Request for idiot check quick review - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: cynicalmale
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 28, 2018, 08:39:29 pm
content: Hi,Well. I got banned 20 minutes after posting this on Electro-tech forum. So I start with I am not trying to sell this item, nor am I recommending that someone purchase something. I will post one link to amazon just to show what it is that I am talking about, it is not an affiliate link.I'm not the EE type, I more of a steam and thermo guy. Regardless, my daughter got a keyboard for Christmas and now wants to make different sounds. Synths are expensive, and I have google.I have a 12v 3a power supply courtesy of lazy cable/internet service tech.https://www.amazon.com/LiteOn-Adapter-PA-1360-5M01-Power-Supply/dp/B0738N8Y1C/ref=pd_cp_86_1?pd_rd_w=nCBgp&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=S64DXFEW8SFYXPZVVS6W&pd_rd_r=bc0b927c-0ac9-11e9-9168-57fd22f7428f&pd_rd_wg=liext&pd_rd_i=B0738N8Y1C&psc=1&refRID=S64DXFEW8SFYXPZVVS6WI have a couple dozen 555 timers, I don't know why.I want to make an Atari Punk Console, step tone generator. I want it to have externally controllable CV jacks like the pretty (expensive) synth modules at the music store.I foundhttps://www.instructables.com/id/Voltage-Controlable-Atari-Punk-Console/, and thishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Punk_Console.I drew up the attached schematic.Are there any glaring issues with my drawing?Is there a chance the power supply will work with out causing to much noise to mess with the 555?

author: t1d
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:24:47 am
content: Do you mind, if we back up a little? We need some information, to help you get to where you want to be.IIUC, you are taking the DIY-Build-It-Yourself approach, to save some money... (It is admirable that you would go to such lengths, to bless your child.) So, we need to check out the economics... We also need to consider the needed equipment, your skills and your long-term interest in electronics as a hobby. We'll back into it; here we go...- What is your long-term interest in the hobby? This project will have many learning curves to climb.- You will need to own, or have access to, a decent soldering iron and multimeter. Include solder wire, flux and cutters to trim pins, too... We need to know what you have to use.- You have mentioned some of the parts that you have on hand. Do you have any of the others used in the circuit?- What soldering and fabrication skills do you have?What I am getting at is this... If this is a one-off project having only the purpose to provide the synthesizer to your child, there may be easier and cheaper solutions than developing/modifying a circuit from scratch. There will be a great amount to learn with each facet of the construction. You will be investing time, energy and frustration, but the rewards will be so very great... The money savings of doing it yourself will likely be lost, if you have to buy much equipment.An intermediate step might be to build a known kit. That will be a little more upfront money, but tons less development effort and failure/redo costs. Since your daughter is just getting started, a clone device might do okay... Meaning Ebay, Banggood, etc. If you want something more reliable, there are OEM synth kit providers.I am trying to make sure that you have a positive experience. We want you to have fun and catch the same electronics bug that we relish. Give us this information and we will be much better positioned to help you be successful. And, if you are just wanting to do this one project, that's fine, we'll still help.Oh, the power supply that you have... That is a switch-mode power supply, which can be electronically "noisy." Your project involves creating frequencies. The two don't mix so very well... I would suggest a different supply, IMHO. Just good old batteries?https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=atari+punk+console+kitThe Jameco kits are known.https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1312.R1.TR0.TRC0.A0.H0.TRS2&_nkw=atari+punk+console+kit&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15&_osacat=0&_odkw=atari+punk+console&LH_TitleDesc=0

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:31:49 am
content: Quote from: cynicalmale on December 28, 2018, 08:39:29 pmYou are kidding, right? Following synth is 50$ worth and have 100 sounds in it:https://www.amazon.com/Casio-SA76-mini-Sized-Tones/dp/B00416WHV4 Just buy proper synth for your daughter, pick electronics project *you* will use.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:51:00 am
content: Building something for one's kid seems as admirable as any hobby project. If one does not have any long term interest in electronics then I agree that buying would probably make sense, but I wouldn't want to discourage someone from getting into electronics.

author: cynicalmale
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 01:06:32 pm
content: Lets try to break this out.I have a soldering iron. It's an old 120v plug in the wall and the the thing gets hot model from radio shack. I come from the "bigger the glob, better the job" side of things, but I think I can handle soldering leads to proto board. I'm planning on using through hole components and not surface mount stuff. If my iron turns out better suited for farm work like I suspect then I might just drop a new iron my wife's amazon cart by accident.I have a Fluke multimeter. I have or have access tooall ofmost of the fabrication tools I could ever want.Interest in the hobby? Yes, lets see how this one goes first. If I get this working in a reasonable time frame, and with general enjoyment then the number of related modules that I could build off of this synth should keep me busy for a long time.The following is inbound via china e-post sometime in the next 30-49ish days. Was about $553mm Led assortment3mm Led panel mount holdersIC socket holder assortmentproto board assortment500k, 100k, 10k ohm potentiometers 10 eachpotentiometer knob assortment1/4 watt resistor assortmentceramic cap assortmentelectrolytic cap assortmentswitches, spst on/offswitching 3.5mm panel jack5x2.1mm barrel female panel jackrandom widgets to get free shippingWas going to get a standard "project box" but decided to use a small sterlite plastic tote. Once it all gets working I'll build an appropriate case out of dead fancy tree carcasses.I started off thinking the Jameco kit would be great, but then went DIY route just because it would be more challenging. I think it would be great to let my daughter play with this toy, but in all honesty it was an excuse to try and build something and expand my own skills. Full DIY might be cheaper, might be really expensive, but either way full DIY takes more time and holds my interest longer.Yes, when you factor in the the time spent searching for parts, asking questions on forums, and looking up answers plus actual build, and expected troubleshooting time it would be better financial decision to purchase a pre-made VCO from a synth supplier and put all this "wasted" time into a billable contract. However, whats the point of a hobby if it doesn't waste your time?

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 01:39:23 pm
content: Quote from: cynicalmale on December 29, 2018, 01:06:32 pmRight. Don't repeat mistake of many beginners who pick their first project to be very practical and purposeful. Most beginner's projects are iterative - you make errors, fix them, in the process you learn something, find how to improve design. Some designs are never finished, because inflow of improvements never stops. It shall be *your* struggle & joy, not your daughter's.Purpose of first projects shall be just education, obviously from areas of *your* interests. Also plans shall include option of changing plans or completely dropping initial plan in favor of other plan. Synth you mention is very good first project BTW, but better do not draw your relatives into it, not at the very beginning. I can assemble such synth on breadboard in less than hour maybe, next hour could try some modification or so. In case I plan to make it to be used by others, I need case, proper power supply, proper pots and so on. Most likely mechanics will take two days or so... during those two days fabricating case I learn how much electronics? - None.

author: nsrmagazin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:11:08 pm
content: My 2 cents:http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/10/26/atari-punk-console/

author: cynicalmale
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:29:52 pm
content: That one is basically two of the 556 models in parallel going to a common output. I'll tackle a multiple oscillator project later, i think.