[sdiy] kind of a *SHORT* sdiy survey...

[Jonathan Lippard]

At 10:10 PM 9/7/01 -0500, you wrote:
How many Synth's have you built :

0 as yet.  (Embarassing when you see the answer to question #2)

How long have you been a DIYer?

I've been on this list since the summer of 1998, when I barely knew 
anything about electronics and had just become interested in building a 
synth. So, technically 3 years.  Most of this time I've been quietly 
absorbing knowledge (not designs ;), but I've learned from those 
too).  I've learned a lot in the time I've been reading this list, and so I 
feel a lot more confident in the stuff I've designed.

Unfortunately I've been a constantly broke college student in terms of what 
I can afford to spend on DIY, and now I'm out of school and having 
difficulty finding a job.  See below for what I'm considering and/or have 
drawn up initial design for...

# Of Modular :

0 as yet.  I have vague speculations on what I want in a modular, but first 
I want to build some other things.

# Of Integrated :

I have two projects I'm working on.  The first is a polysynth for which 
I've drawn up a preliminary osc, filter and amp design.  Envelopes and LFOs 
will be digital (*gasp*).  Since I haven't enough money to blow on 
prototyping and making them work yet...

My second project is a Minimoog clone, since I have all the necessary 
schematics and layouts (well, I lack some PCB layouts but I have component 
layouts for those).  This has the advantage of being somewhat cheaper than 
a poly (and knowing the circuits will work ;), and is a bit cheaper than 
trying to build a poly.  Plus, I've a few small extensions (an extra 
envelope and dedicated LFO) and modifications such as PWM and sync that I 
know I can get working properly...I've actually got a few questions for the 
list about this, but I've been too lazy to write an email yet (especially 
one that doesn't ramble on like this one).

% With MIDI Support:

My poly will have MIDI support but anything digital is really in the 
conceptual stages still.  Ah, one day...

I have occasional sick thoughts of one day (money permitting as usual) 
building a GM 2.0-compliant analog module to see if I can do it.  This will 
wait until I'm insane!

Built for Live performance or Studio?

Studio.  I don't perform live since I'm not in a band and besides, my 
keyboard skills aren't very good.

-Jonathan