Putting the Atari Punk Console

    In the comments to the topic with a comic about the basics of soldering, someone noted that the best Hello World! for a beginner amateur, this is a multivibrator - a generator of square waves .

    That's right, but at first glance the multivibrator itself seems rather boring. However, in a company with a single-vibrator (yes, that sounds pretty funny), you can turn it into an Atari Punk Console , the simplest electronic musical instrument, the circuit of which was first published in the 80s by the inventor Forrest Mims.

    Having gained popularity due to its simplicity and overgrown with a huge number of modifications, the device is still an integral part of some subcultures and is often used by musicians writing in and around the 8-bit genre. Having addressed the corresponding Google request, you will see the output of more than 2 million pages, including examples of manufacturing, synthesizers and sequencers based on APC, cases for it, etc.

    Under the cutter lies a modified circuit diagram, a list of components, and recommendations for assembly at home. There is also a video with a demonstration, and a lazy build kit is available.



    The basis of APC is the 556 integrated circuit ( datasheet ), which upon closer inspection is nothing more than a pair of the most popular 555 timers, issued since the 70s. This component has many analogues, including domestic production.

    In the circuit, on one such timer, a tunable multivibrator (the main tone generator) is implemented , and on the second - a single vibrator , which is triggered by pulses coming from the tone generator. The generator frequency is set by one variable resistor, and the pulse width of a single-shot by the second same resistor. There are some nuances in the working principles of this bundle. Their description is not the topic of this article, so I send all interested to the storywith illustrated examples. In addition to the main components, the diagram shows a light-responsive R7 photoresistor switched on by a separate toggle switch, an LED for indication, and a pair of constant-value resistors connected directly to the change-over units. This is done for the sake of shifting ranges, to eliminate signal failures at the very border adjustment points. We also got rid of the speaker in favor of a conventional audio jack to which you can connect headphones, or speakers with a built-in amplifier. All components used are quite ordinary. Problems can only occur with toggle switches and a photoresistor. But as the first ones, any ON-ON switches with 3 contacts will do (though in this case it will be necessary to correct the wiring for them).






    NameName / DenominationNote
    IC1Timer NE556NDIP-14 Enclosure
    POT1-2500 kΩ variable resistor R1212N-A500KVertical output
    Pot350 kΩ variable resistor R1212N-A50K
    S1-2SS-9 Switch (ON-ON)Total average contact
    BT1Button on board SWT 80-7.0No fixation
    R1, R41 kOhm resistor
    R210 kOhm
    R34.7 kΩ
    R53 kOM
    R624 kOhm
    R7Photoresistor VT93N1
    C110 nF capacitorCeramic
    C20.1 uFCeramic
    C310 uFElectrolytic
    LED1Light-emitting diodeAny will do
    AUDIOStereo jack ST-111For 3.5mm jack
    9V-BATBS-EC terminalAny terminal for Krona

    By the way, the wiring and schematic diagram in Eagle CAD format can be downloaded on Narod.Disk. The board layout is different from what you see in the photo above because it is made in one layer. So even if you do not have the title of Honorary Jedi Laser Iron, you should succeed. Unfortunately, I have lost the latest version of the prototype and I can’t attach its photos, but without attention to the little things you will get something like this .

    I would like to remind you that when printing wiring from Eagle, you should first turn off all unnecessary layers (leave only bottom and pads / vias), and set the daws solid, black in the print options (so that the printer prints a contrasting picture, not a textured mess) and do not forgetuncheck the mirror (we print the bottom layer of the board).

    For those who are too lazy to bother with ferric chloride, iron and search for components, we, as last time, have a radio kit for sale . The kit contains a lot of motley components, soldering which you can get your first experience with a soldering iron.

    In the near future I will try to tell how to make a simple 8-step sequencer based on the Atari Punk Console and the 4017 counter ( datasheet ). In the meantime, all successful experiments!

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