-Sneak Peak-

[nobody]

Here we go...

Hey, we need a name for this thing. I've been privately calling it a JoySynth, but I'll let the inventors of it make the final decision.

The joystick has the following controls:

x-axis
y-axis
two red buttons on the stick
one brown button on the stick
a trigger
a round knob on top of the stick
a flip switch
two dials

Only the x-axis, top red button and the two dials do anything.

Moving the stick along the x-axis appears to change the pitch.

Pressing the top red button seems to engage a filter, modulator, or some kind of effect.

One dial appears to control the volume of the output. The other appears to control a filter.

The number one thing I would like to change is to use all of the controls on the joystick.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a PM to 1:11, but what would be REALLY nice is MIDI out, to use this as an external controller. Audio in for screwing around with external sounds would be great, too.

I think in addition to photos, I should take some video of me using it so you can actually associate movement with sound to get a better idea of how it works. I think I'll go work on that now.

Attached are some photos and audio of the raw output. I plan to also post at least one audio file using it either in a mix or put through some effects.

[attachments removed by Blue Hell on request by poster]

[nobody]

Have to start a new post for another attachment. Here's the video.

[attachment removed by Blue Hell on request by poster]

[nobody]

I wanted to post the video somewhere so people can just watch online instead of downloading it. This is the easiest way for me to do it:

http://audiodef.com/projects.php?project_id=9

I know I need to change the size of the video, compress or normalise the sound, and make the picture a bit lighter, but the URL will stick.

Please let us know what you think.

I'm really glad to be a part of this project. I think Les and 1:11 will do well with this product.

[Inventor]

I'm a not overly surprised to hear that some of the controls did not work, that must be because of loose connections on the breadboards. I found that the wires were a bit easy to knock out of place when I was building it, so I taped some of them down. Actually when shipped, all of the controls did something.

I'd suggest opening up the large black box and seeing if any of the wires are loose. There is one wire that is supposed to be disconnected, but all of the others should be in the breadboard. I can provide the text file with wiring diagram and work via pm with you on that. I suspect rough handling during shipping is the culprit.

Les

[nobody]

Oh, goody. Yeah, Les, the schematic would be great. If you can point out what should be connected where (and which one should not be connected), I'll see what I can do. If I get it put back together, I'll update my review accordingly.

[1:11]

Ah, Cool Audio!! i somehow missed your report (was waiting for the auto email alert) DOH!!

i was thinking there was a possibility some wires got knocked out, that would explain quite a bit. They DO come out quite easily!! On the first proto, i silly coned the whole thing, which kept the wires in place....BUT, it ended up permanently setting the wire config, not allowing me to change it up. We need to figure out a way to easily set them so they stay nice and tight. But then again, the printed boards shouldn't have that prob....but still something we need to figure out...cuz it gets wire-ey down there!!

i had thought about having Midi out as well, or keeping the original circuitry of the stick intact, because i use joysticks as midi controllers too. Having the dual function could be problematic though.
The space inside the controller is pretty limited, the synth takes the space of the original circuits, and we'd also have to mount a second set of pots for the stick...which would be a bit difficult.
BUT, that's not say it isn't possible, and alternatively, we could configure the hat switch to transmit data via usb. So hmmm.....depending on the size of the printed boards, we may see that feature in the future. Good suggestions!!

Watching your video now.......
Cool!! Thanks for posting it on your site!!

It's putting out a lil more high end squeal than necessary. When it was at Les's it didn't have the big high end. Almost sounds like a wire crossed somewhere. But more than likely it's stuck cuz the wiring got loose.

i can definitely tell you're missing features that really make this thing go manic.

Time for a rewire!!

If you don't want to deal with rewiring it, you can send it to me and i can do it. Schools almost done, so i'll have the time. i have another one i need to wire as well, so no prob!!
But it def needs to be wired up right again so you can test it properly.

Actually, if you send it to me, i can wire it into a different stick that is large enough to carry the board, so it can be portable as well.

Thanks alot for posting!! And you're right, we do need to figure out a name!!

[1:11]

and good job on the video, too!! That was a nice touch, allowed us to see what's really going on with it, and to see it needs some fixin from the shipping.

Mucho Gracious!!

[Inventor]

I just sent audiodef the wiring documentation, should help.

Les

[nobody]

If for any reason I feel my skills aren't up to snuff, I'll send it back for fixing.

[1:11]

Cool!!
Are you going to the Kansas City festival, Audio?

[nobody]

No, I wish. I might go to New York (August?), if logistics permit. KS is just too far away for my budget right now.

[1:11]

Oh wow, there's a New York one!! Sheesh, i gotta get with it!



(edit: HA!! This is the 111th post on this thread )

[nobody]

[1:11]

It looks like the future of this model is uncertain.
i wanted to wait a bit more to put it out, and try some other models, and well... Les did NOT like that idea, to put it lightly.
Ugh.
i'm still going to push on though, even if solo.

Audio: Did you get around to trying to wire up your synth? It would definitely be worth the effort!!

[nobody]

I hope the project continues. I think it's a great idea.

I have not, but it's still a priority. There's always a lot going on here, even if mundane stuff (you wouldn't believe how much time my garden can suck out of my day, but I do it in order to learn how to be self-sustaining, so it's not just a hobby).

Right now, I want to focus on the summer solstice show coming up on the 18th, then there's the field recording project due some time in July, and THEN I'm going to sit down and open the joysynth up.

It's definitely not forgotten or put away. It has it's own prominent place in the studio.

[1:11]

Oh cool, You garden too!!

Working with plants (and musick) is what keeps me half sane. If you need any Organic gardening tips send me a PM. The deserts gardening time is about over and i have a bunch of worm doo left over from my worm farm if you need it.

[nobody]

We got plenty of doo here. We could definitely trade organic gardening tips and maybe even seeds. Not sure what I have that would grow for you, except a shitload of pepper seeds. You'd have to water those profusely, but I'm sure they'd love the heat. I've got lots of cantaloupe seeds, too - again, lots of water, but heat-loving. I have several Sage plants in their third year that have flowered for the first time. Very pretty flowers, and they don't mind the extra water they get, although I understand they prefer not to have too much water.

Do you gather your own seeds?

[1:11]

i collect the seeds from many of them, mostly the decorative ones. i do both indoor and outside growing. For food i'm pretty much limited to small indoor growing (but i do have lemons, grapefruit trees, watermelon and edible cacti, corn outside). Do herbs and some beans inside. i grow various mushrooms as well.

Cantaloup would be interesting, never thought of trying that.
My gf just mentioned she wants to put a row of sage and lavender next to the house, but it's too late to start em this year i think.
Maybe if your sage is fruitful we can grow some of your strain next year!!

The offers still up if you'd like to send your unit to me, and i'll wire into a stick that'll fit Les's board. Get it all runnin proper, especially if it'll just be sittin for awhile.

[nobody]

I'm not convinced it's too late to start sage, especially since it's a perennial. I think I missed collecting seeds this year, but if I eventually get some, I'll send some your way. It's a very fragrant leaf, wonderful on salads, in soups, and tossed into whatever you're making.

[1:11]

Sounds good!!

Think about if you'd like the board in a different stick, and let me know. i'll be working on em after the Solstice show.

Speaking of which.....i'm gonna try my best to show up for your set. Problem is, you go on around the time i wake up.
But it's been a lil too long since i checked out your latest work!

[nobody]

I'm going to record and post my set anyway, so no worries. I'm looking forward to playing because I'll be using my Blofeld in a composition for the first time. For something so small and minimally interfaced, it sure sounds NICE.

I will take you up on your offer to re-board the stick synth. I'll send it as soon as I can find a box and suitable packing material. Can you please PM me your address?

When I get it back, I'll post another video and review.

[1:11]

i am JEALOUS!!

i'm pretty excited about this show too, it will be the first time performing with my music professor, and the first performance as a quartet. Don't know if i'll be able to record or not yet, but i'm gonna try....

Sendin you a PM now...

[1:11]

Audio, Been listening to your set (bout half way through right now)....
AWESOME DUDE. Sounding great....were you using guitar in it at parts? Rockin!!

[nobody]

You mean summer solstice/Programmed Hell Volume III? Nope, no guitars, although that is a possibility in future shows.

What I do is program as many modulated patches as I can and play them live while improvising. I have four 16-part synths, one 8-part synth, one four-part synth, and one single-part synth, so it's possible to have up to 77 patches available (although I couldn't possibly play them all at once). This precludes soft synths, which I haven't used in PH yet but have not ruled out in the future. Also, one of those 16-parters is a Blofeld desktop, so something has to be used to control it live. Last time I elected to use the Akai AX-80 for that, eliminating it from the show.

I make heavy use of LFO's and arpeggiators (but I tend to prefer LFO's). I have the LFO's control anything and everything so any given patch cycles rhythmically. Hold down the keys on a bunch of these patches and it sounds like a synth band on crack gone to hell.

I put a lot of time into the patches, so you hear it for one hour but it can take up to a month or more to program all the patches. PH vol. III I did in two weeks, full time, because I didn't have the luxury of spacing it out like I usually do.

This is why I switched it from the original regular monthly show to an irregular show - it was taking up too much time in any given month, leaving not enough room for my other projects.

[1:11]

RESPECT!!
The results are great.

So then you switch from synth to synth for each section of the performance? Do you have the LFO's synced across the different units, or let each unit run it's own clock?

Have you tried programming the soft Wavestation (Legacy) yet?
i'd love to see what you could do in that.

Which is your favorite piece of gear?