Yup.. I'm like, that's just clipping because the volume is too high.

That's the smoothest clipping i have ever seen though.

another commenter mentioned this device had info that explained that this is caused by a filtering capacitor getting saturated at high volumes, and the effect was likely intentional

Or saying clock signal:))

LOL, clipping is now a wanted feature.

I know right! He’s soo good

Good analogy. Pretty accurate. :)

I get the same good vibes with Dave's vids too - great analogy.

Am I delusional or do you leave this comment on several videos from different creators? Edit: I just checked a mylar melodies video and it was in fact a different user commenting that mylar is the bob Ross of synths. So I conflated things.

Yeah man. This guy and hainbach are super Bob Ross like

Thanks!

Hmmm where are the 102 other kits?!

literally how combo organs from the 60s work, except they were doing this with 3-5 bars (for extra harmonics), with 5-6 octaves and with full polyphony

Ah, thanks so much for this detailed explanation. Really helpful!

A 555 isn't a very close match to any kind of opamp! It's more like an LM358 or similar.

​@@erroneousbosh *You are correct.* to a point. The 555 timer is a dual opamp IC but it is hardwired internally as an opposing comparator pair. It's meant to be used as a multivibrator - a signal or trigger generator, and impossible to use it any other way, where the LM358 has other uses as two separate amplifiers. Some "re-engineering" of the PCB and a 555 could be used in this circuit including the resistor ladder for tuning. The 555 also can sink 4 times the output current of the 358.

@@3DPDK It's got a couple of differential pairs and a totem-pole output, that's about the only similarity between a 555 and a dual opamp. You could not use a 555 in this circuit.

@@erroneousbosh I said "with a little re-engineering of the PCB" You couldn't just drop the 555 into the socket and expect it to work. If this was on my test bench, I'd spend no more than 10 minutes trying to find the data sheet on the LA-6458 I would cut the traces going to the socket, set a 555 IC up as an astable multivibrator and recalibrate the resistor ladder for the 555. I don't know your experience but trying to locate replacement Chinese ICs or find their data sheets is a nightmare. And when you CAN find them, the published maximum parameters are usually wishful thinking.

Went to the comments to point this out. Thanks for explaining this better than I could have!

That was exactly what I was thinking when hearing it and seeing the waveform. Wonder if the volume potentiometer can be adjusted for boosting to get more texture!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Seems to be on slider short of a "happy meal". A bit more pinch clip experimenting with another pot and contact points should be able to seperate wave shape and volume. Added filter optional...I'll know more when I slice one into the ol' Yamahas I have available. Nice find.

I’m working on assembling a vintage HeathKit rf signal generator, is that something I should be worried about when building it?

@@CrobinHood8BitGuy It seems that some can to drift up in value a bit over the years. I'm guessing it'll be OK in your build. But if there's concern, try quickly testing them with multimeter. Anyway, sounds like a fun project.

He's asking for shorts. But there's no need to use pliers. Just splay the leads with your fingers, away from eachother. That will hold the part just fine. If you want it held even better, start with the smallest components and work your way towards the taller ones, and laying the PCB on the table will hold the part in place.

@@CristiNeagu Yes, I don't mean use pliers to use a lot of force, just long-nose pliers used gently, which will give a sharp bend, but not a steeply angled one. I just got into that habit years ago and find that using the pliers is much faster with practice than fingers, and more precise. Hard to say if it's really better, but that's the habit I got into. It's definitely better not to bend the leads flat though, however you do it.

I usually just little bit bend them so they act little bit like a spring and then put match between the component and the board so there is bit of a gap between component and the board, so then all components have even gap from the board. And it helps little bit with cooling too.

i was just thinking that, actually. both the circuit board designing software and means to print said designs are literally at our fingertips. could be a fun project in the future 👀

Pretty easy to add in a second oscillator and panel mount the pots for some detuning.

Literally my first thought on seeing that - "Oooh I hope he shows the track side" :-)

Though it will likely take some learning, you can design and build far better oscillators using modern, general-purpose op-amp packages (TL074), hex Schmitt-trigger inverters (CD40106), and a couple transistors (BC546-BC550) for like $5 per populated PCB. While this kit is kind of cool, there is little control over the waveform, the keyboard mechanisms will quickly degrade, and, well, it will sound like shit without additional processing and effects. It is also likely heat sensitive, meaning the tuning will change depending on the temperature, given I don't think there are any compensating components I could see. From my experience with power amplifiers similar to the one used (LA4104), temperature and EMI will also cause undesirable fluctuations, degradation, and interference. I know that's not what this video or kit is for, but I also think we should encourage modern design and engineering, over broken, nostalgic projects, as there will indefinitely be someone inspired by this video to hunt down $30 of counterfeit, obsolete, antique, non-functional/damaged packages that produce endless headaches and an even worse oscillator than this. As a bonus, investing in the modern parts and education I mentioned will also enable you to make all sorts of LFO/VCO/VCF/VCA modules that you can expand this crappy oscillator with.

@@zvnavv3w5 Well yeah, i hope we see a slightly adjusted version of this kit using modern OpAmps and possibly more access to certain values to change and really making this more than just an "Organ". It would be amazing because most of the 555 Timer synthesizer kits i see are too expensive and boring.

I need to find that calm patience when soldering. My hands shake

Not even when you have a solder-fume vaccum working?

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 there are different reasons why people can be medically unable to solder beyond problems with fumes.

Uh sorry I hope this doesn’t read as an undercut. This patch would be for personal use.

Yep! So it makes it from a triangle+sine kind of sound, to (basically) a square!

​@@lzy2 first of: its not really a square... and second: he said it acts like a filter and that is also not true... it acts as a volume limiter. So, my point was: its not like a hidden feature, its just as I said, I amplifier going to its limits

Which leads to a thing named audio clipping :)