Welcome

I've always been interested in electronics and music.  I played in a band in the '60's with a Farfisa organ and a Vox Essex Bass amp (I still have both).  My introduction to electronic synthesizers was an ARP 2600 at Evergreen State College and later on an ARP Odyssey.  My first synthesizer was 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 Odyssey, Arp Avatar / Sequencer, and finally began to build my modular in 2001.

The Synth

This synthesizer has now grown to over 100 modules and I never imagined it would have gotten this large.  Originally I wanted to keep my synthesizer all analog but a small portion of my modules are now digital.  I have a few out-board digital effects units but I still prefer my reel-reel tape for echoes and delays.  Hopefully you'll find some useful information here. I've documented my modular designs, many of my module modifications, and my synthesizer projects with reference information and photos.

This Site

I make nearly everything I do public domain.  I've learned from others and this site is help others learn from what I have done.  I'm delighted by the number of emails and feedback I receive from people using this site which is ranked in the top 15 Synth DIY sites by Xmarks and one of the top 20 modular synthesizer sites by Top20Sites (5 stars when last viewed).  Send me an email if you have a question.

 

My Help

I've done electronics repair and restoration for decades.  I used to operate my own electronics repair business and I restore vintage radios as a hobby.  I repair a lot of tube radio, audio, and music equipment and I've done microprocessor and digital system design for Tektronix so I enjoy working on vintage synthesizer restoration.  Most of my synthesizer, organ, and amplifier collection were purchased broken for parts but I usually then end up restoring them - I just hate to part out vintage equipment.  Now I have the time and interest to be able to help and assist fellow Synth-DIY'ers with their projects.  I've even helped successfully diagnose and repair modules by email.  Contact me if I can be of help or assistance with your project, design, repair, or restoration.

 

Contact me if I can be of help or assistance with your project, repair, design, or restoration.

Repairs, custom projects and customer testimonials

Items that I have currently for sale

I spent 34 years at Tektronix working with some of the best people in all parts of the company: Computer Graphics, Video & Networking, and Test & Measurement.  I've since retired to enjoy my hobbies and now have time to devote to my music and electronic projects as well as volunteer at the new vintageTEK museum.

My professional information on LinkedIn

My Tektronix memorabilia

My designs are indicated with a superscript¹

Modifications of existing designs are indicated with a superscript²

Quick Links

Latest Projects

Modular Synthesizer
Buchla 266 Source Of Uncertainty²  New Module listing by cabinet
Flight Of Harmony Plague Bearer  New Custom modules design files and photos¹
Polivoks VCF²  New Purchased modules and modifications²
5U E580 sampling mini-delay  New Dotcom modules
Ian Fritz threeler 3rd order VCF² Main cabinets & power distribution¹
DJB-020 tap tempo LFO² Side cabinets & power distribution¹
Synthesizer XY laser²  
Buchla pulser-crossfader-timbre generator² ComputerVoltageSource Module
5U E340 cloud generator² CVS eight channel module¹
5U E350 morphing terrarium² CVS 2x16 LCD display¹
Blacet time machine² CVS four channel module (PSIM software compatible)¹
Circle machine sequencer¹ CVS Kurzweil ribbon controller¹
Magic Smoke TH-301 VC-LFO² Synthmodules.com PSIM and SpeakJet²
Bridechamber wogglebug module² CVS and PSIM I/O expansion module¹
Moon Modular M569 sequencer CVS and PSIM Programs¹
LCD oscilloscope module²  
Jürgen Haible polymoog® resonator² Synthesizer Related
Jürgen Haible living VCO² Circle machine sequencer¹
Neil Johnson voltage controlled LFO² MIDI 88 note keyboard²
Jürgen Haible variable slope filter / phaser² MIDI bass pedals¹
Buchla resonant lopass gate² MIDI processor¹
SpeakJet  speech synthesizer²
Reference and Repair Information Yamaha Tenori-On
Modular synth tips  Reference info 2010 Portland Synth-DIY meeting
Parts and DIY information  Reference info  
Aries Modules Organs
Papareil Labs Quantix-8² Hammond B-3 and Leslie 142
440 Hz sine wave reference oscillator¹  Parts for sale Hammond M-3 tonewheel generator  Photos
Power supply sequencing¹ Hammond vibrato scanner module²
PT2395 delay module² Hammond zinc whiskers Photos
   Organs, keyboards and amplifiers
Photos and Sounds  
Photo album Electronics Projects, Repair, and Restoration
MP3 samples Electronic project information
Hammond M-3 tonewheel generator Electronic repairs and tips information
Hammond zinc whiskers Fender Tremolux Restoration

 

Synthesizer Projects

Modular Synthesizer

My modular synthesizer now consists of 107 modules including Analog Metropolis, Blacet, Bridechamber, Catgirl Synth, Encore, Flight Of Harmony, Ian Fritz, Jürgen Haible, Larry Hendry, Magic Smoke Electronics, Moon Modular, MOTM, Natural Rhythm Music, Neil Johnson, Oakley Sound Systems, Synthesizers.comSynthmodules.com, and over 20 of my own designs.

 

Synthesizer modules and external equipment index

Reference
Design files and photos for my custom modules¹

Design
Information, mods, and photos for purchased modules²

Design
Parts and construction information

Reference
MP3 samples of some of my favorite patches

Sounds
Keyboard and organ studio layout

Reference

 

Modular CV Keyboard

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

Information & photos for my ARP CV keyboard²

Reference

 

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).

Info & photos of my initial 19 inch rack cabinet¹

Reference

Info & photos for my wood cabinets & power distribution¹

Reference

Info & photos for my side cabinets & power distribution¹

Reference

Info & photos for my power-on delay¹

Design
Info & photos for my rear AC mains module¹

Design

 

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 (0 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

Design

Info and photos for the ComputerVoltageSource display¹

Design
Information and photos for a four channel version¹

Design
Information and photos for a dedicated ribbon controller¹

Design

 

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

Design

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

Information and photos for my PSIM 2x8 display¹

Reference

Info and photos for the ComputerVoltageSource display¹

Reference

 

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

Information and photos for my MIDI bass pedals¹

Design

 

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

Reference

 

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

Design

 

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

Parts

 

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

Design

 

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.

Information and photos for my AVR Synth

For Sale

 

Synth Controlled Laser Light Module

My first laser was a modified Ramsey Electronics laser light (LLS1) with CV 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.  Later I built a full X-Y laser for synthesizer CV control.

Ramsey LLS1 modification document²

Design

Synthesizer Laser²

Design

 

PAiA Fatman Mods

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

PAiA Fatman modification documentation²

Design

 

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

Reference

 

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

Reference

Info and photos for my electronic restorations and repairs

Reference

 

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