For those who enterprise far sufficient into the uncharted jungles of the homebrew {hardware} synthesizer scene, you is perhaps fortunate sufficient to glimpse the elusive hunger synth. A hunger synth is an uncommon system that you just’ll solely ever come throughout in experimental music. The time period “hunger” refers back to the lack of voltage driving the analog synthesis. Not solely can a hunger synth run on very low energy, however lowering the ability creates fascinating new sound results. The know-how is ideal for almost-dead batteries and inefficient photo voltaic cells, as demonstrated by Shih Wei-Chieh’s hunger synth powered by his personal DSSCs.
We not too long ago lined Shih Wei-Chieh’s adventures in setting up his personal DSSCs (Dye-Delicate Photo voltaic Cells) they usually’re really spectacular. On a technical stage, it’s fairly unbelievable that somebody could make purposeful photo voltaic cells utilizing the sort of tools yow will discover in most makerspaces. And on a creative stage, the ensuing panels look wonderful. On prime of that, Shih Wei-Chieh makes use of plant-based dyes which might be pleasant to the setting. However although Shih Wei-Chieh’s DIY DSSCs are actually extraordinary, the know-how isn’t very environment friendly in comparison with the monocrystalline photo voltaic cells which might be so frequent.
As a result of these DIY DSSCs aren’t sensible as an alternative to mass-manufactured photo voltaic cells, Shih Wei-Chieh discovered an esoteric use for them: powering a hunger synth.
Shih Wei-Chieh is at the moment in residence at Kulturhus Björkboda (KUBU) in Finland and was capable of make this occur with the assistance of their tools. He modified his DSSC fabrication method to make a panel with an array of unbiased cells in an exquisite Voronoi sample. He used an xTool P2 CO2 laser machine to etch the sample in glass and sinter the electrodes. The titanium oxide and platinum paste had been utilized with display printing methods. Lastly, Shih Wei-Chieh utilized the dye, sealed the glass, and injected the electrolyte resolution.
That lovely customized DSSC panel match right into a 3D-printed enclosure that additionally accommodates the hunger synth circuitry constructed with assist from Marc Dusseiller. That synthesizer circuit requires little or no voltage and present (about 1.2V and round 0.12mA) to drive the oscillators that feed piezo buzzers. As the ability goes decrease and decrease, the circuit turns into extra unstable and produces fascinating sounds.
The hunger synth circuit is ideal for the DSSC-based photo voltaic panel as a result of it doesn’t want a lot energy. And the person can affect the sound by additional reducing the panel’s output, reminiscent of by protecting cells with their fingers to scale back the sunshine publicity.
It is a really distinctive idea and sure the one undertaking of its sort in historical past, which is de facto saying one thing.
