an 1/8th inch TRS plug where the sleeve just goes to ground, the ring supplies the 5 volts from the CS01 and the tip returns the attenuated voltage back to the CS01."

DIY Synthesizer in cardboard

YouTube via nathanielscott

"My friend Chaz Gentry came over and video taped my explanation of my new DIY synth. I have been working on this funny little project for the last week or so. It is housed in cardboard to make the user interface prototyping development rapid. It obviously still has a long ways to go..."

DIY Sequencers and a Minimoog Music

YouTube via nathanielscott
"I am trying to figure out a good ways to use my two DIY eight step sequencers and a multi-frequency clock in conjunction with a good synth (like the minimoog used in this video) to make musical real-time music. This session was OK but I would like to develop a system of switching between sequencers to vary the patterns even more than I do in this vid. BTW, if you don't like the music at least fast forward to 7:39 and listen to the fat patch I dial in at the end.

I would like to once again thank the Reuseum in Boise for providing the parts for the sequencers!"

CS01 MIDI modification

YouTube via nathanielscott

"This shows a Yamaha CS01 having a Highly Liquid Midi mod added. The kit was shipped quickly and was easy to put together. For those of you that have a CS01 and are handy with a solder iron I highly recommend the conversion."

Minimoog & S8-VG sequencer

YouTube via nathanielscott
"Andrew Cortens, of the Frim Fram 4 (look them up on youtube), asked me to repair some broken keys on his Yamaha S80. As a favor he let me borrow his Minimoog; What a treat!

This video shows the Minimoog being played with my home made 8-step voltage & gate control sequencer. The voltage out of the sequencer is controlling the filter-in on the Minimoog. The filter is set to self oscillate so oscillators 1 and 2 can be played tonally separately from the melody being played by the sequencer. The sequencer does not have its own clock. The small yellow box to the right and behind the sequencer is a simple clok that controls the sequencer's tempo.

The video was out of focus so I added the colorful effects, because I didn't thik it would look any worse."

CS01 and Poly 61 DIY music

YouTube via nathanielscott
"A simple motiff played on a Yamaha CS01 and a Korg Poly 61. I am using no fancy editing or any sync devices, just a stereo delay on the CS01. The CS01 is a bit beat up. I received as a present from my 9th birthday 26 years ago and in those 26 years I have mangled the poor little synth. Just last week though I started restoring it to a more playable condition, starting with tuning up the resonance filter."

New Clock, and 8-step Squencer Voltage Contrrol

YouTube via nathanielscott
"In this vidie you see me repurposing a small plastic box that was originally made to hold .22 caliber bullets. I think is looks great a module for making electronic music. You will notice that I do not use a drill press or anything fancy to cut holes in the plastic for the various componants.

The last bit of the video show a new method I am using for voltage control over an ocsillator. I am emplying an LED and a photo resistor. I works pretty good when te LED is relatively bright, but when the voltage drops below a certain threshold the led lags in attinuation so there is a sort of glide in pitch to the low notes. I will work it out latter."

8 step sequencer

YouTube via nathanielscott
"This is my second sequencer. It is an eight step sequencer built around a 4017 decade chip. It has a toggle switch that can switch between a full gated step or a pulsed trigger. Each step can be switched on or off and each step also has a voltage control that can be sent to a VCO. The step repeat can be varied between 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 steps.

I shot this video before I had the knobs for the voltage control pots, which is why they are missing. Also, I am only demonstrating the trigger control on the Casio-SK1's sequencer. I sequenced a little tune and then let the sequencer trigger the sequence via the one note playback hack I did on the SK1.

The sequencer does not have its own clock. Instead it is gets its clock signal from an external source, in this case from my for step sequencer on the left.

I economically purchased the parts from the Reuseum in Boise. Here is their site: http://www.reuseum.com

The edges are a bit rough as I cut all the openings into the project box with a cheap switch blade."

Sequencer Development (Last Stage)

YouTube via nathanielscott
"So, I have about got the kicks worked out of my first sequencer. Everything works from the start, stop, step push buttons, to the Portamento control, though the portamento is a bit glichey (I need to research way to build that bit with more control).

The video shows some toy keyboards that I hacked to gain gate control over the onboard sequencers. The Casio SK-1 may not really be a total toy but the little grey Lonestar keyboard totally is. I paid three bucks for it at a thrift shop a couple of weeks ago.

I still need to build a better VCO. I have done very little research in this area and I feel that a good VCO would go a long way to a better performance feel, thereby giving better user experience in playing music. (just a thought)

The last bit of the video has music recorded with the sequencer but the VCO is run through a large amp and miked, and also DIed, so are the other keyboards wich include my Poly-61 and Crumar Performer."

sequencer module S4 owyheesound

YouTube via nathanielscott
"This is my first original design. The circuit design is very simple and I give the numbers to the four ships I used to build it towards the end of the video. This system was designed to be compatible with moog systems though I still have to cut down the panel to be the correct dimensions to fit into a moog style cabinet.

Since this video I have added a couple of enhancements like portamento (aka glissando or glide) and others. This has been a fun project and I am looking forward to desiging and builing other useful modules."