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CORNFIELD ELECTRONICS ArduTouch Music Synthesizer Assembly Instructions Manual

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5-Dec-2024
ArduTouch Music Synthesizer
Assembly Instructions
Programming Instructions
&
CC BY-SA 4.0
© 2024 Mitch Altman

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Summary of Contents for CORNFIELD ELECTRONICS ArduTouch Music Synthesizer

  • Page 1 5-Dec-2024 ArduTouch Music Synthesizer Assembly Instructions Programming Instructions & CC BY-SA 4.0 © 2024 Mitch Altman...
  • Page 2 The following photos will show you how to solder. But feel free to download the “Soldering Is Easy” comic book for free! (In many different languages.)
  • Page 8 Some parts are inside of this battery pack ATmega328P chip LM386 chip (not included) R6, R7 (270) Red, Violet, Brown, Gold Speaker R13, R14, R15 (1K) Brown, Black, Red, Gold R8, R9 (4.7K) Yellow, Violet, Red, Gold LED3, LED2, LED1 C1, C2, C4, C5 R1 (10K) Brown,...
  • Page 9 The board we’ll solder the parts to...
  • Page 10 The tools you’ll need: • soldering Iron (35W or less) • solder (more details coming) • soldering iron stand • cellulose kitchen sponge (not plastic!) • small wire cutter...
  • Page 11 The tools you’ll need: • soldering Iron (35W or less) • solder (more details coming) • soldering iron stand • cellulose kitchen sponge (not plastic!) • small wire cutter...
  • Page 12 Our first part R1: Brown, Black, Orange (not Brown, Black, Red)
  • Page 13 Some parts, such as resistors, need their leads bent first If necessary,...
  • Page 14 R1 – this is how it will look before inserting it into the board...
  • Page 15 R1 – this is where it goes...
  • Page 18 like a “V” so that the part won’t fall out while soldering it...
  • Page 19 R1 – inserted into the board...
  • Page 20 How to hold a soldering  iron (Like a pencil – held from underneath)
  • Page 21 The best kind of solder for DIY  electronics: (Sn – Tin  / Pb – Lead) 63/37 rosin core, 0.031” (0.8mm) diameter (or smaller) Note: Note: Most Most solder solder has poisonous fumes! has poisonous fumes!
  • Page 22 A decent kind of solder for DIY  electronics: This is the only good                 solder I have found! (after years of searching) Chip Quik Germanium-Doped Solder Sn99/Cu0.7/Ni0.05/Ge0.006 0.031” diameter (0.8mm)
  • Page 23 A decent kind of solder for DIY  electronics: This is the only good                 solder I have found! (after years of searching) Chip Quik Germanium-Doped Solder Note: Note: Sn99/Cu0.7/Ni0.05/Ge0.006 0.031” diameter (0.8mm) If you use If you use solder solder it is very helpful it is very helpful to also have to also have flux paste in a syringe flux paste in a syringe And Isopropyl Alcohol And Isopropyl Alcohol...
  • Page 24 3 Safety Tips…...

  • Page 25: Safety Tip

    Safety Tip #1: Hot !! (When you touch the tip, you will let go quickly every time!)
  • Page 26 Safety Tip #2: Soldering chemicals are toxic But they easily wash off your hands  with soap and water...
  • Page 27 Safety Tip #3: (coming soon)
  • Page 28 2 secrets  to good soldering…...
  • Page 29 Secret #1: Clean the tip! (before every solder connection) Bang (lightly) 3 times, Swipe, Rotate, Swipe (on the sponge): Keep the tip shiny silver!
  • Page 31 Do this quickly (slowly doesn’t work well) – solder in & out in about 1 second Make sure solder melts on the underside of the soldering iron tip  (not the side or top of the soldering iron tip)!
  • Page 32 Do this quickly (slowly doesn’t work well) – solder in & out in about 1 second (or more, if the pad is bigger, or if the solder is thinner) Make sure solder melts on the underside of the soldering iron tip  (not the side or top of the soldering iron tip)!
  • Page 34 Secret #2: Keep hot tip down 1 second for solder to flow !!
  • Page 36 A Little Mountain of Solder If you can see any of the pad, or the hole, you need more solder  – so, just do all the steps again to make it perfect.
  • Page 37 The Rhythm ! is just as important as the preceding steps!
  • Page 38 The Rhythm ! and speed  (about 1 second per step)
  • Page 39 The Rhythm ! and speed  (about 1 second per step) Clean the tip...
  • Page 40 The Rhythm ! and speed  (about 1 second per step) Tip Down...
  • Page 41 The Rhythm ! and speed  (about 1 second per step) Solder In...
  • Page 42 The Rhythm ! and speed  (about 1 second per step) Solder Out...
  • Page 43 The Rhythm ! and speed  (about 1 second per step)
  • Page 44 The Rhythm ! and speed  (about 1 second per step) Lift...
  • Page 45 If you are using solder WITH lead (Pb), you can now Solder all of the leads of the part to the board For this part, there are two leads Here you can see two good solder connections...
  • Page 46 BUT – if you are using  solder: First add flux ! First add flux ! For  solder, add flux to each pad before soldering ! For this part there are two pads...
  • Page 47 If you are using  solder: Add flux to the pads before soldering Add flux to the pads before soldering Here you can see flux over each of the two pads. Now these leads are ready to solder with your  solder.
  • Page 48 Two good solder connections • Little mountains (not flat) • Pads totally covered in solder • Can’t see the hole • No connections to other pads...
  • Page 49 Now cut the leads short to the little mountain of solder Cutting with the tip of the wire cutter gives you more control...
  • Page 50 Safety Tip #3: Hold or cover the lead ! (or it will fly into your eye!) (They like doing that – so please hold or cover the lead when you cut.)
  • Page 51 No wires sticking out...
  • Page 52 soldered to the board Notice that: • Each connection is a small mountain (not flat) • You cannot see any pad (they’re totally covered with solder) • You cannot see the holes (they’re totally covered with solder) • No connections to other pads...
  • Page 53 One part at a time...
  • Page 54 Till all the parts are soldered...
  • Page 55 And it will look like this when you’re done.
  • Page 56 If you used If you used solder solder flux paste in a syringe flux paste in a syringe The bottom of the PCB will be sticky from the flux You can clean it with a cloth You can clean it with a cloth wet with Isopropyl Alcohol wet with Isopropyl Alcohol...
  • Page 57 Then put in the batteries, Turn it on, And it works! (Or you start debugging.)

  • Page 58: Let's Start

    Let’s start!
  • Page 59 If you haven’t done so already, solder R1: brown, black, orange...
  • Page 60 10K: Brown, Black, Orange R2, R3, R4, R5: 22M: Red, Red, Blue R6, R7: 270: Red, Violet, Brown R8, R9: 4.7K: Yellow, Violet, Red R13, R14, R15: Brown, Black,...
  • Page 61 U1: microcontroller socket proper orientation...
  • Page 62 U1: microcontroller socket: inserted correctly...
  • Page 63 U1: microcontroller socket bend pins down on two corners, and solder all 28 leads to the board...
  • Page 64 U1: microcontroller socket All 28 leads soldered to the board:  Notice that each pad is totally covered with solder. ...
  • Page 65 C1, C2, C4, C5...
  • Page 66 C3, C8: 100uF...
  • Page 67 C6, C7: 1uF...
  • Page 68 C3, C8: 100uF...
  • Page 69 C3, C8: Long Lead “+”...
  • Page 70 C3, C8: 100uF – soldered to board...
  • Page 71 C6, C7:...
  • Page 72 C6, C7: Long Lead “+”...
  • Page 73 C6, C7: 1uF – soldered to board...
  • Page 74 LED1, LED2, LED3: Long Lead “+” We’ll use them for the speaker...
  • Page 75 LED3, LED2, LED1 Green, Red, Blue – soldered to board...
  • Page 76 long leads short leads...
  • Page 77 Short leads into board IMPORTANT: short leads go into the board  long leads sticking out from board...
  • Page 79 S1: black Reset button Note: The color of this switch is not important (some kits may have different colors).
  • Page 80 S2, S3: Red buttons Note: The color of these switches is not important (some kits may have different colors).
  • Page 81 The orientation of X1 does not matter. Note: X1 may be yellow or blue.
  • Page 82 Indented black dot Pin 1 Note: Your chip may be marked differently, but “386” will be printed on it somewhere. Note: Your chip may or may not have the indented half-moon at the left, it may have a black indented dot at the lower-left corner showing Pin 1.
  • Page 83 When chips are new, their pins are bent out.
  • Page 84 We need the pins bent straight and parallel. Use your work table to (gently) bend the leads.
  • Page 85 Gently bend leads so they’re straight and parallel...
  • Page 86 proper orientation U2: audio amp chip...
  • Page 87 U2: inserted correctly...
  • Page 88 bend pins down on two corners, and solder all 8 leads to the board...
  • Page 89 U2 – soldered to board...
  • Page 90 R10: volume control When new, the pins point straight down.
  • Page 91 R10: volume control We need to bend them out a little to fit into the board.
  • Page 92 R10: volume control If necessary, rotate the white top so that it looks like this photo (rotated half-way)
  • Page 93 J3: headphone / output jack...
  • Page 94 U1: microcontroller...
  • Page 95 When chips are new, their pins are bent out. Note: Your kit’s U1 chip may or may not have its pins already bent straight and parallel. If not, you need to bend them, as shown in the next picture.
  • Page 96 Note: Your kit’s U1 chip may or may not have its pins already bent straight and parallel. If not, you need to bend them, as shown in this picture. We need the pins bent straight and parallel. Use your work table to (gently) bend the leads.
  • Page 97 U1: microcontroller These pins must be straight and parallel...
  • Page 98 proper orientation U1: microcontroller...
  • Page 99 U1: microcontroller make sure each pins rests in its hole in the socket  with the proper orientation...
  • Page 100 to push microcontroller into its socket Use two thumbs Make sure all 28 pins are in place, and push it into its socket. (This is actually way easier 2 thumbs with U1: microcontroller...
  • Page 101 U1: microcontroller Inspect all pins, and be sure each went into its hole in the socket – not bent. If any pins are bent, (gently) pry out chip, straighten pins, and insert again.
  • Page 102 R11 & R12: potentiometers...
  • Page 103 R11 & R12: potentiometers...
  • Page 104 Speaker...
  • Page 105 Some kits have a speaker that looks like this Speaker...
  • Page 106 We’ll add leads to the speaker from the LEDs Speaker...
  • Page 107 Solder one lead to speaker Notice the correct place to solder the wire Speaker...
  • Page 108 Solder next lead to speaker Notice the correct place Speaker to solder the wire...
  • Page 109 Some kits have a speaker that looks like this Notice the correct place to solder the wires Speaker...
  • Page 110 Insert speaker into board and solder both leads to board. Speaker...

  • Page 111: Battery Pack

    Note: Some battery pack wires have thicker red and black plastic coatings. If so, you can widen the these two holes by gently rotating a scissors or small knife or small Phillips screwdreiver on the top and bottom of these two holes.
  • Page 112 Loop one lead into its pad, and solder. Then loop the other lead into its pad, and solder. Battery pack...
  • Page 113 If you used If you used solder solder flux paste in a syringe flux paste in a syringe The bottom of the PCB will be sticky from the flux You can clean it with a cloth You can clean it with a cloth wet with Isopropyl Alcohol wet with Isopropyl Alcohol...
  • Page 114 Done!
  • Page 115 Let’s make noise!
  • Page 116 Please Remember: Wash your hands after soldering...
  • Page 117 Let’s make noise! Your ArduTouch comes pre-programmed with a really cool synthesizer, called “Thick”. “Thick” plays 4 sawtooth waveform notes at once. • the left and right buttons change octaves • long press the left and right buttons to change sounds •...
  • Page 118 Optional: 3D Printed Case ! The built-in speaker will sound **way** nicer with a case. ArduTouch Case, by ipsofatso – on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4702927...
  • Page 119 Let’s make noise! Your ArduTouch comes pre-programmed with a really cool synthesizer, called “Thick”. If you are happy playing with “Thick” then no need to re-program But if you want to your ArduTouch. program other synths into your ArduTouch, the next pages show you how…...
  • Page 120 Re-programming the ArduTouch We have written several way cool synthesizers for the ArduTouch! Each is unique, and each way different than the others. The following slides show you how to program these into your ArduTouch board…...
  • Page 121 Re-programming the ArduTouch We have written several way cool synthesizers for the ArduTouch! Each is unique, and each way different than the others. To program in a new synth in your ArduTouch, you will need: • the Arduino software <http://arduino.cc> •...
  • Page 122 Arduino Arduino is a very powerful tool! But it is very easy to use. It was designed for total beginners to use successfully. I won’t give a complete tutorial here – just some basics. For more info, there are many good Arduino tutorials online. A good place to start is: <https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage>...
  • Page 123 Arduino First: Download and install the Arduino software < http://arduino.cc >...
  • Page 124 Re-programming the ArduTouch Second: Download and install the ArduTouch Arduino library <http://cornfieldelectronics.com/cfe/projects.php#ardutouch> (details on this soon)
  • Page 125 Re-programming the ArduTouch Third: Download ArduTouch synth sketches <http://cornfieldelectronics.com/cfe/projects.php#ardutouch> Store them on your computer anywhere you like. (details on this soon)
  • Page 126 Connecting your ArduTouch to your computer USB-Serial adapter cable Ones available from Cornfield Electronics look like this: <https://cornfieldelectronics.com/cfe/products/buy.php?productId=usbcable>...
  • Page 127 Connecting your ArduTouch to your computer USB-Serial adapter cable Ones available from Cornfield Electronics look like this: <https://cornfieldelectronics.com/cfe/products/buy.php?productId=usbcable> You may need to download and install a driver for your Operating System (Windows, MacOS, or Linux): <https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/>...
  • Page 128 Connecting your ArduTouch to your computer IMPORTANT: Make sure the battery pack on your ArduTouch is OFF...
  • Page 129 Connecting your ArduTouch to your computer This shows a few more details: IMPORTANT: Make sure the battery pack on your ArduTouch is OFF...
  • Page 130 Connecting your ArduTouch to your computer USB-Serial adapter cable Old ones from Cornfield Electronics looked like this:...
  • Page 131 Connecting your ArduTouch to your computer USB-Serial adapter cable Old ones from Cornfield Electronics looked like this: You may need to download and install a driver for your Operating System (Windows, MacOS, or Linux): <https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers>...
  • Page 132 Connecting your ArduTouch to your computer (Old ones) IMPORTANT: Make sure the battery pack on your ArduTouch is OFF...
  • Page 133 Arduino After you download and install the Arduino software start it, and you will see a screen that looks like this:...
  • Page 134 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things...
  • Page 135 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Choose “Uno” as the Board (Your ArduTouch board acts just like Arduino Uno board)
  • Page 136 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Choose the Port (this will be different depending on your Operating System)
  • Page 137 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Choose the Port (this will be different depending on your Operating System) (After installing the driver for your USB-Serial cable, and plugging it in, your operating system will see a serial port and it appears here.)
  • Page 138 Arduino Your Arduino software is almost ready…...
  • Page 139 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Install ArduTouch library...
  • Page 140 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Install ArduTouch library...
  • Page 141 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Install ArduTouch library...
  • Page 142 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Install ArduTouch library...
  • Page 143 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Install ArduTouch library click this link to download the ArduTouch library...
  • Page 144 Arduino you start your Arduino software first time you need to do to set things up: three things Install ArduTouch library...
  • Page 145 Arduino to program a new synth sketch into your ArduTouch !
  • Page 146 Arduino Designed for non-geeky artists Download “Sketch” : a new ArduTouch an Arduino program synth “sketch”...
  • Page 147 Arduino Download a new ArduTouch synth “sketch” click link to download a synth “sketch”...
  • Page 148 Arduino Download a new ArduTouch synth “sketch”...
  • Page 149 Arduino You can open the ArduTouch synth sketch: File  Open… (I opened “Arpology here)
  • Page 150 Arduino You can now program your ArduTouch with a new synth sketch !
  • Page 151 Arduino With the USB-Serial cable connected to your ArduTouch board press the Upload button...
  • Page 152 Arduino While uploading, you will see a progress bar… …and when it’s completed successfully, it says: “Upload done”...
  • Page 153 ArduTouch Disconnect your ArduTouch board from the USB-Serial cable, turn on your battery pack, And…...
  • Page 154 Let’s make new noise!
  • Page 155 Please Remember: Wash your hands after soldering...
  • Page 156 5-Dec-2024 ArduTouch Music Synthesizer Assembly Instructions Programming Instructions & CC BY-SA 4.0 © 2024 Mitch Altman...