Op-Synth is an open source modular micro analog synthesizer designed to facilitate the understanding of electronics, audio synthesis, audio theory, and filtering.
Op-Synth is a 100% analog kit that needs to be assembled. It is easy to build and is an excellent introduction to electronics. It introduces to the basic principles of sound synthesis through a modular patch bay just like a modular analog synthesizer. It is also equipped with a LED than can help to visualize the evolution of the sound signal and serves as a basic introduction to synesthesia.
In addition to generating an audio signal, the Op-Synth has an audio input that allows musicians to manipulate the sound that comes from their cell phone, music player or electric guitar. Many Op-Synths can also be chained to each other to create more complex sonic textures. Moreover, this tiny(3"x3") synthesizer is inexpensive.
All the circuitry is build as independent modules that are simple to isolate, understand and hack.
- Op-Synth Introduction
- Op-Synth Basics Tutorial
- Op-Synth : Adding the Optional External Photocell and Diode
- Op-Synth : External Input
- Op-Synth Hacking : External LED
- Electronics : Thomas O Fredericks
- Graphical design and illustrations : Denis Raby
- 1x resistance controlled (either with a potentiometer or light sensitive sensor) triangle oscillator
- 1x pitch modulation of the previous oscillator
- 1x resistance controlled (either with a potentiometer or light sensitive sensor) low frequency triangle oscillator
- 1x light and resistance controlled filter with feedback control
- 1x PWM (pulse width modulation) module that can also distort and output square waves
- 1x switch that turns on the LED
- 1x LED (the led can be controlled with the switch or another signal)
- 1x stereo output (two independent signals)
- 1x stereo input (two independent signals)
- 5V to 9V battery powered
- in left
- in right
- vco : resistance controlled oscillator
- ~vco : pitch modulation
- lfo : low frequency resistance controlled oscillator
- ~led : led modulation
- pwm (input, modulation, output) : pulse width modulation
- filter in
- filter out
- out left
- out right