I was just about to hit the “buy” button on a semi-modular tonight and now i am torn… looks very neat!
What’s inside?
The Workshop System has 14 modules:
2 x SineSquare Oscillators Simple vintage-style oscillators made of 1970s tech.
2 x Humpback Filters Similarly vintage-style filters, designed by
Philip Goulding of God’s Box
.
2 x Slopes These work as attack/decay envelopes, LFOs and portamento generators.
Computer Is a multi-function module with knobs, a switch and audio, CV and pulse ins and outs. Initially, the system comes with a USB MIDI card, a Turing Machine sequencer and a Reverb card. A community of programmers are creating more cards.
Stereo In takes a 3.5mm stereo input and boosts it to modular level.
Ring Mod is a great-sounding ring modulator, connected to the two sines. It also works as a simple VCA.
Stompbox is an interface for guitar pedals, with blend and feedback controls to make boring pedals more interesting. There’s a 9v power outlet for pedals below this module.
Amplifier contains two simple circuits. One is connected to a piezo contact mic behind the panel, the other is the transistor-based input circuit from a MiniMoog. In other words, a
Mikrophonie
and a
Mini Drive
.
4 Voltages is a minimum viable keyboard: four voltage outputs, one knob, four pushbuttons. More fun to play with than to explain.
Mix a simple output mixer, with two stereo channels, two mono channels and a powerful headphone amp / line out.
PSU behind the panel is a power supply that runs on USB-C PD power or professional 15-25v barrel connectors. It works from battery powerbanks and laptop adaptors, most likely something you’ve already got at home.
Hi, Tom here - designer of Music Thing. For launch the panel is 2mm PCB - because that reduces the overall price very significantly. I spent a lot of time working on price for this, because I want it to be something as accessible as possible (also looking at ways to do a ‘bursary’ scheme for people who can’t afford £400).
This thing would be cool battery powered. My friend has converter from usb, so you can run a small rack like this off of a power brick. Love the concept. Very well thought out little sound machine.
It’s been 20 mins into it and I’m just loving what I seen so far. It’s really really educational than anything out there now. Tom’s making sure to getting into every small detail even to the hinges of the case. This clearly a so well thought device.
Can’t wait for it.
Edit oh @TomWhitwell is here on the forums, welcome!! I have question if you don’t mind rather silly one.
Is it ok to use stereo jacks? I think I don’t have any mono 3.5mm jacks.
Do you mean stereo cables for patching? i’m not sure, I’ve never tried it. It uses standard Eurorack patch cables, but yes I expect stereo would work.
One thing to say is that it needs a lot of patch cables - 10 is the the minimum I’d recommend. For example, you think ‘let’s just try that stereo reverb on Computer’ and that’s 4 x longer patch cables immediately.
Ordered mine. I was always keen to make myself a tiny modular that can do both a bit FX and synthesizing. Honestly I don’t want to get myself into a massive wall of modular but this is just the perfect size. Super excited with the computer module too.
ps. if anyone in UK interested and don’t have soldering skills but want a workshop system - I’d be happy to put it together for you, again. (don’t get me wrong, I’m not gonna ask a fee or anything - just love soldering stuff)
In case anyone is interested: this Mylar Melodies video mentions that Thonk is now offering full builds, but you have to email them for a quote. I did so and here are the results. On their website, the kit is £375 excluding VAT. I was quoted £650 with VAT and next-day shipping to a UK address for a full build; £575 for a full build leaving the UK, with £20 shipping to Portugal and £35 to the US. Of course, these prices may change without notice, as might availability, and you would have to add in import duties and brokerage fees.
Fun though this looks, I don’t really need it, personally. But I think it is now my recommendation for a starter semi-modular system, though the logistics of obtaining one are still complicated (but not as complicated as learning to solder). It’s really well designed and capable of a wide range of sounds.
I built an MTM reverb and Turing machine, with no experience. I watched a Mylar Melodies video about DIY and went for it. I don’t think anyone should be put off, they are great kits, with clear instructions and @TomWhitwell is a really nice guy, who will help if he can!
One has to start somewhere, but I think Tom himself says that the Workshop System is not a starter project. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible, especially if one has a more experienced friend to turn to for help in debugging (is that the correct term for troubleshooting a DIY issue? I don’t even know).
Debugging sounds good to me. The Spring Reverb and Turing Machine modules had lots of thru-hole parts and were not recommended as first kits either, but the instructions were good! I bought a cheap soldering iron, solder & a multimeter, and went for it. However, messing up a £85 kit is different to a £375 kit!
Building the kit is essentially a little bit of slightly fiddly mechanics - putting the right parts into the right spots on the PCB and slotting them into the front panel, getting the LEDs the right height with a bit of tape etc
Then it’s a lot of simple soldering - attaching the pins of the pots and switches and sockets once they’re in place
So if you’ve never soldered before - the first 10 or 20 joints might be nerve racking or stressful - that’s why I suggest you get over that jump before you start.
rather silly one.
the other day I picked up a bunch of short stereo jacks out of luck 
