MOTM

Non-technical explanations (others are welcome to correct inaccuracies in my
brevity):

A Resistor restricts (resists) the flow of electricity. Plumbing analogies
only work so well, since electricity always flows at light-speed and water
doesn't, but in plumbing, a resistor would be equivalent to a short section
of smaller-diameter pipe being placed in the line. The higher the resistance
value, the smaller the diameter of the pipe, and the harder it is for
current to flow through.

Resistance is measure in Ohms. The colored bands are the way you read them.
You can find those tables anywhere, even in Radio Shack catalogs, so I won't
stick one in here, but in a nutshell: Each color represents a number
(black=0, brown=1, etc.). A standard resistor has three bands. The first two
are the first two digits of the value, and the third is the number of zeros
that follow it. Higher tolerance (i.e., more accurate) resistors are often a
different background color than the standard brown/beige (a lot varies by
manufacturer), for instance, blue, and there is a forth band that is either
silver or gold to indicate 5% or 1% accuracy.

A Capacitor stores electricity. The current entering on one side is "held"
until it "can't stands it no more," at which point the capacitor
'discharges' and allows the current to flow. Once in a discharged state, it
then goes back to charging up again. The amount of current that it will
store before discharging determines its value, measured in Farads (usually
in micro or nano farads, since a farad is a big amount). Very large
capacitors are sometimes called by the old name "condensers" and batteries
are very much related to the capacitor concept, which is why their schematic
symbol looks similar.

The charging and discharging of a capacitor is useful in making oscillators.


There are many different kinds of capacitor, way too many to go into in an
email.

I can't personally recommend a good book. I learned what I know of
electronics by building Paia kits and then having an engineer friend fix
them for me. I would sit there as he worked and scolded me and from that I
learned a lot. Now I'm learning from other MOTM-ers and from Paul's
schematics and circuit descriptions.

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Jeffrey Pontius [mailto:jpont@...] 
Sent:	Wednesday, 06 September, 2000 7:51 PM
To:	motm@egroups.com
Subject:	[motm] Basic electronics book

Since I'm very new to this diy synth stuff, I'm asking for recommendations
on a basic electronics book (i.e., what do the colors on this
cylindrical thing mean?, what does a capacitor do? what is a 47k
resistor?).

Also, a basic electronics book that is analogue synth oriented (I've seen
a book by Barry Klein mentioned, but can't locate a copy).

Thanks (a new adventurer?), Jeff

I would suggest "The Art of Electronics." If you look at
the reviews on Amazon, you'll see why.

The Barry Klein book is available directly from Barry:
http://www.xavax.com/bklein/em.htm

Also consider The Preferred Circuits Collection from
Bernie Hutchins. You can't purchase it online, you
have to mail him directly, but this collection is
definitely worth it. Sorry, but I don't have the address.
You can find it on Tom Henry's site, but I can't
seem to find this link either.

Paul has some good suggestions at:
http://www.synthtech.com/tutor/tutor1.html

Craig Andertons Electronic Projects for Musicians
is another good one. I think you can purchase
it from http://www.paia.com


Tomy


Jeffrey Pontius wrote:

> 
> 
> Since I'm very new to this diy synth stuff, I'm asking for recommendations
> on a basic electronics book (i.e., what do the colors on this
> cylindrical thing mean?, what does a capacitor do? what is a 47k
> resistor?).
> 
> Also, a basic electronics book that is analogue synth oriented (I've seen
> a book by Barry Klein mentioned, but can't locate a copy).
> 
> Thanks (a new adventurer?), Jeff

Some books to read:

Radio Shack has a great basic electronics book

Paia has a great Electronics Projects for Musicians book I learned a lot 
from and built several of the included projects with great success

Radio Shack also has small projects books for basic ideas and starting 
blocks

Hope this helps out

Thomas White

PS. Barry Klein has a web page and you can find it by searching on your 
favorite engine. Sells the book off his site. There are usually 2 Barry 
Kleins that come up and you want the one in Southern California in Trabuco 
Canyon, not in Berkeley. Barry book is great and provides circuit ideas and 
design using the original series of Curtis CEM chips and SSM chips. Also 
great explanations of sequencers, how to build them and BBD delay devices as 
well. Good Time :~)


(I've seen
>a book by Barry Klein mentioned, but can't locate a copy).

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Hi Jeffrey n All !

Barry Klein's email :

Barry L Klein <Barry.L.Klein@...>

Get both books, the book with datasheets is worth it as well .

A book i always plug is :

Musical applications of microprocessors by Hal Chamberlin .

Has very good descriptions what makes synths tick, both analogue and 
digital .  Out of print, but copies of the 2nd edition can be ordered 
directly .  Email :

halc@...

Hope this helps .


Keep 'em oscillating :)


Hugo 
=

I agree with all the recommendations of the previously mentioned books 
(Electronotes PCC, The Art of Electronics, the Forrest Mimms Radio Shack 
books, etc.). You can get a brand new copy of Hal Chamberlin's Musical 
Applications for Microprocessors 2nd edition from Jeff Dec 
(jdec@...) for about $50 -- he had a whole stash of them.

I also suggest going to used book shops to find older basic electronics books 
as well as basic servicing guides (for stereos, TVs and VCRs) if you are 
trying to build up a library of these books.

If anyone wants a copy of Anderton's Electronic Projects for Musicians I have 
an extra copy that I'll send to someone for $5 to cover the postage.

JB

Several people have mentioned Craig Anderton's "Electronic Projects For
Musicians", and I agree.  I bought my copy from a local bookstore (Borders),
didn't have to mail order it.  Admittedly, it is more about effects, and
there's some irrelevant guitar stuff, but it also includes DIY help, some
component description, etc.

--PBr

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Jeffrey Pontius [SMTP:jpont@...]
> Sent:	Wednesday, September 06, 2000 4:51 PM
> To:	motm@egroups.com
> Subject:	[motm] Basic electronics book
> 
> Since I'm very new to this diy synth stuff, I'm asking for recommendations
> on a basic electronics book (i.e., what do the colors on this
> cylindrical thing mean?, what does a capacitor do? what is a 47k
> resistor?).
> 
> Also, a basic electronics book that is analogue synth oriented (I've seen
> a book by Barry Klein mentioned, but can't locate a copy).
> 
> Thanks (a new adventurer?), Jeff
> 
> 
>