Live Eurorack DIY build workshop: Make a CONTROL module with Tom Whitwell of Music Thing Modular – LIVE Session

Sign up here: CMusic Thing Modular – ‘Control’ Online Workshop with Tom Whitwell – Thonk – DIY Synthesizer Kits & Components

Date & Time: Saturday 27th March 7pm GMT / 8pm CET / 12 midday PST / 3pm EST

Level: Beginner – Intermediate (basic soldering experience required)

Eurorack modular synthesizers can be expensive and bewildering.

This workshop will help you develop confidence to build DIY modules yourself, unlocking a huge range of satisfying new opportunities.

Before we start building, Tom will talk briefly about the process of module design, touching on ideas, usability, prototyping, electronics and tools, and answer any questions.

Together, we’ll build a brand new module called Control. It has four big knobs, is 18hp, and gives detailed fine-grained control over any parameters in a modular synth.

Tom wrote about the development process for Control here:

https://medium.com/music-thing-modular-notes/make-knob-twiddling-great-again-47065a346c2

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, a successful student will be able to:

  • Confidently solder a through-hole electronic PCB

  • Assemble a fairly complex Eurorack synth module, ensuring pots and switches are correctly aligned.

  • Have a simple understanding of the process of designing and prototyping music hardware.

Requirements

Required materials:

  • This is a through-hole kit. All SMD parts are pre-soldered.

  • A fine tip soldering iron – ideally with temperature control.

  • Fine rosin core solder (1mm or less in diameter). Leaded solder is generally easier to work with, particularly for beginners.

  • Side cutter pliers

Required workspace: 

  • From running many workshops in the past, we’ve found that a good workspace is as important as the right equipment:

  • Space: You don’t need much, just a clear patch of desk, with a surface that won’t be damaged by the odd drop of solder. A silicone soldering mat is nice but absolutely not essential.

  • Light: Enough light to see small components and check their placement. A desk lamp is good.

  • Sight: Everyone’s vision is different, but have whatever you need to see small objects clearly – glasses or a magnifier.

  • Ventilation: soldering with rosin/flux creates small amounts of smoke and fumes, so work in a room with some ventilation – a window you can open, or just a desk fan to blow the fumes away.

If you have any questions about equipment or workspace, don’t hesitate to email tom@musicthing.co.uk

Required tech: 

  • A computer and internet connection

  • A web cam and mic

  • A Zoom account

About the workshop leader

Tom Whitwell designs Music Thing Modular electronic musical instruments from a shed in Herne Hill, London.  Tom has been designing devices and writing about music for many years, developing hugely popular DIY modules including: Turing Machine, Radio Music and Mikrophonie.

Build an interactive textile instrument

This practice-led course will show you how to make an electronic textile interface for music performance. We will learn a DIY technique to craft with e-textile materials and then explore how to make music with the handcrafted interface in a number of ways. Each session will follow on from the last, developing your knowledge through a series of hands-on projects, delivered in four online workshops. 

Level: beginner with notions of DIY electronics and programming

  • Some familiarity or experience of working with Arduino and/or Max/MSP (or similar platforms) is desirable
  • A tabletop space to work at
  • Computer, with USB port
  • Arduino IDE (Free – download here: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software)
  • Max 8 (Free 30 day trial available – you will be instructed to download this for the final session)

This workshop is available internationally. Please order your DIY kit before the dispatch date for your location. Kits will be posted using a Royal Mail tracked service.

UK dispatch date: Friday 17th November

Worldwide dispatch date: Friday 3rd November

We will work with the Lilypad Arduino, a microcontroller board designed for use with e-textiles and wearables projects, and Max/MSP, an object-orientated programming language for music making. The workshop series will cover the fundamentals of working with e-textiles and these technologies, giving a basis for participants to continue to develop their creative ideas when working with sound and interactive textiles.

Tues 24th Nov, 6pm UK –  Workshop 1: Crafting an e-textile interface

In this workshop, we will explore an approach to working with electronic textiles and handcraft. This workshop will introduce needle felting as a DIY method of working with e-textiles. We will make an interactive and touch sensitive textile interface, to then be used in a number of ways, throughout the four sessions of this course. Through crafting the brightly coloured interface, we will explore a creative approach to interface design and learn how traditional crafts can be combined with e-textile materials to result in novel interfaces for music performance.

Tues 1st Dec, 6pm UK – Workshop 2: Bringing your craft work to life: capacitive sensing and visualising sensor data with the Lilypad Arduino

In this session, we will transform the needle felted piece from Workshop 1 into an interactive and touch sensitive interface. We will introduce the Lilypad Arduino and explore capacitive sensing as a method of bringing your textile work to life. You will learn several approaches to visualising interaction data on screen, as well as the fundamentals of working with Arduino IDE.

Tues 8th Dec, 6pm UK – Workshop 3: Composing through code: making an e-textile step sequencer with the Lilypad Arduino

This week, we will develop our coding skills and learn an approach to using your e-textile interface with the Lilypad Arduino, as a standalone music making device. We will write, edit and compose through code, to create a playful step sequencer that makes music as you touch the textile interface. 

Tues 15th Dec, 6pm UK – Workshop 4: Interactive textiles and Max/MSP

Workshop 4 will introduce a method of using your handcrafted interface with Max/MSP. From this workshop, you will know how to program your Lilypad Arduino, to allow your e-textile interface to control parameters in a Max patch. We will make a software-based sampler, where pre-recorded sound files are triggered by touching the interactive textile interface. Some familiarity and a basic working knowledge of Max/MSP is desirable, but not essential. Participants with experience in Max are welcome to bring their own patches to experiment with.

A DIY kit, with all of the craft tools and materials you will need, is included in the workshop price and will be posted to your home in advance of the course.  

There are two kits available, please select the kit that you will require: 

Kit 1 is a full kit and includes a Lilypad Arduino and all of the craft tools and materials you will need for the course. 

Kit 2 includes all of the craft tools and materials you will need to make the e-textile interface, but does not include the Lilypad Arduino and USB cable. 

(Kit 2 is best suited if you already have a Lilypad Arduino or would prefer to use an alternative board. Please note that this course focuses on working with the Lilypad and so support for alternative boards will be limited and only recommended for more experienced participants.)

Kit 1 contents:

  • Lilypad Arduino
  • USB cable
  • 10 x crocodile clips
  • Speaker
  • Wool 
  • Steel wool
  • 3 x Needle felting tools 
  • Embroidery hoop
  • Fabric
  • Copper tape

Kit 2 contents:

  • 10 x crocodile clips
  • Speaker
  • Wool 
  • Steel wool
  • 3 x Needle felting tools 
  • Embroidery hoop
  • Fabric
  • Copper tape

Build an interactive textile instrument

This practice-led course will show you how to make an electronic textile interface for music performance. We will learn a DIY technique to craft with e-textile materials and then explore how to make music with the handcrafted interface in a number of ways. Each session will follow on from the last, developing your knowledge through a series of hands-on projects, delivered in four online workshops. 

Level: beginner with notions of DIY electronics and programming

  • Some familiarity or experience of working with Arduino and/or Max/MSP (or similar platforms) is desirable
  • A tabletop space to work at
  • Computer, with USB port
  • Arduino IDE (Free – download here: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software)
  • Max 8 (Free 30 day trial available – you will be instructed to download this for the final session)

Availability

This workshop is available internationally. Please order your DIY kit before the dispatch date for your location. Kits will be posted using a Royal Mail tracked service.

UK dispatch date: Friday 25th September

Worldwide dispatch date: Friday 18th September

All sessions are led by a live workshop leader, and are recorded. If you miss one, you can watch it later.

We will work with the Lilypad Arduino, a microcontroller board designed for use with e-textiles and wearables projects, and Max/MSP, an object-orientated programming language for music making. The workshop series will cover the fundamentals of working with e-textiles and these technologies, giving a basis for participants to continue to develop their creative ideas when working with sound and interactive textiles.

Wed 30th Sept, 6pm UK –  Workshop 1: Crafting an e-textile interface

In this workshop, we will explore an approach to working with electronic textiles and handcraft. This workshop will introduce needle felting as a DIY method of working with e-textiles. We will make an interactive and touch sensitive textile interface, to then be used in a number of ways, throughout the four sessions of this course. Through crafting the brightly coloured interface, we will explore a creative approach to interface design and learn how traditional crafts can be combined with e-textile materials to result in novel interfaces for music performance.

Sat 3rd Oct, 6pm UK – Workshop 2: Bringing your craft work to life: capacitive sensing and visualising sensor data with the Lilypad Arduino

In this session, we will transform the needle felted piece from Workshop 1 into an interactive and touch sensitive interface. We will introduce the Lilypad Arduino and explore capacitive sensing as a method of bringing your textile work to life. You will learn several approaches to visualising interaction data on screen, as well as the fundamentals of working with Arduino IDE.

Fri 23rd Oct, 6pm UK – Workshop 3: Composing through code: making an e-textile step sequencer with the Lilypad Arduino

This week, we will develop our coding skills and learn an approach to using your e-textile interface with the Lilypad Arduino, as a standalone music making device. We will write, edit and compose through code, to create a playful step sequencer that makes music as you touch the textile interface. 

Sat 7th Nov, 6pm UK – Workshop 4: Interactive textiles and Max/MSP

Workshop 4 will introduce a method of using your handcrafted interface with Max/MSP. From this workshop, you will know how to program your Lilypad Arduino, to allow your e-textile interface to control parameters in a Max patch. We will make a software-based sampler, where pre-recorded sound files are triggered by touching the interactive textile interface. Some familiarity and a basic working knowledge of Max/MSP is desirable, but not essential. Participants with experience in Max are welcome to bring their own patches to experiment with.

A DIY kit, with all of the craft tools and materials you will need, is included in the workshop price and will be posted to your home in advance of the course.  

There are two kits available, please select the kit that you will require: 

Kit 1 is a full kit and includes a Lilypad Arduino and all of the craft tools and materials you will need for the course. 

Kit 2 includes all of the craft tools and materials you will need to make the e-textile interface, but does not include the Lilypad Arduino and USB cable. 

(Kit 2 is best suited if you already have a Lilypad Arduino or would prefer to use an alternative board. Please note that this course focuses on working with the Lilypad and so support for alternative boards will be limited and only recommended for more experienced participants.)

Kit 1 contents:

  • Lilypad Arduino
  • USB cable
  • 10 x crocodile clips
  • Speaker
  • Wool 
  • Steel wool
  • 3 x Needle felting tools 
  • Embroidery hoop
  • Fabric
  • Copper tape

Kit 2 contents:

  • 10 x crocodile clips
  • Speaker
  • Wool 
  • Steel wool
  • 3 x Needle felting tools 
  • Embroidery hoop
  • Fabric
  • Copper tape

 

London Music Hackspace at Elephant&Castle Mini Maker Faire 6.7.2013

logo

We are very happy to be part of Elephant&Castle Mini Maker Faire at London College of Communication.

Please join us on Saturday the 6th of July at our booth where we will be presenting projects built by Music Hackspace members. We will be also talking about what we do and how to get involved. Visitors will have an opportunity to play hacked instruments, DIY contact microphones and even a drum robot. and much much more.

We will have LMH t-shirts and other special items for the guests.

The whole event will have a great atmosphere, there are many workshops, presentations, drop-in sessions and like minded people etc.

The event is free, but you have to book your tickets, so get them while you can!!!

 

 

The Plague Comes to Town

Music Hackspace Workshop Hackers
Music Hackspace Workshop Martin Howse
Music Hackspace Workshop Participants
Music Hackspace Workshop Soldering
Music Hackspace Workshop Focus
Music Hackspace Assembly

On the weekend we hosted the first Music Hackspace workshop. Martin Howse, visiting from Berlin, instructed a dozen eager hackers in the construction of their very own micro_blackdeath noisemaker.

The small pitch surface mount soldering involved didn’t prevent it to be a success all around – and everyone left with a working device! Big thanks to Martin Howse and to Susanna for organising.

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