CMOS Synthesizer Toolkit Overview
CMOS Synthesizer Toolkit Overview
CMOS Electronics
1
Tom Bugs notes that power-starving causes connected synthesis circuits to “inter-modulate in very strange ways, slightly tameable but
with a life of their own. The range of sounds it helps to create out of the simple heart of these circuits is quite amazing.”[31]
[Link]. Each module is accompanied with detailed construction
guides which give clear explanation of the function and purpose of
CMOS chips, op-amps and discrete components (transistors, resistors,
diodes, etc...) used in each module [38]. Whilst his approach is frugal
at times, it is concerned with interfacing with Eurorack control voltage
and input/output standards and, as such, his circuit designs quickly
depart from single power supplies to using bipolar power (+-12v)
making them more complex than the aspirations we have for
simplicity and approachability in this article. Lastly, Peter Blasser
(Ciat-Lonbarde) combines the spirit of Lunetta's CMOS instruments
with a more complex, and slightly chaotic, approach by printing design
layouts on paper into which components are paced and their legs
soldered together to form a circuit [5]. Figure 1. Schmitt trigger oscillation using a resistor and
capacitor when powered at 9 volts.
3. BUILDING A SYNTHESIZER WITH A Oscillators are a fundamental element in an electronic synthesis
system, frequently being used as Voltage Controlled Oscillators
40106: A TOOL KIT (VCO), Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO), or as a modulation source.
In the sections that follow we discuss a range of circuit schematics and Commonly they are found as discrete modules within a synthesizer
outline our approach to creating building blocks towards a tool kit for system interconnected either by patching or hardwiring. Electronic
a simple electronic synthesizer based on the CMOS 40106 integrated oscillators are often complex in design and usually involve multiple
circuit and other components, contextualised by existing CMOS components and require a stable voltage supply. Conversely using a
synthesis practices. For anyone unfamiliar with circuit schematics, 40106 allows us to create 4 discrete waveforms with a handful of
Sparkfun have a useful overview [18]. components.
The varying approaches to CMOS synthesise outlined in Section 2.3 Figure 2 displays a schematic of a circuit using a 40106 and passive
often incorporate multiple 4000 series chips and Operational components that generate various waveforms which can be visualised
Amplifiers (Op Amps). This is in contrast to our approach in this by an LED2. A feedback resistor creates oscillation in the Schmitt
article, which foregrounds the use of a single 40106 chip for analogue trigger by connecting its output to its input. The feedback resistor sets
synthesis. In the third edition of Handmade Electronic Music, Collins the oscillation frequency, and its range is determined by a capacitor.
discusses the Op Amp stating that “We built our first oscillator ... with The left image generates square or triangle waves, the right image
just four parts … [t]o make the same with an op amp would double generates saw or pulse waves by adding a diode.
that count, square your changes of wiring error and make it 10 times
more likely you’d walk away from the book then and there.” [5].
The schematics and design files of the circuits presented in this Figure 2. LEDs driven by low frequency square, triangle,
article are available on the authors’ GitHub [27]. sawtooth, and pulse waveshapes.
When varying the input voltage, the 40106 exhibits interesting
behaviours. A higher voltage will result in a lower rate of oscillation.
3.1 40106 Waveshapes This is because each Schmitt trigger is a dual comparator that can
The 40106 easily produces square and triangle waves, depending on detect an input signal relative to upper and lower threshold values. The
where the output to the circuit is connected. Oscillation frequency, and output retains its value until the input changes sufficiently to cross a
thus pitch range (when oscillating at audio rates) is set by the values of threshold and trigger a change to the opposite state (high or low). This
the resistor and capacitor as shown in Figure 2. When the supply dual threshold action is called hysteresis implying that it can hold its
voltage is varied, this also affects the oscillation frequency. historical state. Typically, the hysteresis thresholds of a 40106 Schmitt
trigger range across 1/3 of the supply voltage, making it versatile and
useful as an impromptu gate [25]. As voltage increases, so do the upper
and lower thresholds, and they decrease as voltage increases. Since
oscillation is determined by the charging and discharging of a
capacitor, at a lower voltage it takes less time for the charging and
2
A 9-volt battery can be used when testing these circuits. The
40106. Pin 14 is connected to +, pin 7 is connected to -
discharging cycle to take place due to the constrained upper and lower sawtooth waveforms. The transistor is configured as an emitter
thresholds; this cycle takes longer at higher voltages due to the follower allowing it to drive greater loads than the 40106 alone. This
expanded thresholds; this is contrary to the notion that higher voltage goes beyond Collins’ suggestion of using a single capacitor [5]. The
results in faster oscillations/speed e.g. a motor. Our circuits are signals obtained from the input of the Schmitt trigger (triangle and
designed to work at 9V, but other voltages between 5V – 12V are sawtooth) are at a lower level, so a voltage divider is inserted after the
acceptable. signals from the output side (square and pulse) to reduce their level so
both sides match.
3.1.1 Using a transistor as a buffer to maintain
integrity of triangle and saw waveshapes
The schematic shown in Figure 3 is suitable for generating audio
signals. A transistor is used to maintain the integrity of triangle and
Figure 3. Audio rate square, pulse, and buffered triangle and pulse wave (with voltage divider for level control).
Figure 12. Monophonic Subtractive Synth with 3.5mm connectors for patching.
4. USING THE TOOL KIT WITH A electrical enclosures that arose from the imaginations of Nikola Tesla
and Raymond Lowey.
HAND CRANKED POWER SOURCE AND
POWER SUPPLY
The 4000 series CMOS ICs display idiosyncratic behaviours
when varying the power supply voltage. These behaviours can
be exploited; power starving is a common technique that exploits
this and is used extensively by Tom Bug’s in his Board Weevils.
Hand cranking a dynamo produces a voltage output that is often
unstable, since its rotation, when operated by a person, is not at
a constant speed. Products such as hand cranked portable torches
often exhibit this relationship through a changing of light output
that is relational to the hand cranking speed or pattern.
Figure 13. Inside T.H.E.M. A portable version of T.H.E.M was also developed. Figure 15
shows this portable hand cranked patchable mono synth that
T.H.E.M. builds on the long history of hand cranked musical
utilises the building blocks and circuit design, discussed in
instruments, including mechanical ones like the hurdy-gurdy,
Section 3.3. It is a portable version of one of the voices in
music boxes, street organs, and Italian Futururist Luigi Russolo’s
T.H.E.M; its patchable interface is shown in Figure 12. Since
Intonarumori noise machines. Hand cranking has played a role
many of the patches involve oscillation and voltage sources,
in contemporary interfaces such as the Wintergartan marble
which vary over time, the varying of voltage creates interesting
machine [15], the Humming Box [4] and the Generator Organ
patterns and pitch variations in relation to the pattern and speed
[39].
of crank rotation.
The T.H.E.M. project aimed to explore the production of electronic
sound and light in a highly physical manner. The 40106 is a key
component in the project, chosen for its reliability including the ability
to withstand harsh weather conditions often experienced in sub-
tropical environments. As the devices are hand-powered, they aim to
reinforce the personal connection with electricity production at a time
when societal methods of energy generation are in transition. The use
of a hand crank for gestural interaction is effective because of the
immediate nature of the audio feedback. The installation is designed
for participants of all ages and abilities, with devices arranged at
various heights. The visual aesthetic is inspired by early 20th century
and highlighted the sonic affordances of low-cost electronic
devices and their potential in installation, performance and
workshop/pedagogical contexts.
6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We acknowledge the support from various Griffith University
elements; The Queensland Conservatorium, Creative Arts
Research Institute, Queensland College of Art, and the
Interactive Media Lab.
7. ETHICAL STANDARDS
This paper is written as part of Timothy Tate’s PhD studies at
the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. John R.
Ferguson and Andrew R. Brown are Timothy’s PhD supervisors.
PhD funding is being received from the Australian Government
Research Training Program Scholarship.
8. REFERENCES
[1] Larry Austin, Douglas Kahn, and Nilendra Gurusinghe.
2011. Source music of the avant-garde, 1966-1973 /
edited by Larry Austin and Douglas Kahn ; managing
Figure 15. Portable and patchable monophonic subtractive
editor, Nilendra Gurusinghe. University of California
synth that is played and powered by a hand crank.
Press, Berkeley.
[2] Castle Rocktronics. 2015. 001 – 4xSQUARE. Retrieved
January 15, 2023 from
5. CONCLUSION [Link]
This paper discusses and contributes to the long history of [3] Casual_Wave. 2020. Poor mans vco CD40106 Based
CMOS-based sound making. We highlight and draw extensively Design. r/synthdiy. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from
on the work of Lunetta, Collins, Wilson, Edwards, Williams, [Link]/r/synthdiy/comments/f5exxr/poor_man
Klien and others, positioned by our own experience making s_vco_cd40106_based_design/
installations, musical devices and facilitating [4] Chunhan Chen, Yihan Tang, Tianyi Xie, and Stefania
pedagogical/workshop outputs focused on CMOS circuitry. Druga. 2019. The Humming Box: AI-powered Tangible
Music Toy for Children. In Extended Abstracts of the
We have presented a series of building blocks that use a single Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in
chip: the CMOS 40106 integrated circuit. The building blocks Play Companion Extended Abstracts (CHI PLAY ’19
consist of electrical circuits comprising passive components Extended Abstracts), October 17, 2019. Association for
such as capacitors, resistors, transistors and diodes, that act as Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 87–95.
modules for various synthesis functions, including: VCO, VCF, [Link]
AR, VCA, and Amplification. These modules can be combined [5] Nicolas Collins. 2020. Handmade Electronic Music: The
into a wide range of synthesis architectures, from the Art of Hardware Hacking (3rd ed.). Routledge, New
conventional to experimental. Most modules include voltage York.
control of one or more parameters via a vactrol or a diode, which [6] Daniel Della-Bosca, Andrew R. Brown, John R. Ferguson,
facilitates interconnectivity and cross modulation possibilities. and Timothy Tate. T.H.E.M. World Science Festival
We extend the possibilities of control by utilising a hand-cranked Brisbane. Retrieved January 18, 2023 from
gestural interface that allows the user to power and play these [Link]
circuits. brisbane/them
[7] Doepfer Musikeletronik. n.d. Technical details for the A-
Although some discussion has been quite technical and 101-1 Vactrol Multitype Filter (Steiner Filter) and A-106-
hardware-focused, our artistic research argument has been to 1 X-treme Filter. Retrieved January 31, 2023 from
position expressive, low-cost and entry level electronic devices [Link]
alongside the cultural and artistic outputs that thrive in the DIY [8] Erica Synths and Moritz Klein. n.d. EDU DIY EG Manual.
electronic music and NIME community. By avoiding Retrieved January 28, 2023 from
microcontrollers and other programmable (PIC) chips (i.e., no [Link]
computer is involved), we hope to have also suggested artistic, f
cultural, and social potentials by highlighting pedagogical [9] Sergio Gonzalez. n.d. Introduction to “Lunetta” CMOS
scenarios, outdoor public artworks, and portable musical Synths.
instruments. Rather than delving too deeply into electrical [10] JonDent. 2017. JonDent - Exploring Electronic Music:
operation, our focus has been to gather and illuminate historical CMOS - useful chips for DIY Lunetta Synths. JonDent -
practices that still have much to offer. We also introduce a high- Explorations in Electronic Music, Sci Fi, Art & Travel
level tool kit for frugal CMOS synthesis that is intended to be of (but mostly electronic music). Retrieved January 30, 2023
use to those who are either new to electronic music or perhaps from [Link]
already familiar with digital and modular synthesis but are [Link]
interested in novel interface design and developing low cost and [11] Don Lancaster. 1995. Active Filter Cookbook (17th ed.).
accessible instruments/devices. We have enjoyed working Synergetics, Thatcher, Arizona.
within the limits of CMOS IC architectures and their interaction [12] Stanley Lunetta. n.d. Lunetta Circuits - Moosack Machines.
with hand-cracked power management and have found this to be Retrieved January 30, 2023 from
a creatively productive experience overall. We hope to have [Link]
underscored the potential of such approaches to CMOS synthesis
[13] Stanley Lunetta. n.d. Weapons. Moosack! Retrieved April [24] Elliot Williams. Logic Noise: Klangorium | [Link].
23, 2024 from [Link] Retrieved January 15, 2023 from
[14] Nicolò Merendino, † GiacomoLepri, ‡ AntonioRodà, and [Link]
Raul Masu. Redesigning the Chowndolo: a Reflection- [25] Ray Wilson. 2013. Make: analog synthesizers (1st edition.
on-action Analysis to Identify Sustainable Strategies for ed.). Maker Media, Sebastopol, California.
NIMEs Design. Retrieved May 8, 2024 from [26] Ray Wilson. n.d. Music From Outer Space - Your Synth-
[Link] DIY Headquarters. Retrieved January 30, 2023 from
the-Chowndolo%3A-a-Reflection-on-action-Merendino- [Link]
GiacomoLepri/837a681054af7b0e9877346250bf94b8ec [27] zeroonefoursix. 2024.
a26af9 zeroonefoursix/frugalcmossynthesis. Retrieved February
[15] Mollin, Martin. 2016. Wintergatan - Marble Machine 1, 2023 from
(music instrument using 2000 marbles). Retrieved [Link]
January 30, 2024 from [28] 2014. NoiseHack(1). Retrieved January 23, 2024 from
[Link] [Link]
[16] sdcurtin. 2008. Stanley Lunetta - This topic was the first [29] Lunettas - circuits inspired by Stanley Lunetta. Retrieved
one - Wow! Retrieved January 15, 2023 from January 30, 2023 from [Link]
[Link] [Link]/forum/[Link]
[Link]&postorder=asc [30] Weevils (2005-2015) - BugBrand. Retrieved January 30,
[17] John. S. Simonton, Jr. 1979. Build a Modular. Radio- 2023 from [Link]
Electronics. Retrieved January 27, 2023 from 2005-2015/
[Link] [31] Tom Bugs. Retrieved February 6, 2024 from
[Link] [Link]
[18] SparkFun. n.d. How to Read a Schematic. SparkFun Learn. [32] Nicolas Collins: DIY Electronics. Retrieved January 23,
Retrieved January 31, 2023 from 2024 from [Link]
[Link] collins/
schematic/all [33] Tutorials | Bastl Instruments. Retrieved January 30, 2023
[19] synaesthesia. 2016. The Moduletta. Retrieved January 30, from [Link]
2023 from [Link] [34] Bastl bitRanger – Go nuts – bit nuts – with our handheld
[Link]&postorder=asc patchable analog logic computer. Retrieved January 30,
[20] synthmonger. 2008. super simple 40106 VCO with expo or 2023 from [Link]
linear control. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from [Link]/instruments/bitranger
[Link] [35] Down for Maintenance | Casperelectronics. Retrieved
[21] Joseph Timoney, Victor Lazzarini, and Damián Keller. January 30, 2023 from [Link]
2020. DIY Electronics for Ubiquitous Music Ecosystems. [36] Edition 6: Moduletta. ELECTRONIC COTTAGE.
In Ubiquitous Music Ecologies, Victor Lazzarini, Damián Retrieved January 15, 2023 from
Keller, Nuno Otero and Luca Turchet (eds.). Routledge. [Link]
[22] Elliot Williams. 2015. Logic Noise: Sweet, Sweet [Link]
Oscillator Sounds | Hackaday. Hackaday. Retrieved [37] Moritz Klein - YouTube. Retrieved January 31, 2023 from
January 30, 2023 from [Link]
[Link] [38] EricaSynths - DIY kits. Retrieved January 31, 2023 from
sweet-oscillator-sounds/ [Link]
[23] Elliot Williams. 2015. Logic Noise: More CMOS Cowbell! [39] GENERATOR ORGAN. Molasses Industries. Retrieved
| Hackaday. Hackaday. Retrieved January 30, 2023 from February 6, 2024 from
[Link] [Link]
cmos-cowbell/