synthesizer design
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- Learning to Wiggle
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synthesizer design
Hi everyone,
I wonder if anyone could point me in the direction of articles/books/sites that deal in some depth with the electrical design of synth modules (VCOs, VCAs, filters, waveshapers, etc) rather than more general purpose applications?
Thanks
I wonder if anyone could point me in the direction of articles/books/sites that deal in some depth with the electrical design of synth modules (VCOs, VCAs, filters, waveshapers, etc) rather than more general purpose applications?
Thanks
- Rod Serling Fan Club
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You might want to post this in the DIY section. You might also want to take a look at the DIY forum over at electro-music.com.
Last edited by Rod Serling Fan Club on Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
try reading the module descriptions and studying the schematics at
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/mfosweb/home.action
and
http://www.cgs.synth.net/
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/mfosweb/home.action
and
http://www.cgs.synth.net/
http://electronotes.netfirms.com/
Order the 'Everything Package' - that'll certainly keep you in reading material for a few years to come!
Or for a slightly smaller initial purchase, get these two:
Musical Engineer's Handbook
Builder's Guide and Preferred Circuits Collection
Order the 'Everything Package' - that'll certainly keep you in reading material for a few years to come!
Or for a slightly smaller initial purchase, get these two:
Musical Engineer's Handbook
Builder's Guide and Preferred Circuits Collection
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- Learning to Wiggle
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- Tim Stinchcombe
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Other than the masses of schematics on the web, if you actually want a book that maybe explains a bit more, two immediately come to mind:
Electronic Music Circuits by Barry Klein, available direct from him at that link.
'Musical Applications of Microprocessors' by Hal Chamberlin - despite the title there is actually a nice section in there that describes how basic analogue synth circuits work (but don't go paying top-dollar for it: I think new copies are still to be had, but a second-hand one ought to be had for a reasonable price; lending it via your local library also makes sense...)
There are many other titles out there, perhaps a dozen or more, purporting to describe the electronics inside synthesizers, but they tend to be either pretty mickey-mouse, or rather old, or both. And some titles, despite having 'electronic' in the title are just about synths in general, or electronic music in general, and so don't contain any circuits to speak of!
Tim
Electronic Music Circuits by Barry Klein, available direct from him at that link.
'Musical Applications of Microprocessors' by Hal Chamberlin - despite the title there is actually a nice section in there that describes how basic analogue synth circuits work (but don't go paying top-dollar for it: I think new copies are still to be had, but a second-hand one ought to be had for a reasonable price; lending it via your local library also makes sense...)
There are many other titles out there, perhaps a dozen or more, purporting to describe the electronics inside synthesizers, but they tend to be either pretty mickey-mouse, or rather old, or both. And some titles, despite having 'electronic' in the title are just about synths in general, or electronic music in general, and so don't contain any circuits to speak of!
Tim
- Tim Stinchcombe
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I agree with the Electronotes recommendation; really good for synth-related schematics and info. Not a tutorial, though. Pretty high level in places.
Some of the DIY articles in Synapse are good: http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/intro.cfm
How synthesizer-specific does it need to be? More general refs:
Op-Amp Cookbook - Jung (a classic)
Small Signal Audio Design - Self
Some of the DIY articles in Synapse are good: http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/intro.cfm
How synthesizer-specific does it need to be? More general refs:
Op-Amp Cookbook - Jung (a classic)
Small Signal Audio Design - Self
Chris Muir
Personal -http://www.xfade.com
My Jobby -http://www.eardrill.com (Jobby = less than a job, more than a hobby)
Personal -http://www.xfade.com
My Jobby -http://www.eardrill.com (Jobby = less than a job, more than a hobby)
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- Learning to Wiggle
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Thanks Tim and Chris
Tim - a books page on the Wiki would seem to me to be a great idea
Chris - I'm not an expert by any means, but I'm familiar with resources such as the Op Amp Cookbook, but I guess I'd like to learn more about why some designs are more suitable for synth use than others, the sonic characteristics of certain designs, and other such things that more general texts don't tend to cover (obviously trying things out is part of the fun, but given time and financial contraints it can't hurt to be informed)
Tim - a books page on the Wiki would seem to me to be a great idea
Chris - I'm not an expert by any means, but I'm familiar with resources such as the Op Amp Cookbook, but I guess I'd like to learn more about why some designs are more suitable for synth use than others, the sonic characteristics of certain designs, and other such things that more general texts don't tend to cover (obviously trying things out is part of the fun, but given time and financial contraints it can't hurt to be informed)
The MEH and Builders Guide are great but lacking in explanations and details of the inner workings.BugBrand wrote:http://electronotes.netfirms.com/
Order the 'Everything Package' - that'll certainly keep you in reading material for a few years to come!
Or for a slightly smaller initial purchase, get these two:
Musical Engineer's Handbook
Builder's Guide and Preferred Circuits Collection
Bernie also used to have an early vols. package for only $32. I forgot exactly but I think it was vols 49-100 or there abouts (100's of pages!). Most of the circuits from MEH and BGPC come from these volumes.
An unbelievably great deal. No other resource even comes close. Covers all the subjects you listed (and covers them multiple times in multiple places with variations, refinements, and most importantly - suggests ideas and experiments!). Can't go wrong with it.
- pugix
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I have it - the Everything Package. If you get it, be ready to invest in a half dozen large three ring binders.BugBrand wrote:http://electronotes.netfirms.com/
Order the 'Everything Package' - that'll certainly keep you in reading material for a few years to come!
Or for a slightly smaller initial purchase, get these two:
Musical Engineer's Handbook
Builder's Guide and Preferred Circuits Collection

BTW, I just noticed this free PDF page!
http://electronotes.netfirms.com/free.htm
Richard
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"Everything in our world is actually always modulated by everything else." - Peter B
- Junk Rhythm
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I started a page for Books and Publications on the Wiki under the DIY section.Tim Stinchcombe wrote:...which actually makes me think we could use a decent list of books in the Wiki pages...
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- Tim Stinchcombe
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Great! I have probably around 30 titles I can add, but not all are DIY-related (so perhaps I'll bang them in the main Bibliography page at the top level) - I'll try and do one a day so it isn't too onerous, and if I can make each title a 'level three' heading (?), we should get a complete list at the top of the page, with links to a little more further down (rough description, ISBN, etc)...Junk Rhythm wrote:I started a page for Books and Publications on the Wiki under the DIY section.Tim Stinchcombe wrote:...which actually makes me think we could use a decent list of books in the Wiki pages...
Tim
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+1 on this. Just read it, very nice book.Tim Stinchcombe wrote: 'Musical Applications of Microprocessors' by Hal Chamberlin - despite the title there is actually a nice section in there that describes how basic analogue synth circuits work (but don't go paying top-dollar for it: I think new copies are still to be had, but a second-hand one ought to be had for a reasonable price; lending it via your local library also makes sense...)