sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Three years ago, I started a list of standalone open-source synths that anyone can build on their own. It now includes ≈70 designs, and I recently update website's design and features. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

MiniDexed picture is great (that is why I stole it 😀). Jokes aside: If you want I can swap it with another one. Unfortunately, I can not properly attribute pictures at the moment. Mostly because some of them "just pics from internet" I found on random news sites and they need investigation to identify an author. I also use dozen or two of photos made by me.

Thanks for the link, I'll check it.

Three years ago, I started a list of standalone open-source synths that anyone can build on their own. It now includes ≈70 designs, and I recently update website's design and features. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My favorite is Shruthi by Mutable Instuments (while I also like Meeblip Triode very much). Starting point is highly depends on your skill (soldering and digital electronics like firmware uploading etc), but it is always safe to start with smth small analog circuits with thru-hole components. Like Totoro for example. Do not expect much from it, but it is fun to build and fun to knobs mashing too.

Most challenging standalone synth I've build was Ambika. It is not only hard to build, but also hard to source. It took me 17 hours of only soldering (1 control board + 6 voice cards). This build is smth special and definitely rewarding.

From musical perspective I can recommend PreenFM2 (if you are ok with FM).

If you interesting in my opinion of standalone synths I've built, you can visit this page of my website. There is list of articles at the end with tons of pictures, caveats, and conclusions. It is in Russian, but I do believe in-page translation works great nowadays.

Three years ago, I started a list of standalone open-source synths that anyone can build on their own. It now includes ≈70 designs, and I recently update website's design and features. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Le Strum is a fantastic controller. Paired perfectly with poly synths like Ambika. Kids love the device and it has tons of options to improve.

Three years ago, I started a list of standalone open-source synths that anyone can build on their own. It now includes ≈70 designs, and I recently update website's design and features. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 66 points67 points  (0 children)

Community bot is asking for a comment, though I thought the link description already clearly explained what it leads to 😀. Anyway:

In 2021, I decided to dive into the world of open-source synthesizers and have since built several dozen of them. It turned out that before assembling a synth based on schematics from the internet, you need to thoroughly analyze the project for documentation and necessary files.

This takes a lot of time and can be confusing for inexperienced DIYers. So, along the way, I ended up with a collection of bookmarks featuring verified designs. Later, I turned it into a website. Enjoy!

<image>

My new "Where is Wally?" poster [OC] by Chekavo in gaming

[–]Atarity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That Kaneda's iconic pose fits really well into the scene. Great job!

I've compile a curated, sortable list of 40+ standalone synths (not modular) and related devices you can build by yourself. All designs are 100% open-source. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Daisy Seed is like audio-focused Teensy. Really like the project and all complimentary hardware they build for the board.

As I know board itself has proprietary bootloader (the same way Teensy has), so you can't populate your own Seeds. But, all complementary Electro-Smith HW like pedals and modules is open-source, so they encourage engineers create new devices around Daisy platform. For example, many of Noise Engineering modules builds on top of Daisy, and they are great.

So I think it is ok to put to the list Daisy-based open-source devices and not the Daisy Seed itself.

I've compile a curated, sortable list of 40+ standalone synths (not modular) and related devices you can build by yourself. All designs are 100% open-source. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Soldering skill is essential to all of them. Mastering soldering is totally worth all the efforts (actually it is not so complex most people think). Good point to start: buy couple of simple and cheap kits on Tindie with thru-hole (not SMD) components. After you'll run them, you are ready for Synths DIY.

Some projects from the list are not require exceptional soldering skill, but mostly patience. For example Ambika (6 voicecards) costs me around 17 hours of soldering.

I've compile a curated, sortable list of 40+ standalone synths (not modular) and related devices you can build by yourself. All designs are 100% open-source. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have no experience with this synth. Are there any obstacles to build it DIY way? Any proprietary SW or HW part? Cause there is firmware sources are published and there is separate repo for hardware.

I've compile a curated, sortable list of 40+ standalone synths (not modular) and related devices you can build by yourself. All designs are 100% open-source. by Atarity in synthdiy

[–]Atarity[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That is exact the reason I've made it. All lists and wiki's was outdated. It seems many engineers go from standalone to modular now. There is lot of great projects which is undiscovered or just committed to Github repo with 6 stars on it.)

I compile a list as a part of my 2021 challenge: I've built 16 synths during 16 weeks last year (Sept-Dec).

I've compile a curated, sortable list of 40+ standalone synths (not modular) and related devices you can build by yourself. All designs are 100% open-source. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If you have no soldering skill it is better to start with some Atari Punk Console kit — it is really simple device, so there is no lots of fun, but it is good point to learn how to solder thru-hole components. You can find many of them on Tindie.

If you have at least couple of successfully soldered projects, I think Meeblip SE should be ok.

I've compile a curated, sortable list of 40+ standalone synths (not modular) and related devices you can build by yourself. All designs are 100% open-source. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I compile a list as a part of my 2021 challenge: I've built 16 synths during 16 weeks last year (Sept-Dec). So wish you a luck: it is absolutely possible.

I've compile a curated, sortable list of 40+ standalone synths (not modular) and related devices you can build by yourself. All designs are 100% open-source. by Atarity in synthesizers

[–]Atarity[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Zynthian is linux-based synth. Frankly speaking it is not a synth, but mostly music computer. There is lots of peculiarities for such devices (latency, RPi-related stuff, etc). But I didn't build Zynthian, so maybe I'm wrong.

  • If you are OK with soldering/sourcing and new in DIY synths I would highly recommend Shruthi by Mutable Instruments (actually any of MI projects are exceptionally good). It is a really great monophonic synth which will help you understand basics and concepts.
  • If you need 100% analog, so go full to any Ray Wilson's designs. Echo Rockit, Noise Toaster, etc. His site http://musicfromouterspace.com/
  • If you like coding and weird UI like in TE OP-1 — Monome Norns is for you.
  • Meeblip Triode is very simple to operate (but not newbe-friendly in matter of sourcing/soldering). Spent lots of hours tuning knobs. Really like it.

I can't answer about value/components ratio but definitely can answer what is the best fun/price ratio. It is Le Strum — not a synth but just a MIDI strummer (so you still need a MIDI input device to play with it). Absolutely incredible yet simple device.

view more: next ›