My SA8 is a fun device I built it a while ago and have sampled it quite a bit. Its definately random and it is difficult to use as it tends to jump about volumewise and keeps breaking into wierd versions of happy birthday that are really annoying! But it has some great sounds especially with the added ghetto style LFO. The LFO is made from a 555 based timer schematic I found here.
The SA8 is a slightly tricky one to bend as it has the solder side of the pcb directly under the keyboard so you have limited room unless you ditch the keys as I've done! If you rip the keyboard out and then put it all back together you should be able to see the 3 IC's that I have attached bends to. See the photo's below (if you click on them they appear full size in a new window) and also my scan of my notes showing which points I have used. If anyone wants any more info or help deciphering my cryptic notes feel free to get in touch.
Thats it really, apart from to say that somebody posted that my work looked really "clean" on circuitbenders forum...I guess this one redresses the balance a little!
5 comments:
What are you referring to when you say "Chip C". There are only 2 chips in the Casio?
Thanks!
What are you referring to when you write "Chip C" for the ghetto LFO point? I only see two chips in the Casio.
Thanks!
Haha...I don't even own this SA8 anymore I gave it to a friend! However if you look at the top picture of this post (double click to see it larger in a new window) The LFO point is the yellow wire coming into the pcb area from the left hand side of the SA8. There are 2 rows of 4 pins which i guess must be a chip...the LFO out is attached to the second pin from the left on the top row...you can see it pretty well in the picture I reckon.
Thanks! Too bad you didn't keep the keyboard, looks pretty cool. I'll try to implement the LFO point and see what happens. What did connecting the LFO do for your keyboard?
The LFO acted as a kind of tremelo/gate switching off and on the audio output..it was a great effect. Definately worth doing.
I kinda miss the keyboard, but circuit bent stuff makes such great gifts to those who don't weild a soldering iron but are into making sounds.
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