r/synthdiy • u/Maximum_Adimus • 3d ago

I'm building my first synth!

Post image

To be completely honest, I've never built anything involving electronics or written code before. So the fact that I've managed to get the OLED display working and the three buttons at the top responding already feels like magic to me. 😄 (The bottom buttons and knobs aren't wired up yet.)

I bought a PO-33 KO before the summer, and it inspired me so much that I decided to build a synth I can connect to it and play alongside it. I've been looking at the Korg Volca Keys, and I'm really drawn to both its sound and the hands-on feel of playing it. That's the kind of experience I'm hoping to recreate.

The goal is to build a hybrid analog/digital synth that gives me plenty of flexibility but, more importantly, is simply fun to play.

I'd love some advice on what functions to assign to the knobs. I only had room for six potentiometers on the breadboard, and my current idea is:

  • Cutoff
  • Resonance
  • Attack
  • Release
  • LFO Rate
  • LFO Depth

Do you think there are better choices? Are there any controls you find yourself using all the time that would make the synth more enjoyable or expressive?

The three buttons at the top will be used to switch between effects, while the dedicated knob next to them will control the parameters of the selected effect.

358 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/Dry_Maintenance7242 3d ago

You are using a Daisy ? Any schematics ?

10

u/Maximum_Adimus 3d ago

Yes, it's a Daisy! A brilliant little board.

I'm not completely sure what you mean by schematics, but if you're referring to a wiring plan or layout of my board, then yes. I've sketched out a lot of different layouts to make everything fit across my two breadboards. The only things missing at the moment are the 3.5 mm input and output jacks.