Make A Music Sequencer From A $6 LED Kit!

Synthtopia regular MirlitronOne created what could be the low-budget music hack of the year – turning a $6 LED kit into a 8-stage step sequencer.

He started with a Vellemen MK107 LED kit – which are available all over the place for less than a fast food lunch, making the kit a great risk-free starting point for music hacking.

In this video, MirlitronOne shows you how he did it and how this DIY music sequencer works.

via MirlitronOne:

How to turn a cheap Velleman LED kit into a simple eight-note analogue voltage sequencer for a synthesizer, WSG etc. The whole thing could be built for under £10 and has a novel function for playing subsets of the selected notes for ‘related’ arpeggios. This electronic music project comes to you from the bench of Mirlitronics, Inc., suppliers of low-tech gadgetry to “The Mirlitrons” – check us out on iTunes.

via Make

14 thoughts on “Make A Music Sequencer From A $6 LED Kit!

  1. I genuinely believe that this could be the greatest contribution to cheap electronic music since, er, the last really great cheap thing.

    If you can't fathom out the additional wiring required from the vid, take a look at the famous "Baby 10" sequencer.

  2. I genuinely believe that this could be the greatest contribution to cheap electronic music since, er, the last really great cheap thing.

    If you can't fathom out the additional wiring required from the vid, take a look at the famous "Baby 10" sequencer.

  3. Hi,
    I am such a big fan of music when ever i free i turn on my i pod and listen music from it whole day…
    I also searching for music info like lyrics albums singers and much more….
    My favorite music types are sad songs , Fast Rock and Roll type songs and some really Hip Hop…
    So this article will make me more better in music knowledge and also some kind of fun…..
    Thanks for sharing some valuable info…

  4. Hi mirlitron, i love your sequencer and i've ordererd parts to build one of my own. Most of your circuit is straight-forward but i was wondering if you can post a handrawn schematic showing all the detail, also what were the resisters you wired up up in series? It looked like they were mounted on the back of a potentiometer, if so, was the pot wired in too? – please get back to me, i'm eager to build my own. Thanks, Paul. ([email protected])

  5. Hi mirlitron, i love your sequencer and i've ordererd parts to build one of my own. Most of your circuit is straight-forward but i was wondering if you can post a handrawn schematic showing all the detail, also what were the resisters you wired up up in series? It looked like they were mounted on the back of a potentiometer, if so, was the pot wired in too? – please get back to me, i'm eager to build my own. Thanks, Paul. ([email protected])

  6. Haven't got time to post a diagram at present, but you can get the detail you want by looking up the schematic of the "Baby Ten" sequencer (Google!).

    Each connection point from the board (between each LED and its resistor) goes to the left-hand terminal of its associated potentiomer. Each right-hand terminal of the pots goes to earth (ground). Each centre terminal has the ANODE of a signal diode soldered to it. All the (eight) cathodes are then wired together – I did them in a line – and this common connection goes to the 100k range pot. Kapisch? (Or is it "kapiche"? I've never been sure.)

  7. Haven't got time to post a diagram at present, but you can get the detail you want by looking up the schematic of the "Baby Ten" sequencer (Google!).

    Each connection point from the board (between each LED and its resistor) goes to the left-hand terminal of its associated potentiomer. Each right-hand terminal of the pots goes to earth (ground). Each centre terminal has the ANODE of a signal diode soldered to it. All the (eight) cathodes are then wired together – I did them in a line – and this common connection goes to the 100k range pot. Kapisch? (Or is it "kapiche"? I've never been sure.)

  8. Absolutley excellent stuff – I am looking for a simple sequencer to drive my Arduino based Auduino synth – replacing on of the Pots on that device with a CV output to control it. I gather you stted the output voltage is pretty hot – how can I go about ensuring a CV output range of 0-5V – appreciate any help before I scoot off to Maplin for the kit…

  9. Hi mirlitron, Great sequencer. gotta build one. I was just wondering if you could go into more detail of how to wire the connections on the 100k range pot, all the rest is very simple. cant wait to build my own, cheers, Patrick.
    [email protected]

  10. It's just a final voltage divider – common line from all the diodes to left-hand terminal (from the rear), centre to output socket, right-hand terminal to earth.

    I was pleased to see RichyHo's MK107 at the London Modular Meet last weekend!

  11. It's just a final voltage divider – common line from all the diodes to left-hand terminal (from the rear), centre to output socket, right-hand terminal to earth.

    I was pleased to see RichyHo's MK107 at the London Modular Meet last weekend!

  12. hi, i just discovered this wonderful machine,
    but as i'm french i don't understand few things about building it.
    can i refer to this schematics ? http://blog.makezine.com/switchScheme.jpg

    on this picture their sequencer has 4 channels.
    i already have the mk107 kit . the aim for me is to plug this sequencer in the cv in of a yamaha cs15d

    thanks anyone who will answer me!

  13. Can you explain the bit about the 4 pin switches (SW1 and SW2). It sounds like one needs to bridge two of the four pads with wires but which ones?
    Thanks.

Leave a Reply to Stephen Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *