Collin's Lab: Monotron Hacking

The Monotron mini analog synthesizer was made to be hacked - learn how to add your own control-voltage inputs and check out some sample synthing played via strobe light.
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[@DigitalAndInnovation]

the biggest take away from this video is hooking up some sort of jack or connector to the project instead of just hard-wiring in to your immediate idea. I only hoked up to one port on my Monotron but I still used a connector instead of bare wires because I saw the good practice here- I have taken this to other projects and it has been very helpful!

[@isupermandude]

I miss when Make used to be like this. :(

[@shkwave99]

Yeah this guy is fantastic. I love that the thing he was most excited about was the educational potential of Korg's schematic release.

[@hglauque]

tk ya hhhhhh

[@TheHappy1337]

Just found out I have epilepsy, cheers!

[@padlockbeats151]

+Dark Passenger lol daamn, me too nearly

[@Syntax73]

sweet i just found out i dont then?

[@Gumbo_Calm]

🤣

[@smellymala3103]

Finally about to use this after listening many times for a cv out instrument on my DS-10. Thanks again for everything all these years. :)

[@7171997007]

collin is seriously the best part of makemagazine

[@ThunderSqueak]

Just came across this again, I have to say... I miss Collin's Lab. There was just something about them that made them fun to watch.

[@nicknack125]

Go to Adafruit's youtube channel - he's doing Collin's Lab over there now.

[@ThunderSqueak]

Thanks, I will take a look.

[@presby100]

You should put a photosensitivity warning before the video

[@JGunlimited]

Longer video on inserting header pins to wires ( like you did at 3:15 ) would be greatly appreciated.

[@JakeDancel]

This brings back memories

[@seandonelan5834]

Warranty voiding 101! This video seriously is still good in 2018.

[@dharvell]

I have a Monotron that I've been itching to mod. A photocell-controlled Monotron... this idea has merit!

[@SamIves85]

Might get one of these to circuit bend and then pass it through the miniKP. I have much to learn first though...

[@1geeko]

Has no one hacked one of these and called it the modotron

[@HazeAnderson]

mydopetron

[@theothertonydutch]

I have been thinking of getting a bunch of these and putting them into a sort of bracket system, like a modular synth.

[@jhubertful]

did you do it?

[@caseyhulteng4309]

did you do it?

[@Atristiel]

Epilepsy warning!

[@BestCustomPCs]

this is amazing, the light activated part made my jaw drop haha.

[@HedgehogStudios1]

Collin and Kipay are the only reason I am subscribed

[@devolutionrc8016]

The light sensor mod was cool

[@tubeDude48]

You must have an older Korg Monotron, I have a Korg Monotron Duo, and a Korg Monotron Delay.

[@nate638]

Wow.. I just found my most fav channel. Cant wait to browse through everything OMG

[@felipesigne901]

As a total electronic noob, i wonder if there is a way to have a better audio output - sometimes it's a bit noisy..

[@HazeAnderson]

Sometimes? 😂 Imma go out onna limb and say yes ... but best of luck re-routing the schematic to bypass multiple op-amps. I only comment in hopes someone else with more experience can chime in. Cheers!

[@testohtoby]

Follow the mods of soul machine to add the ms20 vca

[@The_Invisible_Hand_Of_CV]

Modify and then modulate the Monotron, yes please! You are speaking my language, homie.

[@YmirSalkaKolka]

I have no idea about what you just did, but it was awesome

[@TheThievingBeggars]

Really glad you made this video, I'd heard that it was hackable but hadn't looked into it!

[@VarietyShop]

Colin, please never stop doing these videos. Like for srs!

[@josephknightcom]

@SpecklePattern Cracking does not equate exploitation but instead defines breaking through protective barriers to get to locked-out information or to open up access. Selling that access or info is separate and beside the definition of cracking.

[@xtreo8]

This stuff is just amazing.

[@jakemachado3612]

Yay! More of Collins lab

[@123456789robbie]

colins glasses are so cool.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

That's really cool. I'd be happy enough just putting the thing in a better enclosure. It could also be cool to use two as two different oscillators in the same unit. That must be doable.

[@adrienperie6119]

Cmon i agree its bad humor but aside from that i think this guy has a lot of talent and passion, and you can't say that about anyone.

[@Aldenfioren]

hi I have a question , modifications are IN or OUT ?

[@Respawntheskullpupper]

a strobe warning would of been nice

[@DeathStart]

Kipkay is awesome but just watching this video makes me want to build one right now! I have a picture in my mind of a dark corridor full of light sensors and people navigating through it with flashlights. like a funhouse of sound.

[@Boredclub2ndgen]

I know a little bit about electric engineering but I can't lie, my head exploded at 1:24

[@HANENG18]

You should warn people to say that there is EPIC strobing lights

[@anthonyvolkman2338]

That is really cool! Getting one now.

[@horizonflyer9]

i love the strobe light sound :D

[@kiDchemical]

I really hope Collin doesn't read some of these troll comments...I love his videos. KZbin comments are really making me question my already dwindling faith in humanity, it just proves that at least half the people alive are really stupid.

[@dikki8090]

Sorry sir, permission to ask, if you want the LED to turn on for 1 second and turn off for 5 seconds and you can adjust it to turn on for 5 seconds and turn off for 1 second. 1 second is also 1 second. Only the frequency can be set... please advise. Thank you

[@eliteslayer66]

i have no clue about any o this stuff, yet i still found it interdasting.

[@shufflephunk]

i am looking for the aux input jack replacement, mines broke, does anybody knows? thank you!!

[@planker]

Like. 3rd video and hit paydirt. This is where I want to be. I'll start with two 555 timers. I just got a small cheap box of CD4XXX series chips, and includes a CD40106.I going to hold off on the new arrival and go screw up the kitchen cutting board first.

[@thewii552]

YAY!!! more Collin!!!

[@iVolkswagen]

Great vid, Collin!

[@WillyJunior]

That statement is quite hilarious. Sick video as well!

[@vjrei]

I wish I was 20 years younger to spend my time into that.

[@cuchilloc]

what is the amount of time you already spent on this earth preventing you from doing awesome stuff with the time you have remaining ? Every day is a new day.

[@hookedwithmishchuk]

last bit is the best

[@EvrenBetimen]

for example you can try to add power core like 1 AA battery and when sound goes outside (for heating etc..) that heat level should regenerate the battery's starving potential then cheap air solutions at homes is possible.

[@pongtrometer]

Great stuff.... I’m crap at understanding the logic of circuit boards, I'm ok at soldering...so I can do the monotron bit as you showed, but is their a link of instructions to make the breakout board , and can I bypass doing the bread board stuff and just go straight to gate, cutoff, pitch leads ? Much thanks.

[@CarlRecktenwaldJr]

Another Great Video....Thanks

[@KINZOisHERE]

oh my friend, this is an amazing post, thank you very much

[@leech99wolfe]

collin is the only reason i subbedto this account

[@erichord3665]

Nice Video --- I love having fun with stuff like this.. Thanks I would love to have some fun with this thing.

[@James_Haskin]

What kind of flashlight are you rockin Collin?

[@heminder]

awesuuuuum! i've been thinking of picking one of these up.

[@DJBigMD]

miss collin's lab!!

[@nicknack125]

Go to Adafruit's channel! He's over there now.

[@DJBigMD]

THANKS!!!

[@HerbaceousM8]

nicknack125 also thanks

[@mastigoz]

im not into the soldering electronic stuff, and i think the dude is not very interesting to hear but for some reason i fine all of this dude videos on makemagazine very very fun to watch

[@RGMadSimon]

I think what he was referring to is the fact that now it's nothing but hackerspace here, hackerspace there, events, twitter, social media, blah blah.

[@steveswan5714]

Hi Colin thanks for the interesting vids yet another synth I will have to buy lol

[@TheCameron1038]

I would love to hear what happens if you put a kaleidoscope in front of that photo cell!

[@iRandomReviews]

Love it, but epilepsy warning NEEDED!!!

[@rnobgyn]

So do I need all the things on the perf board or can I just take a cv sequencer and attach it directly to the vco/cutoff?

[@ginsengbob]

where does he get those tiny potentiometers?

[@hydrolisk1792]

Wire connections are nice to have, that is how I build, harvest them from electronics than reuse them in my projecs :)

[@Joiner113]

You look like the leader of the Lone Gunmen from the X Files

[@TheMrkuul]

too bad for the spelling error. on the Monotron ++, it says "Synthsizer"

[@sinupinginaaber]

but the question remains, will it blend

[@liveoles]

I have been wondering, if two solder point got soldered together, does it matter(well i think it does of cuz) and how can we fix it?

[@b44styreraug]

Hmm, this thing looks fun to play with!

[@tubeDude48]

Will you supply a link to the Schematic? Also, are those 10K Pots, and will you give a bread-board as to the wiring of the connectors on the back of the breadboard? It's unclear unless you have another video on those.

[@StarmanDeluxe2001]

It's a 10K pot, and I was able to recreate it on a breadboard by following the picture of the schematic in the video (and I'm a complete novice with electronics). Just check continuity as you go with your meter and you should be able to get it connected.

[@tubeDude48]

I found the schematic on another site-- as this one did not. Thanks, though.

[@Glockmog]

Who is better: Voting for Collin

[@deadguy237]

very cool sounds

[@jmac217x]

Your videos are so great man

[@DefensorsPacis]

I'm so jealous of your side burns.

[@Oweng40000]

@liveoles it's bad. You can get a desoldering iron and radioshack.

[@277Sammy]

did you make your intro music with one of these?

[@adamh3212]

What did you use to do the strobe effect?

[@finonomastropiero4261]

Primal kek

[@electrode74]

Collin, love your vids, keep it up!

[@konstantinub]

I love this guy.

[@conversekitty20]

that's. so. awesome!

[@greatorderofchaos]

@VincentsVideoVisions Damn right, crossed with the lead singer from Super Grass

[@francisroan]

@mewmaster151 hey just because u like collin doesnt mean kip is bad !!!!!!!it depends on how u feel and how others feel maybe differen!!!!

[@GaryCoul101]

Awesome stuff

[@DreamLyrics1313]

@eliteslayer66 I found your use of the word interdasting interesting.

[@c4pt1n54n0]

im gonna buy one of those now

[@kennyfication88]

Awesome. Nuff said.

[@and7barton]

Another mod - I want to fit this onto a blank panel on my modular - with an external power feed.

[@crnkmnky]

like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXjGfIhmmrN1rpI

[@and7barton]

@@crnkmnky Ha ! - YES ! - I don't think I'd keep the original panel design though.

[@goldmoogle]

Sorry for the dumb question, but what kinds of cables are those?

[@Best4Green]

Whi this ??? You downt find software for this sounds and effects???

[@Muny]

its back

[@ricecipriani]

Pensa che bello farci un concerto!

[@insonicbloom]

Colin - I've loved your hacks for quite a few years but there is something that has bothered me for a long time and all Americans seem to do it - they miss the "L" out of the word "solder" - please rectify this

[@neonwind]

Thanks for this!

[@bearshield7138]

very cool Thank you

[@NigDub]

Is the monotron compatible with doepfer gear via the cv mod?

[@johnsmodularjams2123]

is there a reason people tend to use minijack connections and not phono/rca?

[@TheHappy1337]

+john pooleey I imagine because it's smaller and more universal, would have liked RCA on my monotron, but it's not an issue thanks to adapters and to be honest it makes it much more usably portable.

[@nextstorming3908]

Mini jack is more common

[@wadad17]

@ManRossDamn Take an Electronics class that teaches soldering and you get the hang of it pretty fast. I have only been in mine for 6 months with no background knowledge of this stuff at all and i was able to make this pretty easily.

[@MightySaturn5]

@RKenshinX of course -these have been used to make ice cream for years