Unusual Synthesizer Circuits
I
built original modular synths when I was a high school student.
Rate 1990’s, I joined synth-diy
mailing
list and resumed synth DIY. I'm not good at English but I am
trying to write most of
the
contents in English for the list members who have inspired me.
[WARNING]
This
page is not for beginners, but for those who are looking for new
synth circuits. Most
of
the circuits presented here are not the usual synth circuits.
Beginners must become
familiar
with ordinary circuits before they can understand these unusual
circuits. I will not
answer
questions from beginners because my English is not sufficiently good
to explain these complicated
things to beginners.
The
information provided on this website is for non-commercial use only.
Some works
may
be covered under one or more patents. Contact Osamu
Hoshuyama for information
on
commercial use.
Original
Schematics
Exponential Converter
SymExp2.gif (Jan. 21, 2001) Symmetrical exponential current sources (17 Kb) Not tested. But, It should work.
ExpPara.gif (May 31, 2005) Wide-range exponential current source (13 Kb) Not tested.
ExpPent.gif (May 31, 2005) Multiple exponential current sources (14 Kb) Not tested. But, It should work.
Exponential converter using MC1496. (Jun. 19, 2008)
Single supply exponential converters. (Jul. 01, 2009)
Temperature compensated exponential converter using SSM2164 Part 2. (Aug. 29, 2009)
Temperature compensated exponential converter using SSM2164 Part 1. (Aug. 26, 2009)
Temperature compensated exponential converter using Blackmer Cell. (Sep. 02, 2009)
Temperature compensated exponential converter using ordinary transistor array. (Sep. 02, 2009)
Temperature compensated exponential converter using emitter common transistor array. Easily oscillates. Phase compensation needed. (Nov. 21, 2010)
Temperature compensated exponential current source using PNP transistor array. Easily oscillates. Phase compensation needed. (Jul. 14, 2011)
Temperature compensated exponential/log amplifiers based on AD538. (Sep. 09, 2011)
Exponential converters using NTC thermistors. (Jun. 06, 2015) New!
VCO & Waveshaper
VcoMos0212.GIF (Feb. 01, 2003) CMOS VCO (29 Kb)
WvShp0305a.gif (Jun. 10, 2003) Variable slope-ratio triangular waveshaper (26 Kb) Untested but tested on simulater by Masa KUNII.
WvShp0306.gif (Jun. 10, 2003) Voltage-controlled slope-ratio triangular waveshaper (40 Kb) Untested.
Lfo0509d.gif (Mar. 12, 2006) Single-OTA VCLFO (10 Kb) Not tested.
RossPhLfo0510.gif (Mar. 12, 2006) Hyper-triangular LFO in Ross phaser (10 Kb) Not tested.
Serge VCO using LM3900s. (Oct. 08, 2007)
AN299 VCO with extended frequency range. (Sep. 30, 2008)
VCO using LM359 Norton Amp. (Jan. 13, 2011)
Single opamp full wave rectifiers. (Jan. 21, 2012)
First ideas. Fwr0306.GIF (May 31, 2005)
Saw to sin converters. (Feb. 24, 2012)
Through-zero sawteeth VCO with 2 reset circuits. (Oct. 06, 2013)
Single-supply VCLFO. (Sep. 21, 2014)
Single-supply VCO. (Oct. 14, 2014)
Wavemultiplier Pt. 1. (Dec. 18, 2016) New!
Wavemultiplier Pt. 2. (Dec. 27, 2016) New!
Wavemultiplier Pt. 3. (Jan. 15, 2017) New!
Wavemultiplier Pt. 4. (Jan. 15, 2017) New!
Wavemultiplier Pt. 5. (Jan. 22, 2017) New!
Wavemultiplier Pt. 6. (Jan. 22, 2017) New!
Single Supply VCO Pt. 2. (Sep. 09, 2017) New!
VCF
Vcf0111.gif (Jan. 5, 2002) My original VCLPF <Single ended diode ladder> (12 Kb) No diff amp. Older Version: Vcf98.gif
Ph44core.gif (Dec. 5, 2000) Pearl phaser PH44 APF core (8 Kb)
Vcf99081.gif (Dec. 5, 2000) My original VCLPF <Totem pole VCF> (28 Kb)
Vcfhow.gif (Dec. 5, 2000) How the totem pole VCF works (11 Kb)
Vcf0007.gif (Dec. 5, 2000) VCF core variations (HPF and APF) based on the totem pole structure (18 Kb) Tested on breadboard.
Vcf84a.gif (Dec. 5, 2000) Roland style VCLPF built in 1984. <Normal OTA based> (18 Kb)
PhTrR2.gif (Dec. 5, 2000) VCAPF <C-E resistor> (7 Kb) Tested on breadboard. Too much distortion.
VcfMos0206.GIF (Jul. 25, 2002) My original VCF <CMOS VCF> (35 Kb)
CmosOta.GIF (Jul. 25, 2002) How CMOS inverter works as OTA (18 Kb)
Circuit analysis of CMOS VCF. (Jul. 19, 2015) Design process is revealed. New!
PhaseFet0205.GIF (Jul. 25, 2002) VCAPF idea suited to Mike Irwin's VCR structure (15 Kb) Untested.
VcfSvf0206.GIF (Nov. 09, 2002) State variable type VCF using CMOS. (20 Kb)
Vcf0210.GIF (Nov. 09, 2002) My original VCF structures using current-input-current-output OTAs. (19 Kb)
Vcf0211a.GIF (Nov. 09, 2002) Four-pole VCF with asymmetrical distortion. An attempt to simulate SSM2040 for cheap. (20 Kb)
Vcfv0212.GIF (Dec. 31, 2002) How to add HPF input to ladder filter. Sallen-Key ladder filter is possible! (19 Kb)
VcfTp0211.gif (Jun. 10, 2003) Totem pole VCF. (26 Kb) A little easy to build. Tested on breadboard.
VcSvf01a.gif (Jun. 10, 2003) My original multimode VCF. (20 Kb) Function is similar to Steiner VCF. Untested.
Vchp0302.GIF (Jun. 10, 2003) Horizontal transistor ladder VCF (30 Kb)
VcfCtp0211.gif (Jun. 10, 2003) My original VCF <Cascaded totem pole VCF> (32 Kb) Tested on breadboard.
VcfStn0505b.gif (Mar. 12, 2006) Modified Steiner style VCF. (20 Kb)
Svf4023.GIF (Mar. 12, 2006) Transformation from ordinary state-variable filter to Arp4023. (18 Kb)
VcfSSM0602a.GIF (Mar. 12, 2006) Four-pole VCF using SSM2164. (20 Kb) Main signal path was tested on breadboard.
Vcph0505.GIF (Mar. 12, 2006) My original VCAPF using SSM2164 for phasers. (18 Kb) Tested on breadboard.
Buchla 191 VCF. (Jul. 11, 2007)
OSCar VCF & VCA. (Mar. 07, 2008)
Battery operated VCF. (Dec. 06, 2009)
Battery operated VCF Pt.2. (Dec. 06, 2009)
Battery operated transistor ladder VCF. (Oct. 06, 2010)
Battery operated totem-pole VCF. (Oct. 14, 2010)
Phaser based on LM3900. (Aug. 18, 2011)
VCLPF based on LM3900. (Aug. 19, 2011)
Battery operated diode ladder VCF. (Dec. 02, 2011)
Musonic Sonic-V diode ladder VCF. (Jan. 18, 2012)
Musonic Sonic-V style VCF with temperature compensation. (Jan. 20, 2012)
Single supply OTA based multimode VCF Pt.1. (Feb. 21, 2012)
Single supply OTA based multimode VCF Pt.2. (Feb. 22, 2012)
Single supply OTA based multimode VCF Pt.3. (Feb. 24, 2012)
Variations of all-pass filters using OTAs. (May 25, 2014)
CEM3320 VCF IC, Pat. US4004141. (May 15, 2015) New!
SSM2040-style VCF. (May 20, 2015) New!
Second-order all-pass filters. (Dec. 17, 2016) New!
Second-order all-pass filters Pt. 2. (Jan. 27, 2017) New!
Variable-Q all-pass filters. (Jan. 30, 2017) New!
Phaser using variable-Q. (Feb. 01, 2017) New!
OTA-based APF with variable Q. (Feb. 01, 2017) New!
OTA-based APF with variable Q, Pt. 2. (Feb. 05, 2017) New!
OTA-based APF with voltage controled Q. (Feb. 09, 2017) New!
APF using NE570. (Feb. 19, 2017) New!
VCLPF using NE570. (Feb. 19, 2017) New!
VC state variable filter using NE570. (Feb. 19, 2017) New!
Fourth-order APF with variable phase slope. (Mar. 15, 2017) New!
Korg35-Style VCF with Photo Coupler IC. (May 06, 2017) New!
ARP4075-Style VCF Operated by Single Supply. (May 06, 2017) New!
VCA
Vca84.gif (Dec. 5, 2000) Normal OTA based. (12 Kb) CV part has an error.
VcaMos0210.GIF (Oct. 14, 2002) My original VCA. CMOS VCA (17 Kb)
Vca0302.gif (Jun. 10, 2003) Discrete VCA with improved dynamic range (9 Kb) Untested.
VCAs using MC1496. (Jun. 18, 2008)
Class-B ringmodulator using MC1496. (Oct. 26, 2010)
Ring modulator with dead zone and saturation. (Nov. 05, 2010)
VCA with selectable CV response. (Dec. 09, 2011)
Variable-response CV current source Pt.1. (Nov. 04, 2011)
Variable-response CV current source Pt.2. A little simpler. (Nov. 05, 2011)
Variable-response CV current source Pt.3. Far simpler. (Jan. 15, 2012)
2010 (2010) Monodular. (Modularized Monotron) Link to analog-synth.jp
moritaVCF77.gif (Jan. 30, 2001. 31 kb) Transistor ladder VCF designed by Shin'ya MORITA in 1977.
moritaVCF783.gif (Jan. 30, 2001. 29 kb) Diode bridge type 2 pole VCF designed by Shin'ya MORITA. Untested.
moritaVCF785.gif (Jan. 30, 2001. 48 kb) Diode bridge type 4 pole VCF designed by Shin'ya MORITA. Untested.
(Jan. 30, 2001. 23 kb) Re-invention of Moog-Musonics Sonic-V style VCF by Shin'ya MORITA. Tested on breadboard.
moritaEG78.gif (Jan. 30, 2001. 42 kb) Simple ADSR designed by Shin'ya MORITA. 1978. Untested.
gx1eg.gif (Jan. 30, 2001. 19 kb) VC ADSR of Yamaha GX1. Redrawn by Shin'ya MORITA.