A DIY Synthesizer You Built From A Magazine - The Digisound 80

The Digisound 80 vintage #diy #synthesizer Covered in ETI magazine.
Download the wav of the jam and samples to use and much much more :- / lookmumnocomputer
it also makes ‪@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE‬ get bigger and better.
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THIS MUSEUM IS (NOT) OBSOLETE next open feb 26th :-
this-museum-is-not-obsolete.com/
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List of Gear/Electronics I USE :-
www.lookmumnocomputer.com/stu...
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A great website on all things digisound :-
www.digisound80.co.uk/
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THANKUS HUMUNGOUSO to :-
CoFFeeTaBLesE
David Dolphin
casey
Miles Flavel
Scott Armstrong
worldofchris
Casey
MattFollowell (PDP-7)
Nicole LArett
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if you want to donate to the electronic component fund! Paypal :-
www.paypal.me/lookmumnocomputer
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SPOTIFY :- bit.ly/LMNCSpotify
Facebook :- / lookmumnocomputer
Website :- www.lookmumnocomputer.com
Instagram :- / lookmumnocomputer

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

I have been contacted by a couple of people who tried to buy this, gordon was not aware of the look mum no computer malarkey (to be honest if he had been aware of it he probably would not have wanted to sell it to me incase i set it on fire or something! ha) but what happenned is i left my number, he called and mentioned someone had offered a couple of hundred quid more then backed out, and if i could match that offer i could have it. I always try to deal with second hand deals fairly. Im not sure how it worked out this way, but it did. so i apologise if you were trying to get this synth. sound pack and a WAV file of the song at the end aswell as the jam link in the description! PS if anyone has any crusty Magazine Synth projects sitting in a box in the garage and up for a trade or something! deffo get in touch!!! Next open Day At This Museum Is Not Obsolete :- Feb 26th information link in the description.

[@SpectrumDIY]

Idk, too blown away by the size of that thing 😅😅

[@TRIPPLEJAY00]

Electric Dreams

[@mastercylinder1939]

You snooze you lose. Sounds like people had the opportunity to buy it and dithered, that’s their loss, it went into good hands with you as it’s new custodian. My advice, if you want something, reach out and get it, you can always second guess yourself later, he who hesitates, loses.

[@myvideosetc.8271]

@@mastercylinder1939 "he who hesitates, loses": Inverse SAS motto.

[@musicatgmc]

I’m sorry if anyone feels I didn’t treat them fairly. After posting it on Facebook Marketplace someone offered the original asking price and I agreed to the sale. It turned out they were in Paris and they said they would contact me the next morning to arrange transport. In the meantime things went mental - loads more people contacted me with higher and higher offers and I rejected them all because I considered it sold. However, when the buyer got back to me the next day they’d changed their mind because of the transport issues. Sam was one of the previous bidders, he matched the highest bid and he was willing to pick it up immediately so he was the lucky one. Sorry to everyone else who was disappointed but I tried to do it as fairly as possible.

[@EwenBates]

Applying the fx to your voice as you describe them is pure genius! Well done :)

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Woooop wooop

[@EwenBates]

@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER You missed a trick with the Liverpool Echo though ;)

[@stormevans6897]

Yeah I really liked that touch, makes me respect you even more

[@jakefinnegan1932]

It actually sounds like a great commercial.

[@thyme676]

That was my favorite part before you started playing with it!

[@peppersalt]

I find it weird how an *analogue* synthesizer is called " *Digi* sound" but then again I guess "Analsound" just don't quite have the same ring to it

[@almightyEsquilax]

Well, I guess there IS a ring involved...

[@Ranakade]

AHAHA 🤣

[@firefly2472]

This a GOLD 🤣

[@GizzyDillespee]

Back when this was developed, analog wanted to pretend it was digital. Now it's the other way around. Digital filters call themselves VCFs now. Used to be the other way around, back when digital tech was still fresh from the oven.

[@tungtobak]

Every time I get a mail from Mix: Analog gmail abbreviates it to Mix: Anal

[@ken2391]

"it might actually be working but something else is up" What anyone who works on analog circuits has said more than once.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Lolll yep

[@UNSCPILOT]

Analog kit can have some funny quirks, but really that's part of the charm isn't it, even my modern PC has a little hybrid Vacuum Tube amp attached to it just for the fun of something *different* from the usual digital precision

[@CircularMirror7]

Glad it ended up in the right place. There is a lot of history in that synth.

[@peter.stimpel]

Entertaining. The time this came out I was a 10 ys old boy living in the former GDR. We had silicon shortage all year long. There was one shop in our 500k citizens town selling resistors and stuff. We visited it at least once a week to get parts for several projects. Queuing up for at least 15 minutes, and get your list for asking: "resistors 10k" - "Not availabele, but we have 33k" - Me: Ok, just triple those to get about 10K! "Do you have 10k pots, linear" - "No, but... " And so on and so on. It was quite a challenge to decide if you could use the stuff they were able to sell - and it was a decision of a few seconds. And, you had to buy the stuff no matter what, just to have stock for exchanging parts with your friends. Oh, I would have sold 3 fingers for a more reliable delivery at that time. Still, all 10 fingers on my hands ...

[@activelow9297]

Wow, what a story... waiting in line for east German war surplus electronic parts. Still probably better than Radio Shack here in the states... I often had that problem too when shopping for parts, having to substitute something else as a workaround.

[@peter.stimpel]

@@activelow9297 You know, at that time, queuing up was a normal thing. Buying more than you need was as well standard. How crazy this was came apparant to me only after the wall came down.

[@ianwhittaker2296]

Built one of these myself, apart from the Alphadac. Sold it for peanuts. You've spurred me on to build another. Still got all the diagrams

[@pl5bnsf]

I so wanted to do things like this when I was younger (and now). But don't have the smarts or patience to do it. Thanks for giving me a look at what is possible.

[@praticle]

Patience and knowledge are both things you can acquire with time. Just don't be scared to try it out!

[@thb-music]

Don't be afraid to try it.

[@mrfashionguy1]

Just try, blow up capacitors, burn out ICs, learn!

[@LifeforArt]

Thank you for this video. I built the FORMANT after the German magazine ELEKTOR. I made the print plates myself using photochemical methods. I'm still proud of that today. I made the keyboard out of a modified Wurlitzer e-piano. Unfortunately I gave everything away when I moved. My biggest mistake, because the synth sounded very good with its 3 oscillators and a 24 db filter.

[@martindooley4439]

Love the way you can bring this old tech back from the dead and make it sing. Awesome, a real antidote to our throw away culture. In so many ways a lesson for society...........

[@DANGERTIM112]

that bass-line in the song when you test it is just top-notch

[@daccrowell4776]

Lucky you, Sam! I've got one of these with 21 Digisound 80 modules and, interestingly, an Aries (same form factor!) power/output module. Not going to question that, as that was something done by Kevin Lightner (RIP) and the actual P/S inside is probably something he specced out. What I've seen of it when I've had some modules out definitely suggests that Kevin put a honkin' big linear supply in there. Anyway, you've GOT TO get a VCDO for this thing...that's the module that has 32 fixed wavetables (4 banks of 8) and with trigger stepping control over those, you can sequence(ish) through the oscillator's timbres. Mine also has what's probably a user-built transistor ladder LPF, which says it's supposed to be a Moog copy. It's also got a few modules you'd not mentioned, such as the Quad LFO and the VCLFO. And before anyone asks if they can buy it, the answer is "No and HELL no!"

[@danielmendes5682]

yo those magazine synths are cool as fuuudge, thanks for the amazing content Sam!!

[@Delboy666]

Bloody awesome sounds you were teasing out of that beauty. Every time I watch one of your videos, I wish I had kept up my interest in building synth modules when I was a teenager. Pushing 70 now, but still love this stuff.

[@yesbecauseyes]

I don't always understand the engineering, but LMNC has so much enthusiasm and introduces me to this whole world I knew nothing before. I'm down whenever he posts stuff. More music streams would be cool.

[@EarthnikNews]

I’m listening to this on tiny speakers. I imagine that in person the sound is so gratifying! Thanks for this one.

[@russellwaite5874]

you wanna try it through half decent headphones, Awesome

[@verdatum]

I'm only halfway through, and this video is already like overload-good. Incredible data-dump with incredible photography and tight editing. I'm sure you've been told this many times before, but your productivity and level of output is just astounding. Even in a group of talented friends, all working on one project, I can barely collect footage before one to many unexpected mysteries or other time-sinks happens, and documenting the build on video gets back-burnered, and we miss our deadline, and we look at our initial list of stretch goals , and we'd laugh, and then, we'd weep. And then, we'd laugh again.

[@brozu81]

Man that song at the end goes hard af! Really sounds like music from the future, keep up the good work!

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

kosmo drive by!

[@CausticCatastrophe]

I really appreciate your deep dives on this, it's a lot so the breakdown helps me parse it all.

[@80spodcastchannel]

man so many great old sounds brings back memories of great tunes using them

[@aurora3655]

WOW! that's a bloody amazing keyboard! when you plugged in the Noise sample and hold, it blew my mind!

[@greylocke100]

It reminds me of the old direct to video B grade Sci-Fi movies I used to watch as a teenager.

[@zorktxandnand3774]

Must have been quite the undertaking in 1980 to set up this project for both the magazine, and the people who build it. Nice to see an example build with so many modules. Looking forward to seeing you completing the unbuild units, and hopefully fixing the processor unit.

[@davidlovering6033]

My two favourite hobbies, Synths and Metal Detecting. Woo hoo!

[@Stuartrusty]

Rescued and restored. I know there's much more to do, but this is for future. You're a awesome dude Sam, this is a true home built monster and a part of home brew analogue synth history. Amazing.

[@marc-andrerenaud1394]

@9:50 When you hear that first clean sound coming out of the beast. What a project!

[@MikeSmith-tx2lp]

Utterly mad and utterly brilliant. Gotta love that squelchy filter modulated by S&H. I used to spend hours on the EDP Wasp in an Eastbourne music shop making that sound. It sold loads of them.

[@jameshamaker9321]

If I had access, to a space like this, I'd be so happy and making alot of things. Also I'd have room, for music making and video recording. I'd totally build, stuff like this, if I had the space. I can only dream, about that at this point, in my life.

[@Rhidongo]

Gordon sounds like an absolute lad. What a unit, this synth is!

[@ErraticPT]

Excellent! Makes you wonder how many partially built examples are left and how many were scrapped. Luckily this one has found a new home with the ultimate audio (over-)enthusiast.😉

[@replicated]

I can't wait to hear this on the next album.

[@timericson7623]

Love your shows they really remind me of the 80's getting home from school and watching a cool science music type show on the bbc, your creative energy and determination is inspiring, a great style, i found this channel after seeing the Uncompressed video, i'm looking forward to seeing more of that, it's like top gear with music equipment :)

[@richardballinger517]

I have a huge pile of electronics mags from the 70s my old boss gave me. I'll have to have a good look through them. I reconised one you showed. BTW, I have a Maplin 5600s synth.

[@BlackSunCompany]

Loving the energy on this vid! The demonstrations with applying those effects to the VO make it easy to understand. ...I don't need any more projects. I don't NEED any more projects. Dang it. I'll have to add this to the list.

[@ashpowell9451]

So good, this lucky synth went to a great home. You're doing great work man, keep it up.

[@realnutteruk1]

I so remember that issue of ETi, not for the the beginning of the synth series, but for the 555 timer article!!

[@curtishoffmann6956]

It sounds GREAT! Especially after 15:00. Great job on cleaning it up and getting most of it working. Really looking forward to hearing it at full capability.

[@jlucasound]

In your demo, you get so close to sounds/effects used in the music I (and I am sure many here) grew up on.

[@Trottelheimer]

This was my second synth. I built a single fully stuffed case + keyboard, after building the Powertran Transcendent Polysynth :-D You're reviewing my innocent youth years :-))

[@peterpiper0815]

Thanx to Gordon. You put your Synth in the right hands and now we all can enjoy the sound 😃

[@loopmasta5104]

Wow. Great to see that diy synth are still a thing. I spend my youth building synth stuff with CEM / SSM chips. Cheers.

[@kerzwhile]

F-ing Brilliant!! That Chunky Mcwoodie sounds Great! Love the white face too!

[@KeritechElectronics]

What a beautiful synth! Definitely worth restoring.

[@heatexchangeskittles]

That is absafuckinlutly amazing!! And your abilities are endless in this stuff....so gel!!:

[@tothemaxx1991]

This is the coolest infomercial I've ever watched

[@twizz420]

1:47 something about this whole part of the video has been stuck in my head for weeks now. I can't stop watching it. The combination of the music and the announcer/commercial style voice is absolutely perfect.

[@Itsurecanglitchsomemore]

Drooling all over the shop!

[@synthesizedchill8258]

I love the look of this. The white on wood looks super nice. It kind of reminds me of the white MS20. I bet it looked really nice when it was brand new. I would do my best to get it as bright white as possible. I'm not sure what the collectors value is, but if having it repainted with new stencils wouldn't hurt the value, I would powder coat it, and add new stencils. Adding some new rare type of wood would also be really cool. Some of that swirly African style wood would be awesome. It's such a cool old synth, I think it deserves to look even cooler.

[@1980VINZ]

I’m just speechless LOVE IT

[@danielhowlett8140]

I'm just starting to lay out a couple of digisound modules in eurorack format. First is the envelope shaper from Sept 80, back when I was just getting into electronics. Nice to see a system up and running

[@violator_alba]

I started mine with the CEM3340 VCO (using AS3340 instead). Sounds fantastic, just like in this video. Grin is an understatement...

[@emulatorretro]

I miss that magazine. I used to check it out from the local library and made a ton of weird shit back in high school. 89-92

[@GadgetUK164]

Amazing getting it working, and it sounds fantastic =D Looking forward to a follow up!

[@ZZKJ396]

Lovely room shaking monster base!

[@BritishBeachcomber]

I so wanted to build a modular synth back in the day, but couldn't afford it. Then I won a competition in Sounds Magazine. There were 3 prizes, one was an ARP 2600 synth, worth a fortune now. But I won a PA system, so ended up becoming a DJ.

[@Sun-ut9gr]

That's a crunchy groove. I like this thing lol

[@mickandrews9458]

You lucky lucky b... d! I built a digisound when it came out but as a school kid could only afford a few modules. Would love to have got this with loads of modules but brill that going into your museum. I interfaced mine to an Acorn Atom computer with software control for sequencing, patterns and arpeggios but all mono as I only had two VCOs. Fab video, thanks.

[@howarddykes7674]

I remember as a kid seeing the sign for the digisound office on Queen st Blackpool where I grew up, I was about 14 and already hooked on synths. I’m 55 and still am.

[@andrewyoung785]

Ok this is so cool, I am always amazed at the stuff you find and you build. It feels like magic watching the stuff you’ve done.

[@1vootman]

Totally awesome, I love the sound of that thing!

[@BigEpinstriping]

I'm loving the vintage DIY synth coverage! The digisound is very funky. Great tone too.

[@15-Peter-20]

So close to 500k subscribers

[@ringtone_rhythm]

Loved the editing and presentation of this video. Unreal jams too.

[@omniaservicios5827]

> @15:00 What a impressive sound!!! Mate!!

[@michaelwilde2209]

Built two of these absolutely huge synths,plus the keyboard,it was the most amazing synth ever,like a fool i sold them in the mid 90s,what a mistake,,

[@gravyboatdrone4060]

That video is the nuts, they way you've played with the panning and fx with your voice is class! I love this

[@Colin_Ames]

Another outstanding video. Thanks Sam!

[@hartpa]

Genuinely impressed!!!!!!

[@staticaudio6961]

What a find! Sounds great 😃😃😃

[@TM-hw5tq]

Man, you are king of the wobbly tables. Gives me anxiety everytime the synth wobbles!

[@mikaellob9438]

Amazing work! And what a machine!!

[@citruscyanide]

Bet Gordon is stoked to see his old project get so much love, and a new lease of life!

[@thejoshuathomas]

I love content like this, combining creativity of the present with a nod to the past. So glad I happened upon this channel during my journey into modular. Cheers, mate.

[@scrumpeldwarf]

I'm so glad i experienced that panning on studio monitors

[@modraccin9514]

Nice! I love the sound of it.

[@hidikitalks]

Running your narration through the circuits pleased me oh so much!

[@StCyp]

Just want to say you are a legend sir. Back in music a year ago and new so synthesis. Your channel, work and music are all a breath of fresh air. Love it. Thank you for the hard work.

[@lasciencedelamusique6245]

I don't watch you that often, but I totally love your projects and I enjoy your videos! Thank you from Québec Canada :)

[@kattphloxworthych]

I've been watching your videos and it has given me a greater understanding of how analog synthesizers work and an appreciation for folks like Wendy Carlos and others who make these synthesizers pretty much bend to their will. I've already subscribed and look forward to more of your videos!

[@PrankZabba]

Was listening to this in headphones. Sounded awesome.

[@markschweter6371]

Got a nice thumpa-thumpa rhythm going during the run-through.

[@noiseydogs3288]

This was a great video! The editing was top notch!

[@RicardoPenders]

OW MAN!! That thing sounds awesome!!! Love your videos man.

[@mrt7152]

And then suddenly it makes music again! Great awesome can’t wait to see the next vid!

[@agomodern]

What's more amazing than the sounds that come out of it is the people that actually invented the modules. I never hear about those people behind the scenes.

[@Sperminski]

Enjoyed the video very much. Nice production Sam!

[@Maxxarcade]

That's an awesome project! And you really put some work into the presentation/editing too. Really enjoyed this whole video.

[@craggercragger8989]

Maxx! Good to see you about.

[@markkilley2683]

Another fab project.

[@molotovctail6972]

Thanks for this. I built one, just the one row of modules plus keyboard. It needs some TLC!

[@UNSCPILOT]

Oh my lord, at around 10:00 in the video when you test the nob, oh heck I love that sound, your videos never disappoint when it comes to finding really freaking neat sounds!

[@flytsokotly2006]

You are genious! Everything you touch sounds cool!

[@justice6480]

Awesome! Love your channel

[@jamesh5460]

Wow! You are sooo close to 1/2 million subs! Would like to see a scratch build of something from a 60's, 70's or 80's catalog.

[@djmips]

I had a subscription to ETI when I was a kid.

[@makeshiftmonk]

ITS ALIVE, AAALLLIIIIIIVVEE!!!! Great work finding all the mags with the adverbs in them for all the kit you found brother!!! Best channel on UTUBE :::=^)

[@DAIMANization]

I only live up the road from the museum, Need to pop in there have a ganders. Thought it was crazy you ended up here because I watched your channel way before that...

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Cool!

[@reggiep75]

Very nice, nice, nice synth with a great sound and those S&H shenanigans were totally sweet!

[@skipbreakfast]

I watched this at 2x speed after two cups of coffee and STILL understood you.

[@Mr4x4toyidaho]

You mad some sick beats. Love the videos.

[@AsmodeusMictian]

Bro, you are a regular musical mad scientist. All the tech in this is absolutely mind-blowing! Thanks for the vid, looking forward to more in the future. :)

[@algorithminc.8850]

That's a beauty. Loved those days - 70's and 80's - designing analog and digital synthes and guitar signal processors. Analog was the favorite. Would go to a local piano/organ store in Atlanta, and for $25 pick up old scrap tube organs to get keyboards and other parts for prototyping/research. One home-organ had a true analog push-button drum synthe on it - a button for each drum. Loved those days - the magazines were full of fun projects - there were stores everywhere providing access to quick parts. Really great channel ... Cheers ...