Let's Build A Synthesizer! + FREE Kontakt Library

In this video, I build an actual physical synth out of resistors, capacitors, and a 555 timer. I then sample it and turn it into a synthwave-inspired Kontakt patch.

[deanwhitlock]

I used to teach electronics. I can help you understand the 555 if ever you need to

[Grinder-one]

I once built an intruder alarm for my house using 555 timers, I've never once considered using one to make music :)
Yes, that final sound was pretty awesome, I think the secret to creating square waves etc, would be in the capacitors, at a guess.

[TheZooman]

This reminds me of my first attempt to create a synth sound. I used a CMOS chip to generate a square wave, which I tuned and sampled. I used it in FL to create my first musical sequence. I added some electric guitar and drums. "Electric Texas " was born, a bumper used on the Kevin Smith show for years.

[MichaelCoelho]

David - You inspired me to make my first simple test Kontact instrument with samples from my Moog Little Phatty,

[olGrandpaby]

If you were ever planning on revisiting this experiment you'd be better off using a cd40106. The circuit only needs a single capacitor and a single potentiometer and it sounds way cleaner than the 555.

[KRAFTWERKK]

The end result was pretty damn awesome! Remember what Bob Ross said. There are no mistakes. Only happy little accidents.

[MostlyPennyCat]

It's funny, as a software engineer I'm _allergic_ to having computers anywhere near me if I'm doing something with music.
Watching you switch to spreadsheets while making a synth is just painful! 😂😉
Let's see if you ever finished this synth, did you make a filter yet?

[shottskies]

wow can't believe you just made a really sweet synth from a basic arse 555 circuit. Amazing

[jamesreynolds]

Thanks for this - it's helped inspire me to make my own instruments.

[vishalkaranam]

now that’s what i like about circuits and music

[Vospi]

You have a "weird" waveform representation, but a stable harmonic representation because you have some kind of a phase response alteration.
04:01 for example, this wave is supposed to be "saw", because every harmonic up to your Niquist is there. But it doesn't "look like a saw" because if you shift phase for just one (or a bunch) of your harmonics compared to others, you get this "not-phase-coherent" sum of its parts.

[WangleLine]

this turned out very beautiful, as always, thanks for making these videos!

[ptshi_channel]

Great video, I had never seen a ‘naked’ oscillator, nice work and very decent sound out of this DIY project. Thumbs up 👍🏽

[thevibetech]

wow. this just unlocked a whole new dimension for me. thank you

[audioartisan]

The Pad in this instrument is top notch! Thank you :)

[doughankins]

I built a whole synth around a hex Schmidt trigger. 40106IC. I love this circuit!!!❤❤❤ Thanks for the instruction!! In the future you could hook the output up to a speaker 🔊, and put a variable resistor/pot, in the place of your fixed resistor. 😊😊

[Paul_Bearden]

You gave me an idea, it could be possible to check the accuracy of a 555 frequency by comparing the audio tone with a computer generated tone of a known frequency. This only would work if the frequency of the 555 timer was in the audible range.

[Taser]

I'm in the same boat as far as building a bunch of circuits at a young age. Buying a synth is expensive since I only want to dabble in music as a hobby, but your vid is inspirational.

[troym]

Might need an LFO for the lower frequencies

[asmi_asm]

You are great man..thank you for sharing your ideas