Zeth Modular Synthesizer
My first DIY synthesizer
OK, you want to build your own synthesizer. Where do you start? For me, the logical starting point was a modular synthesizer. That way you can make one module at a time, test and troubleshoot it, play and experiment with it and then move on to the next module. And so the path was layed out.
Yusynth.net
Finding the website Yusynth.net opened many synth DIY doors. This website contains many resources for building your own synthesizer. It has schematics, parts lists and even images for making your own PCB’s. And that’s exactly what I did. Using the files from Yusynth.net I etched and drilled my own circuit boards. Although the website provides you with front panel templates, I decided to design my own panels with a custom size standard: 180×800 mm (WxH). I also designed and built my own case out of 18mm MDF and painted it black.
Although I would design my own MIDI to CV converter later, for this project I used the MIDI to CV converter by PAIA Electronics.
Module overview
The complete system consists of:
- 3x VCO
- 3x 3-Channel mixer
- 1x Steiner Parker VCF
- 1x Ladder VCF
- 2x Audio VCA
- 2x DUAL Linear VCA
- 1x Ring Modulator
- 1x Saw Animator
- 1x Wave folder
- 1x Noise Generator
- 2x VC-LFO
- 1X Dual LFO
- 3x ADSR Envelope
- 1x VC Panner/Output
