The second workshop started around 7:30 PM. After a brief break we all sat back at our work tables and the parts and documentation were passed out for the second project, the one we all were waiting for the “Andromeda Space Rocker” drum machines.
Don’t let the size of these little guys fool you, they are seriously cool. There are 2 photo-cells up at the top that effect tone. Shine a light at different intervals on these while the machine is running and you get a cool filter like effect. The thumb dial down at the bottom left effects tempo. The dip switches to the left control the rhythm and are a simple pattern generator. There is an LED, in the case of mine, RED, (you know… for REDFAUX…jeez) that is hooked to the tempo. It also highly increases the sex appeal of these little beasts… I mean who doesn’t like colored blinky lights? On the bottom side there is a infrared led that allows you to synch up with up to 4 of these guys to create a full drum pattern. There are 4 basic flavors of the machine:
- Hi
- Mid-hi
- Low-mid
- Low
So if you have one of each going you can get a pretty full sounding pattern going. The version I made on Sunday was the Low-mid.
The switch up above the thumb dial allows you to set your machine to synch and follow any others it is chained with. The button gives you a drum fill.
There is also an empty circuit matrix, called the “personality center” that allows you to add mods to the machine. Eric promised he would post some projects for this in the future.
Putting this together was more involved than the beginners project, but still fairly easy. You just have to make sure you are connecting the right parts to the board basically and that your solder joints don’t touch each other.
This is another project I want to make more of. Guys please make these kits available for sale. I will buy them… pretty please J
Here is a picture of my Andromeda Space Rocker along with some samples…
Lastly I want to say that this workshop was fantastic guys! Thanks again. This has taken away my apprehension in getting into building synth kits. The guys were helpful and friendly. I am looking forward to enhancing my new music with these great little instruments. I will definitely attend future workshops.
- Over N Out til' next time
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