Suggestions for a first DIY project?

[Rog.]

Not sure if this is the best area to post in, but I'm looking for some suggestions as to which DIY project (synth, noise generator, module, whatever) would be the best to start with?
I'm thinking about starting with the WSG, maybe sourcing my own components and building on Vero board rather than buying the kit though. I've got 20+ years of soldering and prototyping experience, but my electronics knowledge is minimal (practical rather than theoretical). The building and boxing aspects part of the project appeal to me as much as playing with the end result, and like many people, I'd like to keep the costs low...
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks,
Rog.

[loydb]

WSG + source your own components.

You can spend your first year with nothing but MFOS and get some great gear out of it.

[mark_olson]

Rog.

I agree wholeheartedly with loydb's suggestion. The WSG is an excellent gateway project.

Your question is asked regularly in the "DIY Hardware and Software" forum, one level up. the last time was this week:

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-48098.html

I think one of the challenging things about starting from nothing is that it takes not just one but a handful of modules before you can get anything that sounds like much, and two or three handfuls before you can make what most people would recognize as music

After I built a WSG, and a couple other noise builds before that, I decided to try and get a system off the ground by simultaneously building:

a controller - http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs10_pedal.html

a power supply - http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/topic-1200.html&highlight=power+supply+sorta

and a Thomas Henry SN Voice (a multi-function module) - http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-32942.html

Those next three things allowed me to start making credible sounds and had a great confidence-building effect.

In the thread I mentioned above there are a lot of good suggestions. One of the most important, in my opinion, is to tackle the challenge of format before you do anything else, since everything that follows will be dictated by that choice in some way. I spent months on the format question.

One thing I needlessly agonized over was the decision between 12 and 15 volts. I decided to go with 15 but after less than a year I added a 12V PS too; it is just so much easier than tweaking values or being limited by a module's voltage requirements.

Good luck.

Mark

[Danno Gee Ray]

WSG is a good choice.

[mubase]

I started on a WSG board ( stripboarded ) in March of this year and it is growing into a monster noise maker....amazing "gateway" oscillator circuit. I have added a synthacon filter, a triple output lfo and a delay unit so far. All this will be put in an old BBC computer interface with lots of lovely patch sockets.......oscillator heavens...

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Rawbounce.mp3
Description:	MP3 sample of what the machine does so far.... guts still exposed wires everywhere, will post a picture....
Filesize:	14.38 MB
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WSGLABELLED.png
Description:	picture of WSG and other circuits.... the guts Ken Stone synthacon Filter Triple lfo Velleman Delay board DC mixer circuit.... +5V and +/- 12 v power supply...
Filesize:	3.29 MB
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This image has been reduced to fit the page. Click on it to enlarge.

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[Rog.]

Thanks for all the replies - now feeling slightly dumb, as I searched for the general DIY forum, couldn't find it, and now it appears I just didn't scroll far enough down, so sorry about that...

Think I will definitely start with the WSG then. It looks like it's not going to cost the earth or take an eternity to build, both important considerations. Hopefully it will be an introduction and spur me on to bigger and better things.
Thanks again,
Rog.