The simplest DIY Oscillator? Synth Project PART 2

[@hesspet]

Short hint: LDRs works best with yellow LED. Cause most of the cheap LDRs are made to work with daylight. I found out that this works best when you build vactrols.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

great info!

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Peter Heß Your the first person i have ever heard mentikn that fact. Nice one 👍👍👍

[@hesspet]

Simple to explain: Here's a datasheet of an LDR: de.scribd.com/doc/128939598/LDR-Datasheet - Figure 3, we see the maximum response is between 540-560 nm. Yellow Light starts at. 560nm. Lower freq. is green. I tested a lot of cheap ldrs to optimise a cirquit and measured that yellow works best. Green sometimes, depends on LDR, and Red ist bad.... The reason for this is, that the main use of ldr's is measure daylight or flames. An btw, driving the LED with an opamp in a current regulated cirquit works best to transfer audio signals. BTW: I got this hint form an old electronic engeneer.

[@Litruv]

also, what you made is called an Opto-isolator, they come in 4 pin packages, so it makes it nice and easy for ya. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opto-isolator www.ebay.com.au/i/251993168558?chn=ps piss cheap too :D

[@MostlyPennyCat]

@@Litruv Nice, all the ones I found were 50p each!

[@EclipseAtDusk]

Alright so I’ve always been FASCINATED with synthesis as a means to make ambient stuff, cuz I love just the way a wall of harmonious ambient sound FEELS - and I never knew where to start. Now I do. Your videos have definitely made synths, especially whacky, modular, non-keyboard based synths, a lot more accessible man. I’m hoping I can build one of these in the near futute

[@PINKFL0YD-s2h]

There is FM (frequency modulation) and this (Subtractive synthesis) Love the old school Hawkwind sound

[@ArchetypalCat]

So 5 years on, this is the oscillator that keeps on giving tones and inspiration! You're very talented, humorous, and your enthusiasm is contageous. Just bought 200 of the SS transistors off eBay... When I told my wife, she went and bought 400 earplugs :))

[@mehrschwein7378]

I've build a module with 16 of the simple oscillators from your last video as my first module for a modular synthesizer. thanks to this video I now also know how change complete sections of it. the most simple stuff is the best one one for someone like me who does everything on his own without much money and not much knowledge. a good start to understand whats happening.

[@untrust2033]

What is the specification of the capacitors you used? I can't figure out which to buy as some say 10uf but then have a voltage eg 10, 20, but none between 12 and 18 Which do I use?

[@einsteinx2]

@Ora nge I know this is an old comment, but voltage ratings on capacitors just refer to the maximum voltage they can handle. So you just need to use something higher than voltage you’ll put through them, ideally with some extra headroom. So if you’re using a 12V system, use the 20V capacitors and you’ll be fine. If you’re using 18V to power it like he does here, you would probably want some more headroom, so look for 25V or 30V (both common ratings available), though a 20V should work if it’s all you’ve got. Regarding the farad rating (uf stands for “microfarad), he explains at the beginning of this video that the higher the farad rating the slower it will oscillate, so the best idea I think would be to buy a range of capacitors (they’re pretty cheap to buy an assortment pack) and use a socket strip like he shows in the video so you can swap them out without soldering and try different values to get the frequency range you want. Hope that helps you or someone else passing through the comments!

[@gorman2001]

Oh man do i love those "explain how to build something super fast" segments

[@Logrythmic.C47]

I've been using internet for 13 years by now. And never seen a fella thats crazy like you. I love it. Unique. Pretty Unique style. Love it!

[@AugustorLazzers]

Sick beats, sick host, sick circuits. This channel is something different

[@joedalton77]

It's sick

[@WhiteNoises]

This was so fun!! Cheers man 👍🏻

[@xenoneuronics6765]

White Noises Nice patch man, sounded great

[@alliha737]

Love your performance on it, dude!

[@pdrgallo]

sound artisan

[@simonchristensen5356]

i like the fact, that your session is filmed, like a cheap pornmovie :)

[@LaggyKikee]

Please keep making these DIY videos, they're the best content on KZbin, and us less talented people really like to try to build some stuff from time to time. Also, is that just an RC filter you added?

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Kyxe Music it is an rc filter indeed! Pop a Vactrol on it it’s quite nice!

[@holyhotdogtoaster9034]

I was looking at your schematics from the original video, isnt it possible to hook up a audio jack instead of a potentiometer to control the tone?

[@holyhotdogtoaster9034]

is there a difference between protoboard and strip?

[@LaggyKikee]

HOLY HOTDOG TOASTER I believe protoboards are temporary and strip board is meant for the final thing (soldering it all in)

[@holyhotdogtoaster9034]

I thought protoboard was the step after bread boarding but before making an actual circuit board

[@mauricenorden3665]

you are the best youtubes ever

[@bzqp2]

Whoa. This photoresistor-led combo looks like a great way to electrically isolate your audio devices! No buzz bleeding into your wires this way.

[@tonizamboni7362]

thank you for making your videos about fun stuff with electronic modules more accessible to people who get immediately bored w/ how stuffy most electronics tutorials can be, your videos inspired me to get started on building modules and i built an atari punk circuit based on your recommendation, it worked after the first try, now i'm learning how timer ICs work and how to read circuit diagrams so i can build more things (like modular synths) :)

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

White noises over here! :- kzbin.info

[@joshuamillerknight7530]

He makes things sound so fun and interesting! Ya gotta love his enthusiasm lol

[@TwoGuysWithPants]

I’ve watched your videos so many times that I am starting to get a grasp on the basics, recently ordered a soldering kit and an Atari Punk Console to start with, thank you so much for the inspiration

[@Skootavision]

I used to watch Sam purely for entertainment (love the music) and wanted to start learning. Today my first 3340 chip arrived and I'm so excited it's unreal. Thanks so much LMNC for inspiring me to think 'why not give it a go?!'

[@grahamaustin4501]

I really enjoyed watching you guys taking your little device and actually working with the sounds it made. Even something as simple as Greg talking out loud as he thought through his next steps was fascinating to watch the sounds evolve and all out of a simple little box we can make ourselves. Top shit guys!

[@evwaldron]

Ermagrrrd!!! Those sounds you squeezed out of that little beast are fantastic!!! Next you should tackle a super simple envelope generator for your super simple synth series!

[@FenPunkFantom]

9v works great, thanks for this! I'm making a box of osc's and LFOs, for relaxing self-modulating hum, howl n fuzz.

[@FrancisMaxino]

You could have got a job with Robert Moog in the late sixties. Simple is good. DIY electronics starting from first principles. I did electronics when I was a kid and understand exactly what you are doing (puts my Dick Smith handmade electronic organ to shame), love how you coupled the LDR to an LED, brilliant, your VCO sounds fantastic man.

[@Grigeral]

Just getting started in learning electronics and had absolutely no idea where to really start. Your videos are a great source of inspiration on small scale things to try out (as well as more complex things to aim towards!) So for that, I can't thank you enough :)

[@ZElTGElST]

Fantastic episode. The construction of the pach was totally mesmerizing. Good work guys

[@DubiousEngineering]

And a massive thumbs up for Sam!

[@papaya160]

U my personal hero When a part 3 with different waveforms?

[@jeremyfox7599]

Thank you mate, I love modular synths but i's always seemed well overwhelming but you have just given me hope of understanding all of this by breaking it down so simply and in turn you've given me some hope that I can get into building something myself some time as well as the motivation to get learning so that I have the required knowledge!. Thanks chap, strong work, good man!

[@hernanlamaison2650]

Hi Sam! Thank you very much for the video, especially for the Vactrol technique explanation! 💡

[@TheDarkfire9251]

So lovely of you to make this vid!

[@Qui_Gon_Ben]

I first came across you channel last winter. I bought all the stuff to make these guys and for whatever reason could never make them work correctly. I was frustrated and threw all the stuff into a box and labeled it “ time travel stuff”. Soon as winter hits, I’m busting it back out. I really enjoy your channel. Man if you had some of your songs on iTunes, I’d buy them. I dig a few of the tunes a lot, and I’ve never really been into electronic music all that much.

[@cstrickland319]

Great stuff, both the instructional content and the collab patch. White Noises guest appearance on LMNC was a nice surprise indeed!

[@stereoroid]

If someone cut off my middle leg, I'd be oscillating too ... :eek:

[@otisdone785]

Fair play

[@boristheodd2644]

so you are a transistor, than??

[@CyberCreeper22]

arent all men transistors?

[@luy777]

man, that's a good one. consider it stolen, fren.

[@efesstuff4936]

Brian T this was just so good.

[@ilovecivics]

Holy shit I feel really stupid for not finding this channel before, my favorite channel ever!

[@inertialtheory]

my day gets better everytime i get a notification from you sam, great work!

[@autochromes]

when i saw the led and the light depended resistor taped together like that for the first time, i was like like weew that's so cool! great work!

[@gorillaau]

battery chicken If it looks stupid but it works, was it really that stupid.

[@thebox2074]

Ty this was exactly what i needed. Please make more Videos in that style

[@JohnnyCogs]

Nice drones Sam! Nice hat Greg!

[@harryvincent]

20 minutes of look mum no computer.. What more could I ever want.

[@naught101]

21 minutes?

[@MissyMousey]

Thank you for inspiring me to actually do this! I used a mini breadboard instead of stripboard and I used the SS9018 with a 10uF cap and it works!

[@EuroB0B1]

So I'm hear cus I'm helping my Son with his soldering project. Holy crap now i understand where my son is coming from. Your buddy with the box of tricks played some beats which made my hairs stand up. Here's hoping my son gets shit hot at this so he to can create such wonderful sounds.

[@DrMurdercock]

I am so glad I found this channel. I have always been into electronics, making things and creating music. I usually play metal, however, I like electronic stuff and find circuits fascinating. You make me want to start making some modules and doing some cool stuffs with them.

[@kinddata]

Wow. So cool. So many concepts just fitting together in one vid.

[@LoneRebelLeather]

I'm about to finish my introduction to DC circuits class and this video just blew my freaking database. Mad scientist genius right here

[@bizarro_bread]

Just use a lm386 amplifier ic.

[@TheAmerind]

I'm definitely going to do this, to make it a keybord. I'm just going to make a bunch of sets of these, then tune them all differently, have one pushbutton switch to each one, that way when I power one one it'll make that note tuned to the individual set. Have a bunch of push button power in a row, bam i got a keybord

[@adamarzo559]

I think I ended up here by looking up things to do with a LM358. Had no interest in any of this until this video. What a guy, awesome. Thank you.

[@darkmax2007]

I've been waiting for this video for so long. This answers all the questions i've been asking myself. Keep coming up with awesome projects like this!

[@runescaper1333]

Thanks man, i was about to start my making my own modular synth and everything i need is here.

[@juliidarkness9449]

Thanks to this Look Mum No Computer channel, I began to learn English for u. Thanks for the interesting and quality information. From Russia with love

[@SpectrumDIY]

I ended up using the 2n2222 because I could run it at it's best range at 12v 330uf, 100uf, 47uf 22uf and 1uf are going in the spooky synth box :D I just got a vactrol... so I'm giving that go right now, I just got the first "vacpak" assembled :D (Really not expecting a VCO like the CEM3340s I ordered)

[@joshmyer9]

I like to measure things. I have a maths degree. I’m a perfectly good person, I’ll have you know. My mother says so. (This is such a cool little circuit. It’s great to see pieces of synth equipment being made in a seriously punk rock DIY aesthetic. I’m tempted to build them up myself, but I have zero musical talent. And I’m cool with that =) Looking forward to seeing what all else you get up to!)

[@gorillaau]

Josh Myer You don't need musical bone in your body... you can have a heap of fun with sounds effects, such as drones and sirens.

[@ron2298]

All I can say is WOW DAMM Awesome. I had no idea how easy you guys make it look to make sick music. Keep it up so inspiring and informative. You Rock Thank you

[@MY3DCO]

Look at Sam bringing everyone together! Nice work! Oscillating Furbys anyone???

[@marshallstone731]

This was such a cool video! I’ve been looking for people with the same idea, you’ve executed it perfectly.

[@joek2073]

Yo, this is an AMAZING project and an even MORE AMAZING collaboration 😵 Those drones melted my brain.. You two should do more together!!! Thanks for all your hard work. It's super inspirational!! ✌️

[@exploding-man]

Still love this channel. Now if only I knew how the more complicated oscillators worked!

[@CallMeNacho_]

You are the bob ross of audio. Like somehow you make a complete cluster fuck make sense and sound great

[@melchiortod29]

for all the people struggeling with the oscillator: the circuitbord schema has the LED included in the ring with the transistor and the capacitor. while the other representation(just some lines and text) shows the LED outside of the transistor-capacitor ring. having the LED outside fixed my problems

[@poseidonmayleerun4824]

I tried this and it worked (following the schematics would only result in led lighting but no sound at all). Many thanks!

[@SerBallister]

The synth equivalent of bagpipes. Awesome stuff.

[@abelmartinez208]

i think another door in mind just opened up. this is very inspiring!

[@mwatkins0590]

Couldnt you make like.. 49 of these, and hand tune them each to a specific dedicated note, and then use a keyboard to control the volume of each? that would allow "perfect" tuning and polyphony like a piano for a 49 key synth.

[@_rlb]

I like your black Victorinox Swisschamp. And the rest of all your stuff too.

[@Jjosh1358]

I did this by accident one time. I have a Proco rat pedal and I replaced the plastic Jacks with switchcraft Jacks and I guess I clocked it wrong so that the tip of the output was shorting out to ground and it oscillated pretty bad if I touched anywhere on ground and I could change the pitch by how hard I touched it.

[@juliuszavatskis4215]

I really like the tune tune progress! It gone quite dark :D Love it to bits :) Kepp doing it matey!!

[@God-CDXX]

First time seeing this done in solid state I built some thing similar using all tubes

[@WorldFungusChamp]

6:15 Would it be possible to add a circuit or opamp to amplify the signal so that it could modulate itself or other oscillators?

[@extralifedisco]

Inspirational stuff man! Might build one of these with 3 little switchable LDRs on the top of the enclosure for one-handed jamming.

[@reggiep75]

I used to get lost in drones and audio landscapes and then think I'd wasted a shit load of my time as I never really managed to create anything massive or of major use. Now it's chaos that's back hahaha but I used to build a shit load of mine on Reason (the DAW) as you could patch stuff together reasonably well to give you a modular synth but in a B+ to C+ fashion which was still good and everything was still under control. NEVER GIVE UP CONTROL, EVER... The audio will take you and kidnap your soul!

[@stephensmitherman5243]

Brilliant Drone build up from a your stuff.

[@patprop74]

Actually, there is a little circuit called a joule thief which lets you make the 3904 oscillate rather fast with 1.2V, perhaps you can combine that circuit to make a noisemaker.

[@motormenace666]

Great video!!! Can't wait to build one of these....

[@pablospace]

Making an eurorack VCO this summer! Thanks👍🏻 (I mean trying to...)

[@SilverwoodTraxx]

21:15 ''and putting it through clouds, just to make it sound fantastic''

[@monkeyfishfilms]

you can use heatshrink tubing for the vactrol if you want it to be a little less...rustic (not that thats a bad thing)

[@junkseed]

Wow this video is awesome - the guide as well as the nice patch, awesome!!

[@transistedwaves4337]

Pamalas getting a real workout here. Good stuff!

[@Phantastischphil]

Wow. So it seems the LDR's aren't entirely necessary but that they might give a little more analog warmth to the circuit because of the energy is going through ther circuit then buffered by the environment outside of the circuit. Like a modern tube circuit almost?

[@lemiffe]

This was SICK!

[@fl366]

Great man simple and straight forward.

[@yorganyog]

My congrats. You are the man!!!!!!!! Keep it hard!!!!!! Greetings from Portugal!!

[@dirtbikedebbie8882]

this is so rad, thanks for this

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

Build like 25 of those, activated by buttons, tune them up, and you've made a playable keyboard with very little technical skill required. Polyphonic too :-)

[@liweilin6649]

Can i ask each synth electric current require?

[@UnrealTransformer]

UJT oscillator: 1 UJT (Unijunction Transistor) , 2 Resistors, 1 Capacitor and it works also with a 9V Battery.

[@joshuawas]

This is so awesome. Thank you for this tutorial.

[@RaketenKuhGewehr]

If only this video had come out two weeks earlier. Now I ordered all the parts...

[@paulbrain99]

That was sick guys! Top work...gonna make me some oscillataasss!

[@onkelberra3166]

As many others, I agree that we want to see more of the 100 OSC drone monster.

[@c31979839]

Represent the Toronto Blue Jay's! Love seeing people rocking that merch! BJ's for life.

[@lukethedrifter3363]

BJ's everyday of the week!

[@djobnoxious6407]

Hey there, my dude! Love your stuff. Here's an idea: Figger you could devise a simple on/off keyboard with different voltages to control one or many of these fine oscillators? I guess the rest of the guys would really like to get into MIDI integration... which I think you've already delved in. Think it'd be nice to have a simple, finnicky analog set as an accompanyment for our more sophisticate consumer-grade tools :3 Cheerio and ta-ta!

[@ExStaticBass]

Could you maybe try a tuning capacitor from a radio? I mean it's another knob to twiddle and could make that endlessly more interesting.

[@teleportxmusic]

WOOWW man this video Blow my Mind!!! LOVE IT!!! CHEERS FROM ARGENTINA!!!

[@LucIndustries]

Wouldn't it be cleaner to use a VCR or another low power transistor at the Potentiometer legs? Just to reduce the noise and offset generated by the light to voltage "hack"

[@maxwarfield6699]

But how do you connect it to a speaker? You NEVER show how to connect it to a speaker...

[@Polyruidoso]

For the past two days I've been watching the video over and over and this coment is driving me crazy haha. For anyone with the same doubt, link in the description.

[@lid6j86]

please get your own netflix show, I would love to watch episodes like this nonstop. go to junk yards and find random stuff to build projects with as part of the show to help spice it up.

[@fanenthusiast3802]

Bruvi. You are outlandish. That sound you made sounded like dimebag Darrel's guitar. Do is fans a favor and cover a Pantera jam. Just to prove it's possible purely. Purely other than that I want to hear it happen.

[@Tharsismusic]

Thank you so much for the follow up video. I've been having lots of fun building these lil guys.

[@simhsimh7977]

Awesome! Would it be possible to take this Desing into a "Super simple LFO" ?

[@revolutronic]

you sir just won the youtubes for today

[@thefossman8829]

WOW that thing sounds like if a bagpipe and a air rad siren had a baby! lol

[@dioselina2760]

so much talent, honestly wild

[@Emontop1]

Cheers man . Thank you 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽😎🎛🎹

[@rich1051414]

Not chopping the leg turns the leg into an antenna. It MAY work without cutting the leg, it depends on how noisy the area you are in is. Noisy, as in, EMF. It picks up just enough floating voltage to completely ruin the oscillation on some transistors.

[@Digital963]

Cool, you could also use an optocoupler