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
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.
Modular CV Keyboard
I rebuilt an ARP-3604 keyboard with a wood cabinet and updated electronics.
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).
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.
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.
I built two dedicated displays for my programmable PSIM (2x8 LCD) and ComputerVoltageSource (2x16 LCD) modules.
| 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
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.
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
A440 Reference Oscillator
I designed a 440 Hz sine wave reference oscillator using only two 8 pin DIP components.
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.
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.
|
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.
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.
Organs, Keyboards, and Amplifiers |
I have information and photos of my various keyboards, amplifiers, Hammond organs, and Leslie speakers.
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.
|
Updated |