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Thursday, 24 July 2014

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!
Posted by Dave at 12:27 am
Labels: ,

39 comments:

  1. Anonymous25 August 2014 at 06:20

    Please.... I don't still get the aim of dis project. I wud love 2build it koz it requires less components. Please could u explain?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous13 December 2014 at 22:30

    What do you not get?

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  3. Anonymous12 January 2015 at 14:57

    Check out my build here with MIDI:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcXmspfqsyw

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown10 August 2015 at 22:06

    Great videos. I'm very new to synth DIY, but found this to appear doable with your great instructions. One question, is it possible to use a Makey Makey as the ISP? I have one on hand and remember that there is the possiblility of doing some Arduino functions with it, but not sure how extensive. Google didn't seem to turn up any results. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave11 August 2015 at 13:08

      Hi MM. Thanks for the comment. I'm sure you will enjoy the project. I'm not familiar with the Makey but if it is truly Arduino compatible, you would need to be able to load the Arduino ISP program on it and have access to the MOSI, MISO, SCK, and RESET Pins like the Arduino.

      Delete
    2. Unknown12 August 2015 at 07:26

      Thanks for the quick reply Dave. I can't find that info so I'll assume it can't be done and get the Arduino. Probably a good thing to have anyway.

      Delete
  5. Pete Spaker23 August 2015 at 16:02

    Question. I have like 4 UNOs sitting around collecting dust. I cod pull the ATMEGA328P out of one and order the passive components I don't have on hand and build the proto board circuit, like the instructions clearly explain. But can't I skip all that and just dump the code on to the existing complete Auduino, throw the UNO inside my Hammond BB, and use it's ready to go power input, and wire up the pots to the Auduino ? I really have four sitting and doing nothing and have already used three other UNOs , a Teensy 2, a Mega and a Leo on other stuff. It just seems silly to me to replicate a unit that I have to spare. Ordering the crystal, the power stabilizing components, etc... waiting for them to arrive and all that jazz would suck if I don HAVE to. I have the pots and jacks and knobs and wiring and the Hammond BB sitting right here.

    I guess my question is- will the sketch just "work" and are the pin assignments for the pots the same? Are there modifications to the instructions that I am too dumb not to see?

    And I figure that I am going to ruin an UNO by yanking the ATMEGA328P out of it instead of orderin a $5-$7 one and waiting - if I were to make the proto board one. And I don't have the crystal and the 33uf mylar capacitor - the only parts I don't have on hand.... so it's more of a patience thing. If I can just make it today by throwing the UNO in the Hammond BB, I want to make it today.

    Pete

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave24 August 2015 at 16:09

      Hi Pete. You can definitely use your UNO to build this. The original Auduino was basically this. Check out the instructions here: https://code.google.com/p/tinkerit/wiki/Auduino

      If you want to add the Line output upgrade and the MIDI mod, you will still need to add a board and some parts. Check it out here:
      http://www.notesandvolts.com/2015/05/auduino-synth-midi.html

      Delete
  6. Anonymous17 December 2015 at 13:46

    hi can you send a Circuit diagram?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ben31 December 2015 at 23:35

    I got mine to work, tough to tell with the not so good speaker. Really hard to put down once its all done I love it! https://www.dropbox.com/home/Hongo-E-Mongo?preview=20151227_171945.mp4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave1 January 2016 at 03:19

      Congrats Ben! Glad you're enjoying it. Great work!

      Delete
    2. Ben9 June 2016 at 15:11

      Hey Dave - now im thinking, can I use this same build, load different code for a different synth type result? I dreamt of making 1 unit out of 2 - 4 of these.....can you dig it?

      Delete
  8. dikdom26 January 2016 at 10:39

    I have a few questions regarding to the logic..
    - Do you think it is possible to enhance the interrupt vector to handle 3 grains? (do you happen to know how much time does it consume now the signal() method). Does it make sense at all?
    - Can you explain or show some doc that explains the mapXXX() methods and arrays? Why exactly do you use those numbers?
    - Do you think it is possible to change the triangle wave to some other (like saw wave or rectangle -> enhancement for fill ratio), or even some sound sample?
    I plan to build a variant of this (using a Nano with a blown D3 pin) with my 10 yrs old daughter, I really like this project. Hope she will too when we build it... :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Unknown29 January 2016 at 06:38

    Hi Dave,
    a wonderful project - thanks publishing it.
    But, could you add some more information about the sketch?
    I do not understand very much of it (although it works very well) - and perhaps a video, where you explain the major parts of the arduino scetch would could be very helpfull?!
    Regards, Jazzman

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous25 February 2016 at 21:07

    hi Dave, great project, love the sound. Is there any way to move the audio output to pin 9? I've tried to change the pwm pin on the code but I keep lossing control of my potentiometers

    thanks
    jpur

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unknown27 February 2016 at 00:25

    Hey Dave,
    How quickly are are the analog inputs read and processed in software? I want to get rid of some of the pots and wire up some CV connections from modular synths. (don't worry about safe voltages and currents, I have it under control). I just want to know if I can modulate the sounds with a 1KHz sine wave or something along those lines.
    Cheers
    Jazz

    ReplyDelete
  12. Unknown14 April 2016 at 23:57

    Awesome project! Although I tried to make it myself but the audio quality doesn't seem nearly as good as the one in your video. Plus when I turn up one of the pots, the sound changes completely but only when it reaches its max, like it couldn't handle it. any suggestions? I'm using 5K linear taper pots and double checked the connections.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Benas Plentas24 November 2016 at 14:49

    Hi Dave, it is really cool project - I've just made the box using all the exact parts like in your videos and it works. One question - coulc you shortly explain which know does what - in the same numbering, like in your videos: 23,24,25,26,27? Would be interesting what could be done when changing parameters of those in the code.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous6 December 2016 at 15:30

    I want to know if I can use Arduino nano with ATmega168 instead of buying crystals and making my own Arduino. If that's possible, do I need to change code or something? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  15. Unknown6 December 2016 at 15:41

    I want to know if I can use Arduino nano with ATmega168 instead of buying crystals and making my own Arduino. If that's possible, do I need to change code or something? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous8 April 2017 at 16:37

    Could you do this with a pre-built arduino and a prototyping shield?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous15 May 2017 at 03:09

    I'm about to attempt this project. Can you add a drill guide for the sides?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Antonio Grazioli10 August 2017 at 07:55

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Antonio Grazioli10 August 2017 at 07:56

    I have sourced all the parts, I will start the project this afternoon, time permitting ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous25 August 2017 at 19:34

    I'm new in the synthesis building world
    Just wondering what the code is for the knobs
    Plus i'm still confused about each knobs actual function is

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous27 November 2017 at 14:49

    Hi! is it possible to add gate sync in/out or cv?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous16 January 2019 at 09:45

    Either the video or the blog try to make it self contained ! Try get it all in one place, I fed up ! Bye

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hales14 February 2019 at 11:51

    thanks this is good blog. OMC outdrive parts

    ReplyDelete
  24. loaf3r26 May 2019 at 11:34

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Pallav sen25 July 2019 at 06:47

    Hi, I'm a little confused with the coding part. Can I directly connect the hardwares to my Arduino and make it work ? Also is there any code to be installed in Arduino to make it function ?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Unknown14 January 2020 at 14:54

    does it work without any Midi Jack conected? I did the whole whorkshop. It was woarking with the first version but not with the Midi Update. Not any sound. I still didnt try with a Midi input becuase i still dont have it


    ReplyDelete
  27. Unknown16 May 2020 at 23:39

    i am browsing this website dailly , and get nice facts from here all the time .

    ReplyDelete
  28. Jo Morken21 May 2020 at 10:16

    I have a Arduino micro, thinking to uset that instead of making the IC/crystal one ANy particular bumps in the road here?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous22 June 2020 at 13:09

    peen

    ReplyDelete
  30. marfz15 October 2020 at 11:20

    where are the schematics for this?

    ReplyDelete
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