UsagiSlim
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Hey everyone, first post.

I'm relatively new to diy electronics and have been messing around building kits, currently building the APC, circuit bending guitar pedals etc.  Also learning electronics theory as i go haha. 

I'm interested in making an extremely stripped down rhythm generator, possibly using a 555 or 556 timer.  Can anyone point me in the right direction?  I've been googling pretty hard, come across some cool sequencer kits but I don't know that I need to incorporate a sequencer if I can get the timer chip to slow down enough and create rhythmic, low pitched pulses, the speed of which can be changed by the pots (perhaps pots of a specific value to be able to access those really slow times?  Am I making sense or am i thinking about this right?).  In other words, I don't care about controlling the tempo by external cv or changing the pitch of the sequence...just want to get something rhythmic and atonal (maybe with a noise generator?), the speed of which I can adjust with a simple pot.  Something of APC caliber as far as ease of build and simplicity. 

Does this sound crazy or is it doable?

Cool forum!

herr_prof
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have you seen:
http://ericarcher.net/devices/mk1/

BRIX
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Los Angeles, CA

I'd be interested in the kit / guide you're using for the APC - links? smile

UsagiSlim
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I'm doing the Lush Projects version on stripboard (http://lushprojects.com/apc/) still sourcing some of the parts, waiting for them to come in from taiwan by the 100's...i want to learn how to do stuff from scratch so I'm trying to stay away from custom PCB's as of now.  Herr_Prof, that thing looks awesome!  I guess he's not selling the kits as of now?  Bummer.

chunter
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Brunswick, GA USA

It can work but I suggest a simpler project like Thingamagoop first. I decided not to do this sort of thing upon discovering that a Korg Mono* can be had for similar money and less soldering work.

ashimoke
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Czech republic

Hi and welcome!

I'd suggest using separate circuit for the sequencer and sound generator. There are many kits and schematics for 4017 sequencers - you might know these already.

For the sound generator check this: http://ericarcher.net/devices/mini-space-rockers/
It is very easy to build and there are many kinds of sounds you can get using different caps. You could even siplify the circuit by only keeping everything from C3 to the right (C3 included). Then you trigger it with push button (tied to +9V).

I have schematics for noise generator based drum synth (as simple as mini space rocker) but I cannot find it now. I'll try harder. That one need 12V though.

Hope it helps!

edit: couldn't find the noise-based one online so I had to reupload it: http://i49.tinypic.com/aw3h3c.png

Last edited by ashimoke (Nov 13, 2012 8:19 pm)

UsagiSlim
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Thanks for the info!  I like those space rockers, that schematic could be a good starting point as well. 
I think i like the idea of the simple sound generator being sequenced by that 4017 chip, i hadn't seen those before. 
I suppose I could also use a 555 as a simple timer to drive the noise makers?

Last edited by UsagiSlim (Nov 13, 2012 11:50 pm)

godinpants
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hardcore, Australia

You can use the 555 to drive the 4017.

It might be worth checking out this
http://milkcrate.com.au/_other/sea-moss/

and search for the baby 10 sequencer for a 555/4017 based sequencer.

Theta_Frost
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Milwaukee, WI

I built the tune in tokyo from ericarcher.  Good fun!  If you're up for something a little more advanced, the novadrone from casper electronics looks really cool.  Has a neat in depth theory explanation as well.

http://casperelectronics.com/finished-p … ova-drone/

CircuitBen
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Nottingham

There's a chapter in Nic Collin's book "Handmade Electronic music" which covers all this very well. You can use a 555 to drive the clock input of a 4017, and then feed the outputs of the 4017, either directly to one chip (playing a tune), or to inputs on drum sound modules. If you are lucky enough to find a cheap drum toy, who's pads trigger from +V, then you can connect to these + Voila! Cheap 8-step beats.