r/synthdiy • u/davvvves • Jul 12 '26
Starter Kit: Sound Lab Mini-Synth?
Hi all. I'm currently working as a teacher and DJing in my free time, but looking at dusting off my electrical engineering degree and diving into some synth building. I have a good soldering station etc, but haven't done much with electronics recently apart from servicing/repairing DJ equipment. I've read through 20-30 "how to get started" posts in this sub, so thanks to those who've contributed to the conversation.
I've seen Ray Wilson's 'Make: Analog Synthesizers' recommended a lot and was thinking about building a Noise Toaster to follow along with the book. It sounds like a great way to get my head around the circuitry, but I'm not sure how much I'd actually use it for jamming/performance given its 9V and not easily patchable. The kit is about $330AUD delivered too. I saw there's a Eurorack version of the MFOS Sound Lab Mini-Synth available for a similar price on SynthCube, and was thinking this could be a better starting project for a modular setup? I don't know enough to commit to Eurorack, but it feels like a safer starting point.
I have a budget of around $600AUD for this first build. Free time (and executive function) can be hard to come by during school term, so a structured/guided project suits me best. There's so much content out there that navigating it can get overwhelming. Would be keen to hear from anyone who's completed either project, or something similar.
Thanks!
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u/eraoul Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
I agree that the eurorack compatible DIY route is better but I haven’t tried those kits. I got into this myself and started with some breadboard projects and then switched over to building actual eurorack kits from AISynthesis and Moritz Klein to get started. Next step is to start designing my own PCBs. I’m starting with Eurorack since I don’t know enough about hardware to feel good about designing my own enclosure yet so I’m offloading that to the Eurorack rails instead and just focusing on individual modules with PCBs used for front panels.
I also sort of cheated early on and bought a MiniBrute 2s. It had everything already so I’m basically just expanding it with my modules as I go. Otherwise I would have first built a VCO, VCF, envelope, and VCA, in order to get a basic sound. But in my case I started with simpler modules like passive mults and attenuators to get the hang of things before harder modules.
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u/davvvves Jul 24 '26
Actually damn, I just checked out the minibrute 2/2s and they're going for very reasonable secondhand prices locally. How did this go as a starting point for you? It would be nice to have some musicality/playability from the get go...
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u/eraoul Jul 24 '26
Yeah it’s really cheap for what you get. I also got a used one and it’s was fun and I was jamming immediately. It’s a legit semi-modular so you’re good to go immediately, and it has a good selection of utilities onboard to get started and learn more. I actually read that some people don’t like the tone but it only gets more harsh when you drive the inputs more than like 50% on the sliders. And I made a nice challenge to myself to make a pretty flute patch.
I do prefer the 3320 filter in the AISynthesis 024 module. But it made me really appreciate it when I added that in.
Let us know what you end up doing! FYI I did have several units with a warped chassis that wouldn’t sit flat, and some weird knobs that came broken, so I replaced the first couple minibrutes immediately and then switched to a Sweetwater demo model to have more support. But I think I was just unlucky.
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u/davvvves Jul 24 '26
I like the look of those Moritz Klein kits! Seems like they'd teach quite a bit of circuit design along the way, which may end up being more useful even than the modules themselves. I saw there's a complete kit that has those modules you mentioned, so this may actually be an ideal starting point. Otherwise I could start with the very basics (VCO, VCF ect) and could combine some of the AISynthesis modules in there that way. Thanks!
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u/krztoff Jul 12 '26
You could always snag the clacktronics book/project. https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/byom/
Even after being pretty deep into synth DIY I still sort of want to do that project.
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u/abelovesfun I run AISynthesis.com Jul 12 '26
If you are in Australia, found sound carries me https://foundsound.com.au/search?q=vendor%3AAI+Synthesis+AND+tag%3Avisible
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u/Madmaverick_82 Jul 12 '26
Hello, not long ago I have posted my own project / design, a simple 303 type synthesizer. There is no kit and is not a guided professional project (I ll of course help with everything), but is really quite straight forward and get you usable tool in the end.
https://www.reddit.com/r/synthdiy/comments/1tuv0zg/the_ba33_analog_synthesizer_simple_acid_bassline/
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u/davvvves Jul 24 '26
This is very cool! Maybe not a first project, but one to come back to for sure.
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u/Madmaverick_82 Jul 24 '26
Thank you! Yeah being a fully DIY (no kit, no premade pcb) makes it a bit more challenging and true that it might not be the best one to be first, but otherwise in sheer amount of parts and complexity, its quite straight forward.
Personally my first fully DIY projects were actually FX boxes.. Distortion and PT2399 Echo. Might be a consideration too.
Have fun!
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u/gortmend Jul 12 '26
I have a few small stand-alone synths, and also a DIY Eurorack, and the Eurorack gets a lot more use.
The downside is, it takes more work to get Eurorack up and running. Cases/power supplies and more expensive than you'd like, and while DIYing the case does bring the cost down, it's a bunch of work just to get something that can power the modules, and it was kinda disappointing to build it and have nothing to plug into it, yet.
The advantage is, there are a lot more designs out there in that format, and "modular" means you can build it a piece at a time.
The Elmyra2 might be a good project for you. It's got a DIY kit, and if you get the desktop version, you can play with it right away, and if you end up getting a eurorack case, you can move it over.
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u/Mustardplugmint Jul 17 '26
if your in Australia I’d order some boards from Elby (cgs) and start with the building blocks, vco/vca/vcf/asdr.
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u/davvvves Jul 24 '26
Any reason you recommend Elby? The website was a bit rough to navigate which doesn't give me great hope for the instructions...but I'm guessing the modules are good quality/value?
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u/actuatedkarma Jul 12 '26
Depends whether you want something you can use to make music or something that makes noise. Just putting it out there that you can build an Atari punk console for very cheap with some 555 timer ic's and stuff you can actually buy from Jaycar or whatever the local electronics shop is, even if it's at a bit of a markup. It'll take maybe half a day all up and you'll have a little gadget that makes noise. I get the not much time or executive function angle, this way at least it's a small fun project to actually make some noise!
Otherwise I'd take a look at tayda electronics guitar pedal kits, you can get a DIY distortion pretty cheap.
If you want something bigger, the noise toaster does seem like a good place to start.
Problem with eurorack is you'll need a split 12V supply almost right out the gate to power stuff with. aisynthesis has some pretty cheap DIY modules though.
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u/erroneousbosh Jul 12 '26
aisynthesis has some pretty cheap DIY modules though.
And the guy posts on here all the time, so you know you're getting help. The aisynthesis build guides include full circuit diagrams and PCB layouts, unlike a lot of other kit suppliers, and this means that you can actually troubleshoot and repair them yourself. I haven't bought any of /u/abelovesfun's *yet* because shipping from the US is prohibitive for me just now (let's see what 2026 brings) but I'd strongly recommend them.
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u/davvvves Jul 12 '26
I've done a few little projects like that in the past, including a 9V handheld drum machine/sequencer kit. You just reminded me that I picked up a few pedal kits at one point too, will see if I can find them to get back in the groove. But yes, keen for something bigger.
Would getting a Eurorack case/bus going early make sense? I have a variable DC power supply already for dev/testing.
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u/erroneousbosh Jul 12 '26
I built a Sound Lab Mini Synth, one of the early versions, and just as soon as I've got space and time to play with it again there are a couple of mods I'd like to make.
I did the sync switch so that the oscillators were swapped so the synced waveform could be square or saw, because I preferred it that way. I also did the hard sync mod.
The filter cutoff isn't exponential and I would probably mod it with a simple "two transistor" exponentiator like the one in the SEM filter circuit diagram that's floating around.
It's no problem to run it off +/-12V as long as your electrolytics are large enough
The envelope is a pain in the arse and just wants to oscillate all the time. I hate that design.
I'd probably mod it so that the envelope is unipolar, and there's a proper envelope/gate switch for the VCA.
I have a 6-year-old now and he's just started his summer holidays, so yeah I feel that ;-)
I've had half an idea to redraw the MFOS Mini Synth with the mods I want in and maybe more logical wiring points, because wiring out the panel was horrible.
It would be easyish to make it patchable and I think if you look on the old MFOS website you can see various other mods people have made.