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I need to know how to make an easy 555 timer synth. I am talking about one with the oscillator, freq, and lfo and thats it. like the one on hackaday.com except with a 555.
I know its a crappy synth but its something to start out on. and I really want to make a synth out of a 555, because, the 555 is the only IC radioshack has. Please help me.
If possible, give me the lead layout on the hex converter so I can translate it to the 555 or something.
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Don't buy from Radio Shack.

Seriously. Just as a matter of principle. Don't do it.

But seriously, if you must, the standard 555-based synth is the Atari Punk Console (or "Stepped Tone Generator" when Forrest Mims published it in 1984). It uses two 555s. Or classically, 1 556.

I made an APC a month or so back... The board was made for me so I don't have the exact schematics but I do have the pin assignments and I can take some high res pics for you if you want?

do you understand modular synthesis and voltage control techniques? i suggest you read up on that really quickly before you get into synth building, you be all "wtf" if you dont know that.

The 555 is a really simple chip, requiring only three external components (not including jacks) to turn into an oscillator. you need a capacitor a resistor and a pot. the cap should go between pins 1 and 2 of the 555, the resistor will go from 8 to 7 and the pot will go from 7 to 6. run a wire from pin 6 to pin 2. pin 1 is ground and pin 8 is +. pin 5 is voltage control input which is inverted (the closer to ground, the higher the frequency.) and pin 3 is the output. make two of those. and make the cap on one larger. the larger the cap the lower the frequency. wire the output of the lower frequency to the CV input (pin 5) of the other... you should have a simple oscillator+lfo combo....

Wow, thanks, it seems really basic now. Gosh I could only understand those schematics it would be so much more easier.
As for voltage control, I do know some. I know what the common components like resistors and caps do.

What is the best way to ground it? A chassis?
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I should mention that mine was made from a 556 and not two 555s.

gound it to the - of the battery. pin 8 is + pin 1 is -.

Ok, I made this diagram:

<img src="http://img397.imageshack.us/my.php?image=synthdiazh5.gif">

link
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something like that, yepp.
Does it matter what the values and sizes are?
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totaly does.

uhm. lets see, i dont have any of my stuff with me, but... for the lfo, use an electrolytic cap, abotu 1uf, or maybe .43uf or something... than a mylar cap on the osc, er.. you knwo what? i dunno, i cant think right at all at the moment.. anyone care to step up?

Wavedude said: "What is the best way to ground it? A chassis?

Does it matter what the values and sizes are?"


DO NOT WORK WITH MAINS VOLTAGES. You are not ready for it. Sorry if you already know that and I'm just being rude and jumping to conclusions. It had to be said, though.

Btw - Batteries will be fine! You WILL have great fun building the synth and it WILL work.

+1 for not electrocuting yourself...

+1 for batteries.

-1 for not telling me what those stupid values are...
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