Welcome to ModularSynthesis.com

I've always been interested in electronics and music.  I played in a band in the '60's using a Farfisa organ and a Vox Essex Bass amp.  My introduction to electronic synthesizers was on an ARP 2600 at Evergreen State College and later on an ARP Odyssey.  My main synthesizer is an Ensoniq EPS-16+ but I still longed for analog.  I starting with a PAiA Fatman and then progressed to a Matrix-1000, Sequential Circuits Six-Trak, Arp Avatar, and finally to building a modular.  I've documented my modular and many of my other projects with information and photos.

My designs are indicated with a superscript¹
Designs with substantial modifications are indicated with a superscript²

Quick Links

Latest Projects

ComputerVoltageSource Module
NaturalRhythmMusic resonant lopass gate  New CVS module¹
Hammond M-3 tonewheel generator photos  New CVS display¹
Jürgen Haible variable slope filter / phaser  New Four channel CVS module¹
Bridechamber thru-zero VCO  New CVS Kurzweil ribbon controller¹
Peavey DPM C8 battery repair  New CVS and PSIM I/O expansion¹
Jurgen Haible living VCO  New CVS and PSIM Programs¹
Jürgen Haible frequency shifter Synthmodules.com PSIM²
Neil Johnson three pole state variable filter
Jürgen Haible scanner chorus/vibrato Favorite Projects
88 key MIDI keyboard²
Modular Synthesizer MIDI bass pedals project¹
Module and external equipment list MIDI processor¹
Custom modules¹ 440 Hz sine wave reference oscillator¹
Purchased modules and modifications²
CV keyboard² Other Pages
Cabinets and power supplies¹ Yamaha Tenori-On  New
Parts and construction information Organs, keyboards and amplifiers
Photo album Hammond zinc whiskers
MP3 samples¹ Miscellaneous electronic repair and restoration

 

 

Synthesizer Projects

Modular Synthesizer

I have been building my modular synthesizer since 2001.  It now consists of 79 modules including Analog Metropolis, Blacet, Encore, Jürgen Haible, Hendry, Magic Smoke Electronics, MOTM, Oakley, SynthModules, and 21 of my own designs.

 

Synthesizer modules and external equipment

Design files and photos for my custom modules¹

Information, mods, and photos for purchased modules²

Updated
Parts and construction information

New
MP3 samples of some of my favorite patches

Keyboard and organ studio layout

New

 

Modular CV Keyboard

I rebuilt an ARP-3604 keyboard with a wood cabinet and updated electronics.

Information & photos for my ARP CV keyboard²

 

Modular Cabinets and Power Supplies

I built a 19" rack cabinet (30 modules and 2U standard rack) and a four stack of wood cabinet (96 modules).

Information & photos for my cabinets and power supplies¹

 

ComputerVoltageSource Module

      

I designed the ComputerVoltageSource module using an AtomPro28.  Features include:
     8 analog inputs (0 to 10 volt with 0 to -5 volt offset at 10 bit resolution)
     8 analog outputs (o to 10 volt at 12 bit resolution)
     3 digital inputs
     MIDI in / out
     I2C expansion (for additional inputs and outputs)
     2x16 LCD display.

Info and photos for the ComputerVoltageSource module¹

Updated

Info and photos for the ComputerVoltageSource display¹

Updated
Information and photos for a four channel version¹

Information and photos for a dedicated ribbon controller¹

 

Synth Display Modules

I built an external display using a 2x20 LCD module with MIDI or serial input and three display modes.

Information and photos for my external display module¹

I built two dedicated displays for my programmable PSIM (2x8 LCD) and ComputerVoltageSource (2x16 LCD) modules.

Information and photos for my PSIM 2x8 display¹

Info and photos for the ComputerVoltageSource display¹

  Updated

 

MIDI Bass Pedals

I built a set of MIDI bass pedals using Hammond organ pedals and an AtomPro24 controller.  Features include:
       Normal, Mono, and 'Sticky" modes (sticky=note held until next note played)
       Normal, One-Shot, and 'Sticky" arpeggiator modes
       5 built-in arpeggiator sequences and a user-recordable 100 note sequence
       Normal, +1 and +2 octave select
       MIDI in merge
       Internal or MIDI clock
       External LCD note display

Information and photos for my MIDI bass pedals¹

 

88 Key MIDI Keyboard

I built an 88 key MIDI keyboard from a salvaged Kurzweil Ensemble Grand Mark III digital piano.  I used the original keyboard controller and built a custom wood cabinet.

Information and photos for my 88 note keyboard²

 

MIDI Processor

I built a MIDI processor which is self-powered and provides multiple transformations.  Features include:
     Key transpose
     Channel transpose
     Keyboard split
     Keyboard reverse
     Specific continuous controller transforms

Information and photos for my MIDI processor¹

 

A440 Reference Oscillator

I designed a 440 Hz sine wave reference oscillator using only two 8 pin DIP components.

Information and photos for my A440 oscillator¹

 

Hammond Vibrato Scanner Module

I built an external electro-mechanical vibrato and chorus using a Hammond Organ scanner and delay line.  A small DC motor and speed controller varies the vibrato frequency.

Information and photos for my Hammond vibrato scanner

 

AVR Synth

I built the AVR Synth PCB to have a small format synthesizer but my interests have since waned.  This is available so contact me if interested.

Information and photos for my AVR Synth

For Sale

 

Synth Controlled Laser Light Module

I modified my Ramsey Electronics laser light (LLS1) for external control of the motor speed.  I built an AVR plug-in that replaces the 555 timers to interface to my synth 5 volt cv levels.

Ramsey LLS1 modification document²

 

PAiA Fatman Mods

My son now has a PAiA Fatman and we enhance it with a number of modifications.  Some of the mods are from various sites on the internet and some I designed.  I consolidated all the modifications into a single document.

PAiA Fatman modification documentation²

 

 

Organs, Keyboards, and Amplifiers

 I have information and photos of my various keyboards, amplifiers, Hammond organs, and Leslie speakers.

Info and photos for my organs, keyboards and amplifiers

 

 

Electronic Projects and Restorations

This is my  non-synthesizer electronic projects page.   I have information and photos of two 70's stereos, projects such as an FM transmitter and scrolling display, and various repair and restoration information for amplifiers, speakers, and turntables.

Info and photos for my electronic projects and restorations

Updated

 

 

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