SX-150 Analog Synthesizer Kit from MakerShed
Photo courtesy of MakerShed

June 20th, 2009 – In December, I posted about the Gakken SX-150 and now Mrbook has released his instructions for hacking it to be MIDI controllable. Using the Arduino chip with MIDI software already developed for the platform, Mrbook has added MIDI support as well as audio out, taking the Gakken synth from toy to to-be-taken-seriously.

Connected to his Ableton rig, Mrbook controls the Gakken through MIDI information sent from Ableton. He is then able to capture the output from the audio out plug he has rigged up. With the ability to sequence and control the SX-150 more precisely, the true potential of the synth is revealed. I must say, it sounds pretty fantastic, with a much thicker sound than I had assumed.

If you’d like to make your own, Mrbook has pictures of how he has wired it up, and has included links to the software used. The hack is a two-parter, so you’ll want to check out his first post on it for a more complete idea of how to roll your own. It’s not step by step, but if you have some experience, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Mrbook’s Gakken sx-150 arduino hack via Synthtopia

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 20th, 2009 at 3:53 pm.
Categories: Asides, Engineering, Gear.

2 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. pablo

    hi

    looks great

    please send some more info on thios and where to buy

    and how it worls with live

    is al the sounds ion the vid from the sx 150?

    peace

    p

    Oct 17th, 2009

  1. Weekend DIY : Building a Gakken SX-150 Analog Synthesizer - Nov 28th, 2009

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