Synths
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General technology
Research into specific approaches:
Variscan Synthesis
This is a synth designed from the successful circuits of the log synth (see below), but with increased stability from using blocks of (Cornish) granite to make it easier to tweak cat's whiskers on the synths. This synth is modular - so e.g. different filters can be swapped in and out. Circuit boards are created using CNC milling on single sided copper boards and surface mount components are used. The use of raw copper and granite are chosen to match with the crystal material, coming from metal ores formed due to the presence of the granite.
Crystal Log Synth
This version was designed as a simpler way to get sounds working in the workshops during 2025. You can add three crystals that are used in three different voice circuits, a noise generator, a triangle/sawtooth oscillator (includes frequency modulation) and a square wave frequency modulation voice. Each of these voices are filtered so you can tune into more interesting aspects of the sounds, and remove the harsh aspects - predominant in the cardboard version. These signals can also be gated and modulated via simple sequencers that can be clocked to external hardware. It was then possible to create more beat based techno music.
Cornish Cardboard Crystal Synth
This one is built from cardboard boxes using springs and wires to build different circuits. Designed to be used in workshops with families and a wide range of ages of children, it comes with a booklet with example circuits, ranging from lighting the LED to test the battery, making a simple sound to more complex sounds and integrating crystals (collected as part of the workshop) with the built in holder and cat's whisker. It comes with it's own amplifier and speaker, and the can get pretty loud (especially when ten of them are in use at once).