Welcome to Pete Brown's 10rem.net

First time here? If you are a developer or are interested in Microsoft tools and technology, please consider subscribing to the latest posts.

You may also be interested in my blog archives, the articles section, or some of my lab projects such as the C64 emulator written in Silverlight.

(hide this)

Pete Brown's Blog (POKE 53280,0)

Pete Brown writes on a variety of topics from XAML with the Windows Runtime (WinRT), .NET programming using C#, WPF, Microcontroller programming with .NET Microframework, .NET Gadgeteer, Windows on Devices, and even plain old C, to raising two children in the suburbs of Maryland, woodworking, CNC and generally "making physical stuff". Oh, and Pete loves retro technology, especially Commodore (C64 and C128). If the content interests you, please subscribe using the subscription link to the right of every page.

Archive for tag: Synthesizer

  • LEAP Motion on Windows 8.1 for MIDI control and more

    I stopped into Best Buy yesterday and picked up something I had been considering toying with: a LEAP Motion. This is an interesting little $79 device which turns the airspace at your computer into a live space for interaction. It recognizes all ten fingers on your hands, differentiates between left and right hand, open and closed, and can read the pitch, roll, and yaw of your hand, pinc...

  • Recent videos and music tracks

    I've put up a few videos and music tracks lately. Enjoy (view on my site to see the videos. They don't usually appear in RSS readers) Also "Pete plays with arpeggiators". Video created in After Effects and Premiere Pro. The background video is a survey of the lights in my home office one evening.   Inspired by a little board called the "Tune in Tokyo". Vi...

  • A simple bitcrusher and sample rate reducer in C++ for a Windows Store App

    I'm working on a Windows 8 synthesizer app using XAudio2 and a C++ + DirectX/XAML Windows Store app for Windows 8. As part of this, I thought it would be fun to add a simple bit crusher effect with included sample rate reducer. The point of this effect is to make samples sound like they came from older machines with lower bitrates and sample depth. To do that, I had to do two things to ...

  • A MIDI clock pulse to analog sync voltage converter

    I have a few pieces of analog gear which either don't support MIDI, or simply work better with voltage control. This makes including them in a sequence difficult as timing of arpeggios or sequences will drift away from the rest of the performance. Not to mention that synchronizing them by ear is not a simple task in any case, and impossible to do in real-time if you want to adjust the t...

  • My recent videos on YouTube

    I've posted a few videos lately on YouTube. Here they are, newest to oldest. Take a look, and if you like them, drop a comment on the video and/or "like" it. Thanks! All videos are available on my channel on YouTube. My tutorial on how I hand-solder tiny surface mount components. Watch in 1080p.   A drone I created with my JP8080 and Spectrasonics Omni...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 016 for 7/23/2012

    The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, Arduino, AVR and other MCUs, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and ...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 014 for 6/18/2012

    The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, Arduino, AVR and other MCUs, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and ...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 012 for 5/23/2012

    The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, Arduino, AVR and other MCUs, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and ...

  • The brain therapy of making things: Synthesizer Kits

    I like to make things. Scott and I talked about it on a recent podcast. When I was much younger, I used to build model kits (airplanes, tanks, etc.). Later, when living on my own, I built a lot of LEGO kits as well as model railroad stuff. I've played with CNC, and have plans for a 3d printer. Building physical items lets your mind exercise something slightly different from what you use ...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 011 for 4/21/2012

    The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, Arduino, AVR and other MCUs, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and ...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 009 for 3/14/2012–Pi Day Edition

    For those of you in the US, today is Pi day : 3/14. For those countries that would call this 14-3, bear with me, as you don't get any pi pfftth :) The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, Arduino, AVR and other MCUs, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker st...

  • Designing the Open Source Hardware .NET Gadgeteer MIDI Module

    Last year, I designed my first Gadgeteer module. I didn't have a board designed, but went through all the same steps. I recently designed a MIDI module primarily for use with the .NET Gadgeteer, but also for use with any 3.3v to 5v microcontroller with a serial port. Existing MIDI boards all assumed a 5v signal level from the MCU. Most modern MCUs are 3.3v or even less. Having tried...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 006 for 1/25/2012

    The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and brief description via the con...

  • MFOS Synth 7: Front Panel Update (Knobs and started wiring)

    Today, I started wiring the front panel. Over the next several months I'll be building what is definitely my most complex electronics project to date: the MFOS (Music From Outer Space) Sound Lab Ultimate, Ultimate Expander and (if Santa brings one) Sound Lab Mini-Synth Mark II, likely all in the same home-made wooden case, side by side. The Ultimate and Expander are together a ...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 005 for 1/7/2012

    The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and brief description via the con...

  • MFOS Synth 6: PCB Complete

    Over Christmas vacation, I completed all the component mounting on my MFOS Ultimate board. Over the next several months I'll be building what is definitely my most complex electronics project to date: the MFOS (Music From Outer Space) Sound Lab Ultimate, Ultimate Expander and (if Santa brings one) Sound Lab Mini-Synth Mark II, likely all in the same home-made wooden case, side ...

  • MFOS Synth 5: Trimmers and some capacitors in place

    The next step was to solder yet more components to the board. I soldered the trimmer potentiometers as well as a number of the capacitors. Over the next several months I'll be building what is definitely my most complex electronics project to date: the MFOS (Music From Outer Space) Sound Lab Ultimate, Ultimate Expander and (if Santa brings one) Sound Lab Mini-Synth Mark II, lik...

  • MFOS Synth 4: Resistors all soldered

    Phew! The resistors are all soldered. The board has a few hundred of them, so there was quite a bit of soldering. Over the next several months I'll be building what is definitely my most complex electronics project to date: the MFOS (Music From Outer Space) Sound Lab Ultimate, Ultimate Expander and (if Santa brings one) Sound Lab Mini-Synth Mark II, likely all in the same home-m...

  • MFOS Synth 3: Starting the Front Panel

    In this post, I'm starting to build the front panel for my MFOS Sound Lab Ultimate analog synthesizer. Over the next several months I'll be building what is definitely my most complex electronics project to date: the MFOS (Music From Outer Space) Sound Lab Ultimate, Ultimate Expander and (if Santa brings one) Sound Lab Mini-Synth Mark II, likely all in the same home-made wooden...

  • MFOS Synth 2: Some main synthesizer board work

    In this post, I'm starting to populate the main board for my MFOS Sound Lab Ultimate analog synthesizer. Over the next several months I'll be building what is definitely my most complex electronics project to date: the MFOS (Music From Outer Space) Sound Lab Ultimate, Ultimate Expander and (if Santa brings one) Sound Lab Mini-Synth Mark II, likely all in the same home-made wood...

  • MFOS Synth 1: Built the Power Supply

    Over the next several months (3? 6? 10?) I'll be building what is definitely my most complex electronics project to date: the MFOS (Music From Outer Space) Sound Lab Ultimate, Ultimate Expander and (if Santa brings one) Sound Lab Mini-Synth Mark II, likely all in the same home-made wooden case, side by side. The Ultimate and Expander are together a 3 oscillator monophonic true analo...

  • Maker Geek Roundup 004 for 11/29/2011

    The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and brief description via thecont...