goto:      vcovcfvca     sdiy main site

The Soundlab is a small synthesiser designed by Ray Wilson of Music From Outer Space. It has become quite well known and is available either as a circuit board only, a kit or even ready made in certain instances. I purchased mine as a kit from Elby Designs in 2006 which I built and housed in a small plastic case. It runs on two 9 volt batteries and features:

• 2 VCOs  (VCO 1 is sawtooth only, VCO 2 has saw and square waves with pulse width modulation, VCO 2 can synch to VCO 1)
• White Noise
• Audio Mixer Section
• 1 VCF (Can be switched to either bandpass or low pass response, filter has resonance control but does not self oscillate)
• 1 VCA (Includes a manual level control)
• 1 AR Envelope Generator (Has manual gate switch and attack and release controls, can be switched to either gate mode [envelope runs only while gate signal is present] or trigger mode [entire envelope runs even when only a short trigger pulse is received at the gate input], envelope can be switched to cycle mode causing it to self trigger ie: acts as an LFO where the rate and waveshape is controlled by the attack and release knobs, can modulate any combination of VCO1 Freq, VCO2 Freq, VCF Freq, VCA level] 
• 1 LFO (Saw, ramp, triangle and square waveforms are available, can modulate any combination of VCO 1 Freq, VCO 2 Freq, VCO2 Pulse width, VCF Freq, VCA level)
  

Makes a good learning synth for kids or those just getting into synthesis, as well as a quick and intuitive sound source for audio experimentalists. Despite its apparent "toy like" appearance and features, this is a well thought out and designed little machine with a lot of personality and capabilities that enable it to create many of the classic analogue synth effects from long drones to bubbling filter sounds, raging wind storms to shreaking sirens, along with percusive noises and reasonable (though limited) bass and lead sounds. Its untamed output often reminds me of very early Klaus Schulze or Tangerine Dream in their more minimalist/experimental phases.

All in all a fun and handy portable analogue synth for all occasions!  

I have added an external audio input to mine so that the filter and VCA can process other audio sources and a 5 way switch to alter the LFO range (it now runs quite slow when required and well into the audio range for some nice spattery and metallic FM sounds).  I have also added some patch points for direct output of the VCOs, Noise, LFO and EG so that I can use the Soundlab as an auxillary sound and modulation source for my Eurorack Modular. I've considered converting the Soundlab into a rack mount, fully patchable synth that runs on a +/-12 volt power supply (making it completely compatible with my modular), but then it would no longer be a nifty little self-contained unit. Hmm... Perhaps I should get a 2nd one....?

There are many more modifications out there on the internet along with some really interesting case and frontpanel designs. There's also a dedicated forum over at Electro-Music.

Photos: