X1L3 - Circuit bent casio PT30 + CBUK CB55 drum module - darkwave synth jam

Published on Apr 16, 2017 manufacturedZ3R0

"Live key jam focussed on subtle use of the delay and ruiner mods. Under pinned by a CB55 drum module built using the board available at: https://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/

Not an overly bent or warped session, but a slick example of what a bent casio can sound like when modified with some finesse.

The CB55 has some mods applied which i've documented and made available through a few avenues such as the synth diy page and my own page on facebook.

Incoming midi to the midi to gate in the eurorack is used to trigger the CB55 along with an AR generator routed to a filter which the drums are passed through. An AR generator is also routed to the filter in the PT30 to gate its filter via the cv input. The filter is gated by the AR generator through the first half and then the cutoff opened up for the melody for the latter section.

The ruiner mod is used subtly through the whole session to shift the wave form of the PT30 for an animated waveshaping/PWM type effect. In a different arena, as with the delay, it can be used to totally screw up the output of the keyboard. Which i'll show in another more extreme upload.

13 raw circuit bends - extreme pitch control - drum/chord/bass boost/mute etc etc.
Ruiner - ringmod/distortion.
Digital delay untethered to behave as a bent delay pedal would.
Sallen key resonant low pass filter.

Lacking the midi of my PT80 configuration but compensating for it with far more mods and a much wider scope on the fucked up spectrum."

MB33 RETRO mods demo2: Filter inputs [with Sassy Trump]

Published on Mar 31, 2017 circuitbenders.co.uk

"MAM MB33 Retro with Acid FM mods:

This video mainly demonstrates using external audio inputs as sources for the new VCF FM mods, but also features a x0xb0x controlling the filter cutoff via a CV sequence plugged into the new VCF CV input."

Source audio:



Sassy Trump!

Keeping it spicy on MATRIXSYNTH.

MB33 RETRO mods demo 1 here.

MAM MB33 Retro Acid FM mods

Published on Mar 21, 2017 circuitbenders.co.uk

"MAM MB33 Retro with Acid FM mods: This video shows the filter FM mod modulating the filter cutoff at audio frequencies using the internal square and sawtooth VCO waveforms as FM sources. It also demonstrates the Filter Lock mod that holds the filter and VCA open with no envelope, the resonance boost, and the overdrive mod.
The MB33 retro seems to be designed to slightly distort the output stage at full volume, much like the TB303 did. The Drive mod boosts this distortion savagely for some grungy acid techno sounds."

SMS MARS & Planet 7 Modular Synth

Published on Nov 25, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

Update: unfortunately this one appears to have been pulled. Hopefully it will be published again soon.

"Quick demo of this extremely rare modular analogue synth from Synthetic Music Systems.
The kick drum is produced by the top MARS unit, and the offbeat bass and noise are coming from the lower MARS unit. Both units are being driven by the LFO on the top unit."

Harmonic Engine DIY PCB - E&MM Harmony Generator clone

Published on Sep 14, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

"PCB's can be bought from: http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forsa...

The circuitbenders.co.uk Harmonic Engine PCB is a clone of the E&MM Harmonic Generator. This was a project originally designed by Paul Williams, and published in Electronics & Music Maker magazine way back in 1981.The circuit generates a squarewave output at harmonic intervals to the frequency of an input signal.

Thats the theory anyway, the practice is a little different............."

Circuitbenders Harmonic Engine PCB - Clone E&MM Harmony Generator Kit From 1981

Published on Aug 18, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

"Clone of the E&MM Harmony Generator kit from 1981.

The board generates a squarewave at harmonic intervals related to the frequency of the input signal. Its quite tedious and predictable with a monophonic basic waveform as an input, but when you start using more complex sounds and percussion things start getting very strange and nasty. This is processing a bass and percussion loop that fades in at the end."

Circuit Bent Yamaha RX7 demo

"Some flat out chewing the furniture lunacy from a circuit bent Yamaha RX7.

The RX7 is very difficult to operate when using the circuit bent mods, but its well worth the effort as you can't get this kind of madness from any other machine, other than the RX7's big brother, the RX5.

For more details see www.circuitbenders.co.uk/drummachine/RX7.html"

Excerpt:

"MODS INCLUDE:

20 way main patchbay: More information and details of our patchbay mods can be found HERE. The RX7 patchbay responds a little differently to most circuit bent drum machines. When patchbay connections are made on the RX7 you find that at least 60% of the sounds are disabled, but the ones that remain are transformed into alien effects like we've never heard before on a bent drum machine. Make a different connection on the patchbay and a different set of sounds are disabled but again, the remaining sounds morph into bizarre digital shimmers and cold percussive hits that are both totally unexpected and unique. Remove all the patch cables and the machine responds as normal again."

Circuitbenders Analogue Trigger Out Mod for Roland TR-8

via Circuitbenders.co.uk:

"We have added one mod to this unit, which is a +5v 10ms analogue trigger output that is driven by any sound routed to assignable output A. Route a sound through this individual output, and every time the sound is played in a sequence, you get a 5v pulse capable of driving a SH101 sequencer, external percussion module or similar, at the trigger output. It works best with a short sharp sound, with a very fast attack. If you use the Rimshot, the 5v trigger is produced less than 1ms after the sound starts! Thats probably tighter than midi!
Plug a jack into assignable output A and the trigger output is disabled, and the assignable output works as normal. The trigger output can be turned on and off in use, simply by taking the output volume fader of the chosen sound down to zero.

The only very minor issue is that at absolutely insane shuffle settings, percussion sounds on alternate 16ths are almost on top of each other, and the audio to trigger circuit can't defferentiate between them. At this point the trigger output will start to miss the shuffled 16th's and only output 8th notes. This only happens at very high BPM's or with shuffle so extreme that nobody would ever use it, i.e. the last 5-10%% of the shuffle knobs rotation in either direction. Unless you're in the habit of writing tracks at 250BPM with shuffle so extreme it becomes meaningless, you'll probably never even notice."

Phonic Taxiderminist 47 2b - Maplin Voice Vandal clone - ACID test.

Published on Apr 19, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

"The Phonic Taxidermist 47.2b is a DIY clone of the Maplin Voice Vandal. This was a kit available from Maplin in the early 90's, consisting of a high frequency audio chopper and grungy 10 bit delay.
PCB's are available from http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forsa..."

X1L3 - circuit bent TR-505 + Elektron Analog4

Published on Mar 13, 2016 manufacturedZ3R0 .

"Improvised session on one of two recent 505 commission pieces.

I work on these from time to time but not often. It all depends on if i have the time. Try me, you might catch me on a good day.

Underpinned by a bass drone from the A4 which is also feeding the 505 control voltage at its filter CV input.

Starts out with some spoken word on the external input and builds from clean to increasingly dirty manipulation of the loop.

Commission is £500. £150 deposit to secure the build. The remaining £350 payable on completion + P&P. Turn around is generally around two months give or take. It depends on how busy i am with real life stuff.

Mods include:

Global pitch
Individual pitch
Individual channel mixing
Envelope controlled square wave generators
Digital delay
Analogue resonant filter
Distortion
External audio input to fx chain
CV in to filter cutoff
5v trigger out (slaved to the cowbells as on a tr626)
3 x 5 rom glitch matrix
CNC machined aluminium, black anodized + engraved panel work

Thanks to:
http://www.burnkit2600.com/

Who provided me with a lot of insight into how to modify these a way back.

And take a look at:

http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/

Cool guys doing good stuff."

Music Machine Mayhem!

Published on Mar 9, 2016 Joel Braverman

"Unleashing my new setup of raging analog and digital synthesizers on the universe!

Analog Percussion Synthesizers: http://circuitbenders.co.uk modded dr-110, modded Korg KPR77, Pearl Drum-X drum synthesizer. Analog Synths: Wildberry X0XB0X, Anyware TinySizer. Digital Percussion: Korg ER-1, Waldorf MicroQ Synthesizer (drums, a little bass), Waldorf Rack-Attack Drum Synthesizer. Digital Synths: Korg EA-1, Korg Microkorg"

Maplins Voice Vandal clone - prototype PCB 2

Published on Jan 25, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

"The second prototype PCB for a Maplins Voice Vandal clone.
DIY PCB's should be available soon from circuitbenders.co.uk"

"It was a kit from Maplin, probably in the early 90's if i recall correctly. Its got a grungy digital delay and a 4 stage high speed signal gating circuit, with a knob to set the gating speed. Gate the signal fast enough and you get cross modulation style effects."

Prototype MIDI-CV box for Novation Circuit

Published on Jan 2, 2016 Jason Hotchkiss

"A quick demo of sequencing analog gear using Novation Circuit and a compact MIDI-CV box I am working on. The gear used is a CB55 drum voice board (DR55 clone from circuitbenders.co.uk), Moog Minitaur, Pittsburgh Modular System 10.

The PCB shown here is a prototype, but I hope to have them on sale soon. It has a 3.5mm MIDI input jack so a simple stereo 3.5mm cable can connect it to Circuit's MIDI output. I've been working on bus powering it, but an external supply is used for this clip.

Support two mono channels with Note CV, Gate, Velocity CV (one for each Circuit synth track), and four drum gates (one for each Circuit drum track). Also an additional drum accent gate (when any
drum triggered at max MIDI velocity) which can double as a clock out.

Built around PIC16F1825 microcontroller with MCP4728 Quad 12-bit I2C DAC with on-board charge pump used to get full CV range.

I hope to have these on sale soon on my Tindie store https://www.tindie.com/stores/hotchk155/ ... watch this space

Cheers for watching!"

Korg Poly 800 with Mods

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Up for your consideration is a fully functional Korg Poly 800 synthesizer with several modifications that enhance the functionality and make this unit a fine candidate for the central piece to your music production environment. Modifications were professionally installed by experienced and skilled hands and are described below. I've modified a good handful of these and this particular machine is in the best cosmetic condition I have ever seen. Absolutely like-new!! Original Korg power supply included.

(From circuitbenders.co.uk)

The Korg Poly800 and its rackmount / tabletop cousin the EX800 are odd beasts. They came from that strange era of Korg synths where they couldn't seem to decide between analogue and digital, and so came up with a selection of hybrid synths that didn't seem to excel as either sound. On paper the Poly800 was a pretty well endowed machine but in reality it always sounded a little thin and never really fulfilled its potential, which is where we step in with our Polybeast mods!

FILTER MODS:

Cutoff & Resonance Knobs: This mod can be found around the net under several different names (Moog Slayer Mod) and versions but essentially it adds knob controls for the filter cutoff and resonance parameters for realtime control. The resonance knob can take the resonance well into self oscillation and far beyond what is programmable from the front panel. This can produce the kind of screaming top end and subsonic bass that gives these machines a whole new range of sonic possibilities. The filter cutoff knob allows you to perform long filter sweeps for those squidgy burbling analogue lines that you knew your Korg was capable of but could never actually program. Both parameters are still also controlled by the normal programming methods which can set the range of the knobs control.

12dB / 24dB Filter Response Switch: Somewhat mysteriously the filter chip used in these machines has both 12dB/Oct and 24dB/Oct outputs but only the 24dB one is actually used. This mod adds a switch to select either a 24dB or less drastic 12dB filter response

VCF CV input: This socket round the back of the machine adds an external 0-5v control voltage input that controls the filter cutoff. The new filter cutoff control knob is disabled when a jack is plugged into the socket.

AUDIO MODS:

External Audio Input: This accepts a line level audio signal and inserts it before the filter and chorus effect so you can use it to process external signals. The input is set up so that a loud signal will slightly overdrive the filter for a dirty sound.

External Audio Path Switch: This switch sends the audio from the external input either via the DCO1 or DCO2 signal path or turns it off completely. The input doesn't respond to the DEG audio level envelopes but instead is gated on and off by the noise gate that korg implemented to silence the synth when all the envelopes are completely closed. i.e. when the DEG envelope for the chosen path closes completely at the end of the release phase, the noise gate is activated and the external audio input is cut. The audio input is still effected by the filter envelope.
An external input can easily be filtered without having to hold down a note by setting up a patch with all the oscillator tones turned off, but the DCO 'level' parameter set to full. If you use the note 'Hold' function and press a key the audio input will be audible and can be processed with the filter etc.

Input Level Knob: Its a knob that controls the level of the audio input. What more can we say?

FM MOD:

Essentially VCF FM allows you to modulate the filter cutoff at audio frequencies to create all kinds of clanging cross modulation and bizarre alien splatters & sweeps. This effect works best with the resonance cranked up into self oscillation which is where the new resonance knob mod comes into its own. The audio input takes its signal from before the input level knob so you can use the audio to modulate the filter cutoff but remove the actual audio signal from the mix.

Also installed is a brand new internal memory battery to keep this machine running for years and years without losing your presets!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Circuit bent TR707 pitch mod demo

Published on Nov 18, 2015 circuitbenders.co.uk

"Demo of a reclocking/pitch mod on a circuit bent Roland TR707.

Each sound group has been individually reclocked with a LTC1799 precision oscillator module. It'd be a lot cheaper to use CMOS 555 timers, or probably a 40106 or two if you didn't mind a little crosstalk, but LTC1799's do seem to give a much better pitch response curve and seem to feel a little smoother somehow."

808 knobs.

Modified TAMA TECHSTAR TS305 Beats.

Published on Aug 25, 2015 circuitbenders.co.uk

"Mods include an LFO with pulse and continuously variable saw up/triangle/saw down outputs, with a LFO range switch that takes its speed well into audio frequencies.

On each of 4 channels theres a percussion decay long/short/constant tone switch, VCO frequency modulation source switch (audio or LFO), LFO waveform switch (pulse or saw/tri), VCO FM amount knob, and a VCO pitch range hi/low switch.

The VCO frequency of each channel can be modulated either using the LFO or the output of the overall audio source selection switch. This rotary switch chooses between sourcing the audio modulation signal from the output of any of the six channels, including the channel being modulated for FM feedback loops, or an external audio input."

Update:

Modified TAMA TECHSTAR TS305 drone & cross modulation

Published on Aug 25, 2015

"On this demo the four modded channels are all set to produce a constant tone, and are then their VCO frequencies are modulated with each other and the LFO"

Update: some details on the mods via Circuitbenders where you'll find more pics & info.

"The new version of these mods is based on the previous version, but expands on version one to give more in depth control and a lot more possibilities for modulated analogue percussion weirdness.

The LFO retains the same basic design, but also provides a new range switch that selects between the normal speed settings provided by the previous mods, and a super fast speed range that takes the LFO rate well into audio frequencies for all kind of insane 1950's sci-fi frequency modulation effects. The LFO still outputs pulse and saw/triangle waveforms, but on the new mods you get a separate LFO waveform selection switch on each modded channel, instead of a single overall waveform switch that is applied to all channels simultaneously.

Each modified channel now includes:

Decay range switch: As before, this sets the range of the decay knob, but it now has three positions instead of two. With the switch set upwards the decay knob range of the percussion tones is set to normal. With it switched downwards the range of the knob is extended to take over where the normal range left off at its lowest setting, and give a lot longer decay times at maximum. With the switch in its central position the channel will output a constant VCO tone with the pitch set by the channels tune knob. Any channel with its decay switch set to the tone position can either be kicked into life with a trigger input, or if its left to its own devices the tone volume will eventually rise on its own.

LFO Shape switch: As explained above, this switch selects the VCO LFO waveform independently for each channel. The choices are pulse or saw / triangle

VCO FM Source switch: The VCO frequency of each channel can be modulated either using the LFO, or with an audio source provided by the audio source rotary switch (see below). This switch selects between the two options.

Moded Tama Techstar TS305

VCF FM Amount: This is a new knob on each channel that independently sets the amount of frequency modulation that is applied to that channels VCO. Anything from subtle vibrato or warbling Theremin like tones, to extreme cross modulation effects that wouldn't be out of place on the Forbidden Planet sound track, can be achieved using the VCO FM mod.

Tune Range switch: As before, this sets the range of the VCO tuning knob, but with some minor adjustments to give a better range and response curve than before.

modified Tama Techstar v2

The new audio source rotary switch determines where the input for the audio setting of the channel VCO FM switches is sourced from. The audio modulation signal can be sourced from the output of any channel, or an external audio input. The output of a channel can be used to modulate its own VCO frequency for some bizarre frequency modulation feedback sounds.

The audio output of each channel is sourced before the channels output volume knob, so its entirely possible to do things like setting up one channel to output a constant VCO tone, then turn down the volume on that channel, but still use the that tone to modulate the VCO frequency of other channels. Alternatively you could produce an audible percussion sound on one channel and then use a muted sound on another channel to mutate the first channels sound on accented beats, kind of like you might use a side chain input on a compressor. Use the LFO to slightly modulate the muted sound and you've got an infinite variety of evolving hits and accents."

papernoise concertodrone mk3 (circuit-bent casio SK-)1 demo

Published on Jan 11, 2015 Hannes Pasqualini

"demo video of my circuit-bent SK-1.

INFO

0:30 mutlimode VCF, the concertodrone features a LP/HP synthacon-style filter with basic voltage control. The filter is pretty overdriven and has a nice nasty resonance

1:00 555-timer-based LFO. I've added a simple oscillator based around a 555-timer-IC. This one can be used as a modulator with the VCF or patched into any other jack for some unpredictable effects

2:00 lo-fi echo effect. I've added a PT2399-based echo/delay effect. I don't use it very often, because it's a bit too lo-fi and I should have extended the control over the parameters a bit more. Also I didn't include a proper dry/wet control

2:45 the paching! this is the interesting part. most of the patch points are taken from reed ghazalas famous guide. I've added a bunch of new ones and including a proper pitch control (using an LTC1799 from circuitbenders.co.uk)."

Update via papernoise in the comments:



"Improvising with the loopper and my new Concertodrone Mk3 (circuit bent Casio SK-1).
All sounds are coming from the Casio, no FX have been added (except for a subtle bit of reverb)."

Highly Modified Roland SH-101 Nova-Mod

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Roland SH-101 which has been modified by Circuitbenders.co.uk to incorporate the Classic Nova-mods from back in the day. This increases the 101's range by adding multiple F.M modulation and LFO options. The modulation changes are endless and produce some fantastic sounds. The is also an option to externally trigger the LFO and to also feed in an external sound source for internal processing. For more info on the mods go to [link]

One final thing the on/off power switch has been replaced with a genuine new one about 4 months ago, some switches were know to fail causing power up problems and VCO tuning problems. But lucky for you those things wont be a problem."

CLICK FOR MORE »

CIRCUITBENDERS.CO.UK CB55 - Boss DR55 Drum Machine PCB Clone

via Circuitbenders

"The circuitbenders.co.uk CB55 is an exact clone of the voice board of the Boss DR55 drum machine. It has the four fully analogue percussion sounds, bass drum, hat, snare, and rimshot, but leaves out the clunky and arguably useless sequencer. There is also an overall accent feature that adds a little extra punch to the whole mix when it is triggered.

Unlike with the DR55, instead of repeatedly attempting to program a pattern only to find that you messed up the bassdrum on the 16th step so you have to start all over again, the sounds and accent on the CB55 board are triggered externally using standard trigger pulses. With the optional trigger conditioning circuit installed you can use also use gate signals, or trigger pulses longer than 10ms..."

Korg Poly800 mkII Data Entry Knob Mod

Published on Feb 20, 2014 circuitbenders.co.uk·11 videos

"Data entry knob to replace the up/down keys on a Korg Poly800 mkII

Pressing the knob takes the synth in and out of edit mode. There are 20 clicks per 360 degree rotation."