APC Atari Punk console (1980)

Popular little DIY originally based on a single IC timer 555 the first project was found on a radio Shack book written by Forrest M. Mims III named the "Stepped Tone Generator"

NOTE: Although it is named "Atari" it has nothing directly related to the Atari 2600 or the TIA hardware.

DIY layout depends on what you want to build: plastic box, tin can, wood case or other recycled stuff... it is up to you!
Main panel features 8 knobs and 4 lever switches for sequencer, no display nor Midi fancy stuff, just a single switch that enable or disable the noises.

Back panel terminal connectors:
- mono output

Power supply just plug an external PSU or batteries.

VOICE this noisebox uses a dual 556 and it generates a single voice based on a pulse waveform with variable width. If you're into 8-bits stuff this will sound sweet to your ears!
SOUND the first 2 knobs on upper row controls the pitch and pulse width, while the third one changes the sequencer frequency.

 

SEQUENCER is really simple and reminds some old-analog machines like Korg SQ-10.
The 4 levers activate or deactivate the relative note triggers and each pitch is changed using the four red knobs on lower row.

 

MODIFICATION well it is possible to add a lot of options like CV control, more sequencer steps, amazing and stupids cases like tuna cans or Ikea stuff... it mainly depends on your skills (and taste). Below you can find a gallery of the most surprising cases found on the web. PROJECTS GALLERY FROM EBAY AND BURNKIT 2600

 

RELATED FAMILY:

Synthrotek modular version with cv control VIDEO

 

PLUGIN VERSION if you're not into DIY jobs you can still have a taste of lo-fi square noise with this plugin created by TEKITAUDIO VST features:
- Highpass resonant filters
- Lowpass resonant filters
- LFO (syncable on BPM)
- Key tracking.
- Gate MOD with hold function
- Preset manager, rename, copy, save, load...
- Full MIDI automation support
I recorded some noises out of the plug, in the DEMO section, so you can make comparison.

AUDIO DEMO

hardware demo 1 hardware demo 2 hardware demo 3 VST PLUGIN demo

 

Soundcloud ATARI PUNK CONSOLE

 

YOUTUBE VIDEO CLIP SELECTION 8 steps Sequencer Atari punk synth 1 with Mini-Sequencer/Arp