Playlist:
littleBits Synth Kit - Published on Nov 8, 2013
"The littleBits synth kit is an incredibly powerful, easy to use modular synthesizer in the world. The Synth Kit enables amateur and professional musicians to easily explore the iconic synthesizer instrument, allowing you to build your own sound machines (with signal generators, modifiers, modulators and controllers) and put on your own performances - all with little to no engineering or musical knowledge.
Developed to inspire innovation in hardware, littleBits lets users create circuits in seconds, with no soldering, no programming and no wiring required. littleBits has been recognized as "LEGO for the iPad generation" and has been heralded as the most extensive, modular and accessible electronics platform in the world. The brand's Bits™ modules revolutionize the way people interact with technology by breaking down electronics into their very basic parts (lights, sounds, sensors, motors, programmable circuits), and making engineering fun and accessible to "non experts" of all ages including children , teachers, artists, designers, makers, hobbyists and tech-enthusiasts.
littleBits makes an open source library of electronic modules that snap together with magnets for prototyping, learning, and fun.
Find out more at littleBits.cc
Credit: Reggie Watts: youtube.com/reggiewattsjash"
Keytar - Published on Nov 8, 2013
"Create your own electronic instrument!"
Play a Song: Row Row Row Your Boat - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Serenade your friends! Go to littleBits.cc/synth for color coded instructions on how to play this song and others!
Pressure Sensitive Pitch Sweeps (Basic) - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Create a sound generator the responds to your applied pressure.
Pressure Sensitive Pitch Sweeps (Advanced) - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Create a sound generator that responds to your applied pressure.
Play A Song: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Serenade your friends! Go to littleBits.cc/synth for color coded instructions on how to play this song and others!
Percussion Party - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Dance to the beat of your own drums!
Note: Noise is an un-pitched sound. It is often used as a way to create percussion sounds because most drums are un-pitched instruments.
Metal Music - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Recreate metallic sounds with the envelope!
Light Sensitive Sound - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Use a light sensor to change the pitch of the oscillator.
Spooky Sounds - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Create a supernatural soundtrack.
In this circuit, the peak knob has a large effect on what the cutoff knob does. It emphasizes certain frequencies and creates a "peak" at these frequencies. If the peak is turned all the way up, the emphasis can be strong enough to increase the loudness of the sound and in some cases create an oscillation.
Tuning - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Tuning is the relationship between the pitches in a musical instrument. Instruments need to be "tuned" and a synthesizer is no different. by tuning instruments, you can create "melodies" that are recognizable.
The tuning dial on the oscillator bits module will alter the relationship between pitches. This will be important when using the keyboard and micro sequencer.
Beats and Base - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Create a bass line with LFO filter sweeps and a drum beat.
8 Step Sequence - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Using additional modules from the littleBits library such as the latch and inverter, two micro sequencers can be used to create an 8 step sequence.
Filtering Noise: Create a unique sound using the filter module - Published on Nov 8, 2013
The filter is known as a low-pass filter. This means that frequencies higher than a certain point will be reduced or filtered out. When the peak is increased and the cutoff is adjusted the timbral effect can sounds like a person making vowel like sounds.
Key Player: Learn how to play notes on the keyboard - Published on Nov 8, 2013
A synthesizer is commonly controlled with a keyboard similar to a piano. Each key creates a voltage that represents a note. Since a synthesizer is electronic, it is not limited to the same notes a piano can play.
Frequency Modulation: Discover how two oscillators interact - Published on Nov 8, 2013
An oscillator can produce a frequency that is too low to be perceived as a pitch. In this case it is known as an LFO or low frequency oscillator. Because the oscillator in your kit can be both low frequency or audio range, you can turn up the frequency of one oscillator and feed it into another oscillator to create "frequency modulation".
Synthesizer with the works - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Create one monster synth with all of these modules!
Play a Song: When the saints go marching in - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Serenade your friends! Go to littleBits.cc/synth for color coded instructions on how to play this song and others!
White Noise: Experience the random module - Published on Nov 8, 2013
The random module has two modes and one of them is called "noise". Un-pitched sound is generally categorized as noise or a collection of many frequencies that are not distinguishable from one another. Unlike a waveform, noise has no repeating pattern.
Synth Band - Published on Nov 8, 2013
Learn how to play a melody with accompaniment.
Echo and Delay: Learn how to make infinite repeating sounds with the delay - Published on Nov 8, 2013
The delay affects the sound but unlike the filter, its primary function is not to add or subtract from the original sound but to reproduce it. Think of it as an echo in a large room or cave. You make a sound, and that sound gets repeated for some amount of time depending on how big the space is.
Shape Your Sounds: Experiment with the envelope - Published on Nov 8, 2013
The envelope of a sound has a big effect on the character of the sound. The controls on the envelope Bits module are "attack" and "decay".
ATTACK - Attack is how long it takes the sound to get to its loudest point
DECAY - Decay is how long it takes the sound to fade to silence.
