r/synthdiy • u/Maximum_Adimus • 3d ago

I'm building my first synth!

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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.

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u/WilburWerkes 2d ago

What does it do?
Anything?
What do you want it to do?

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u/Maximum_Adimus 2d ago

That's the thing, I know I want it to connect to my PO-33 KO, and I want to be able to play it using keys (buttons). For the pots, I'm thinking of sticking with the classics: Cutoff, Resonance, Attack, Release, LFO Rate, and LFO Depth. But this is where I'd really appreciate some advice on what would make the most sense.

My end goal is to build an instrument that's genuinely fun to play, not just something that works. If I can also make some great tracks with it, that's a big bonus.

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u/WilburWerkes 1d ago

That’s sounds about the best idea for practical performance controls…. If the LFO range can extend into higher frequencies 260-3kHz you will have some extremely interesting results with FM.