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.