Thursday, December 13, 2012

Industrial Meter Audio

Audio recording:



Just a quick listen to the range of frequency and sound generated with this latest build. No additional effects devices or treatments were applied.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Completed Project

It's Alive!!

Below are pictures of the latest FrankenMusik creation.  Truly a pieced together table top synthesizer/Drone machine, of course all electr4ical components are new : )   Circuit is based on the 40106 and 4093 IC

Features:
4 - Oscillators
      Each with on/off switch to main output
1 - Gate Oscillator
      With on/of switch
1 - 1/4" Output Jack
1 - Output signal LED
Power input and switch

Hand made with a reused wood case vintage multimeter from Radio City Products. 

Pictures:








Sunday, December 2, 2012

New Monster Box

I put together a drone circuit based on two IC's, the 40106 and 4093.  The 40106 will serve as the basis for the oscillators and the 4093 will serve as a gate filter.  Quick demo video below to show the idea.  Although not fully developed, it has great control and sound.  I went with lower frequencies for the oscillators.  In this demo, there are only two oscillators running.



The first version will be completed in a week or so and will be a special one off enclosure.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Circuit Bent PSS-140 V2 Finished!

Well, I finally finished the YAMAHA PSS-140.  It didn't take 20 days to modify this instrument : )  I did however tend to either play with the keyboard in its mid altered state or poked around and trying different ideas out.

Th end result is what I present below.

Bent Features:
  • 8 - Data line modification, made with 8 three position switches.  Each switch is connected to the data line between the FM and CPU chip.  I also wired up 4 sets of mixed data lines.
    • Positions:  Data Line On / Data Line OFF / Swapped Data Line
  • LFO, with rate, signal strength controls and on/off switch
  • Tone control
  • Feedback/Distortion control
  • Pitch shift (for all keys above the accompaniment section) lowers the keys several octaves.
Added handles to complete the feel of the modification, adds a bit of weight and sturdiness to the keyboard.  

Where the internal speaker used to reside now is home to the data line switches, pitch, distortion and tone controls.


 LFO section.


Keyboard is useful in "normal mode", as the 100 Voices on board are quite useful, but more then that are the combinations of new sounds that this machine is now able to create.  Designed to be used a a heavy glitch keyboard, but can make some drones if you fine the right combination.




Sunday, November 4, 2012

Circuit Bent PSS-140 V2

I am currently in the process of finishing up a bend on a YAMAHA PSS-140 keyboard.  This will include the data line mod, added capability of mixing data lines, filter and LFO.  Pictures to follow in the coming days.

I also got my hands on a CASI SK-1, so this too will get the FrankenMusik treatment!


Stay tuned!!
-FrankenMusik

Friday, October 19, 2012

Hex Box V3

I could not resist the urge to transform this vintage volt/amp meter into a unique one of a kind instrument.  Based on my previous circuits, this Hex Box is the latest version.  I was able to use all of the existing construction of this meter without many physical changes, most notable is the power input and audio output jacks.  Circuit is based around the CD40106 IC, running with 4 oscillators configured into two pairs.







I decided not to repaint this and keep the original patina.  The meter is connected to the power side of the circuit and reads the current draw.  However, due to the range of the analog meter, the readings are not accurate, but it gives a nice effect.  Unit is complete with power LED, on/off switch and volume control.

Videos to be posted soon.