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.

MiG Thruster Short Demonstration

video upload by epeasant

"This is a quick demo of the new Catalyst Audio Electroserf MiG Thruster vacuum tube noise generator module showing some of the sonic textures that it can produce.

The output of the Thruster goes to the MiG VCA module and then directly to the digital recorder with no external effects or modifications to the sound, other than a bit of resonance "crunch" added by the VCA near the end of the video.

The Catalyst Audio Electroserf modules are now available to purchase at quality synthesizer retailers."

True vacuum tube noise source

Low power draw

100% Analog

NOS Cold War Era Vintage Tubes

Internal feedback pathways​

CV control of major parameters

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.

Dirtywave M8 - Forest Fanfare

video upload by epeasant

"Here is a song that I created using only my recently acquired Dirtywave M8, accompanied by some nice pictures.

Please help preserve and protect our forests, they are the lungs of the earth!"

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.