Step 1: Write out features -> Draw out instrument -> 8 week schedule plan for the features to code.
Prototyping is truly a long and maddneing process. The amount of patience you need is absolutely insane. Especially if your new at this. For context, this was my first time coding and engineering an analog instrument. Please click on the hyperlinks as it takes you to my notes and other resources you may need!
My professor, Steven Litt, for my Electronic Product Design class, where I developed this machine, started the course by suggesting we write out the 'features' we wanted. Then, we were asked to sketch an 'idea' of what our instrument’s layout could look like. We began with these two simple yet essential steps before moving on to prototyping on a breadboard.
Inspired by the Roland TR-707 and how it has been a driving force behind tracks in genres ranging from synth pop and acid house to industrial, electro, indie, alternative, and more, I decided to develop my own a drum machine.
If you have never made electronics or have no idea where to start, I absolutely recommend checking out this website created by professor, Steven Litt, FIRST! This website is a practical, hands-on online course (FREE) made for artists, musicians, students, and people of all ages who are interested in learning the basics of practical analog electronics.
If you need some Youtube tutorial inspo to get ideas rolling, I recommend watching these below. More examples here.
Step 2: Map out an 8 week schedule of how to get this done. This is what my 8 week process looked like. Please click on this link for the codes.
Note: I added more features as the project developed, for full code (over 2474 lines) please click here.
Below is documentation of the growing prototype.
Step 3: After finishing the code for the features you want, the next step is moving from a breadboard to a PCB board.
As I started doing the schematics and designing the PCB board, I also started ideating the form of the instrument. My focus at the time was accessibility and I was still researching phase, so I decided to start with a concept and landed on braille keys. I created 8 braille buttons for my 8-step braille sequencer, and here is an example of one.
I wish I would of had the time to explore accessibilty for this machine but unfortuantely on 11/11/23 I got doxxed which not only changed the trajectory of my life but also this project.