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 (I still have both).  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 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 designs and many of my other modules and projects with information and photos.

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

Modular Synthesizer

I have been building my modular synthesizer since 2001.  It now consists of 95 modules including Analog Metropolis, Blacet, Bridechamber, Catgirl Synth, Encore, Ian Fritz, Jürgen Haible, Larry Hendry, Magic Smoke Electronics, Moon Modular, MOTM, Neil Johnson, Oakley Sound Systems, Synthesizers.com,  Synthmodules.com, and 21 of my own designs.  

Night image

Modular CV Keyboard

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

Modular Cabinets and Power Distribution

I built a 19" rack cabinet (30 modules and 2U standard rack) and a four stack of wood cabinet (96U).  I later replaced the 19" rack cabinet with a four stack wood side cabinet (36U+10MU).

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.

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.

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 +1 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 never completed this project.  My prototype is available so contact me if interested.

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

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

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.