Moog Werkstatt synthesizer hack

The Werkstattt is Moog's open-source hackable synthesizer. It's a neat little toy, but with only one monophonic oscillator and one filter, it's ability to produce sounds is pretty limited.

Inspiration

I'm taking a course on synthesizer circuits and I wanted a chance to practice building some of these circuits. I want to build a modular synth from scratch. I got the Werkstatt at a music instrument hackathon and it seemed like the perfect base.

How it works

I've added a second low frequency oscillator (LFO2). It's a pretty standard square/triangle oscillator. With a frequency range from around 100 Hz down to fractions of a Hz.

I also added a headphone amplifier to compensate for the limited output power of the device. I also added a volume control (because for some reason they didn't bother to include one).

All these circuits are entirely analog; there is no code or digital logic.

Challenges I ran into

So many challenges. I wasn't able to get my Bucket Brigade Delay working. I was working on adding a second VCO but I didn't have a CD4066. I tried using another design but I coudn't get good voltage control.

I built a headphone amplifier but I blew out my LM386.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Running LFO1's frequency off LFO2 gives you a pretty neat sound.

What I learned

I learned how OTAs work.

What's next for Moog Werkstatt synthesizer hack

Fix the headphone amp, build a second VCO with the ability to tune it relative to the first (to play harmonies for example). And eventually, build a whole synth!

Built With

• 13700
• lm386
• mydaq
• ttl071
• werkstatt