In his latest video, Ugandan synthesist Bamanya Brian (Afrorack), demonstrates how to make a DIY control voltage quantizer.
The schematic and Arduino code are also available to download.
Quantizers are used in electronic music to transform continuous voltages into discrete voltages. A common use is to take random voltages, or voltages from an analog sequencer, and force the voltage into 12 discrete values per volt. These 12 steps, if scaled correctly, can then be used to control an oscillator and play the 12 notes of the standard equal-tempered scale.
Brian has previously has shared his experiences building a DIY modular in Africa, How To Make Cheap Modular Synth Modules and how to make MIDI-controlled music robots.
I’ll wait for the book to come out.
Rad!
This is amazing. Considering the cost of all the required parts, including Arduino, perfboard, components, controls, jacks, hardware, and a Eurorack panel, you should be able churn out one of these for under $50. Maybe three of them for under $30 each. I think I’m going to make this.