Synthesizer Workshop

The Synthesizer workshop was organized as a part of Junior Lab's Easter edition 2016 at FabLab Berlin. I had given earlier shorter workshops at Junior Lab, but this time we wanted to try out also Pro Workshops, where kids can work on a longer project. Since Berlin is undoubtedly a city of electronic music lovers, I thought it would be cool if the participants could build their own synthesizers.

We started the workshop by looking into the possibilities of producing sounds using a microcontroller. We explored how sound pitch and other properties can be changed using input from a potentiometer or a photoresistor. For the actual synthesizers, a pre-programmed ATtiny85 microcontroller was provided with the idea that one could connect 1-3 potentiometers or photoresistors to its analog inputs for controlling different sound effects. One of the inputs influenced pitch, the second one produced a low-frequency modulation and the third one created a kind of staccato effect.

After making a sketch of their synth, the participants chose their desired parts from a collection of speakers, rotary potentiometers, sliders, photoresistors, buttons, switches and LEDs. Analog voltmeters repurposed from battery testers were also provided for additional visual effects. Then we moved on to soldering small circuit boards with all the parts connected to the ATtiny.

Making the electronics took the first two half-days and we had still two more left for building cool cases for the synths. Sturdy cardboard sheets and rolls served as a basis, although one of the participants, who was quite a FabLab pro already, made a laser-cut box out of MDF. Hot glue was used so generously that it got occasionally into unintended places, causing some headaches. On the last day the looks of the synthesizers were fine-tuned using sticky foils and tapes of various colours, although the participants found the grey cardboard also as quite pleasing.

See also:

• Photo album of Synthesizer workshop