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Alright, disclaimer, I'm new to this. Sorry if I ask something obvious.

So I got a gakken yesterday, and it's really cool. But I want to actually do something musically with it, and, for me, that involves a shit ton of mods and such. The main idea is I want to buy four and make a four oscillator modular synth. I know this is possible (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVu2O8ZK-tA) but I don't know if its possible to do everything I want to do to it. This is also my first project of almost any kind with electronics (I know some things, just havent done anything with that knowledge). (Side note - I considered doing this with a monotron, since I've heard they're much easier to mod, but 4 monotrons would be 240 new while the gakkens would come to 80.)

Here's my list of questions.

1. Is this possible/within reason (not a whole year of work)?
- 4 gakkens connected
- synced lfo
- able to use all oscillators in unison or separately to do chords
- keyboard (I might also want to have both a keyboard and a strip like is shown in the video and be able to switch between the two. Either that or I would be happy with a pitch wheel.)
- ASDR
- Hold note function sort of thing (drone)
- sequencer
- Here's the kicker - do all of this completely analog

2. How do you add a keyboard without midi?
- I'm guessing its possible, but how? This is an area I know almost nothing about. I know (think) a lot of modern analog synths are using midi but they cant all be, especially not vintage synths. So how the hell does that work?

3. There are analog sequencers, right?

4. Can I make this all powerable by some sort of power supply?

5. Could all of this be done for under $200?
- I was originally going to buy a microbrute for my first analog synth, but if this works out I might be satisfied for awhile. However, I'd like to spend less than what a used microbrute would cost.

6. I need a soldering iron.
- Preferably one thats cheap as shit. (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/13140910 ... 0&ff14=108)? I only care if it keeps me through this project, and if it breaks after this project, that's fine as long as, like i said, its cheap as shit. part of the reason I'm doing this is to see if this is something I want to get into (and extend it into building pedals and shit like that.) If I like it, then I'll invest in a solid, high quality soldering iron.

Ok, I think that's it for now. Obviously once I get around to doing this, I'm going to have a fuck ton more questions.

I haven't done any synth mods yet, but I have done a few pedals and I could share some experiences.

It is actually a bit harder than it looks, and troubleshooting bad solder joints is something I do not enjoy at all. I would recommend starting on an easier project than modding 4 synths with all these functions at once.

I have a gakken on the way, and already have a monotron. At first glance, the monotron appeared as a completely unmusical novelty item, but once I got around to mess with it, the monotron actually is a great thing for noise-y stuff and it does the low-pulsing drone thing (with quite a bit of line noise though) way over my expectations. I would suspect that the gakken is quite the same, mess around with it a bit and then figure out what you really miss as a function.

I think the gakkens have an ADSR? Or at least attack and release? Check if you can mod it for CV-in for the LFO rate, you can then sync it via some kind of CV-LFO thing (I think). No idea how to make a sequencer, and I think whatever you do it'll be analog. I guess it depends on what you consider analog and digital. The power supply thing is probably the easiest mod of them all. I know how to solder it for pedals, but I'll see how to do it when I receive my own gakken.

I tried to answer to the best of my knowledge, which is very limited, but maybe join forums where the real electronic wizards hang out?like DIYelectronics or whatever it's called

You'll prolly wanna put this in the DIY Forum here, or post on Muffwiggler, where a lot of the Gakken mods came from, I guess. Best of luck, dude! I'm just getting into DIY, and it's been equal parts frustrating and rewarding.

Brandsmannen wrote:I haven't done any synth mods yet, but I have done a few pedals and I could share some experiences.

It is actually a bit harder than it looks, and troubleshooting bad solder joints is something I do not enjoy at all. I would recommend starting on an easier project than modding 4 synths with all these functions at once.

I have a gakken on the way, and already have a monotron. At first glance, the monotron appeared as a completely unmusical novelty item, but once I got around to mess with it, the monotron actually is a great thing for noise-y stuff and it does the low-pulsing drone thing (with quite a bit of line noise though) way over my expectations. I would suspect that the gakken is quite the same, mess around with it a bit and then figure out what you really miss as a function.

I think the gakkens have an ADSR? Or at least attack and release? Check if you can mod it for CV-in for the LFO rate, you can then sync it via some kind of CV-LFO thing (I think). No idea how to make a sequencer, and I think whatever you do it'll be analog. I guess it depends on what you consider analog and digital. The power supply thing is probably the easiest mod of them all. I know how to solder it for pedals, but I'll see how to do it when I receive my own gakken.

I tried to answer to the best of my knowledge, which is very limited, but maybe join forums where the real electronic wizards hang out?like DIYelectronics or whatever it's called

Alright, thanks. Ill probably do some easier projects first (square wave generator, maybe a few clones)

Thylacine Dream wrote:You'll prolly wanna put this in the DIY Forum here, or post on Muffwiggler, where a lot of the Gakken mods came from, I guess. Best of luck, dude! I'm just getting into DIY, and it's been equal parts frustrating and rewarding.

Yeah, ill do that.