AE Modular Synth DIY Shopping Lists
Jul 14, 2019 19:48:41 GMT
admin, thetechnobear, and 9 more like this
Post by NightMachines on Jul 14, 2019 19:48:41 GMT
AE Modular Synth DIY Shopping Lists
As a DIY beginner it can be overwhelming to get all the tools and components necessary, to start with your projects. In this thread you will find several lists with direct links to products in online stores, to help you get started.
I do not gain anything from linking to those stores (no affiliate programs, etc.) and there might be better products, stores, etc. So please, if you have other recommendations for these lists, then let me know
List #01: The Basics
No matter what kind of electronic DIY projects you want to tackle, you will need the following things. Since I know that you want to start right away, I listed products on Amazon in this list, which should hopefully ship fast
Tool Starter Set
Contains everything you need for handling, soldering and troubleshooting electronics.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
Component Starter Set
Contains a lot of different electrical components like resistors, capacitors, LEDs, etc. all in one box.
Huge box: Amazon.com
Smaller box: Amazon.com, Amazon.de
22awg Solid Wire Set
To connect components you need wire. The stiff, single-core 22awg wire is great for working with thru-hole components on Breadboards and PCBs. The different colors let you keep a good overview of your wiring.
Amazon.com
Breadboards
To test your circuits before soldering everything together permanently you need one or more breadboards.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
Special Breadboard Jumper Wires
Those are nice to have, although not absolutely necessary.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
Solder
The solder in the starter set is usually not much, so this is a proper amount.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de ("63-37" type solder is recommended)
Third hand
This helping hand will let you temporarily fix components into place for easier soldering.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
List #02: Practice your Skills with Kits
DIY Kits come with all components necessary to build a complete synth, audio effect or other doodad. They're great to practice soldering, or as a basis for DIY projects.
Atari Punk Console
Synthrotek.com, Rakits.co.uk
Guitar Effects
Musikding.de
Bastl Instruments Kits (Kastle, Dude, MicroGranny 2, OMSynth)
Noise.Kitchen
List #03: Basics to build your own AE Modules
Those will give you a good place to start. After a few projects you will figure out which components you need the most and you can order more of them specifically. AliExpress is cheap and has everything, but shipping times can be long.
100k Ohm Type B (linear) Pots
AliExpress (Choose 100K Ohm !!!)
Set of various resistors (1K Ohm and 100K Ohm are often used in AE Modular, but others are always good to have)
AliExpress
"104" 100nF Capacitors
AliExpress (Choose 100nF !!!)
Toggle switches
AliExpress
Pin Headers (female ones are for patch sockets, male ones can be used for AE power bus connections)
AliExpress
Diodes
AliExpress
MCP602 Op-Amps (used for signal buffering)
AliExpress
Naked Prototyping PCBs (10cm is the correct PCB height of AE Modular PCBs. Regarding the width: 1U = 2.5cm. You can cut, saw or break big PCBs into smaller ones easily. However you can also look for smaller PCBs directly.)
Amazon.com, Amazon.de (10x10 cm single-sided, just as an example. You can get double-sided or bigger/smaller ones as well if you prefer)
AE Modular Front Panels
tangible waves
M3 Standoff Spacers 8mm male-female (to connect the PCB to the front panel)
AliExpress
M3 Standoff Spacers 15mm female (to connect the PCB to the AE Modular case)
AliExpress (Choose M3-15 !!!)
List #04: Cool Stuff for specific Projects
A few components that let you create powerful modules.
Arduino Pro Micro
A tiny +5V version of the popular, easily-programmable micro controller, which can natively act as a USB-MIDI or HID device. The sky is the limit! Info
AliExpress
Arduino Nano
Cheaper than the one above and with a more commonly used processor. Can’t natively act as USB-MIDI device, etc. but if you don’t need that I would pick this one here.
AliExpress
555 Timer IC
The classic "1st DIY Project" IC to create a square wave oscillator. Datasheet
AliExpress
CD4051 8-Channel Mux/DeMux IC
An 8-way switch with a 3bit binary gate control input. Can be used for sequencer or signal switch projects. Datasheet
AliExpress
CD4017 Counter IC
10-step counter which can be used for a step sequencer or clock divider projects. Datasheet
AliExpress
CD4066 Quad Switch IC
Four gate-controlled on/off switches in one IC. Datasheet
AliExpress
More to come ...
As a DIY beginner it can be overwhelming to get all the tools and components necessary, to start with your projects. In this thread you will find several lists with direct links to products in online stores, to help you get started.
I do not gain anything from linking to those stores (no affiliate programs, etc.) and there might be better products, stores, etc. So please, if you have other recommendations for these lists, then let me know
List #01: The Basics
No matter what kind of electronic DIY projects you want to tackle, you will need the following things. Since I know that you want to start right away, I listed products on Amazon in this list, which should hopefully ship fast
Tool Starter Set
Contains everything you need for handling, soldering and troubleshooting electronics.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
Component Starter Set
Contains a lot of different electrical components like resistors, capacitors, LEDs, etc. all in one box.
Huge box: Amazon.com
Smaller box: Amazon.com, Amazon.de
22awg Solid Wire Set
To connect components you need wire. The stiff, single-core 22awg wire is great for working with thru-hole components on Breadboards and PCBs. The different colors let you keep a good overview of your wiring.
Amazon.com
Breadboards
To test your circuits before soldering everything together permanently you need one or more breadboards.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
Special Breadboard Jumper Wires
Those are nice to have, although not absolutely necessary.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
Solder
The solder in the starter set is usually not much, so this is a proper amount.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de ("63-37" type solder is recommended)
Third hand
This helping hand will let you temporarily fix components into place for easier soldering.
Amazon.com, Amazon.de
List #02: Practice your Skills with Kits
DIY Kits come with all components necessary to build a complete synth, audio effect or other doodad. They're great to practice soldering, or as a basis for DIY projects.
Atari Punk Console
Synthrotek.com, Rakits.co.uk
Guitar Effects
Musikding.de
Bastl Instruments Kits (Kastle, Dude, MicroGranny 2, OMSynth)
Noise.Kitchen
List #03: Basics to build your own AE Modules
Those will give you a good place to start. After a few projects you will figure out which components you need the most and you can order more of them specifically. AliExpress is cheap and has everything, but shipping times can be long.
100k Ohm Type B (linear) Pots
AliExpress (Choose 100K Ohm !!!)
Set of various resistors (1K Ohm and 100K Ohm are often used in AE Modular, but others are always good to have)
AliExpress
"104" 100nF Capacitors
AliExpress (Choose 100nF !!!)
Toggle switches
AliExpress
Pin Headers (female ones are for patch sockets, male ones can be used for AE power bus connections)
AliExpress
Diodes
AliExpress
MCP602 Op-Amps (used for signal buffering)
AliExpress
Naked Prototyping PCBs (10cm is the correct PCB height of AE Modular PCBs. Regarding the width: 1U = 2.5cm. You can cut, saw or break big PCBs into smaller ones easily. However you can also look for smaller PCBs directly.)
Amazon.com, Amazon.de (10x10 cm single-sided, just as an example. You can get double-sided or bigger/smaller ones as well if you prefer)
AE Modular Front Panels
tangible waves
M3 Standoff Spacers 8mm male-female (to connect the PCB to the front panel)
AliExpress
M3 Standoff Spacers 15mm female (to connect the PCB to the AE Modular case)
AliExpress (Choose M3-15 !!!)
List #04: Cool Stuff for specific Projects
A few components that let you create powerful modules.
Arduino Pro Micro
A tiny +5V version of the popular, easily-programmable micro controller, which can natively act as a USB-MIDI or HID device. The sky is the limit! Info
AliExpress
Arduino Nano
Cheaper than the one above and with a more commonly used processor. Can’t natively act as USB-MIDI device, etc. but if you don’t need that I would pick this one here.
AliExpress
555 Timer IC
The classic "1st DIY Project" IC to create a square wave oscillator. Datasheet
AliExpress
CD4051 8-Channel Mux/DeMux IC
An 8-way switch with a 3bit binary gate control input. Can be used for sequencer or signal switch projects. Datasheet
AliExpress
CD4017 Counter IC
10-step counter which can be used for a step sequencer or clock divider projects. Datasheet
AliExpress
CD4066 Quad Switch IC
Four gate-controlled on/off switches in one IC. Datasheet
AliExpress
More to come ...
Come and join the fun 
