I know that chip tunes use olds game system and computers. what about chip analog synths that sound like old games systems. the 555 is the heart altari punk console. 555 is unique in how produces square waves and a chip that is still produce.
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Philly
The 555 doesn't produce square waves by itself, the signal produced depends on the circuit used with the 555. It's operation is based on charging and discharging a capacitor. It can be made to generate pulse waves of different duty ratios, not just square waves.
It was one of the first chips (1971), performs a very basic function, and is very cheap so it will not go away anytime soon. If you need to generate timed pulses and are not using a microcontroller it's a good chip to use. Everyone learning electronics uses one at some point.
The Apple II actually used one to blink the display cursor.
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Dallas, Texas
I prefer using 4000 series logic for simple synth making. With the various gates and timers there are available you can (and people have) create full modular synthesizers. Most go under the name 'Lunetta Synth'. 555 is pretty limited for audio applications to be honest.
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matt's mind
^ lunetta synth
you pulled the words right out of my mouth
if this sort of uber basic synthesis interests you, OP, check that out for sure
also this neat little guy by xiwi: http://xiwielectronics.com/collections/ … cts/binary
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Brooklon
with a 556 for oscillators, 4017 for sequencer and 555 for clock, you can get some pretty cool blippy, borderline FM-y arps going!
case in point:
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well have some more in mind of something like this
http://youtu.be/VdI3vnkpTlQ?list=FLsOxL … rCcsvNzYtw
the idea is hybrid synth. what I think I that early cpu clock speed were too slow so they had control an oscillator.
it hard for me to think of it as pulse waves but square waves of different duty cycles.
when think of pulse think of wave that decays sharply.