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Knobcon

New This Year

Saturday, September 7th - 12pm until 4pm

Stop in for some rest and relaxation amongst all the Knobcon activities! The ModWiggler Lounge (in Cyan near the Lobby Bar) will be available for you as a low-key 'quiet zone.' Lobbies and hallways are not ideal for small gatherings; join us in the MW Lounge.

You do not have to be a member of ModWiggler to stop in, all are welcome!

We'll be spinning some modern and classic synth-heavy tunes in the background, light snacks will be served, and we'll have occasional merch giveaways. Come say hello to our administrator 'Locutus' in person and help us put faces to ModWiggler handles and names!

 

 

 ModWiggler

 

 JAMMspace

 

Saturday, September 7th - 10am until 5pm

JAMMspace, is an open environment for knob knerds of all backgrounds to encounter equipment and each other. All axes welcome!

How does it work?

There are 4 stations: drums, bass, lead and fx. MIDI clock and audio provided. Bring your gear, set up at a station and jam on a live PA!

 

Jammspace is brought to you by the Golden Shrimp Guild.

 

 

Builders Choice!

Hosted by AI Synthesis
Saturday, Sept 7 @ 2pm
Difficulty: Varies

In this guided workshop, build a Eurorack Mixer with the help of the folks at AI Synthesis!

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
Purchase the appropriate kit for your skill level using the links below. Use code knobcon during checkout for free shipping and workshop pickup.
AI002 Audio and CV Mixer    AI106 West Coast Eurorack Mixer    AI022 Harmonic Mixer    AI008 Eurorack Matrix Mixer

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by purchasing your kit.

CHOOSE FROM THESE PROJECTS

AI002 Audio and CV Mixer
Difficulty: Beginner
Cost: $45 

The AI002 DIY Mixer Kit is an updated take on a classic utility audio or cv mixer. All three inputs have a level control, with full clockwise allowing full volume prior to the summing mixer. Perfect for adding audio inputs to a filter, or cv inputs to a cv input, and other mixing functions. This kit is ideal for those who know how to solder, but are still starting out in their DIY Synthesis journey.

This diy mixer kit will not only familiarize yourself with IC Chips, Capacitors, and Resistors, it will also add a key utility module to your DIY Modular Synthesizer.

This is an ideal kit for a beginner learning DIY electronics, and requires no wiring at all!

 

AI106 West Coast Eurorack Mixer
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cost: $55 

The AI106 West Coast Eurorack Mixer is a fully discrete mixer design that updates vintage West Coast synthesizer mixer designs into a modern form.

This mixer takes inspiration from vintage mixer circuits from 60s and 70s West Coast synthesizers, but updates it for eurorack and allows for user customization of the circuit. True to original circuits, the output is inverted. Audio rate signals will sound about the same, but cv signals will be inverted.

Because "West Coast" synthesis focused more on waveshaping and complex VCO structures as opposed to subtracting frequencies from simple waveforms (East Coast), mixers are an important part of traditional West Coast synthesis techniques.

 

AI022 Harmonic Mixer
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cost: $55 

The AI022 Harmonic CP3 Style Mixer is a discreet mixer using no ICs. As gain increases harmonics and analog warmth are added. As gain increases more, distortion and phasing is added, creating new waveforms from old ones.

The AI022 takes inspiration from the legendary Moog Modular CP3 style mixer, but updates it for eurorack and allows for user customization of the circuit. Many Moog Modular users attribute the CP3 mixer module to providing much of the warmth of the Moog Modular sound.

An exposed Bias knob allows abuse of the circuit, and allows for faithful replication of incoming audio, or radical analog wave shaping and distortion. It is also possible to use the Bias knob to adjust a +/- 5V signal into a 0/+ or 0/- signal.

 

AI008 Eurorack Matrix Mixer
Difficulty: Advanced
Cost: $95 

The AI008 Matrix Mixer is an active, Four In, Three Out matrix Mixer with a summed output. The AI008 can be used to route any of the inputs to any of the outputs. This allows for the creation of feedback patches and other interesting routing, in addition to powerful "regular" signal routing. Common uses include mixing effects outputs into their inputs in order to create drones (or just good old fashioned feedback), mixing oscillators into their own PWM or FM inputs, modulating voltage controlled LFOs and other modulators into themselves, and other feedback patches. The AI008 Matrix mixes is a powerful way to expand any system!

 

 

 

 

Build a Chaos Generator Module!

Diode Chaos Module Build
Sunday, Sept 8 @ 11am
Difficulty: Beginner

Diode Chaos is a 3hp analog chaotic low frequency voltage generator Eurorack Module. It is a unique module because it has never existed as an electronic music instrument until now. The module is based on a circuit from a paper called “A simple chaotic circuit with a light-emitting diode” written by Volos, Wang, Jafari, and Kapitaniak.

Diode Chaos produces 3 phases of interrelated morphing voltages including a chaotic trigger out. The range is 20-30 seconds a cycle up to audio rate, although only the X out and TRIG out go up to audio rate. The frequency is controlled by the RATE knob. Each output exhibits different behavior at different rate settings. X,Y, and Z outs like to stay in the 4vpp range although at different RATE settings the outs can reach 10vpp. The TRIG out chaotically releases 0-10v triggers although sometimes it will spit out smaller voltage peaks.

LED soldermask windows provide constant display of positive and negative voltage crossings.

Some quirks: The circuit can go up to audio rate but only the X out and Trig out can get up that fast. The X out can also briefly exceed 10vpp at full clockwise. Usually, the Z stalls out and the Y will have little activity with the potentiometer at full clockwise. At some faster settings the amplitudes of the outs can go down too. Another important thing to mention is the Trig out(since it is chaotic) is not a standard square/pulse “trigger out” it has a exponential rise and fall to the peak. This means it cannot trigger every single module imaginable because some modules are looking for perfectly sharp squared off rising edges to trigger. For example, the “Trig out” on the Diode Chaos will not work with the “trig in” on Maths, but can work with the “gate in” input.

Learn to solder! Żłob Modular will teach you basic soldering techniques and lead you through building the Diode Chaos module.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the $50 Diode Chaos kit from Żłob Modular HERE. Please select the "DIY Workshop Pickup" option during checkout to avoid paying shipping.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.

Zlob Modular

 

Builder's Choice:
Etch or Easy Ei8ht Sequencer!

Hosted by Modular for the Masses
Saturday, Sept 7 @ 11am
Difficulty: Easy

Build Etch, a Bit Crusher and More!

Etch is a low fidelity digital signal processing Eurorack module that selectively removes signal quality vertically (bit crushing) or horizontally (sample rate reduction). This creates vertical or horizontal lines in the signal, like an Etch-a-Sketch! The results are displayed on a simplified oscilloscope.

Both parameters can be controlled with a control voltage, as well as a third parameter, a low-pass resonant filter.

In addition to being an effects module, there is a quantizer mode, featuring many scales and options the designer of the hardware and workshop host (Juanito, I'm the one writing this) doesn't even understand. For a better explanation of the CV mode, visit the project's Github: https://github.com/TylerK07/Etch

A feature Juanito understands and loves is the "loop" mode. It can be an unusual form of granular synthesis, which takes a section of the incoming signal and loops it quickly, up to audio rate. It has the ability to accept portions of the still-incoming audio signal to morph the waveform of the loop. Tweaking the knobs in this mode is very engaging.

The microchip is an AVR128DA28, which is common, easy to code for, and the analog electronics are versatile, allowing for both audio signal processing and control voltage processing.

The surface mount components are all pre-assembled, so no advanced soldering skills will be necessary.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the Etch Kit from Modular for the Masses by sending $125 via paypal by clicking THIS LINK and put Etch Workshop in the description.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.

OR

Easy Ei8ht Sequencer Module Build

The EasyEi8ht trigger performance sequencer returns with an updated panel and simplified construction.

This module is designed from the ground up to be extremely simple to use. It features eight channels, ludicrously long pattern lengths, and Cherry MX style mechanical key switches (three different types will be available to choose from). It can be self-clocked or accept an external clock. It features downbeat-agnostic swing, even if the external clock doesn't have swing. The project is open-source, the code was developed in the Arduino IDE, so the module is ready for DIY firmware.

The build has all the surface-mount components pre-assembled. Some care with order-of-assembly will need to be taken, but advanced soldering skills won't be necessary. The module is 14HP

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the Easy Ei8ht Kit from Modular for the Masses by sending $125 via paypal by clicking THIS LINK and put Sequencer Workshop in the description.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.

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Join us for Great Build Workshops

Learn the basics of soldering, or take your hobby to the next level!

KNOBCON HIGHLIGHTS

Synthesizers, Workshops, Synthesizers, Performances and more Synthesizers!


Friday night is a party!

Hang out with other knobcon attendees, have a drink and catch gear-centric performances.


Gear, Gear, Gear!

Get your hands on amazing vintage pieces and the latest and greatest boxes. Monosynths, polysynths, modular and more will all be there.


Meet The Makers

Many boutique manufacturers will be on hand demonstrating and even selling the gear they produce.   

Feedback from previous Knobcons

As expected, a spectacular event

Learned a lot, laughed a ton, listened to good music, met great people and bought too much new gear. I have no complaints at all!

 

The whole thing was extremely enjoyable

I made more friends last weekend than I have in years that are in to the same stuff as me. Cheers to everyone involved in planning it!

 

Had a great time!

Even though I did not know anyone there, I was made to feel welcome and part of the gang.

 

Thanks for the awesome time everyone!

I saw tons of amazing things for the first time and met tons of cool people, not a bad one in the bunch!

 

Had a great time!

Learned a lot about modular synths and other gear. Enjoyed the "low-key" relaxed environment and the Knobcon staffers were helpful and very professional. Hope to make it back next year.

 

Knobcon was amazing!

Loved getting to try out the new and old gear. Everyone there was super cool, and I will definitely be back next year.

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