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PhishNoise

PhisNoise is a compact dual dBm oscillator in a fish can. Although i  uses only 1 hex inverter, 5 transistors and some passive components, it can create its own universe of strange, chaotic, analog sounds , which would be demanding to create even with a big modular system.

[pic]pic fish can synth]

what's inside

2 coupled RC square wave oscillators, each with a tune potentiometer , are supplied by voltage controlled power starving. There are 2 potentiometers to set supply voltage  and current limit . Voltage and current also have 3.5mm input jacks for CV. A 5th potentiometer controls an internal capacitive load, which strongly affects the chaotic behaviour of the starved oscillators. this load can be switched between the  oscillators, with the Left-Off-Right switch. Each oscillator has 3.5mm mono output jack, L-out and L-right.
PhishNoise can be supplied by any USB-C 5V source .  If Power banks are used, make sure they don't switch off due to the tiny mA load.

how to play

 The nonlinear, chaotic  behavior of the circuit  makes  sounds creation with PhishNoise not really intuitive ;-)  
It's all about finding the sweet spots.  Turning the same potentiometer will produce different effects depending on the current state of the oscillators. Sometime you turn it from 0 to full and nothing will happen, sometimes a slight touch will shift the sounds to something completely new.  It is even possible that turning a potentiometer from A to B, then back to A, the sound will be different because you altered the internal state. So the only advice we can give is: experiment, turn the knobs, and listen :-)

the bigger picture

There are 2 main use cases for PhishNoise. One is

Although PhishNoise iscan abe used as stand alone instrument, but it makes sense to extend it with other devices. AlsoAlthough you can use patch cables to connect the sound outputs straight to the CV inputs, it is obvious that an external feed back loop with a mixer or modular synth will extend the capabilities and  moving phishnoise closer to a playable musical instrument. A typical setup uses a sound mixer with inputs connected to the 2 PhishNoise audio outs and 2 mixer outs like FX send or Aux out connected to PhishNoise current and voltage starving CV inputs. This feedback loop, together with the mixers sound controls and FX brings PhishNoise closer towards a playable musical instrument. Even more is possible when PhishNoise is integrated as VCO in a modular system, but this can not be discussed here.
There are 2 main use cases for PhishNoise. One is using it as a complex sample generator where the samples later will be processed and used in a DAW.  The other is on stage use with a mixer/modular setup described above.
Here are 2 sound examples that use only samples created by PhishNoise in a mixer loop. No other sound sources. The DAW was used to cut and stretch the samples into audio tracks and add some equalizing and reverb :

[mp3  ghostrider and Himmelsmechanik]

building PhishNoise

PhishNoise is available as a DIY kit and there will be workshops where you can build one. 

PCB Assembly

it is strongly recommended to follow the assembly instructions step by step otherwise you can ruin your PCB !

1)  SMD assembly


all capacitors are SMD types and located on the solder side. For some workshops the PCBs come with capacitors soldered in already. Then you can proceed with the next step. If not, no worries, there a only 5 beginner friendly big sized (0805, 1210) capacitors to solder

[pic SMD assembly]

    set 1 solder dot for each capacitor take the capacitor with the SMD tweezers in one hand, move it to the pads, and solder it with the solder iron in the other hand to the existing solder dot  change  tweezers against solder tin and solder the other sidevof the capacitor repeat this for all SMD components and check the the solder joints before you go to2)

    [pic PCB bottom with soldered caps]

    2)  THT assembly

    [pic THT assembly]

      solder the components in a flat to high order. Populate resistors first. Check color codes before soldering next is the chip socket. Check the direction and that all 14 pins show up on the solder side before soldering !  then solder the piezo buzzer. There should be no gap between PCB and buzzer insert all 5 transistors. Keep the height equal or below the height of the buzzer, otherwise the front panel will not fit  now the 5 potentiometers, solder 1 pin first for each potentiometer, then check if they all fit the front panel. If so, solder the other pins. Take your time, soldering the potentiometer pads needs lots of heat next is the switch. Check that it sits straight and without vertical gap before soldering it finally the USB-C connector. Before inserting it, check that all pins are straight and not bend or broken. Push connector on PCB until base touches the PCB. Double check that all pins are visible on the solder side before soldering the first

      [pic PCB top fiully populated]

       

      3) Test and final assembly

      now it is time to make a functional test. Connect PhishNoise to a USB power supply and the output  jacks with audio cables to a sound system and enjoy first noise :-)

       Then  the front panel can be mounted. Remove all screws from potentiometers,switch and jacks. Position the front panel. Check that it must sit on all 4 jacks, the switch and the buzzer. then you can fix it by tightening the nuts for jacks and switch.  Potentiometer nuts are optional; don't use force because there is no distance spacer and the potentiometers would bend. Instead fix the potentiometer nuts with a small drop of super glue.

      Buy a matching fish can. Eat the fish, bon appetit ! clean the fish can and insert PhisNoise.
      Glue the front panel into the fish can only after you have checked all functions.  Have fun playing it !

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