Audio Generators

[John H. McCartney]

> Hi folks, can someone explain to me exactly what an audio generator is? The
> type used in the old days by Hawkwind. I've always wanted to know. I know
> about synthesisers but nothing about electronics. Is it possible to buy one
> ready made or would you have to build it?


Well, you can build one fairly easily with either a kit, or a plan
and parts; just takes some skill with a soldering iron. Or check out
a shop that sells used electronic test equipment and find one there.
What you'll want is a signal generator, making sure you get one that
can be set to cover the audio range (20 Hz - 20,000 Hz). They'll
usually go a lot higher, and maybe a bit lower, and you usually have
a choice or output waveforms: classic sine wave, triangle, square,
pulse (variable square), and maybe something else like ramp.

Next, get an amp to run it through, and an echo unit and maybe some
other effects - guitar stomp boxes and pedals are good. A volume
pedal is really handy, keeps you from having to fade it in/out with
your hand, which will be needed for other knobs.

Hmmm, time to dust mine off and plug it into the new vocoder that
the post just delivered. (musiciansfriend.com has Electrix filter
modules and vocoder for $99 each right now, usually >$300)


scorch