Building your first modular synth is astonishingly
easy!
The Mt. Brighton Avalanche Oscillator is a
community-developed and open-source project
designed specifically for learning. Its low part
count, low complexity, and low cost is coupled
with a transparency in design and function that
makes it easier to understand and describe what
is happening with the electricity and sound.
When it’s complete, you’ll have a simple,
standalone battery-operated synthesizer, with a
single knob for changing the pitch of the sound,
into which you can plug headphones or patch
other music gear. Assembly takes just 30–60
minutes with basic soldering skills and tools.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Mt. Brighton is a ski hill in Michigan that features
a “bunny hill” for beginners. And this project
takes advantage of a specific trait in transistors
called avalanche breakdown: when operating
in avalanche mode, a transistor can switch an
electrical current rapidly — at an audible rate!
This repeated switching is known as oscillation.
North Coast Modular Collective (NCMC) led the
design of this project. Our mission is to expand the
skill, knowledge, and accessibility of the electronic
music community through the development of
music, instruments, and shared resources. One
of our core values is a sense of place and its
connection with the community. As such, NCMC
acknowledges that Mt. Brighton currently resides
on land ceded through the Treaty of Detroit in 1807
and is the ancestral lands of the Bodwéwadmi
(Potawatomi), Mississauga, Anishinabewaki
ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, and Peoria nations.
BUILD YOUR AVALANCHE
OSCILLATOR MODULE
1. RESISTORS
The project includes two resistors. To “read” a
resistor, find the resistor color code (indicated by
the bands along their length) online; otherwise,
just trust us that orange-orange-brown-gold
means 330 ohms (Figure
A
on the following
page
) and red-red-orange-gold means 22k
(22,000) ohms (Figure
B
). Place each resistor
as indicated on the PCB silkscreen (Figure
C
)
by bending their legs at right angles from the
BUILD YOUR
FIRST MODULE
49
make.co
TIME REQUIRED:
30–60 Minutes
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
COST:
$25–$30
MATERIALS
Available as a kit from North Coast Modular
Collective (ncmc.link/makeosc) or you can source
the parts yourself:
» Printed circuit board, Mt. Brighton Avalanche
Oscillator v4 from oshpark.com/shared_
projects/8SeW5Gm5
» Resistors: 330
Ω
(1) and 22k
Ω
(1)
» Electrolytic capacitor, 2.2µF such as Panasonic
ECA-1HM2R2I
» Transistor, 2N3904
» LED, red, 3mm
» Tall trimmer potentiometer, 9mm, linear 10k
Ω
such as B10K from modularaddict.com
» Audio jack, 3.5mm (⁄"), Thonkiconn style
such as PJ301M-12 or the new improved PJ518M
» Battery, 12V, A23 size
» Battery holder, A23, with wire leads
» Machine screw, nylon, M2.5 x 6mm
» Nut, nylon, M2.5
TOOLS
» Soldering iron
» Solder, non-leaded
» Solder flux (optional) recommended
» Flush diagonal wire cutter
» Phillips screwdriver to fit M2.5 screw head
[OPTIONAL IMAGE: Mt-Brighton-Avalanche-Oscillator-
Parts_Nick Gaydos.jpg , but might be more helpful at the
beginning of the project?]
M85_048-51_SS_AvalancheOsc_F1.indd 49M85_048-51_SS_AvalancheOsc_F1.indd 49 4/10/23 3:34 PM4/10/23 3:34 PM
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