In this video, I show what the completed projects from Chapter 7 should look like.

Errata:
Project 5 parts list – Optional caps C4 and C5 are shown in the schematic and breadboard layouts, but not listed in the parts list. Both should be .01 uF

The post My 555 Book, Chpt. 7 recap: Audible Anarchy with the Atari Punk Console appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

I got my first miniAtmegatron (I have two as of now) about a year ago. I have to admit after I put it together and made this video of the assembly and a quick run through of its sounds, I let it sit a while. Part of the reason I let it sit was that it didn’t have any type of “Getting Started” guide, or even a manual (beyond the small 2-page pamphlet that named the Functions).

After making a video about the new case for the miniAtmegatron, I decided to make a video getting into some of its more in-depth features. Coincidentally, when I had a few questions for the synth’s creator Paul Soulsby, he mentioned he was working on a proper manual for the miniAtmegatron and sent me an advanced copy.

So check out my video below, and be sure to keep watch at the Soulsby Synthesizers website for the new manual.

Let me know what you think of the miniAtmegatron’s capabilities and sounds in the comments below.

The post Video: miniAtmegatron Demo & Sneak Peek at the New Improved Manual appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Here’s a video of me assembling the case for the miniAtmegatron, which can be found here at the Soulsby Synthesizers site for about $20.

Click here to read my blog post and watch a video of the assembly and quick demo of the miniAtmegatron itself.

What do you think of the case? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Video: miniAtmegatron Case: Assembly & Overview appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

However, they don’t call it a synth. The bitRanger from the very unique Bastl Instruments is billed as “a patchable analog logic computer.” Now then, said analog computer “sculpts sonic worlds ranging from data noise to melodic arpeggios.” So, yeah, it’s a synth, and a very patchable one at that!

With over 100 patch points (118 to be exact), some labeled Divider Bits, BYTE CV, DATA modulation, and even Adventure Bits, the bitRanger begs to be experimented with.

One of the synth’s main designers is Peter Edward from Casper Electronics fame. Like me, Peter used to be really into the circuit bending scene, and that’s exactly what the bitRanger reminds me of – a factory bendable synthesizer. Only without all the soldering, drilling, mounting of connectors/switches, and then hopefully finding a few useful bend points.

The bitRanger was designed to play nicely with other gear too. CV in/out, Clock in/out, just to name a couple, and the video even states “interfaces great with Eurorack modular synths thru 5 compatible connectors.” It can even be used as an algorithmic CV/GATE pattern generator.

The price is listed as €222.00 (about $250 US) and a ship date of June 2016.

I can easily see this as part of a portable experimental/noise/drone setup, or even as a funky source for inspiration in the studio.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Announcing bitRanger, a weird handheld modular synth crammed with over 100 patch points appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Arcano Systems is no stranger to the Kickstarter game, with three out of four funded campaigns under their belt. Their newest project, the Arcano MIDI NES Chiptune Synth II, hit its goal in less than 48 hours and still has 19 more days to go.

This second version’s hardware and software includes improvements such as:

• more polyphony
• more waveforms
• more patches
• greater bass range
• improved volume envelope system for reduced latency
• linearized vibrato depth
• improved Mega-Man-II-style two-channel echo patches
• USB power
• lower parts count
• filtered audio output (low-pass filter with fixed cutoff frequency)
• better audio signal DC-bias removal

The post Introducing a new and improved 8bit MIDI NES Chiptune Synth appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

I have written about previous successful Kickstarter projects from Arcano Systems before, but unlike those, Gem-8 covers more than just retro sounds. Some features include:

• 256 VGA video out
• Audio out: 8-bit-quantized line out (standard stereo connector with the same signal in both channels)
• PS/2 keyboard input
• 16kB RAM
• WiFi expansion card
• MIDI expansion card
• 8 channels of GPIO
• Ability to expand its uses via software and hardware

The WiFi card allows Gem-8 to connect to the internet using the preloaded serial terminal application. Gem-8 is particularly well suited to accessing online multi-user domains, text-based multiplayer online games, and bulletin board services that use the Telnet protocol. The MIDI interface peripheral connects a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI musical instrument to the Gem-8 computer, allowing users to create their own C64 and NES-video-game-style chiptune music using the preloaded chiptune synthesizer application. The Gem-8 chiptune synthesizer application also features video synth visualization capabilities. Currently, the Gem-8 synthesizer software features 8 waveforms and 4 effects settings for a total of 32 unique patches.

There will even be an option for a kit to solder up. Check out their Kickstarter campaign here. It certainly seems like this could scratch that retro PC itch. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Arcano Systems releases Gem-8, a Retro 8-bit, WiFi-enabled computer and chiptune music synthesizer appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

The Obscura seems to be a custom board based upon an Arduino Leonardo. While they say “Arduino pins 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13 are broken out for hardware hacking and experimentation”, I asked whether the Obscura is Open Source and here is their response:

“Currently, the Obscura is not open source and I have no immediate plans to release PCB CAD files or full source code; however, that may change in the future.

I am currently developing a simpler version of the code with detailed comments to release to backers to illustrate how to read and process MIDI data and generate an audio signal using wavetable synthesis. This simpler version is meant to be a starting point or reference for users who want to develop their own custom synth software and patches.”

The Obscura comes with 16 patches, but from the response above, it seems this may be able to be changed by the user (via some programming) in the future. Here are the factory presets:

• Patch 0: 12.5% duty-cycle pulse waveform
• Patch 1: 25% duty-cycle pulse waveform
• Patch 2: 50% duty-cycle pulse waveform
• Patch 3: sawtooth waveform
• Patch 4: 8-bit sine waveform
• Patch 5: 4-bit triangle waveform
• Patch 6: 8-bit triangle waveform
• Patch 7: arpeggiated octaves (25% duty-cycle pulse)
• Patch 8: arpeggiated octaves (50% duty-cycle pulse)
• Patch 9: arpeggiated octaves (8-bit sine)
• Patch A: arpeggiated octaves (8-bit triangle)
• Patch b: vibrato (12.5% duty-cycle pulse)
• Patch C: vibrato (25% duty-cycle pulse)
• Patch d: vibrato (50% duty-cycle pulse)
• Patch E: vibrato (8-bit sine)
• Patch F: vibrato (4-bit triangle)

From the demo video below, it seems to have a pretty good sound. The $95 pledges are gone, but at this time there are still a few $100 pledges left, and their goal of $2,000 is almost met with 29 days still to go. Here is the official Kickstarter page: Obscura MIDI 8-bit NES & C64 Chiptune Synthesizer

The post Obscura: Tiny 8-bit Chiptune Arduino based Synth on Kickstarter appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

The Soulsby Synthesizers miniAtmegatron was launched yesterday, and I recorded a video showing the unboxing, assembly, and a quick demo of the unit (video below).

The miniAtmegatron is an Arduino compatible shield in kit form. All the parts for the shield were included, along with some (very) basic instructions. Here are some quick thoughts on the assembly of the miniAtmegatron:

• Have a fine pencil/conical tip for your soldering iron, and hopefully very fine (small diameter) solder! (more on this below)
• Other things you’ll need: Arduino Uno or compatible board, soldering iron, wire cutters, mono 1/8 inch/3.5 mm audio cable, computer for uploading the source code & libraries and USB cable, optionally some machine screws to hold the shield to the Uno.
• Use the parts list as the order of assembly, i.e. proceed down the 1st column (left), then 2nd column and so on.
• Warning: the pitch of the leads from the RGB LEDs is tiny! I used a very small screwdriver type tip on my soldering iron and still made a solder bridge between two of the leads on each LED. After unsoldering with a solder sucker (solder braid/wick was too difficult for me to get in there) I had to switch tips to a fine pencil one, and even then it was tricky, even with .38 mm (.014 in.) solder.
• Some type of magnification will not only help double check your soldering of the LEDs but also to read the values of the caps (black on dark blue, small font – luckily there’s only 3)

The post Video: I unbox, assemble, and play the new $39 open source, 8bit/chiptune miniAtmegatron synth kit appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Hot on the heels of the Atmegatron V2 and it’s lowered price, is the official release video of the miniAtmegatron from Soulsby Synthesizers.

The mini is an Arduino compatible shield, in kit form. The price is only $39, almost an impulse buy.

The official release date is Monday, August 24th. I’ve just received mine, and should have a video overview posted by then.

UPDATE: I received a miniAtmegatron and have a post with video of the unboxing, assembly and quick demo of it’s sounds here.

What do you think of a DIY synth in shield form? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Video: miniAtmegatron: open source 8bit/chiptune, Arduino compatible synth shield, official price announced appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Last week I posted about the upcoming release of the new Atmegatron, it’s new lower price and even a miniAtmegatron Arduino compatible shield in kit form. Today Soulsby Synthesizers has released a quick 90 second video of some of the features, which include:

• 32 Wavetables
• 15 Digital Filter Algorithms
• 2 Envelopes
• 16 LFO Shapes
• 15 Arpeggiator Patterns
• Portamento
• Wavecrusher
• 16 Patches
• Analog Bass Boost

The post Video: 90 Second demo of the updated Atmegatron, and it’s new lower price appeared first on Bent-Tronics.