alienmeatsack - VTech Alphabet Desk - Circuit Bent Sample 1
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Project: Circuit Bent VTech Alphabet Desk.

I don’t think I uploaded this before… me playing with the newly bent gadget. I went on a whole glitch/pitch thing for the last bit. 

Dangit Mouser, I said I wanted the full catalog not some supplement!!! :DView full size

Dangit Mouser, I said I wanted the full catalog not some supplement!!!

:D

Korg SyncKontrol Korg recently released this free app for the iOS platform. It’s intended function is to act as a tempo control for the Monotribe, but honestly, it’s got way more potential than that. Last night, I hooked it into my computer and did some testing to see exactly what it it was doing. Obviously it’s creating an audible ticking sound in the higher frequency range, so I figured I’d nail that down a bit and figure how to use it on other devices. After some playing and measuring, the software appears to put out a tick that peaks in the 1k-3k range. This tick actually goes across the frequency spectrum, but the 1-3k area is where it’s most powerful. On my tests, the audio level was high enough in that spot that it seems to be their focus. So, if that is how the Monotribe gets it’s sync signal, it should be very easy to simply create an oscillator that is around 2k give or take and use that to control the Monotribe. You could also use a simple Frequency -> Volts convertor to create CV gating for other instruments. A 9V battery, a TIP31 and a bit of wiring and jacks and thats a no brainer. Since I don’t own the Monotribe, I can only guess that it will accept any sound similar to control its pace. I hope to try the other ideas I have soon enough. Think about this… Instead of Korg’s SyncKontrol, what if you used a simple 8 step sequencer, or the output of a 555 timer or similar? Could be way fun! Until I try the Monotribe with it and see how it reacts to sound fed into it, the rest is speculation for me.View full size

Korg SyncKontrol

Korg recently released this free app for the iOS platform. It’s intended function is to act as a tempo control for the Monotribe, but honestly, it’s got way more potential than that.

Last night, I hooked it into my computer and did some testing to see exactly what it it was doing. Obviously it’s creating an audible ticking sound in the higher frequency range, so I figured I’d nail that down a bit and figure how to use it on other devices.

After some playing and measuring, the software appears to put out a tick that peaks in the 1k-3k range. This tick actually goes across the frequency spectrum, but the 1-3k area is where it’s most powerful. On my tests, the audio level was high enough in that spot that it seems to be their focus.

So, if that is how the Monotribe gets it’s sync signal, it should be very easy to simply create an oscillator that is around 2k give or take and use that to control the Monotribe.

You could also use a simple Frequency -> Volts convertor to create CV gating for other instruments. A 9V battery, a TIP31 and a bit of wiring and jacks and thats a no brainer.

Since I don’t own the Monotribe, I can only guess that it will accept any sound similar to control its pace. I hope to try the other ideas I have soon enough.

Think about this… Instead of Korg’s SyncKontrol, what if you used a simple 8 step sequencer, or the output of a 555 timer or similar? Could be way fun!

Until I try the Monotribe with it and see how it reacts to sound fed into it, the rest is speculation for me.

40106 SOIP - Wow these are freaking tiny.

Any of you interested in some 40106 SOIP IC’s? I got the wrong size and these are way too small to work with for my fat clumsy hands.

If you are interested, let me know. I have about 20 to find homes for cheaply/free.

Proto -> Solder = Not Always Easy, and other ramblings from me

I can build all day, try new stuff, etc on my solderless breadboards. But, when I try to move the project to soldering, I get all meh.

Maybe the new tips for the soldering iron will help.

I’ve literally breadboarded 10 or so things I could have made into actual things. So, I ordered some solderable breadboards of assorted designs. Pretty slick. I just need to figure out how to cut the larger ones down to size. Otherwise, I cant wait to try making something on these.

I do want to build a 2nd test amp for when building things. My other one is my earf##ker amp, but I need something with just volume and a gain control for now. So I think I’ll build something this weekend. My goal is so figure out how to make it shut off when I am not using it. I have gone thru four (4) 9 volt batteries this last 2 weeks! I keep forgetting to shut the other amp off.

On a side note… to self… Make sure when you are ordering chips, you get the larger old style pin type and not the tiny surface mount ones. just sayin. Anyone need 20 qty 40106 in surface mount format? lol. Not even worth returning, I think they were $1.60 total.

OK. So, my goal this weekend is thus:

  1. Build small simple LM386 amp for prototyping
  2. Start solding one of my tone generator/oscillator projects
  3. Probably do niether of those things and mostly sit on the sofa 

As you can see. I have got it covered.

In delicious electronic gravy.

Word to your motherboard.

Hello ST7. It’s kinda lonely and sad when I get a bit geeky over receiving 2 new soldering iron tips, right? That’s what I just did when I opened one of the packages in the mail today. I got excited over receiving two (2) new Well ST7 tips for my soldering iron. For those of you not in the know, ST7s are super tiny pencil point tips and are a must for working with small circuits, tiny spaces, etc. You forget how lovely those tips are until they start to wear down and break off. Yeah, the heat and such I guess just wears em out. My last ones, the tip would slowly bend and the point would get smaller and smaller. The last one that I’ve held onto due to having nothing as small on hand, is a nub now seriously. Trying to solder a standard IC or anything really is a pain without it. For me, anyway. Maybe you have steady hands and sharp soldering skills. I don’t. I am the guy who muddles his way thru, fat fingers and all. :DView full size

Hello ST7.

It’s kinda lonely and sad when I get a bit geeky over receiving 2 new soldering iron tips, right?

That’s what I just did when I opened one of the packages in the mail today. I got excited over receiving two (2) new Well ST7 tips for my soldering iron.

For those of you not in the know, ST7s are super tiny pencil point tips and are a must for working with small circuits, tiny spaces, etc.

You forget how lovely those tips are until they start to wear down and break off. Yeah, the heat and such I guess just wears em out. My last ones, the tip would slowly bend and the point would get smaller and smaller. The last one that I’ve held onto due to having nothing as small on hand, is a nub now seriously. Trying to solder a standard IC or anything really is a pain without it.

For me, anyway. Maybe you have steady hands and sharp soldering skills. I don’t. I am the guy who muddles his way thru, fat fingers and all. :D

Handmade Electronic Music by Nicolas Collins

If you enjoy electronic music and tinkering, this is your book. It’s amazingly full of all sort of wonders. Each handed to you with some story and some love.

Inside, you will find help with learning how to make sounds with electronics, how to manipulate those sounds, and then destroy them.

If you are a tinkerer, check the book out. I have found it very useful and have learned quite a bit from it.

Project: Dual 555 Tone/Oscillators A quick photo of the chaos. There’s also another 555 half trashed behind and the amp to the right is one I built previously.View full size

Project: Dual 555 Tone/Oscillators

A quick photo of the chaos. There’s also another 555 half trashed behind and the amp to the right is one I built previously.

Project: Dual 555 Tone/Oscillators

In my search for just the right LFO for one of my projects, I started side tracking a bit and built 2 simple 555 based tone generators, then joined their ouputs. One is also running through the Depth and Shape portion of a Casper Electronics LFO. So, they play together pretty well depending on how they are mixed.

Eventually, these will become oscillators in a bent toy or something I’m sure.

Project: The RAT 2 - Video 1

A video of me demoing, quickly, the feedback bend on this Pro Co Rat effects pedal. Using a Gakken kit guitar for input and a small amp I made previously for output.