analog lab #1

Breadboards are a type of circuit board that allow the user to easily modify circuits by placing metal wire or “legs” of circuit elements into holes that are connected. There are two columns on each side of the board, each of which connect vertically all the way down the board. On the inner portion of the board, there are two sets of 5 columns, separated by a large gap between them. Each row of 5 in these matrices are connected horizontally.

A multimeter is an electrical tool that allows the user to measure multiple electrical aspects of a circuit. By placing the attached probes onto both ends of a resistor without current, you can accurately measure the resistance of that resistor. You could also touch the probes to the negative and positive ends of a battery to see the amount of voltage emanating from the battery. Multimeters are also capable of measuring continuity between two points, which signals that current can flow through between those two points, which is useful if you are checking to see if wires are properly connected or to check for shorts in a soldered joint. Accurate resistance and voltage measurements are also imperative in analog electronics, as nothing is exactly accurate, and such values are required to calculate how to build circuits.

I thought that Jackie Elliott’s Distorto-Trem Pedal was interesting, as the circuit is able to command both distortion and tremolo. In my final project, I definitely would like to work with a similarly multi-faceted unit.

Julian Vanasse’s Kinetic Spring Reverb Noisemaker was also very intriguing. I think its ability to create a space with the box and utilize it is very unique. I am also quite a fan of spring reverb, so I might look into creating one for my project.

Christy Welch’s Shoebox Monophonic Synth also presents an intriguing project idea, as I really appreciate the buttons for the notes, and I love the enclosure. I think being able to create an instrument that I can use in future recordings would be the ultimate goal for the final project, and this synth shows one way to go about getting that.