Hey guys, I just finished a class in analog circuits. I didn't get too much time in the lab and instead did too much with pen and paper. I'd like to get my hands dirty and make something. I'm interested in analog synths and would like to make something pretty basic.

Are there any kits you guys could recommend?

 

You could try a miniature keyboard, with simple tactile switches. I don't know enough about music theory, but make it really small but decent sounding. It could be bell tones or pure notes (or both).

 

Here's a page with LOTS of analog synth resources:
http://www.till.com/articles/synthresources/index.html

I'll suggest that you do a good bit of reading before you take on a complex project.

If you just want to build something pretty easy to make weird noises right away, you might try this one:
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH/YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH.html

Sadly, many of the really cool analog IC's for synth-making have gone the way of the dinosaur. IC's like the SE/NE566 function generator haven't been made in a number of years now. Most signal generators nowadays are digital; you can use a CPU with a look-up table and a DAC to make just about any sound imaginable.

 

http://www.paia.com/KRU_kits.asp

 

I've known John Simonton at PAIA for eons, they're right here in OKC. I built a lot of his early stuff.

Here's a quick and easy circuit, hope the link works:
http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/PressR...59562&sp_rid=MjA1OTUwOTEyODUS1&sp_mid=3259562