After some consideration the Step Sister is available to order once more on my Etsy shop. This will be a limited run. The build instructions will remain available for free. Please see the video info for links.
Wow! awesome project and good sound!!! I'm trying to build one my self, is it possible to have somewhere the circuital schematic in addition to the veroboard scheme? Iit would be useful for a prototype on the breadboard
Andrea Lazzerini I had one scrawled out in pencil but unfortunately I lost it in a house move before I got it transferred to a file. Shouldn’t be too bad to transfer to a prototype board from the diagram I reckon though
The best part of this video starts at 4:50. No doubt that this synth is nice for techno and definitely cheaper than a 303. I so want to build one of this.
I know it's a very old video and all, but I just wanted to say, that I really appreciate you sharing the schematic for free. I don't know anything about building synths, but I want to start learning how it's done. Your project is definitely something that I'll think about later on, when I'll get a bit further than an entry level beginner, but it makes me really excited to see something so versatile and great sounding as a possibility for DIY project. It's not the first time I've landed on your channel by chance and got really surprised. Your tutorial about chopping up amen break on Volca Sample was a strong push for me to get this device as my first piece of stand-alone gear. I think I'm now obliged to leave you a subscription and check out more of your content. :)
Thank you and I'm glad you're finding my videos interesting 😁 My videos are a meandering combination of jams, experiments and tutorials but if you're finding plenty to keep you interested I must be doing something right 👍
EVERYONE: we all are looking for the SCHEMATICS of this circuit. So let's do it together. Of course if Chris thinks that's ok. IF SOME ONE have some start an schemetic to share some part to start, please share and with everyone´s colaboration we will get it.
@squeakD Longer than it should have, I've got too many distractions around the place. About 4 weeks total to design and build I think. The rest should be much quicker now I've got the design sorted. Glad you like the way it sounds BTW.
Thanks. Yes they keep selling out, which is nice but it keeps leaving a bit of a whole in my shop! I'll try to find time to make some soon as i want to list some ready for Christmas so keep checking in the near future.
@reg1167 No I've not got that far yet. It would be a damn complicated set of build instructions too so not sure if to bother. There's no chance of midi on this thing but it could clock to another device, might build an anlog drum machine to go with it. Long time no see and glad you like it BTW!
It’s a wonderful thing! First time I watched your video I was asleep I guess, cuz I didn’t actually see it til I went into my previously watched library list. Ha ha ha 🤷🏻♂️
GLORIOUS!!! Now do yourself a favor and produce more of these, or sell the schematic, or a kit, or something? Things this cool should not remain hidden from the masses!
Thanks for the encouragement. I intend to build and sell as many as i can but i keep selling out. A kit version is also planned for the future but i a little way off yet.
Hi. I haven't got round to making the kit version of the step sister yet and i would like to do it as a proper printed PCB as the stripboard is very time consuming to work with. The pre-built version has also sold out but i'm working on some more stock at the moment.
i really like your project , i would like to make one on a bread board but i dont see a schematic in any of the folders you have linked on the Dropbox site. i was wondering if you could share it i have a hard time working from layouts vs working from schematics . either way, i just wanted to say i like your work thank you for the demo.
Thank you. Sadly the original sketches of the schematic were lost when I moved house and I've never recovered them. I never found time to reverse engineer them either. That's one of the reasons I decided to release what I had for free
Chris...me again. I will have to watch more of your videos. I have just come across your step sister from eight years ago and I love it. I love making electronic projects but was put off by it with the price they charge for components and coupled with that , I can just go out and buy volcas!,, Not the attitude I know but is this your design? May I have your permission to make one for my own personal use? Where did you come across the schematic? I see someone from etsy bought it. Great stuff Chris ( and cats ). Pete
Hi, glad you're enjoying the channel. Yes the design is all mine and was designed based around knowledge mostly gained from reading Handmade Electronic Music and lots of schematics on the Music From Outer Space website. It's interesting you mention the Volcas, there was hardly any of that kind of thing around in 2013 so this made more sense. The landscape has totally changed since then. Yes feel free to make you're own, it is quite an advanced one though which is why I never offered it as a kit. I have an Etsy store which is currently empty because I've been busy with other work, but I'm about to start restocking it and designing new items too I think. There will be finished items as well as kit versions most of which are much simpler
@@ChrisLodyMusic Thanks for your quick reply Chris. You are very clever to have put that lot together. I have looked at the MFOS channel and they know their stuff. Yes... today, the finished articles are now withjn reach for most of us at crazy cheap prices. But there is something charming about your Mini Step Sequencer that has fired my interest to build again. I am in Australia and component prices from local stores are ridic. There is Mouser but I cannot seem to navigate the site without going around in circles. I will get them to send me a catalogue. One of those things with pages! Arrived today....two AS3340s from Poland But i think they need + and- 15V which is a pain. Cheers Pete
I've been on bigger component supply website and had much the same experience, so I tend to use Rapid here in the UK and buy big batches of stuff. Those vco chips look intriguing, I must investigate those. I built a dual power supply, I think again from an MFOS schematic and it wasn't too bad. It's for my Ms10 expander but it's get external terminals on for other gear too
@@ChrisLodyMusic The AS 3340 is a clone from Doug Curtis's CEM 3340 and made in Poland. Sam Battle in Look mum no computer cannot tell the difference. I am partially deaf so definately will not tell the difference Whether it's all legal or not....don't know. I paid my money so don't feel guilty. How do I contact you? I don't do Facebook, Twitter or any of that lot. I would like to order a kit of components from you to make the mini sequencer. I have Vero board knobs and pots and I want to make my own casing. Would this be possible please? I am trying to save as much weight so as to post it to Oz will be viable? Cheers Pete. Apologies if you already know about the chip but apparently it's the bees knees in oscillators. The Prophet 5 had them I believe.
Yeah I recognise the name of the original chip for sure. Yes contact me through my Facebook ChrisLody Music page if you'd like to talk privately. Honestly though I'm not sure when I'll have parts in again for the Step Sister as it's usually the last thing I bother to restock as it's the most complex item to build and also the most difficult one to restock all parts for as usually something is out of stock at my supplier too, but I can work a price out for you when I do restock the parts if you'd like.
wow this is soooooooo coooool loving the fat bass sounds. Would love to take this to the stage. Man throw a midi receiver on it with the boss 660 drum machine or the alesis sr16 what a killer setup. Glad to see the mad scientist back at it. Are the kits forsale?
Chris, I saw this years back; just realized the ‘you’ I’ve just ‘discovered’ is the same you, who built this nifty sequencer. My I ask, how many of these have you sold? I’m thinking many..?
I didn't keep any records but they were very time consuming to build so it wasn't that many compared to the other little lo-fi noise makers unused to sell
Thanks. It's a fairly crude design but I made the oscillators run really slowly at the lowest setting so they're basically inaudible at the lowest setting albeit with the occasional click
Yeah, she sure seems in need of attention lol. How do these light blue things you were twitching work ? I understood they determine the notes that will be played in the sequence but how does it work ? It looks like clay which I'm sure it's not but it looks so easy to manipulate...
+Bruno Bailly They are miniature trim pots, just like a tiny version of the knobs on the bit above. They're separate from the blue leds but each light represents the trim pot below
+Bruno Bailly They are miniature trim pots, just like a tiny version of the knobs on the bit above. They're separate from the blue leds but each light represents the trim pot below
The stripboard diagram and an alternative perfboard version are available from the link in the description. I lost the original schematic in a house move and I've never found time to redraw it, plus I'd like to make some improvements so that's all there is for now
It’s an analog oscillator and filter. The chip the steps through the steps is a basic cmos logic chip that just about counts a digital but the pitch of the steps is analog controlled. It’s totally freely pitchable so it rarely ends up on a 12 tone scale or anything like that
Nice! That's awesome, Chris. Glad to see you got them on Etsy. I used to play with CMOS and TTL stuff when I was a kid. I'm kinda excited, now, about the idea of making instruments. But I probably need to spend more time, first, playing the ones I've got... Thanks for sharing, man.
it has a clock out that sends a pulse per step and a cv out from the sequencer but the pitch of the internal oscillator doesn't match any kind of standard as it's bespoke. There is no clock in though at present.
Thanks very much. Sadly not no. My stuff is a bit non standard to say the least so it wouldn't talk modular at the moment. Not a bad idea for the future though. It'd give me an excuse to start building a eurorack system!
thats pretty cool. is that a 4017 IC sequencer? Ive used them for similar stuff but never thought about using it for wave tones. i want a Moog but cant afford that so i want to build my own. it might take me a year or three. hahaha
james corvett Yes that's right, a 4017 as a sequencer chip. I can't afford that kind of thing either which is what drove me towards doing a bit of diy and why I use a lot of lower end and second hand gear. There's a stripboard layout free in the description but it's a bit of a tricky build.
skourkos crew Nice, hope you have fun. They're from a company called Rapid Electronics in the UK which is where I buy all my parts from. I'll add a link below if RUclips will let me.
Glad you like it. I'm building a batch now at the moment, they take a fair few hours each but i tend to squeeze it into my spare time so i'm not sure exactly. It took a lot longer than that to design though.
Not a stupid question at all. It's plugged into my computer audio interface for recording. There's no speaker built in so without there would be no sound at all.
Nellie Black Thanks. It's a really simple AR generator built around a couple of pots, a couple of diodes and a capacitor. It works by creating a really slow 'one way' RC filter per pot so can shape an incoming pulse wave into something useable as an envelope. There is a quad opamp onboard which I use to buffer the envelope as well as making the filter, distortion and to buffer the audio output. I'll add a link to the comment below for someone else's similar envelope, just in case RUclips deletes it automatically.
Nellie Black www.google.co.uk/search?q=ar+envelope+circuit&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-gcOdmIjSAhXrKMAKHRk5BAcQ_AUICCgC&biw=768&bih=928#imgrc=a81R2DVh4WrvHM:
Yes it keeps selling out. There is a stripboard diagram available as an extra if you buy the 'Build instructions only' cdrom from my shop but it is quite a tough build so please be aware. The other designs are much simpler to build.
ChrisLody I'm not referring to any diagram specifically. I'm assuming you are using 3 555 timer IC's (or the 556 and a 555 for the timer) with the 4017 decade/ sequencer. Lots of schematics out there for this that can be adapted. Most of potentiometers, I think I know but you have more... 2 standard Atari punk console pots for the square wave audio oscillator and the second divider oscillator. Freq 1 and 2. Res and Cut? 1 Gain, line level output resistor? The mini pots control the in parallel with the 4017 output step. 1 Timer. But not sure where you added the other 3... Did you make up or follow a schematic online and adapt it for your layout? Great work btw...
Mike Novo Thanks. Its a mix of stuff i've designed and schematics i've studied to adapt them to my own means. I have a bit of a rule that i must understand the way a schematic works before i'm allowed to use it, which means i get to tweak stuff. There aren't any 555 timers in this as i prefer schmitt trigger cmos chips as they're simpler to work with. The oscillator is a saw wave vco of my own design built around a 40107 chip. This chip is also the source of the clock (you can make 6 oscillators out of a 40107), the output of which is filtered using a couple of passive filters (the attack and release knobs) and then buffered through an op amp chip and the output sent to the filter. The op amp chip also amplifies the oscillator output controlled by the gain knob to give some nice distortion. The filter is a modded version of the filter in the MFOS noise maker, with added voltage control and tweaks to the resonance and range. The sequencer part made from the 4017 is very close to the 'Baby Ten' sequencer that been kicking around for years but with an added DIL switch to give control over the number of steps. Hope that helps.
ChrisLody Excellent. I literally picked up the electronics bug this year albeit self taught through trial and error and have exponentially learned a lot. It's hard to focus on any one project. I'm currently working on an electronic dc load, variable power supply (1 via LM324 and LM350 set up and a larger one involving power transistors) but now electronic sound manipulation has caught my eye. As a wheel and bike builder, I eventually want to make an electric bike to meld these two hobbies together. Again great work. Keep it coming!
MoolahNasreddin Thanks. No not easy to sync to midi as it's completely analog. It does have a clock out though and I've had some success syncing with volcas, though they're a bit sensitive so tend to skip a bit.
Animal Music There's a link to my Etsy shop in the info below the video. There's a stripboard diagram available as a download if you buy the Build Instructions Only CD rom, though it's not a full set of instructions and isn't easy to build either. There's no actual schematic as that was lost at some point so I need to redo it.
I don't intend to offend, but looking at your parts list... it's a bit difficult to read. Is there any possibility to update the parts lists with a typed list? That would help, tremendously.
Sorry about that, I hadn't realised it was my crappy hand scrawled version on there still. I'm getting back into doing more electronics again recently so I'll get that updated at some point soon. Wouldn't take too long.
@@ChrisLodyMusic - Ha ha... no worries. It's likely less your handwriting and more my crappy eyes. Wet macular degeneration in my left eye makes it fun to read. Even more fun to try to solder!
@@dharvell Sorry for keeping you waiting. I've just uploaded a .docx version of both flavours of the Step Sister parts list. Hopefully they're accurate, it's been a while since I've built one :D
There's actually 3 on my bench in the process of being built but my day job is getting in the way at the moment. So yes, but I'm not sure on the time scale. Thanks for watching BTW.
Can you make it sound like the end of karn evil 9 third movement from elp's brain salad surgery? If it can do that... I truly want one..no, maybe two :)
Ha, not quite like that no. You'd need a 16 step sequencer and a rack of modular synth equipment to do that which is obviously a lot more advanced than what this can do. Pretty much everything the step sister can do is shown in the video.
Yeah.... but if you see his work on the cal jam 74 show... that sequencer was amazing. my favorite part is the scale(s) section he did after the rotating piano and before the end of pictures. 90 thousand dollar synth but so so so cool. Thanks for the reply
Hi James. At the moment they're only fully built and are also out of stock unfortunately. There also may be a kit version in the future but it's a tricky build.
After some consideration the Step Sister is available to order once more on my Etsy shop. This will be a limited run. The build instructions will remain available for free. Please see the video info for links.
Thanks for all the views people. Build instructions are now linked to in the description below the video. Have fun!
ChrisLody could you please explain what those red crosses are on the schematic
Yes they’re cuts in the track made using a drill bit or special tool. You should be able to see them on the photos of the underside of the board too.
Wow! awesome project and good sound!!! I'm trying to build one my self, is it possible to have somewhere the circuital schematic in addition to the veroboard scheme? Iit would be useful
for a prototype on the breadboard
Andrea Lazzerini I had one scrawled out in pencil but unfortunately I lost it in a house move before I got it transferred to a file. Shouldn’t be too bad to transfer to a prototype board from the diagram I reckon though
This is awesome! Love it.
Sounds excellent. I'd love to build one. Daisy is adorable too. She knows something good when she hears it.
Thanks very much. I must get round to making some more. I've not had time for a while so the stock cupboard is a bit bare. Daisy does not approve.
The best part of this video starts at 4:50. No doubt that this synth is nice for techno and definitely cheaper than a 303. I so want to build one of this.
Second to that awesome , simply !
It started a funny "Lalala" from 1:56 :D
Ármin Döme I think it's trying to say something :)
It totally does!!! XD
I know it's a very old video and all, but I just wanted to say, that I really appreciate you sharing the schematic for free. I don't know anything about building synths, but I want to start learning how it's done. Your project is definitely something that I'll think about later on, when I'll get a bit further than an entry level beginner, but it makes me really excited to see something so versatile and great sounding as a possibility for DIY project.
It's not the first time I've landed on your channel by chance and got really surprised. Your tutorial about chopping up amen break on Volca Sample was a strong push for me to get this device as my first piece of stand-alone gear. I think I'm now obliged to leave you a subscription and check out more of your content. :)
Thank you and I'm glad you're finding my videos interesting 😁 My videos are a meandering combination of jams, experiments and tutorials but if you're finding plenty to keep you interested I must be doing something right 👍
@@ChrisLodyMusicmate your a nice bloke
what a nice sounding TR303-ish filter! would love the schematics for that one
i love it, when a project is well documented like you did!
well well done!
janees No problem. Hope you enjoy the build
It's beautiful! ^_^ Love the rugged wood and Dymo labels. :)
watch out for the screamer at 2:39 :D
How do we catalog that one?
Cat drone! Working on some new projects, love it thanks for the vid! Glad I found your channel, a little late to the show
Ha yes it's getting a bit old this video now 😄 glad you enjoyed it though, thanks for watching
he sing la la la la. Great. love it.
Groovy, very cool little box. Daisy the cat sort of steals your lime light. :P
Thanks. yeah she'll do that when I'm at the piano too!
Really nice, this must be one of the smallest and simplest 'complete' synthesizers I've seen.
Thank you. I always like to keep things fairly low on the parts count with as much functionality as I can squeeze into it as possible 😁
EVERYONE: we all are looking for the SCHEMATICS of this circuit. So let's do it together. Of course if Chris thinks that's ok. IF SOME ONE have some start an schemetic to share some part to start, please share and with everyone´s colaboration we will get it.
Veeery nice analog synthesizer and that bassline is very great too hehehe even if The synth is limited but it's already a lot
I really love this idea great demo , its inspired me to want to build a sequence for my diy project.
@squeakD Longer than it should have, I've got too many distractions around the place. About 4 weeks total to design and build I think. The rest should be much quicker now I've got the design sorted. Glad you like the way it sounds BTW.
Yeah!!! This made my evening complete! BIG thank you!!!!!
andrew vincent Thanks :)
Sunds great ! The tone is real nice ! I went to your online shop link but didn't see any of these
Thanks. Yes they keep selling out, which is nice but it keeps leaving a bit of a whole in my shop! I'll try to find time to make some soon as i want to list some ready for Christmas so keep checking in the near future.
@reg1167 No I've not got that far yet. It would be a damn complicated set of build instructions too so not sure if to bother. There's no chance of midi on this thing but it could clock to another device, might build an anlog drum machine to go with it. Long time no see and glad you like it BTW!
Sounds amazing and thank you for the build instructions!
No problem, have fun!
It’s a wonderful thing! First time I watched your video I was asleep I guess, cuz I didn’t actually see it til I went into my previously watched library list. Ha ha ha 🤷🏻♂️
Thanks. Maybe it’s those ads in dreams I set up paying off 😄
You got a schematic anywhere?
billy description
@@imslayton No "schematic" in description.
GLORIOUS!!! Now do yourself a favor and produce more of these, or sell the schematic, or a kit, or something? Things this cool should not remain hidden from the masses!
Thanks for the encouragement. I intend to build and sell as many as i can but i keep selling out. A kit version is also planned for the future but i a little way off yet.
Cat's do love a synth.
😄
Very vocal sounding!
Thank you very much :)
A schematic would be really really nice. i am especially interested in the envelope generator part :D
There’s a strip board diagram in a link in the video description. There’s no schematic unfortunately as I lost all my work on that in a house move.
Holy sh!tballs this thing can get nasty! Stunning work, love it 👍
Thanks very much. Can get quite aggressive yeah 😄
Chris thank! graet proyect, is simple and sound great. I wanna build one.
Thank you. I hope you have fun with it
Wow this sounds great. I will buy the kit to make this right now. I checked your Etsy but it was not on there.
Hi. I haven't got round to making the kit version of the step sister yet and i would like to do it as a proper printed PCB as the stripboard is very time consuming to work with. The pre-built version has also sold out but i'm working on some more stock at the moment.
That thing sounds dope!!
Thanks very much 😄
i really like your project , i would like to make one on a bread board but i dont see a schematic in any of the folders you have linked on the Dropbox site. i was wondering if you could share it i have a hard time working from layouts vs working from schematics . either way, i just wanted to say i like your work thank you for the demo.
Thank you. Sadly the original sketches of the schematic were lost when I moved house and I've never recovered them. I never found time to reverse engineer them either. That's one of the reasons I decided to release what I had for free
Chris...me again.
I will have to watch more of your videos.
I have just come across your step sister from eight years ago and I love it.
I love making electronic projects but was put off by it with the price they charge for components and coupled with that , I can just go out and buy volcas!,,
Not the attitude I know but is this your design?
May I have your permission to make one for my own personal use?
Where did you come across the schematic?
I see someone from etsy bought it.
Great stuff Chris ( and cats ).
Pete
Hi, glad you're enjoying the channel. Yes the design is all mine and was designed based around knowledge mostly gained from reading Handmade Electronic Music and lots of schematics on the Music From Outer Space website. It's interesting you mention the Volcas, there was hardly any of that kind of thing around in 2013 so this made more sense. The landscape has totally changed since then.
Yes feel free to make you're own, it is quite an advanced one though which is why I never offered it as a kit. I have an Etsy store which is currently empty because I've been busy with other work, but I'm about to start restocking it and designing new items too I think. There will be finished items as well as kit versions most of which are much simpler
@@ChrisLodyMusic
Thanks for your quick reply Chris.
You are very clever to have put that lot together.
I have looked at the MFOS channel and they know their stuff.
Yes... today, the finished articles are now withjn reach for most of us at crazy cheap prices.
But there is something charming about your Mini Step Sequencer that has fired my interest to build again.
I am in Australia and component prices from local stores are ridic.
There is Mouser but I cannot seem to navigate the site without going around in circles.
I will get them to send me a catalogue.
One of those things with pages!
Arrived today....two AS3340s from Poland But i think they need + and- 15V which is a pain.
Cheers
Pete
I've been on bigger component supply website and had much the same experience, so I tend to use Rapid here in the UK and buy big batches of stuff.
Those vco chips look intriguing, I must investigate those. I built a dual power supply, I think again from an MFOS schematic and it wasn't too bad. It's for my Ms10 expander but it's get external terminals on for other gear too
@@ChrisLodyMusic
The AS 3340 is a clone from Doug Curtis's CEM 3340 and made in Poland.
Sam Battle in Look mum no computer cannot tell the difference.
I am partially deaf so definately will not tell the difference
Whether it's all legal or not....don't know.
I paid my money so don't feel guilty.
How do I contact you?
I don't do Facebook, Twitter or any of that lot.
I would like to order a kit of components from you to make the mini sequencer.
I have Vero board knobs and pots and I want to make my own casing.
Would this be possible please?
I am trying to save as much weight so as to post it to Oz will be viable?
Cheers
Pete.
Apologies if you already know about the chip but apparently it's the bees knees in oscillators.
The Prophet 5 had them I believe.
Yeah I recognise the name of the original chip for sure.
Yes contact me through my Facebook ChrisLody Music page if you'd like to talk privately. Honestly though I'm not sure when I'll have parts in again for the Step Sister as it's usually the last thing I bother to restock as it's the most complex item to build and also the most difficult one to restock all parts for as usually something is out of stock at my supplier too, but I can work a price out for you when I do restock the parts if you'd like.
Sounds awesome
G Dizzle Thanks 😁
Very Pink Floyd. Great job!
Thanks very much. Any comparison to Pink Floyd is very welcome (:
wow this is soooooooo coooool loving the fat bass sounds. Would love to take this to the stage. Man throw a midi receiver on it with the boss 660 drum machine or the alesis sr16 what a killer setup. Glad to see the mad scientist back at it. Are the kits forsale?
Spectacular!
Very nice project Chris! Thanks for sharing the schematics!
Anyone built this, maybe got a list of parts somewhere?
Chris, I saw this years back; just realized the ‘you’ I’ve just ‘discovered’ is the same you, who built this nifty sequencer.
My I ask, how many of these have you sold? I’m thinking many..?
I didn't keep any records but they were very time consuming to build so it wasn't that many compared to the other little lo-fi noise makers unused to sell
Incredible!
Thanks very much 😁 Apologies for not finding you channel sooner btw, subscribed now 👍
Thanks very much from Daisy and I :)
Awesome sound and design ! I understood how you chose the pitch for your sequence but how can you turn some of them off ?
Thanks. It's a fairly crude design but I made the oscillators run really slowly at the lowest setting so they're basically inaudible at the lowest setting albeit with the occasional click
@@ChrisLodyMusicok! Interesting, thanks for the answer
VCO and VCF remind me of the monotribe
@MajorasFlask Either that or she was trying to destroy it. Not sure.
Laughed my ass off at 2:41 :D
yeah she really knows how to make an entrance!
Yeah, she sure seems in need of attention lol. How do these light blue things you were twitching work ? I understood they determine the notes that will be played in the sequence but how does it work ? It looks like clay which I'm sure it's not but it looks so easy to manipulate...
+Bruno Bailly They are miniature trim pots, just like a tiny version of the knobs on the bit above. They're separate from the blue leds but each light represents the trim pot below
+Bruno Bailly They are miniature trim pots, just like a tiny version of the knobs on the bit above. They're separate from the blue leds but each light represents the trim pot below
Trim pots ? Ok. But how do you move them on the board ? It looks so meticulous...
Is the schematic available online, I would love to try to build one of these, it looks quite fun
The stripboard diagram and an alternative perfboard version are available from the link in the description. I lost the original schematic in a house move and I've never found time to redraw it, plus I'd like to make some improvements so that's all there is for now
sounds great.
Thank you :)
Very nice. Sounds really juicy, too. So, analog with digital control?
It’s an analog oscillator and filter. The chip the steps through the steps is a basic cmos logic chip that just about counts a digital but the pitch of the steps is analog controlled. It’s totally freely pitchable so it rarely ends up on a 12 tone scale or anything like that
Nice! That's awesome, Chris. Glad to see you got them on Etsy.
I used to play with CMOS and TTL stuff when I was a kid. I'm kinda excited, now, about the idea of making instruments. But I probably need to spend more time, first, playing the ones I've got...
Thanks for sharing, man.
Sounds phat. Nice!
Nice fat sound to that thing man! Good filter too. How long did it take you to put this thing together?
Is it possible tu sync it trough CV? or any other way how to syn clock? thx
it has a clock out that sends a pulse per step and a cv out from the sequencer but the pitch of the internal oscillator doesn't match any kind of standard as it's bespoke. There is no clock in though at present.
Can you adjust this to any number of steps? For example does it support a 7 or 5 beat loop?
Yes there’s a blue block of DIL switches in the middle so you can adjust the loop from 1 to 10 steps.
enamored! liked and favorited for great technology and daisy the cat :D
pretty awesome. nice work. You don't make eurorack modules, do you?
Thanks very much. Sadly not no. My stuff is a bit non standard to say the least so it wouldn't talk modular at the moment. Not a bad idea for the future though. It'd give me an excuse to start building a eurorack system!
Cool !!!Well done.
thats pretty cool. is that a 4017 IC sequencer? Ive used them for similar stuff but never thought about using it for wave tones. i want a Moog but cant afford that so i want to build my own. it might take me a year or three. hahaha
james corvett Yes that's right, a 4017 as a sequencer chip. I can't afford that kind of thing either which is what drove me towards doing a bit of diy and why I use a lot of lower end and second hand gear. There's a stripboard layout free in the description but it's a bit of a tricky build.
friend, I fear a doubt, the capacitors that you use (blue color) what is its value? and what is the voltage of the electrolytic capacitors?
Hi. They are 22 Nanofarad capacitors which is why they are marked 22N. Hope that helps
Hello Chris ...ive started builiding it...really cool...do you remember where did you get these awesome knobs?
skourkos crew Nice, hope you have fun. They're from a company called Rapid Electronics in the UK which is where I buy all my parts from. I'll add a link below if RUclips will let me.
skourkos crew This is what you're looking for. www.rapidonline.com/re-an-16mm-soft-touch-knobs-64710
ChrisLody mucho thanks man!
Why is there 3 jack? What's the use of each?
Thanks 🙂
Marc Chevalier There's one for audio, one for cv out and one for gate out from the sequencer
Is there any way you could share the schematic? This synth is awesome, congrats!
Wow!!Awesome that's totally my style how long did it take u 2 make it?
Glad you like it. I'm building a batch now at the moment, they take a fair few hours each but i tend to squeeze it into my spare time so i'm not sure exactly. It took a lot longer than that to design though.
good job;;;;I please get the schematic?
what kind of diodes did you use? maybe a 4148?
Andrea Lazzerini I used 1N914 but I reckon any signal diode would do it to be honest
There is a tutorial, how to make a synth like this one?
very cool!
Thank you :)
Sorry if this is a stupid question but what is it plugged into?
Not a stupid question at all. It's plugged into my computer audio interface for recording. There's no speaker built in so without there would be no sound at all.
really nice!
Where can I get a schematic of this. I want to build this.
Thanks. I haven't released a schematic as of yet. I was planning to do a kit with instructions and parts but it's a bit too complex for that.
Sweet filter
Thanks. Its a tweaked version of the type thats in the MFOS weird noise generator.
Very nice...
Paa te quedó muy bueno!!!
yEAh and im say like echo Syd Barrett... Liked
great job!!!
Sounds great! What do you use for the envelope generator and how is it connected?
Nellie Black Thanks. It's a really simple AR generator built around a couple of pots, a couple of diodes and a capacitor. It works by creating a really slow 'one way' RC filter per pot so can shape an incoming pulse wave into something useable as an envelope. There is a quad opamp onboard which I use to buffer the envelope as well as making the filter, distortion and to buffer the audio output. I'll add a link to the comment below for someone else's similar envelope, just in case RUclips deletes it automatically.
Nellie Black www.google.co.uk/search?q=ar+envelope+circuit&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-gcOdmIjSAhXrKMAKHRk5BAcQ_AUICCgC&biw=768&bih=928#imgrc=a81R2DVh4WrvHM:
Very nice
Thank you 😁
you don't have this in Etsy. Can I please get the schematic?
Yes it keeps selling out. There is a stripboard diagram available as an extra if you buy the 'Build instructions only' cdrom from my shop but it is quite a tough build so please be aware. The other designs are much simpler to build.
Sometimes it almost sounds like a voice :o
This makes 303s obsolete :-D
cat seal of approval :D
how to build ?????? it`s incredible
Did you replace every resistor with a pot in the schematic?
I'm not sure which schematic you're referring to.
ChrisLody
I'm not referring to any diagram specifically. I'm assuming you are using 3 555 timer IC's (or the 556 and a 555 for the timer) with the 4017 decade/ sequencer. Lots of schematics out there for this that can be adapted. Most of potentiometers, I think I know but you have more...
2 standard Atari punk console pots for the square wave audio oscillator and the second divider oscillator. Freq 1 and 2. Res and Cut?
1 Gain, line level output resistor? The mini pots control the in parallel with the 4017 output step.
1 Timer.
But not sure where you added the other 3...
Did you make up or follow a schematic online and adapt it for your layout?
Great work btw...
Mike Novo Thanks. Its a mix of stuff i've designed and schematics i've studied to adapt them to my own means. I have a bit of a rule that i must understand the way a schematic works before i'm allowed to use it, which means i get to tweak stuff.
There aren't any 555 timers in this as i prefer schmitt trigger cmos chips as they're simpler to work with. The oscillator is a saw wave vco of my own design built around a 40107 chip. This chip is also the source of the clock (you can make 6 oscillators out of a 40107), the output of which is filtered using a couple of passive filters (the attack and release knobs) and then buffered through an op amp chip and the output sent to the filter. The op amp chip also amplifies the oscillator output controlled by the gain knob to give some nice distortion. The filter is a modded version of the filter in the MFOS noise maker, with added voltage control and tweaks to the resonance and range. The sequencer part made from the 4017 is very close to the 'Baby Ten' sequencer that been kicking around for years but with an added DIL switch to give control over the number of steps.
Hope that helps.
ChrisLody Excellent. I literally picked up the electronics bug this year albeit self taught through trial and error and have exponentially learned a lot. It's hard to focus on any one project. I'm currently working on an electronic dc load, variable power supply (1 via LM324 and LM350 set up and a larger one involving power transistors) but now electronic sound manipulation has caught my eye. As a wheel and bike builder, I eventually want to make an electric bike to meld these two hobbies together.
Again great work. Keep it coming!
I just checked out the 40107 data sheet. Looks like a fun project! On order, and waiting for a fun weekend...
Sounds cool! Is it easy to sync with a MIDI clock?
MoolahNasreddin Thanks. No not easy to sync to midi as it's completely analog. It does have a clock out though and I've had some success syncing with volcas, though they're a bit sensitive so tend to skip a bit.
Cool! Does this means that it's possible to input a MIDI clock (from a PC for example) and run it with a certain speed?
MoolahNasreddin No unfortunately as it only has midi out. It would be possible to hack a midi in but it would still be an analog clock only.
I wanna learn
why is it always a cat.
+king shaman because dogs are obnoxious and loud, like screamo punk rock or dubstep
Zoie3x8
Good point.
midi in would be dope af :D
Orbiting Tears NWO It would, but sadly beyond my level of expertise. The schematics are available though if anyone would like a go at that.
where do you sell the schematic for this?
Animal Music There's a link to my Etsy shop in the info below the video. There's a stripboard diagram available as a download if you buy the Build Instructions Only CD rom, though it's not a full set of instructions and isn't easy to build either. There's no actual schematic as that was lost at some point so I need to redo it.
The sounds remind me of hotline Miami
ElecDIY I tried to play that game a while back but it totally kicked my arse.
I don't intend to offend, but looking at your parts list... it's a bit difficult to read. Is there any possibility to update the parts lists with a typed list? That would help, tremendously.
Sorry about that, I hadn't realised it was my crappy hand scrawled version on there still. I'm getting back into doing more electronics again recently so I'll get that updated at some point soon. Wouldn't take too long.
@@ChrisLodyMusic - Ha ha... no worries. It's likely less your handwriting and more my crappy eyes. Wet macular degeneration in my left eye makes it fun to read. Even more fun to try to solder!
@@dharvell Sorry for keeping you waiting. I've just uploaded a .docx version of both flavours of the Step Sister parts list. Hopefully they're accurate, it's been a while since I've built one :D
@@ChrisLodyMusic - Awesomeness! Thanks for taking the time to do so. Can't wait to give it a go!
No problem. Let me know if you run into any problems as it all a bit lofi and diy 😄
Any of these being sold again?
There's actually 3 on my bench in the process of being built but my day job is getting in the way at the moment. So yes, but I'm not sure on the time scale. Thanks for watching BTW.
Can you make it sound like the end of karn evil 9 third movement from elp's brain salad surgery? If it can do that... I truly want one..no, maybe two :)
Ha, not quite like that no. You'd need a 16 step sequencer and a rack of modular synth equipment to do that which is obviously a lot more advanced than what this can do. Pretty much everything the step sister can do is shown in the video.
Yeah.... but if you see his work on the cal jam 74 show... that sequencer was amazing. my favorite part is the scale(s) section he did after the rotating piano and before the end of pictures. 90 thousand dollar synth but so so so cool. Thanks for the reply
Can I guess that you used a 4017 decade counter for this?
xD
Ryan Jensen Yeah that's right. A bit like a 'baby 10' at the heart of the sequencer but with a selectable number of steps.
xcellent
I want one.
4:15.... Pink Floyd!
what filter u using?
musicfromouterspace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ok
nice I want to build a synth like this for 20 bucks tho :D(
How do you make one?
Hi James. At the moment they're only fully built and are also out of stock unfortunately. There also may be a kit version in the future but it's a tricky build.
Ok, thanks for the reply.
circuit?
schematic?
ermjcore ermjcore There's build instruction in the video description