Who likes modular synths and Atari sounds?

Recording Techniques, People Skills, Gear, Recording Spaces, Computers, and DIY

Moderators: drumsound, tomb

User avatar
Skrasms
gettin' sounds
Posts: 126
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 12:10 pm
Location: Purdue/Gary/Chicago

Who likes modular synths and Atari sounds?

Post by Skrasms » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:51 pm

I hope this does not count as too much SPAM for this forum, it's a DIY project of mine.

I am currently designing a synth module based around the Atari POKEY sound chip. It is coming along nicely, and I would like to get a few complete modules made in Frac Rack format. The problem is that I do not really have enough money to do that unless I can make some money back from the whole thing. Would anyone be interested in buying a module for Atari sounds? I am trying to gauge interest to see how feasible this is. Here are the features currently planned:

3 channels sharing one output

Channel 1: ?Precision? Atari with 65536 possible frequencies:
1V/Oct pitch input
Lin/Exp FM input
Volume CV input
Volume control
Tuning control
Wave select (several types of noise plus square wave)

Channel 2: ?Standard? Atari with only 256 possible frequencies:
Tuning control
FM input
Volume CV input
Volume control
Wave select (same waves as channel 1)

Channel 3: A/D -> Atari D/A:
Audio input
Gain control
Sample rate control (if there is enough space left)
This channel takes any audio input and resamples it through the Atari chip. The output is only 4-bit, and very non-linear, so it gives instant lo-fi.

Please reply to this post to let me know if you are interested. I will put up a website detailing the project and projected costs as things progress.

earl parameter
buyin' gear
Posts: 514
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:36 am

Post by earl parameter » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:28 pm

if you can actually do it what would it cost? depending on cost i might be into a few of them. maybe not full panels, but the pcb's and chips at the very least


steven

parasitk
ass engineer
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:08 am
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Post by parasitk » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:28 am

I'm definitely curious to hear more about this, and what the price would be. I'd probably be interested in picking one up, sounds cool.

User avatar
inverseroom
on a wing and a prayer
Posts: 5031
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 8:37 am
Location: Ithaca, NY
Contact:

Post by inverseroom » Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:13 am

If it's under 300, I would DEFINITELY buy one. This would be right up my alley...aside from the Harvestman stuff, there aren't many modules out there that you can use as a source of weird timbres....I wouldn't mind a SID module, either.

User avatar
Skrasms
gettin' sounds
Posts: 126
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 12:10 pm
Location: Purdue/Gary/Chicago

Post by Skrasms » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:43 am

inverseroom wrote:If it's under 300, I would DEFINITELY buy one. This would be right up my alley...aside from the Harvestman stuff, there aren't many modules out there that you can use as a source of weird timbres....I wouldn't mind a SID module, either.
I am trying to keep it under $250 for a complete, assembled module. The biggest unknown cost right now is metal work for a front panel. I have heard it is very expensive.

A SID module would be awesome, but a little too expensive for me to develop right now. I can get POKEY chips for $5, but I don't know where to find SID chips less than $20 each. My next project after the POKEY module is a module for the Nintendo NES 2A03.

User avatar
inverseroom
on a wing and a prayer
Posts: 5031
Joined: Wed May 07, 2003 8:37 am
Location: Ithaca, NY
Contact:

Post by inverseroom » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:50 am

Yes, absolutely count me in on that. I'm very much looking for something along those lines. A parts kit would be even better.

lanxe
gettin' sounds
Posts: 121
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2004 11:59 am
Location: carson city
Contact:

Post by lanxe » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:37 pm

i would be in for sure.......i use the larger MOTM style front panels, so a parts kit and pcb would be better.

this would be awesome!

thanks,
Ryan

zachary
alignin' 24-trk
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:02 am
Location: ottawa

Post by zachary » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:33 am

this sounds really great, i'm sure i'd pick one up!
trouble clef.

Paul Fury 161
gettin' sounds
Posts: 139
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:55 am
Location: Manchester,UK
Contact:

Post by Paul Fury 161 » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:54 am

i'd probably be interested if it's around $250. Might be tempted if it was a full kit also. I'm in the UK.

I too would love a SID station, but they're loads of money now ;-(

If only they built a kit for that!

This sounds like a cool project - good luck!

Cheers,

Paul
"These mixes are really great. I only want to re-record all the guitars and vocals - can I have the masters please?"

www.myspace.com/extinguishher

kenl666
ass engineer
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:33 am
Location: PDX OR

Post by kenl666 » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:07 am

You might want to consider posting on the forums at electromusic.com, they have a lot of these types of projects.

I might be interested in a kit, cost is a factor for me...

kdarr
buyin' gear
Posts: 577
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 3:43 pm
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by kdarr » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:48 pm

A guy named Paul Slocum makes a great thing called the Synthcart, which is a cartridge that interfaces with a 2600 and allows you to play the synth with a Star Raiders controller:

http://qotile.net/synth.html

A standalone unit would be even better, though.

[<|>]

japmn
suffering 'studio suck'
Posts: 448
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 3:53 pm
Location: Chicago

Post by japmn » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:27 pm

Who doesn't like Atari sounds?

rpmsongs
gettin' sounds
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 11:54 pm
Contact:

Post by rpmsongs » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:14 am

that would be awesome, i'd love one of each.

single_fin
alignin' 24-trk
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:24 pm
Location: surfin' sydney

Post by single_fin » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:16 am

nice one - what a great idea.

junomat
re-cappin' neve
Posts: 652
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2003 2:17 pm
Location: Baltimore, MD
Contact:

Post by junomat » Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:59 am

kdarr wrote:A guy named Paul Slocum makes a great thing called the Synthcart, which is a cartridge that interfaces with a 2600 and allows you to play the synth with a Star Raiders controller:

http://qotile.net/synth.html

A standalone unit would be even better, though.

[<|>]
This is awesome. I love the synthcart. I've used it live a few times.

I'd be very interested in this project. Cos is my most major factor right now.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 44 guests