OK guys, welcome to the new DIY forum! I'm posting this thread up as a sticky thread, so as we run across new DIY links that will be good to have around for regular reference, we won't have to go searching for them.

Enjoy!

Scott

--------------------
Scott
--Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

Fantastique!
Here's one for starters then..
www.paia.com
I've never bought anything from this lot yet, But am often tempted..

--------------------
Paul

Ahh, and something else that has me tempted (Although i already have a MAQ 16/3 which is very similar)
The P3 sequencer
http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/p3.htm

--------------------
Paul

Here's what we've managed to collect over at "The Lab":

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1277

..It's a good resource if you're looking for DIY-related information..


Jakob E.

Two different but equally useful resources for components etc:

Maplin Electronics

RS Components

--------------------
SOS Gear Videos now screening on www.SoundOnSound.tv
SOS Podcasts

And probably cheaper than RS but less easily navigable, is http://www.farnell.co.uk/

Thanks Ian and ScottDru
Good idea for a forum - but are we a dying breed? I guess we'll find out...

Here's my collection from over the years. These have helped me build filters and wahs, mods for my TR909 and SH-09, ext control for my minikorg 700 etc etc

Fantastic resource for guitar related circuits, but of course applicable anywhere...
http://geofex.com/
The Synth DIY grey pages
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Museum/4459/grey_pages/grypag_index.html
Barry Klein wrote a classic text on building synths in 1982, you can still buy it from him direct
http://members.cox.net/barryklein/
Synth DIY UK
http://www.modulus.synth.net/SynthDIY_UK/
Rick Jansens Synth DIY links
http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/synth-diy/
Fantastic circuits and articles using transformers
http://www.jensen-transformers.com/
Another synth DIY searchable archive
http://www.buchi.de/SDIY/
Troubleshooting and Repair of Audio Equipment
http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/audiofaq.htm
Vintage audio schematics
http://www.audiophool.cjb.net/Techno.htm
E-music DIY archive - great links!
http://www.physicsenterprises.andrews.edu/diy_archive/links.html
Reed Ghazala's Art Of Circuit Bending (as featured in SOS years ago!)
http://www.anti-theory.com/soundart/circuitbend/
Check out Jürgen Haible's homepage for homemade synth modules and FX
http://home.debitel.net/user/jhaible/hj.html
Guitar FX circuits
http://hammer.ampage.org/
Bernie Hutchin's Electronotes probably launched more DIY synthesizers on the world than any other source...
http://electronotes.netfirms.com/
Tips for repairing vintage synthesizers
http://www.oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/synth/
The Synhouse Midijack, for retrofitting those vintage synths...
http://www.synhouse.com/originalmidijack.html
More circuit bending, mentions the SOS article..
http://www.cementimental.com/links.html
The brilliant Robin Whittle, who modded my 303, 808, and DX7 many years ago...
http://www.firstpr.com.au/

Phew! That should get you started....!

hth

--------------------
Adam Inglis
A Disco Ate My BABY!

Ayone interested in DIY MIDI projects has to check out the MIDIbox projects at:

http://www.ucapps.de/

I'm going to get round to making a custom Ableton Live controller one day!!

Matt

> are we a dying breed?

We are reborn.

DIY was standard practice 1920 to 1970. Then the rise of very good yet low-cost pre-made products (Fisher, TEAC, Gateley, BiAmp, PhaseLinear) cast a shadow. The robust surplus-parts market from VietNam era military and computer systems scrap kept things alive, but that dried up by 1980. DIY became the secret hobby of a few quiet geeks.

But when DIY seemed totally dead, a lot of people woke up to the dull sound of the affordable boxes, and the variable sound of the hand-built boutique boxes. And while some parts have just vanished from the world, some others are in ready supply at cheap prices. And all those vacuum tubes came out of the closets they were hiding in, both old-stock and ex-Communist factories. And the Web let distant strangers share tips in forums like this one, cross-fertilizing each other's ideas and enthusiasm.

It may be better than ever.

It may also be, that some people with zero experience are doing things they probably should not be doing. I just warned a musician away from a transformerless "hot chassis" power supply that is likely to kill him. Such things were common knowledge once upon a time, but common knowledge isn't so common today as it was when every school had a Radio Club and many kids had learned not to stick their fingers in bad places.

Edited by PRR (18/09/04 09:06 AM)

Gyraf Audio

Excellent site.

Heres some links that I have plundered from my Internet explorer Favorites folders.


http://www.geocities.com/j4_student/schematics.htm
schematics for all manner of stomp boxes

http://recording.org/users/kev/
Some interesting projects

http://www.maxiespages.com/Articles/Theremin_tech
Schematics for different types of Theremins

http://users.informatik.haw-hamburg.de/~windle_c/TableHooters/
http://www.alien-devices.com/
http://carrionsound.com/
http://www.oddmusic.com/illogic/
Various sites on 'Circuit Bending'

I have more links which I shall post later.

Pabs

[EDIT: Pabs, at your request, I deleted the other thread in which you originally posted these links. Cheers, Scott. ]

Edited by Scottdru (21/09/04 01:08 AM)

The only site I can find with a quality "48v Phantom Power" circuit and a thorough discussion abot phantom power issues - and loads of other stuff too - very nice schematics!

http://sound.westhost.com

Cheers
Mike

http://www.ax84.com/ is brilliant for DIY valve guitar amps. I built their P1 amp a few years ago. They have everything you need including a very helpful forum - although be sure to search it first if you think you've got a typically newbie question.

Matt

Microphone Pre Amp Kits

Seventh Circle Audio

JLM Audio

A couple of Schematic sites here, mainly vintage commercial stuff.

http://www.hylander.com/moogschematics.html
http://www.synthfool.com/schm.html

Synth circuit ideas. Some duplications (Haible's site is mentioned)

http://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs159/

this is a fantastic forum, its really got me juices flowing again ....

have you seen this site for OAKLEY SOUND SYSTEMS they sell ready made synth modules which are compatible with MOTM units but also they do just the pcb's and the neccesary preprogrammed chips

gr

Quote PRR:

---

>
It may also be, that some people with zero experience are doing things they probably should not be doing. I just warned a musician away from a transformerless "hot chassis" power supply that is likely to kill him. Such things were common knowledge once upon a time, but common knowledge isn't so common today as it was when every school had a Radio Club and many kids had learned not to stick their fingers in bad places.

---

so true!
im a complete newbie to DIY and so iv just started off circuit bending a couple of cheap casio's& old yamaha psr's. Iv also been trying to make a few pedals-im currently on Failed Attempt no2 at a simple distortion pedal.

for the time being im only making/bending battery powered stuff cuz i know sod all - learnt how to solder over the summer though.

Some basic but good stuff here:

Electronics Articles

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/

This one looks cool!, Discovered it when looking for a schematic for a RIAA phono pre amp...
Covers a lot of bases.

--------------------
Adam Inglis
A Disco Ate My BABY!

http://www.musikding.de/index.php


Almost too easy.

you're all gunna laugh I know....

But you can use weed wacker line of different guages for the strings of a double bass (doodle bass). there are some great/good/not-so-good home-made folk instrument tips and instructions here.

he's even got some sound clips of his doodle bass. Not bad either.

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/

Edited by person man (26/01/05 07:23 PM)

Hello i'm new to the world of DIY synths, currently taking a course on analog electronics at university. I have looked out much of the links, but i can't seem to find an appropriate 1. I'm looking for a diy site or even book, which discusses how to build the main parts of a synthesizer, such as the vca, oscialltor filter section etc, in real detail, step by step, ideally it will also send a package with all the components. i've been in paia but the book their is does not concern the main components of a analog synthesizer. Thanks

Quote Skotchy:

---

Hello i'm new to the world of DIY synths, currently taking a course on analog electronics at university. I have looked out much of the links, but i can't seem to find an appropriate 1. I'm looking for a diy site or even book, which discusses how to build the main parts of a synthesizer, such as the vca, oscialltor filter section etc, in real detail, step by step, ideally it will also send a package with all the components. i've been in paia but the book their is does not concern the main components of a analog synthesizer. Thanks

---

Any of these work for you?
http://www.tellun.com/motm/diy/diy.html
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/SOUNDLABMINISYNTH/soundlab. html
http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/links.htm

Hi,

Does anyone have any links to articles about creating your own cables? I want to be able to make all types of standard audio cables.

Any help much appreciated.

D

Hi DJ. Actually, there's a great guide to cabling here. I'm surprised this link hadn't been posted in this thread yet.

--------------------
Scott
--Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

Here's some of my faves:

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/epeasant/index.html
http://www.emulatorarchive.com/
http://www.physicsenterprises.andrews.edu/diy_archive/schematics/synths/in dex.html

A page of links...
http://www.electronics2000.co.uk/links.htm#Suppliers

Here's a batch from me, to prove I've still got my soldering iron and remember how to use it

A handy one for MIDI info: www.hinton.demon.co.uk/midi/promidi.html

Well-known to the guitar community no doubt, but lots of useful DIY guitar wiring tips, potting pickups, links to homebrew valve amp info, electrical safety tips, and lots more: www.guitarnuts.com/index.php

Tomi Engdahl's Electronics Pages are well worth a read: www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics

Here's a huge list of electronic links: www.epanorama.net/index.php

If you want some projects by and for audio fanatics, try: www.diyaudio.com

Even more extreme, here's a huge selection of forums dedicated to various aspects of audio design, including one for esoteric DIY cables: www.audioasylum.com/index.html

Enjoy!


Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

Is it OK to plug one's own site? I started Amp Maker this summer after so much frustration that RS/Maplin/etc are scaling down the high-voltage stuff.

Amp Maker - for valve amp builders (amp kits from £129, cabinets, components, etc)

The first amp kit (the SE-5a) has an online build guide that might be useful to builders of other amps, too. See
se5aguide

--------------------
Don't let your mind wander - one day it won't come back.

Hi, I'm making a MIDI controller for a project at university and I'm having real trouble finding anyone who supplies linear faders, be they analogue or digital, that don't cost too much. I'm planning to include about 20 on my controller and so far the only ones I've found give a nice digital output, but cost over £12 each which I can't afford. I hope somebody can point me in the right direction or indeed shed light upon the feasability of making my own analogue faders. Thanks.

Doctronics Educational Publishing: This will get you started if you know absolutely nothing... (like me )
ML

not a massive amount of detailed info but lots of audio projects here:

http://www.fivefish.net/diy/

I just noted the URL for http://www.backlights.co.uk is now referring to http://www.midi-rakete.de

It might be useful updating your bookmarks...

--------------------
Imagination is more important than knowledge - A. Einstein

For those interested in making their own custom Midi controllers.. Doepfer can give you a big head start now.. As they offer some bare midi boards which are ideal for this. There are even quite a few cool examples posted on the site. Well worth a look..
http://www.doepfer.de/home_e.htm Go to 'Products' and look in the 'OEM/DIY' section.

--------------------
Paul

Mic Pres

Borbely Audio
Dantimax
JLM Audio (already mentioned above)
K&K Audio
PAiA
Peter C's homepage
Seventh Circle Audio (also already mentioned)

Line stages
Dantimax
GoldPoint

Work in progress, more to come...

--------------------
Imagination is more important than knowledge - A. Einstein

Fun!
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH/YOUR_FIRST _SYNTH.html

For those newbies who're ready to move on from kit assembly and don't want (who does?) yet another electronic dice project, I think the above will satisfy the urge for something that makes noises but is still pretty simple with easily got parts.

Here's a site with an enormous list of links to different DIY pages. There are a few audio-related ones, a few good general electronics ones and lots of amusing other stuff. My favourite is "How to make a cricket bat from networking gear".

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/diy_projects/

Matt

From HeadWize-forum fame, here's a link to Sijosae's gallery containing as many as 70 homebrew projects, including headphone amps, voltage rail splitters, nifty little things like headphone plugs with integrated volume control, etc.

What this guy can do on a piece of matrixboard is downright awesome, it's neater than some PCB designs I've seen... Inspirational stuff...

--------------------
Imagination is more important than knowledge - A. Einstein

A contribution by Koed: a very useful web site on how to make your own printed circuit boards using Eagle Lite, a laser printer and some patience. The process is concisely described and pictures are included, providing visual support.

--------------------
Imagination is more important than knowledge - A. Einstein

Custom DIY racks link

--------------------
Hey, who's the best? It's God all mighty

Tranformerless, electronically balanced, DC Servo, SC-1 mic preamp kit.. +72dB, soft-start phantom power, etc...

www.fivefish.net/diy/

Also power supply kits (with +48V) for opamp based projects, including above mic pre kit.

--------------------
FiveFish Studios - DIY Pro Audio Kits
Boutique Quality. Affordable Prices.

www.SoundSkulptor.com

It offers everything that is needed to build some great microphone preamplifiers, based on vintage and newer designs.
SOUND SKULPTOR is a part of SYNCHRONIA, a recording studio in southern France.

--------------------
JPK - www.soundskulptor.com

Anyone that is interested in DIY acoustic treatment, yet does not have the time or resources to construct them may want to check out this site:

http://www.waveguideacousticsolutions.com

Coming from a DIY background and being a musician, I know that money can be tight. This was my solution to the high cost of acoustic treatments. One by one, others have found out about my diffusers and some have requested that I make some for them.

I have a small buzz going on about me here in the states, I thought I'd share some DIY ingenuity. The way they are made is simple enough, from already available equations, so that's nothing really special. Some hange the name "skyline clone" on them which isn't exactly true. As the prime number theory I use is slightly different.

I thought I'd post a list of links to recommended cable and connector manufacturers for those getting into making their own leads. These are the corporate websites, which will have links to local distributors. They also have exhaustive catalogues which you can dowload or, in a surprising number of cases, recieve in the post for free!

Klotz Very nice German cable. Quite low on technical figures, though.

Canare Extremely nice-feeling and performing cable from Japan. An emphasis on video over audio means there aren't that many products applicable to music, but their starquad is universally recommended. I imagine their video cables are great for digital audio, too. Also manufacture some connectors.

Mogami international The US distributors site is more accessible, but doesn't have any information about dealers or distributors outside North America. Mogami is even nicer-feeling than Canare, but they are very reticent to give specs.

Van Damme From mainland Europe somewhere and nice quality. Very efficient UK distribution, too.

Sommer Sommer give you every specification you could wish for! Some of their cable (ie. their 'Spirit' guitar cable) seems to be the best available. They also make 'Hicon' connectors: no idea if they are good, but they appear to offer good colour-coding.

Belden Their product range is massive and may take you a while to find the audio cables. Come highly recommended.

Gotham Swiss and, again, highly recommended.

Bryant and Canford are UK broadcast distributors who do their own lines of cable, In Canford's case, to BBC specs. There are probably US equivalents.

Connectors:

Neutrik Neutrik make very nice versions of practically every connector you'd ever need!

Switchcraft They supply the US military, which is either the best or worst recommendation depending on your political views and/ or geographic location! Their cable-mount connectors certainly have an 'involved' assembly method, but Americans still seem to like them. They've made a large array of connectors over the years, so you may need some of their parts to fix old gear (I did). Their open-frame jacks are standard for guitars.

Amphenol As well as standard audio connectors (which I've never used), they seem to be about the only manufacturers of the weird connectors you find on old mics and power supplies that are still going. You may get lucky.

Deltron and Alcatel used to make very nice XLRs with metal back-shells and (in Deltron's case) lots of colour-coding options. Both companies seem to have stopped making them, though, due to mergers and things. It's a shame, as the best XLRs I've ever used are all-brass Alcatel ones. Hopefully someone knows better than me.

There's always Kelsey

Good for cable and general consultation. They've been very helpful to me in the past.

--------------------
www.allyle.co.uk

Quote Aliweasel:

---

There's always Kelsey

Good for cable and general consultation. They've been very helpful to me in the past.

---

They also have pictures like this on their site, which is far more than you can say for boring old Canford.

Nice one Ali, never come across them before.

Having done some research into building a bass cab, i got some useful links from the lovely chaps at em411.com. Incase you don't know that's a site with a very active forum and blogs for electronic musicians (there's a rumour it's hosted by Bogdan Razynski...)

amazing speaker design links page
This page tells you pretty much everything you need to know on speaker cab design, crossovers, calculations, room resonance. mint.

College course
Some doccuments from someone's college course on building hi-fi speakers.

line-level crossovers
Info on passive line-level crossovers, for before the amplification section.

Filter design
Great tutorial on crossover design, including handy calculators for components etc.

Basic crossover info
Great introductory page on how crossovers work.


Hope someone can find these helpful!
Graham

try Rapid components, they're a lot cheaper than other supliers (1/2 the price of maplin) which is important if you're going to let the smoke out of (ie fry) a fair few components in your diy quest.

best bet is to buy a bench power supply (say9-12v) ~£15, get some bread board and small gauge wire, and start playing with circuits. use pc music software to record and display your waveforms.

would recommend 'art of electronics' by horowitz and hill, well worth it, eases you in gently without any faffing about.

Thebrassnut.com for guitar parts and luthier tools

--------------------
http://www.thebrassnut.com (luthier supplies)

http://www.hardwarebook.info/ general connectors & cable info as well as lots of other stuff.

http://arduino.cc/ great little development kit

and...

http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Labs/MIDIOutput interesting interface project info for it.

--------------------
It wasn't me!
(Well, actually, it probably was)

NEW! API 500 series lunchbox format preamp. Everything included in the kit, as shown below.



Also, 2nd generation of our SC-1 mic preamps.



--------------------
FiveFish Studios - DIY Pro Audio Kits
Boutique Quality. Affordable Prices.

Quote ~Paul:

---

Ahh, and something else that has me tempted (Although i already have a MAQ 16/3 which is very similar)
The P3 sequencer
http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/p3.htm

---

I love the forum, Paul looks for this, thanks

Edited by James Perrett (14/06/11 01:37 PM)

Quote shawn01:

---

Quote ~Paul:

---

Ahh, and something else that has me tempted (Although i already have a MAQ 16/3 which is very similar)
The P3 sequencer
http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/p3.htm

---

I love the forum, Paul looks for this, thanks

---

I posted that link quite some time ago, and I see the link is now dead. Theres 2 replacements that work though, for anyone still interested.
www.colinfraser.com
www.sequentix.com

Paul

--------------------
Paul

Quote ~Paul:

---

Quote shawn01:

---

Quote ~Paul:

---

Ahh, and something else that has me tempted (Although i already have a MAQ 16/3 which is very similar)
The P3 sequencer
http://www.colinfraser.com/p3/p3.htm

---

I love the forum, Paul looks for this, thanks

---

I posted that link quite some time ago, and I see the link is now dead. Theres 2 replacements that work though, for anyone still interested.
www.colinfraser.com
www.sequentix.com
Paul

---

jajaja thanks Paul you are great

Edited by James Perrett (14/06/11 01:38 PM)

http://www.waltzingbear.com/Schematics/Schematics.html

Urei, Trident, Neve etc

--------------------
Adam Inglis
A Disco Ate My BABY!

I've started a database of DIY recording gear projects past and present at www.diyrecordingequipment.com

Let me know if I've missed anything!

Quote meathands:

---

I've started a database of DIY recording gear projects past and present at www.diyrecordingequipment.com

Let me know if I've missed anything!

---

Nice. Good work that man!

--------------------
Original artwork and unique devices inspired by vintage technology http://www.thisisobsolete.com

Thanks, I appreciate it! I'm just finishing up the database, but there will be some interviews and other articles popping up soon.

Quote UNIT393:

---

Gyraf Audio

Excellent site.

---

Thanks for sharing- having some trouble with my equalizer.

hi everyone not sure if im in the right place or not for this post, but can anyone advise a good beginners guide for ableton.

Thx

Lana

Hi Lana,

The DIY links thread is - unfortunately - not the right place to ask for Ableton guides. This thread is merely a reference for Do-It-Yourselfers who are looking for part sources, (electronic) tinkering projects and background information on various sources related to building kit for the home studio.

Try posting your question in the Music & Recording Technology section or in the PC or Mac forums, depending on the version you're using.

Cheers,
Frank

--------------------
Imagination is more important than knowledge - A. Einstein

SPAM POST DELETED


Edited by Hugh Robjohns (26/10/11 11:32 AM)

In terms of building DIY stomp boxes for guitar, I've enjoyed http://www.madbeanpedals.com/

He used to have loads of PCB's so you could build clones of many 'boutique' style pedals. For this reason I have clones of the ZVex fuzz factory, Catslinbread Dirty Little Secret and D*A*M meathead on my board.

The range of boards now is smaller, but the circuits are still there on the forum so it's w great resource. Boards cheap, good quality and take about 2 weeks to the UK (or have done on the 3 occasions I've ordered....).

http://www.freestompboxes.org/ is another fantastic place for circuit discussion

As to components, I've had brilliant service from http://doctortweek.co.uk/

He's got a great range of parts aimed at guitar pedal builders (plenty of generic stuff too), significantly cheaper than I can get them round here. Delivery is quick and he's a nice guy.

Quote Gary_W:

---

As to components, I've had brilliant service from http://doctortweek.co.uk/

He's got a great range of parts aimed at guitar pedal builders (plenty of generic stuff too), significantly cheaper than I can get them round here. Delivery is quick and he's a nice guy.

---

Dead link I'm afraid, I've searched for Doctor Tweek and the pages found there are dead too.

Andy

--------------------
When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.

I don't understand that, Andy... I've just clicked on the link I've put in the thread and it works a treat! I ordered some bits from him a couple of days back and he emailed me yesterday to say they'd shipped so he's certainly there....

I've just followed your link again and it's working fine for me now too. Must have been an issue with the site host or something.

It's now safely bookmarked, and thanks

Andy

--------------------
When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.

Excellent - my wife tells me a package has arrived this morning and (unless someone is sending me unsolicited gifts) I recon it'll be the bits from Steve to finish my 'King of Tone Clone' so as I can discover whether the fuss is justified

The chap from Madbean has emailed me this morning to say he's shipped my PCBs as well so he'll be getting another little order from me soon - a phaser, an Octaver and (yet another) overdrive are on the cards.

Quote Gary_W:

---

As to components, I've had brilliant service from http://doctortweek.co.uk/

He's got a great range of parts aimed at guitar pedal builders (plenty of generic stuff too), significantly cheaper than I can get them round here. Delivery is quick and he's a nice guy.

---

I've also had great service from Doctor Tweek, and although his parts aren't quite the cheapest around the delivery costs are reasonable for small orders and he's quick off the mark in sending stuff to you


Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

I found this flash based site for learning engineering concepts. Engineering GOLD!

http://www.fourier-series.com/

Now that IS good Six


Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic