Casper Electronics DIY synth building. Part 2: Sequencers

The OMSynth is now available for purchase!
More info here:

Learn how to make a variety of musical pattern sequencers using a few common electrical components and a breadboard.

This video is part 2 in a 3 part series.
PART 1: building oscillators.

PART 3: Lo-fi sampler.

Get more info, schematics and drawings for the circuits shown in this video here:

MORE LINKS BELOW!!

MATERIALS:
-CD40106 hex schmitt trigger IC
-CD4040 binary counter IC
-CD4051 8 channel multiplexer IC
-1k, 10k, 47k, 100k resistors
-100k potentiometers
-0.1uF, 1uF, 10uF capacitors
-LEDs
-lots of jumper wires

----------=TIMELINE=----------

00:20 Intro

MATERIALS
1:45 OMSynth mini lab intro
2:15 Electrical components and tools

OSCILLATORS
3:48 oscillators
5:22 BASIC pitch modulation.

SIMPLE SEQUENCER
6:15 Simple sequencer using a clock divider (!!)
11:06 Making our simple sequence more complex with diodes and switches.
13:19 Adding diodes. theory w/ schematic
14:36 Demo

8 STEP SEQUENCER
17:05 Intro
17:46 Theory
22:50 Sequencer demo
24:24 Building
24:45 Basic operation
27:45 Playing with bits !

29:25 Syncing your oscillator to make a harmonic sequencer

30:55 demo
31:35 playing with resistance
32:37 demo

8 STEP VOLTAGE SEQUENCER
33:43 How its done
34:29 Adding diodes to make complex sequences
36:00 Wrapping up

MUSIC DEMO
37:13 Party Jams
37:36 Shout outs
37:59 Sleepy cat

38:03 after party

LINKS:
Schmitt trigger info:

CD40106 hex schmitt trigger data sheet:

CD4040 binary counter data sheet:

CD4051 8 channel multiplexer data sheet:

Voltage divider theory (good to know!!!):

This video was produced during an artists residency at Ljudmila Lab in June 2015 with financial support from the Slovenian Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Ljubljana's Department for Culture. The residency was part of Changing Weathers project, which is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

Produced by: Ljudmila, Art and Science Laboratory and Projekt Atol Institute

[RadioEnhancedBear]

Can't thank you enough for this series Peter! You display a passion for this kind of tinkering that's hard to find very often anymore in this community. Keep it up!

[hrnekbezucha]

Dude, you are absolutely amazing. Thank you for this series!

[jamesbrickhill]

Made my day! Just got my 4040s in the mail yesterday, waiting on the rest. Thanks Casper!

[Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

A note to other diy synth newbies like myself: If you’re moved to invest in the materials needed to build these circuits and follow along as well as hopefully furthering your experimenting, know this: these oscillators only sound as good as your amplified audio source. I just found out just how good these circuits can sound through a powered studio monitor with decent bottom end. Life changing. Invest in the best audio setup for this stuff as you can and you will be VERY motivated to make and learn more once you hear how good this handful of parts can sound. Trust me. Peter, you sir are GOLDEN. ❤️

[felixcat]

Wow, this is just great. I was thinking of building a function generator for one of the electronics only you tube channels, like mjlorton or eevblog but I will do it from this demonstration. Very inspirational and inventive. I love the use of the DSO138 and the breadboard work. It is great in getting a feel for the values of capacitors and resistors. The visual presentation using the whiteboard, and the breadboard together is an inspiration idea. Very little repetition here and absolutely no danger warnings! I will look at all this guys you tube posts.

[dnt]

I love your videos man. Thank you. That being said I’m so envious of your Ohmsynth, wish they weren’t gone for good 😭

[LockStoppageSandwich]

These tutorials are superbly done…………Thank you. I am new to learning about building oscillators, sequencers etc. These are a fantastic starting point. In fact I have just ordered all the required parts this afternoon. So will be experimenting just as soon as they arrive.

[atkmodular]

These are Seriously Great Videos!
You just made me realize the potential of some of the chips i have sitting there for months. Also i need that Scope! Definitely the next thing on my shopping list.

[erixmacleod]

My most favorite video. Man this is amazing what you can do with ic chips and breadboards

[dovepaige]

Thanks for these vids it definitely helps with my ongoing project to build my own ideas in my head, listening to the people from BASTL got me started in this direction so I have been reading and watching everything I can find to self educate for this

[Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

So THANKFUL for your series here, Peter. Thank you!

[OmBotCult]

I've been using this chips for years and you just showed me something new! Awesome!

[kajmental]

Really love this series!!! Don't forget to drink that coffee ;)

[pongtrometer]

Thanks so much....great series, superb tutorial with clarity, even for the clueless like myself....awesome potential.

[ayoitscat]

This is so well put together and easy to follow

[Schwalar]

I LOVE THIS! I'm just getting into this and learning a ton! Great job!

[virtuosomaximoso]

Ive learned so much from these videos.

[dealerbinq]

Great video! Looking forward to part 3

[ssfnathotmail]

very cool. drawing on the table works great

[sludgemind]

Hey there! Could I get some help? After hours and hours of trying, I couldn't get this to work. I made 1 oscillator, wired it up to clock, got /2 /4 /8, wired that up to A B C, but I guess I couldn't figure out how to wire up pots. I made 2nd oscillator, audio oscillator, on the same 40106, wired right leg of each pot to upper input, and connected every middle leg to one of the inputs on multiplex, took the output of multiplex and connected it to oscillator output. But I get nothing, or some random clicking and noises...I don't know what could it be, I use external PSU to power up everything, and sometimes I even get some strange feedback from the clock outputs on oscillator output even if they are not connected (except power rail). I connected Vss, Vee and INH to ground, which I found in the manual for multiplex. Also, multiplex draws a lot of current I guess, since it got really hot if connected to 12V right away, If i place current limiting resistor, then it gets hot instead. Idk, I might just broke the multiplexer, the clock outputs work fine with 1 oscillator, but as soon as I connect them to A B C i get noise and volume drop...I know that wasn't clear explanation, but I'm quite tired from trying to fix this. If someone has an idea, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!