Ribbon Synth Demo

This is a Gakken SX-150 circuit (retail cost: about $50) which has been surgically grafted onto a ribbon controller (500mm Softpot from Trossen Robotics). I also replaced the batteries with a DC transformer, stepped up the audio output to 1/4", changed out the cheap plastic sliders with shiny toggle switches, and finished it out with a super-bright green LED and packaged it in a plexiglass case. I'm playing it here with a volume footpedal, and providing accompaniment on the Moog Source. Seen behind the synth is my matching homemade theremin, which is demonstrated on another of my videos.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gakken
• SX-150
• Moog
• Source
• Ribbon
• Synth

[xsupernazix]

Hi!, I tried to do the same thing as you did. I bought a softpot linear potentiometer and i hooked up the leads from the wires to it but i dont seem to get any sound! did you use the same gauge wire as the ones that came with the gakken? thanks a lot mate!

[stexe]

If you hook up the wires correctly (stylus' wire to the ribbon's center post), you should be getting something. I think I used 22 gauge wire, but that shouldn't matter, because the ribbon is just a variable resistor.

[xsupernazix]

@stexe awesome! thanks man it works now...time to install it in a proper casing...

i also checked out your other vids and the music is great keep it up!

[stexe]

@xsupernazix thanks... this case and the components of this instrument have been improved since I shot this video: stexeweb.com/electronics_frank­enribbon1.html

[JorgeCortez01]

did you just replaced the stylus on the Gakken? did you used a voltage divider on the ribbon?

[stexe]

On the Gakken, the stylus has a single wire coming out of it. The surface you place it on (to close the circuit) has two wires.

The ribbon controller has three poles on it to attach the wires. If I recall correctly, the one from the stylus goes in the center. The other two go on either side of it. If you're getting high frequency to the left and low frequency to the right, switch those two wires. That's all there is to it. No additional discrete components were used.

[SixSickSixOfficial]

I want a ribbon synth so bad, however, I feel like to get a decent one you have to drop a grand or build your own. Wish I was smart enough to understand how to do this.

[chrisjhart221138]

My God this sounds good.

[xsupernazix]

@stexe I saw the pics thats pretty cool.

I got mine working and hooked it up to my guitar amp and it seems very low on volume. How did you hook yours up so its loud?

[tomdcour]

I LIKE IT!!!!!!

[JorgeCortez01]

@stexe did you just replaced the stylus on the Gakken? did you used a voltage divider on the ribbon?