Just getting into the wide world of analog synths. I’ve seen all kinds of crazy cool diy instruments. People make their own keyboards, eurorack oscillators and effects, drum machines, etc.

I’ve got basic soldering experience and I’ve taken electronic instruments apart for routine maintenance. Recently, I’ve gained access to a makerspace equipped with a 3D printer, laser cutter, and lots of other helpful fabrication gear. This, to me, seems like the perfect recipe for making my own electronic instruments.

I’ve seen a few different resources for circuit based instrument diy projects, like websites that outline how to make an oscillator, a sequencer, delay effect, etc., and I’m especially interested in constructing my own analog drum machine (something akin to a Vermona DRM1 or a SOMA Lab Pulsar-23 .)

How do people get such varied sounds and effects? Why are there such nuanced differences between similar pieces of gear? Where do I look to find the knowledge necessary to get the sound I want out of circuits?