Build the Auduino Granular Synth - Part 1

Parts, Prepping and Drilling

In this tutorial we will take a look at building a stand-alone version of the Auduino Granular Synthesizer (pronounced AWE-duino not ARR-duino) and housing it in a spiffy looking custom enclosure. Even if you're not the musical type, the techniques outlined here may give you some inspiration for future projects so it is definitely worth a look.

Two flavors of the Auduino

Originally designed by Peter Knight for Tinker.it, this circuit is extremely fun to play with and will readily find a home in your arsenal of electronic noise makers. And since it requires only a few extra parts, it really provides a lot of bang for your buck. You can read more about it at the Auduino Wiki Page.

This tutorial builds on material we have covered in previous articles so if you are new, here is the path you should follow:

- Download the PDF files for the Drill Guide and Front Panel Art by clicking the links.

- Build the Arduino on a breadboard circuit described in this ARTICLE.

- Download the Auduino_v5.pde Sketch file from the Auduino page located HERE and program it into your chip as described in this ARTICLE.

- Transfer the circuit to the Adafruit Perma-Proto Board as described HERE.

Now that you are up to speed, Watch the following video for step-by-step instructions and exciting commentary by yours truly.

Here are the additional parts required

You can purchase some of the hard to find parts directly through the Notes and Volts Amazon Store

5 - Potentiometers - 4.7K (or 5K) - Linear Taper
5 - Knobs to fit the Potentiometers.
1 - Adafruit Perma-Proto board - 1/2 Size
1 - 1/4" Mono Phone Jack
1 - 2.1mm Power Adapter Jack (Fully Shielded)
1 - 9V DC Power Adapter (Rated at 50mA or more)
1 - Hammond enclosure - Model 1590BB (1590BBOR for Orange)
4 - Self adhesive Rubber Feet
3 Rolls - 22 Gauge Stranded Wire (Red, Green, Blue)

Photo Paper - (Matte finish)
Plastic Lamination Sheet
Double-sided foam tape or Velcro

Tools required

Laminator
Printer
Drill
Drill bits (1/8", 5/16"*, 3/8"*, 1/2"*) *or sized to fit your parts
Scissors
X-Acto Knife
Tape - (I use Scotch-Blue Painter's Tape)
Side Cutters
Soldering Iron

Optional (nice to have) Tools

Step drill bit that covers the drill sizes you need
Drill Bit Gauge (See video for details)
Automatic Center Punch
Helping hand soldering tool
Hack Saw

Check out Part 2 for the exciting conclusion!

Fun with Arduino - Arduino on a Proto-Board

Make it Permanent

Congratulations! Your new Arduino project is fully programmed and functional. In fact, it is so good you want to use it for years to come. It's time to take the circuit off the breadboard and make a permanent version.

In the previous installments of this series, we learned how to built a Stand-Alone Arduino on a breadbord. We then learned how to program this circuit using an Arduino board as a In System Programmer.

Now comes the final step. Making a soldered, permanent version that will stand the test of time. There are numerous ways to accomplish this, but the easiest by far is to use a Proto-Board PCB that matches the layout of your breadboard.

There are many Proto-Boards on the market that will fit the bill, but Adafruit have recently released the 'Cadillac of boards' with their Perma-Proto Breadboard PCB.

Check out the video for all the details.