GAMEBOY MEGAMACHINE #6 100 Voltage Controlled Amplifiers!

The #gameboy Megamachine polyphonic synthesizer is the largest #DIY project i've worked on so far so its taking quite a bit of building. TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT FOR PATREON LIVESTREAM! also check out the frequent build vlogs on the gameboy megamachine amongst many other things :- / lookmumnocomputer
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Always looking for old gear! to mod or conserve in the "museum of everything else" one day
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[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

how would you have solved this problem? out of curiosity! its interesting to hear different peoples approaches :).

[@danar6848]

I don't even know why i am here sir...

[@pp-eg6oy]

You're very brilliant. I bet you're fan of Led Zeppelin. :0).

[@dykodesigns]

Maybe with a massive cpu? Analog switch Ic’s are pretty usefull too, my dad used them to built me a 10 input RGB scart switcher. It uses a microcontroller to control the analog switch chips. Relays are pretty cool, they used to control lifts and these old lift controllers are quite epic.

[@foorje]

At this point, for this many vca's you could almost just use an fpga programmed as just a ton of buffered/controllable vcas. Might be worth looking into.

[@nightrous3026]

@@dykodesigns but. Thats. A. C O M P U T E R.

[@TheZolon]

You need a second channel. Look Mum A Computer . Where you can show all the stuff you do on the computer for these projects. Like the CAD for yoru 3D prints, and your Arduino programs. :)

[@Gameboygenius]

Hi, LMNC. I'm the person who made that Rez ROM you're using. If you have ideas for any kind of custom software for the Gameboys, hit me up and I'll see if I can code something together. Aside from the creative side of things, there's a more practical thing I've been thinking about with your MegaMachine. How do you update all the cartridges? If you're interested, I can look into making something that updates them through the serial port so you don't have to flash them manually. There would be a little bootstrap on every ROM that you can trigger when starting the machine, and then all the carts would simultaneously listen to incoming data on the link port and write it to the flashcart.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

just replied to your email mate!

[@HeavyMagic001]

Sorry can you say that again. Lol you guys are on another planet. Respect

[@gyroscopicme]

Sam, you are the DaVinci of diodes, the Rembrandt of Resistors, the Botticelli of Boolean! I love love love this project! Wow!

[@chriskostelec]

LMNC: "The Furby Organ nearly killed me" Also LMNC: "Here is a 50 Gameboy Megamachine with 100 VCAs, controllable backlights, and additional drum machine"

[@janeplayz1420]

You're pretty crazy dude

[@goodfodder]

fruit loop if you ask me, all be it a clever one

[@janeplayz1420]

@@goodfodder yeah youre right :p

[@IzthatafaC]

The guy is a pure genius, he's like a mad scientist of synthesizers!

[@sunkid86]

you sure? have you seen his Ted talk?

[@spaeracount5160]

He made an organ out of Furbies, this guy's at least a little bit off. An absolute genius, but a mad genius.

[@TheBaconWizard]

That thing already sounds sick! Can't wait to hear the full machine.

[@roflcopterannoysme]

I love how this gimmicky project is genuinely becoming a technologically complex synth modelled after some of the most complex synths on the market.

[@nightrous3026]

When you procrastinate so hard you make the most badass synth known to mankind.

[@lucasc5622]

i hate when that happens

[@benjaminizzo2551]

This project is an opus. Nostalgia and repurpose in 4 bit sound! Thanks for sharing your dreams realized. I'm impressed... as usual!

[@mirabilis]

8-bit

[@mirabilis]

@@benjaminizzo2551 Oh, so the NES is 7-bit then?

[@benjaminizzo2551]

@@mirabilis I was just referring to the final audio output compression. In other words what you are hearing. I see what you mean though. It is kind of dumb to call it 4 bit just because of the output, when the signal is generated in 8...

[@feonao]

This machine is already a piece of art. I use LSDJ as my main instrument for many years, and I’m very excited to see the final result. Good luck!

[@HeavyMagic001]

I would need LSD just to understand all this…😂

[@emmanueleferrarotto2986]

This is the ultimate proof of "One can NEVER EVER have enough VCAs" :D :D

[@stuwyatt]

The way that you have extended upon your original idea has blown my mind... and by the looks of your video, it has also blown yours on numerous occasions. Amazing stuff Sam.

[@OwainOwine]

Can you play the marble machine song with this? Maybe time for a collab with Wintergatan?

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

that would be cool! did reach out last year, maybe ill bug him again haha. maybe worth waiting till this machine is done mind! as the marble machine x is rather incredible!!!!

[@SwedishCandyPirate]

owain bestley This collaboration needs to happen.

[@MrSnudger]

But will it fit through your door like the original Marble Machine didn't?

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Dan W or the furby organ 😂. You build something in a room it doesn’t cross your mind getting it out!

[@TinyMaths]

I already had respect for you, but, my god, my respect just got deeper. The work and BRAINS you put into this, wow!

[@AylatheRaichu]

That pitchbending around the 14min mark is so beautiful I felt shivers down my back, can't wait to hear the actual thing when every single row is working and polyphonic

[@bob-rogers]

Amazing. What really impresses me isn't so much that you could do all the engineering to put the thing together, but that you had the vision to know that it would sound cool in the first place.

[@BFreeMedia13]

Behringer is working on their knock off right now.

[@scramrp]

Sick! You are already opened portal to another dimensions of sounds. Respect.

[@TheGaryHughes]

"it's pretty damn complicated" yeah just a little bit

[@PFingerGuitar]

What a legend, music and engineering my two favorites. I'm watching this as I wait for my 3D printer to print some parts I need for my final project in robotics and automation. Wish you the best, can't wait to see what this evolves into. Cheers from Canada.

[@robertkielty5094]

Do not care what is in the video. I press Play. I press 👍. I get that administrative business out of the way. Then I settle down and enjoy the brilliance.

[@richardbaker974]

A seriously smart, practical and intelligent chap. Just wow.

[@dpearson]

Dang, this vid came out while I was asleep, watched it first thing this morning. PCBs already sold out 😩

[@sunkid86]

@13:30 - goddamn this sounds amazing! Ridley Scott should be calling you about the next Blade Runner soundtrack.

[@coversine479]

This must the most over-engineered chiptune machine ever built and I love it

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

you think this is complicated.... wait till you see the digital patchbay for the analog circuitry in this haha

[@coversine479]

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER Oh wow, digital? I thought you were just going to route the circuitry to analog jacks in a convenient location when you mentioned the patchbay

[@PS-xu7wj]

And then Sam looks at the size of this monster and with tears in his eyes he quietly sings to himself "...no, I can't take you anywheeere."

[@EduardoMano]

You deserve a Nobel prize. Seriously. Wish I had 1% of your brains and craziness.

[@Wolfdings]

"You wonder why it took so long? Thats because this fancy thing is a project of its own..." smashes the board behind him on the table :D :D love it!

[@AnnularFrisson]

It’s cool watching your builds get cleaner over the years! I’m sure they’re getting more reliable too. When you said you wanted continuous control over a and b send I thought to myself “oh no, he’s actually going to hand build - a hundred VCAs” - but i’m glad you found chips for that. This synth will be in a museum some day after you’ve died from some dodgy old capacitor discharging!

[@simondanielssonmusic]

I've always been into DIY-music all my life but you've definitely inspired me to do it more. Fingers crossed I'll see you in Stockholm this November! Greetings from Sweden! :)

[@mikaelschloenzig9590]

Out of this world cool.Getting tired just watching your work and effort ,i am sooo impressed and then you make real good music out of these different machinebuilds.BRAVO, standing ovations from Sweden!

[@SatanicJamnic]

You should colab with Wintergatan. Mix between mechanical and electronic weird machines would be so cool

[@mons.romerodurante8086]

Martin Molin is a mechanical mastermind. If those two contributed to a joint project they might produce a synthesizer accordion that shoots laser beams and makes tea. But to be fair, both Wintergatan and LMNC are more than just the front men.

[@CentiZen]

this would be incredible

[@mumiemonstret]

Yes, and they can help each other overcomplicating their contraptions so that the build series will never finish - that would be awesome!

[@thisisonlyatest1018]

Came here to say this!

[@TofuRabbit]

Man the machine is starting to look so damn clean. Can't wait to see more, getting excited just thinking about what this behemoth will sound like.

[@bellpepper3166]

When this is done, I would love to see Andrew Huang to play with it.

[@lucasc5622]

i wouldnt

[@KahlipsoViews]

I don't watch your content often but when I do, i'm mind blown!

[@SXTransmission]

I'm currently building a "Baby 16" sequencer where i borrowed many of your sequencer construction techniques you showed a while back, which is plenty of wires everywhere enough for me. But this is piling on the complexity. You're so brave! 100 vcas my goodness. Simultaneously having panic attack/laughing crazily at it all. Love it. Get some rest though mate!

[@orateusdijin6557]

damn u just made a chiptune organ.

[@metaspherz]

I thought that this project was absolutely frivolous -- then I heard the sound. Magnificent! Now I can hardly wait to hear it when it's completed. Brilliant! Gameboy Modular!!!

[@hydrav]

Your very welcome Sam. Its great to be part of such an awsome project. Well done, it already sounds and looks amazing.

[@pyrumid5673]

Well, all of you deserve our thanks too. From someone who is only watching and enjoying what is done here.

[@Gimlalvwot]

0:19 That Gameboy in left corner looks kinda sick

[@debaserNYC]

proof that you can never have enough VCAs.. amazing project, really fun to watch!

[@BigEpinstriping]

Wow, It's really coming along! This will be a beast when it's all together!

[@thomastoews7850]

Im very glad this crazy idea actually sounds good.

[@bitegoatie]

Yer a madman, but I love you. Taking the VCA approach after thinking of relays is exactly how I thought of doing it - the relay thing seems natural until you get into detail on why you are doing this. Congratulations on getting this monster running.

[@pauljs75]

On the upside you planned ahead to make it modular already. Having those plugs saved a lot of soldering in some areas. (Obviously there's still a lot, but not doing it to wires from awkward positions in the back of the unit as a whole.)

[@johnnypatterson77]

So much work went into making that thing man, I applaud your engineering skills brother, that couldn't have been easy putting it all together like that. You continue to blow me away with your frankensynths just amazing.

[@ctre2]

Awesome! So excited to see the finished machine.

[@adamthompson7480]

this is so cool, thank you, and keep it up!

[@strontium7788]

Mad synthesizer science. Truly a MEGAMACHINE

[@UNDERGROUNDCALLING0161]

crazy amount of stuff gone into this project .. amazing

[@RageSondrayy]

speaking of VCAs I'd be excited to see a basic discrete VCA project for your DIY series!

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

its on its way! ill be making a vid :)

[@2.7petabytes]

That’s one Hell of a lot of Game Boys! Love your thinking!

[@PocketOperatorGuy]

I freaking love how it sounds... I am stoked to see the end result.

[@ChongMcBong]

i'm loving the complexity and semi-unplanned style of this build 👍 i have a similar build style of just adding stuff till it does something, then figure out the details later :) if you need an extra pair of hands for soldering, let me know, i would be happy to help

[@TiswasTerry]

Absolutely brilliant piece of work !!

[@surj1kal]

this sounds so SICK @ 13:50

[@8igbadbob]

That's ...... amazing! Can't wait for the next instalment...

[@jaydekaytv]

Impressive! It has a good look going on, too. Well done!

[@OvAeons]

this is going to be incredible!

[@juschu85]

8:48 I know, to use one you first have to buy one (or know someone), but that would be so much faster with a laser cutter. And perhaps it would be easier to just add a light vertical backplate (behind the actual outer backplate which you hopefully also add later). It looks like there would still be space for that. Then you have much more surface area on which you can mount those boards. Of course, the backplate would block some of the Gameboys. You could put the backplate on the side and mount it with hinges on the side so it opens like a door.

[@Vriess123]

This thing is crazy man! I would totally go to see you play this contraption, love the sound of the gameboy

[@YowYow007]

what a knowledge you have build up, amazing!

[@jujuledruide6385]

genius level : black belt !

[@chondar]

Bravo, Sam. Seriously one of my favorite videos yet.

[@ralis]

Wow!!!! True modern art!

[@HenritheHorse]

I love you Doctor Snuggles! The resonance sounds awesome!

[@XiXora]

You make me look at the Deckard's Dream PCBs and cry a little. So many components to solder!

[@Neffers_UK]

Certified genius / mad man. Strike though as necessary. Love your work on this project.

[@johnnybeaver4093]

I was proud of myself when I modded my first few gameboys with backlights and a few other doodads. You have taken that from me.

[@GuyTallo]

That's really next level. What a sound!

[@jeradhill]

This probably the most important technological advancement of our time.

[@Jeru3]

true art in progress occasionally sounds like getting power drilled in your head.

[@randomlygenerated84]

Holy feature creep, Batman! :D

[@UnauthorisedService]

Sam, you are "pulling out all the stops" on this organ !

[@Hainbach]

WHAT A DRONE, sounds like my dreams

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

you sound like my dreams hainbach

[@rossmadibo]

I'd pay good money to watch this live in a heartbeat

[@ElectronisoundsAudio]

Amazing work! Keep it up! 😀 👊

[@dextrodemon]

your parents must be so proud of you (not sarcasm)

[@EnUsUserScreenname]

I bet his dad even has the same haircut and his mom is a moog mother.

[@snager80]

get this guy a contract doing the music/sound design on the next big scifi cartoon for kids show

[@redfogwhitefrost2583]

You're a brilliant madman.

[@Encysted]

Good advice to wait until the next day for testing and debugging.

[@totallymady42069]

This project is amazing

[@Fpvfreaky]

Look mum no computer nearly at 200.000 subs mate you should have more. Congats in advance👍🏽😬

[@a.t.y.1909]

I forgot he doesn't have even over 250k @LMNC you indeed deserve the community

[@anesthetized7053]

i truly have no idea what is going on in these builds technically, but damn do i enjoy a guy messing around with electronics and building cool stuff.

[@McN4styFilth]

This synth already sounds disgustingly massive. Cannot wait to hear the end result. Pure insanity.

[@PMCRetroGamer]

You sir are a genious. Looks and sounds awesome.

[@adammcclendon5258]

This project is so epic great job!

[@WDShorty]

Loving the progress, If you added one extra gameboy, you could have 9 gameboys, 3 groups of 3 gameboys, make it so you tune each group with one knob, add a unison detune option, maybe some sort of way to modulate the 3 in a group against eachother, osc to filter freq mod is wild sounding, give each group their own filter.. though that's 18 filters.. it'll sound glorious... and I'd highly consider adding velocity and aftertouch to volume, pitch, filter env amount, filter freq, and modulation amounts

[@Jehudi]

This... this starts to look very very very interesting

[@kalymnos77]

I just bought a PCB ;)

[@Blackmongoose-WOH]

One of this weird days, this guy is going to open a portal into a new dimension, or a nuclear blast in a time machine made of Mattel toys! hahahaha wicked!

[@RetroRelixRestorer]

Wasnt sure what was going on - but it's awesome..!

[@FEO]

Keep on keeping on Sammy boy 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@MichaelObed]

Yessssss!!!! So good to finally see the bus board in there! 😉

[@Highonlifenstuf]

I just bought tickets for your Stockholm gig in November! Beyond excited!!

[@noiselessfox7618]

this made me smile, bravo!!!

[@entrospec6810]

Some sort of CMOS SPDT switch like the Max333 to switch columns to one of 2 buses per voice, plus a switch to route bus 1 filter output to bus 2 filter for series processing. Set the SPDTs with a voltage high/low switch, or with a jack input to sequence the switching with gates

WTF. That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!

[@davidbuchan2909]

This is a work of art!