How to Make the Atari Punk Console
by TobaTobias in Circuits > Audio
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How to Make the Atari Punk Console
So talking with a friend I decided to make a synth, a basic but nice one. So I thought why not? So I'll add my contribution to the APC history!
The Atari Punk Console has a long history so you can check it here.
I can tell you it was designed by the most famous Forrest M. Mims III.
It is called the Atari Punk Console because of the stepped tone generated is like the sounds emitted by the original Atari video game system.
The Atari Punk Console has a long history so you can check it here.
I can tell you it was designed by the most famous Forrest M. Mims III.
It is called the Atari Punk Console because of the stepped tone generated is like the sounds emitted by the original Atari video game system.
Materials
The electronic components you will need are:
Other things you'll find around the house:
- X2 555 Chip (You can also use a 556 Chip but for sake of simplicity I will use two 555)
- X1 1K resistor
- X1 .01 uF ceramic capacitor
- X1 .1 uF ceramic capacitor
- X1 10 uF electrolytic capacitor
- X1 Female stereo jack 6,3 mm
- X1 DC female jack
- X2 50K (or 500K but I will use 50K because it seems to me the correct stepped tone sound)
- X1 Switch (any really)
- X2 Knobs (optional)
- X1 Prototype board for soldering (I bought the smallest and cheapest)
- X1 Enclosure (optional, I used a plastic ipod touch one)
- X2 8 pin sockets (optional)
Other things you'll find around the house:
- Soldering iron
- Screwdriver
- Tweezers
- Wire
- Wire stripper
The Schematic
So it's actually very easy.
First 555
Pin 1 goes to ground.
Pin 2 goes to .01 cap that goes to ground.
Pin 3 goes to pin 2 on the other 555.
Pin 4 goes to 9 Volts.
Pin 8 goes to 9 Volts.
Pin 7 goes to the pot and the resistor.
Pin 6 goes to the resistor and to pin 2 on the same 555.
Second 555
Pin 1 goes to ground.
Pin 2 goes to pin 3 on the other 555.
Pin 3 goes to output.
Pin 4 goes to 9 Volts.
Pin 6 goes to .1 cap that goes to ground.
Pin 7 goes to the pot.
Pin 8 goes to 9 Volts.
Pretty easy, huh!
First 555
Pin 1 goes to ground.
Pin 2 goes to .01 cap that goes to ground.
Pin 3 goes to pin 2 on the other 555.
Pin 4 goes to 9 Volts.
Pin 8 goes to 9 Volts.
Pin 7 goes to the pot and the resistor.
Pin 6 goes to the resistor and to pin 2 on the same 555.
Second 555
Pin 1 goes to ground.
Pin 2 goes to pin 3 on the other 555.
Pin 3 goes to output.
Pin 4 goes to 9 Volts.
Pin 6 goes to .1 cap that goes to ground.
Pin 7 goes to the pot.
Pin 8 goes to 9 Volts.
Pretty easy, huh!
Making the APC Circuit
So you just have to wire everything up. I did this in 20 minutes and it finished pretty well.
I attached some pictures! Using sockets protects your IC from getting burnt.
OPTIONAL
You can add a switch by connecting for 9 Volts to ground.
You can add a DC jack, check polarity using a voltmeter.
I attached some pictures! Using sockets protects your IC from getting burnt.
OPTIONAL
You can add a switch by connecting for 9 Volts to ground.
You can add a DC jack, check polarity using a voltmeter.
Enclosure
Make sure everything is working well and then you can go ahead and make the enclosure for your APC.
Make holes using your drill for:
Make holes using your drill for:
- Switch
- Potentiometer
- Output Jack
- DC Jack
Wrap Up
Finally add some knobs for the pots and it should look really cool! Have fun and tell me in the comments what you did! :)
Watch a video here:
Watch a video here: