The Synth Glove: Playing With the Gakken SX-150

{
// Good for beginner electronics-er.
// It'll give you some basic know-how for building interfaces.
// If we're being honest, most of this is already in other Ibles, but I liked the idea of bringing together
// these projects.
// The Gakken SX-150 Synth Kit is very rough. By that I mean that it isn't extremely well put together.
// The main thing is the stupid knobs won't stay on!
//But that doesn't matter because we'll be ditching the case immediately.

The rest of this project is really just Plusea's stickytape sensors
https://www.instructables.com/id/Stickytape-Sensors/.
// If you aren't on a low budget as I was, you should try the fancier sensors that she designed.
// So, uh, have fun...blahblah... knock yourself out!
}

Step 1: The Mighty Tools (and Parts)

{
The first thing to get is your parts.
// Pictures below.

{
Get the following from LessEMF:
Velostat by 3M http://www.lessemf.com/plastic.html
Conductive Thread http://lessemf.com/fabric.html
Copper Flectron Fabric http://lessemf.com/fabric.html
// This is for your various stickytape sensors.
// Sorry about this, but you will have a ****load of leftover stuff from this.
}

{
Next you'll need the base of our operation:
Gakken SX-150 http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKGK8
// Isn't it pretty?
}

{
Now, we should get some tools:
// Look, these are just the tools I used. Scroll down and check out the following steps because I'm
// sure you have the majority if not all of these in or out of multi-tool form.
My Swiss Army Knife
My Trusty Leatherman Kick
Tools for soldering
// Again, you really just need screwdrivers, knife, scissors, and soldering tools. Correct me if I
forgot anything.
}

{
All that's left are some misc. parts:
One pushbutton
// Got mine from Radioshack: SPST Momentary Mini Pushbutton Switch, but others will work too.
One battery pack for 4x AA batteries with respective batteries.
// You can get this in the same trip as the above pushbutton at Radioshack.
Pack of at least four alligator clip wires.
// I can't remember the real word for these. They just make life easier. A lot easier. I got them in
// different colors. Also a Radioshack thing.
Case for button
// Mine was an old remote control for some toy or RC car. Anything you can open up and make
// room for the pushbutton is fine.
Duct Tape
// If you don't have this just around the house, I cry for you. I guess it could be regular stickytape...
// if you're boring.
One Glove
// Fine get a pair of gloves. You only need one, though. I got some nice workman's gloves.
}

// Give a holla if you find some cheaper or better alternatives.
}

Step 2: Assemble the SX-150

{
// Just kidding! Comes preassembled.
// Do whatever you want with the instructions, except use them. That would be ridiculous.
}

Step 3: The Big Button

{
// I can't give exact instructions on how to gut any random piece of junk around the house, but think
// screwdriver and screws.
// It shouldn't be too hard to open up if it's possible.
// See the difference between pic 1 and 2?
I drilled a hole in the back of my remote, squeezed in a button, and wired it to two separate alligator
clip wires.
}

Step 4: Plusea's Stickytape Sensors

{
Go to Plusea's Stickytape Sensors page https://www.instructables.com/id/Stickytape-Sensors/
Build one long one to be a bend sensor. Use either her instructions or the ones I put in the images
below.
// Should be a bit more than the length of your glove's middle finger.
Build a large wide one to be a pressure sensor
// I used two strips of duct tape to make this one bigger. It should take up palm of the glove.
}

Step 5: Super Fiddly Fantastic Glove Time

{
Take the glove
Tape the bend sensor carefully to the middle finger of the glove.
// Try not to put pressure on the sensors.
Tape the pressure sensor to the palm of the glove.
// Again be careful of pressure.
// Make sure the copper strips poking out form the sensors are easy access.
}

Step 6: Important Battery Hack

{
// So here you find yourself with the makings of an awesome machine
// BUT NO BATTERIES!
Cut the battery pack jack off of the case that came with the synth. Now solder that jack head on to the
battery pack you bought.
// Hooray!
Load it up with the batteries and plug her in.
// You are officially powered. All that's left is wiring.
}

Step 7: Alligator Clips!

{
Take your alligator clip wires and connect them like this:
Either glove sensor lead to either button lead
Other glove sensor lead to the white lead coming from the SX-150 and the metal ring on the corner of
the circuit board like in the picture
Other button lead to the blue lead coming from the SX-150
// If any of this is unclear contact me or look at below pictures.
}

Step 8: Conclusion!

{
// So that's all.
Once your all wired, flip the switch and play around.
//Attack and decay are in regard to the initial power of the note played and the decrease of power.
//Pitch envelope is just the range you can reach, although this won't change much.
//The toggle switch with the funny shapes are about waveforms.
//Resonance will try and make it fuller sounding.
//Cutoff is a filter, I think.
//LFO frequency just changes the frequency of the low frequency oscillator, meaning it'll add a little
//shake to your sound... you'll see.
//Thank you
}