A few weeks ago, while shopping on Ebay for a used, inexpensive synthesizer I came across this little beauty. This a patchable synthesizer, based on the "west coast" synthesizer concepts (more of an additive approach to adding harmonics, versus the older subtractive approach). All of my prior experiences (I built and modified an older PAiA kit form synth in college as a project) was subtractive approach, but so far I have been having a lot of fun playing with this. Mind you, I have absolutely no music talent and I am basically tone-deaf, but I have always thought that a synthesizer was an excellent playground for an engineer. My plan is to build a Midi player to drive the volca modular, allowing me to transcribe music into a Midi file and then play that through the synthesizer. I would then like to attempt to build some synthesizer modules (along with a Midi player) likely in an analog/digital hybrid concoction into some of my robotics projects (Walky or Mr Machine) or maybe my next robot project. Here is a short video of some of the sound effects, generated by playing one of the prerecorded sequences:
Just this past weekend the Grandchildren had their first chance to play with GrandPa's new toy. Here we are playing around, trying to make crazy sounds.
They sure had a lot of fun pressing the keys (touch pads) and turning the knobs. My grandson, Caleb, really likes 'speed metal' as he kept sliding back and forth across the keypad and claiming that he was the fastest (I love how he kept pulling at my beard while he was awaiting his turn to play again). Emily, gave equal attention to the keys and the knobs. All in all it was fun and hopefully something that they will enjoy for years to come.
I hope to post more on this as I get enough free time to start building the Midi player module.
