x0xb0x Build – Part 1
Synthesizers November 12th, 2008After checking out a x0xb0x at the Pacific Northwest Synth Gathering/Meeting/Extravaganza I’ve decided that I need to build one for myself.
A x0xb0x, in case you don’t know, is a reproduction of the Roland TB-303 with some extras. I’ve always been a fan of the 303 sound** and have toyed with the idea of buying a real one, but they are very expensive (thanks, acid music!) and can be a bit cantankerous. Besides, the x0xb0x adds some nifty features that the original didn’t have, like MIDI, USB and the ability to play it directly without using the sequencer.
I could buy one pre-made (they’re like $1000), or I could get on the waiting list for a kit (some of the parts are really rare), but I’ve decided that I’m going to source my own parts and make a nice long drawn-out project out of it. In fact, I’ve got my first part already.
That’s the PCB I ordered from the Adafruit store. Yep, there it is. One PCB. One empty PCB. Hmm… Maybe the back is more exciting.
Okay, so this project is pretty boring so far. I haven’t actually gotten to build anything yet. I just figured that if I ordered the board (a big part I can’t use for anything else) then I had to build my x0xb0x. It was a motivational strategy, really. Now I guess I’d better start finding some rare parts so I can solder stuff.
**When you get the resonance going and start cranking that filter it’s like the aural equivalent of when pop bubbles go up the back of your nose.