ribbon control

[lomax]

ive seen a couple vids online where they hooked up an external homemade ribbon controler. is that possible with the 555 or 556? if so where do i find a schem for it? everywhere i looked shows the finished product  but not how to build one.

[Circuitbenders]

the 555 doesn't cure all known problems.

What you need here is some SVHS tape:

http://sites.google.com/site/asmidius/home

or for something more professional

http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/ribbon/ribbon.htm

[lomax]

first page doesnt load pics

[unclejambo]

There's also the softpot

Appendage ribbon (Softpot) Controller plays "TELSTAR"

Guess it's not quite as homebrew and probably not as cheap but I'm guessing it's pretty hard-wearing and looks pretty professional.

[lomax]

this is what im looking for....

SX150 + Ribbon-controller

what components would this be made out of?

and where what pin would i connect it to?

[unclejambo]

He's hooked up to a gakken sx 150, a small analogue synth played with a frankly far too small to be useable resistive strip and stylus. Looks like that dude's used the strip of video tape which presumably its easy enough to connect to the points on the board for the existing strip and stylus.

He's made a neat little connecting cable and socket and looks like the pot on there controls the range. This same dudes made a midi interface for the same synth which I'm hoping to get built myself and rehouse the lot as a little self contained synth possibly incorporating the ribbon ....prrrobably too ambitious for me to do myself but I've a mate who'll help.

Anyhow good luck building the ribbon

[lomax]

i know the gakken...  does IT have the input for an external ribbon. i dont know.

if the actual "ribbon" is just what is calculating the distance of the resistance, wouldnt anything that carries a current work?

just a theory,

cause ive seen this guys synths which blow my mind.  http://nicksworldofsynthesizers.com/beast.php

his ribbons are made of metal strips.

any ideas?

[jamiewoody]

so a ribbon control is a variable resistor?


is he keyboard in those stylophones a ribbon control?

[Gordonjcp]

No, a stylophone has a keyboard etched onto the PCB, which you play with a stylus.  Hence "Stylophone".

[Ciderfeks]

This page here might be of some use?

http://www.paia.com/ProdArticles/dual-ribbon-howto.htm

[jamiewoody]

did anyone ever have a magnavox ODDESSEY II video came console back in the 80s?

it had the "flat" keyboard...was that a ribbon control?

[Gordonjcp]

Probably more like a membrane keyboard.  Much-derided when they were fitted to home computers like the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum, you now cannot get a PC keyboard that *isn't* a membrane keyboard with rubber buttons and plastic caps - like the Spectrum+ keyboard.

[jamiewoody]

hmmm...it's been so long, but it seemed like the keys did somewhat press...eventually they became harder to press.

wow, i'll bet that is a garden of circuit bending delight! lol there was even a voice module which fit over the cart slot. looking back, KC munchkin was cooler than most atari games! def harder than pacman!  there was a cart where you could type, and it would speak what you type.it did not always annunciate correctly which was funny.