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

Buy the book here.
Buy the complete parts kit here.

The post My 555 Book, Chpt. 8 recap: Bonus Mode appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

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.

In this video, I show what the completed projects from Chapter 6 should look like.

Buy the book here.
Buy the complete parts kit here.

The post My 555 Book, Chpt. 6 recap: More Mode Mixing appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

In this video, I show what the completed projects from Chapter 5 should look like.

Buy the book here.
Buy the complete parts kit here.

The post My 555 Book, Chpt. 5 recap: Mixing Modes appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

In this video, I show what the completed projects from Chapter 4 should look like.

Buy the book here.
Buy the complete parts kit here.

The post My 555 Book, Chpt. 4 recap: Basic Monostable Mode appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

In this video, I show what the completed projects from Chapter 3 should look and sound like.

Buy the book here.
Buy the complete parts kit here.

The post My 555 Book, Chpt. 3 recap: Basic Astable Mode appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

In this video, I explain the basics of breadboards, and how to transfer a simple schematic to a working circuit on a breadboard.

Buy the book here.
Buy the complete parts kit here.

The post My 555 Book, Chpt. 1: How to use a breadboard, transfer schematics to a working circuit appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Things have been a little quiet on the blog, but behind the scenes, I’ve been a writing/editing/formatting/coding/building/designing/marketing/coffee-drinking machine! Two years ago I had an idea to write an e-book about the 555 timer. That has now manifested itself into a full-blown print book, Kindle book, and a complete parts kit for the projects listed inside.

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to the 555 Timer: Build the Atari Punk Console and Other Breadboard Electronics Projects. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but it gets the entire scope of the book across in the title.

The book is available on Amazon here.

I also collaborated with Jameco to assemble a full parts kit with all of the components required to complete the projects listed in the book. The parts kit is available from Jameco here.

The official homepage for the book, which will include videos of each chapter and project in the book, plus much more, is here: bent-tronics.com/555-timer-circuit-book

Check out this video of me opening up the book and kit for the first time and a quick overview of each.

Here’s the Amazon blurb:
Unlock weird noises, hypnotic lights, and master the 555 timer.
Buy the print version of this book first to get the Kindle version for just $0.99! (not available in all countries)
This fast-paced, easy-to-follow book teaches you how the 555 timer works with step-by-step instructions and hands-on projects. Whether you are an electronics enthusiast or a beginner, this DIY guide shares simple tricks and hacks to put the 555 timer into action. FULL-COLOR illustrations show you how to transform circuit schematics into real-world working examples on a standard breadboard – no soldering required! High-resolution oscilloscope screenshots reveal detailed views of complex waveforms not able to be seen with the human eye. Advance your skills by completing the included projects so that you can create your own unique designs. A complete parts kit is available too!
You will learn how to:

• Use a breadboard
• Utilize the 555’s pins
• Trigger “one-shot” mode
• Blink an LED
• Generate noises with an oscillator
• Create a frequency divider
• Make a bistable flip-flop
• Source and sink current
• Build and understand the Atari Punk Console

The post My new book: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to the 555 Timer appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Even with little P.R. for the event (I only found out a couple hours before the event, grabbed my camera and went!), 2016’s Phoenix Synth Meet would be considered by most to be a success. What once started out a few years ago as a small gathering in Chris Randall’s (Audio Damage) house, was hosted this year at the 7,200 sq. ft. Unexpected Art Gallery. At one point in the early evening I counted about 60 people, and probably well more than that attended throughout Saturday’s event, which also included live performances later in the evening.

Flavio Mireles from Blue Lantern Modules was also on hand with a rack chock-full of his Euro format modules for anyone to tweak, along with his new Assist Percussive Utility module (demo in the video). A huge LED video wall was available behind the stage for the small, but cohesive group of video synthesists and artists.

Most people showed up with their favorite synth(s) and set them up for others to hear and learn about. A few seemed to wander into the building wondering what the bleeps, bloops, and blinkenlights were all about, but after hearing a noodle patch on a big modular they stuck around to experience all the demo floor and stage had to offer. There was a very positive and friendly vibe flowing throughout the building, and to top it off there was no charge to attend or setup your gear.

Check out the video below to see all the glitchy goodness!

Phoenix Synth Facebook Group.

The post Video: Phoenix Synth Meet 2016 appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Until now there hasn’t been much on the interwebs on how to set up the Dangerous Prototypes Bus Pirate for decoding MIDI data.

Here’s my contribution, which happens to be on International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Bus Pirate on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dcZ9uS
Bus Pirate on SparkFun: http://bit.ly/2bKjZfT
TyMkrs MIDI In Me: http://bit.ly/2cihEdA

The post Video: Talk MIDI with the Bus Pirate on Talk Like a Pirate Day appeared first on Bent-Tronics.