Description

The Dark Harvestator is a psychogeographic standalone noise synth from Isn’tses (Tim Drage & Lisa McKendrick). The synth is inspired by the disturbing history of Gruinard Island, AKA Anthrax Island, in Scotland and the bio-warfare experiments that took place there at the end of WW2. Its name is based on the mysterious group ‘Dark Harvest’ who protested for the cleanup of Gruinard by leaving contaminated soil from the island outside government buildings. It is a standalone PCB-art synth circuit which can create a wide range of textural noise, tones and chaotic bleeps. Overall the sound is very noisy, harsh and brutal, evoking crackly wartime sounds, radio interference, the rage of the sea and the Bacillus Anthracis. It also can produce some more continuous drone or synth sounds depending how you play it.

The heart of the synth is a digital chip pre-programmed with custom code which generates PWM audio, this is then amplified through several stages of analog CMOS distortion and and EQ control to give it an extra saturated, dirty and noisy character rather than a standard digital/chiptune sound palette. There are 5 knobs; three to control the sound parameters, one EQ knob to shape the tone, and a master volume control. Maximum volume is quite a hot signal so it works well as an input for modular or semi-modular synths, or you can turn it down to a more suitable level for your mixer, amp, guitar pedal or soundcard inputs.

The toggle switch labelled ‘1942-1990’ has a dual function. It switches between more of a continuous sound if switched upwards or held downwards, and more sporadic and chaotic noise with the switch in the centre position. Every time the switch is released the code also randomises some parameters of the sound. It is a 3-position switch, up and centre are latching, and down is momentary. It is also used to change mode: there a small push button (sheep) which resets the digital chip. If you press it (or power on the synth) while the toggle switch is in the up or down position, it has a sporadic, bleepy sound palette, or if you press with the switch in the centre position, it goes into more of a harsh noise mode.

The audio output is a mono 3.5mm jack. It’s best to use a mono cable (eurorack patch cable for instance.) If you use a stereo lead it will work but audio will probably be heard only in the left channel depending what you plug it into.

The Dark Harvestator has a power indicator LED, and three noise activity LEDs which flicker and change in intensity according to the sound.

The synth runs off a standard centre-negative 9v DC guitar pedal power supply – not included. A 9v battery clip – not included – can be optionally soldered on by the user for portable use.

The synth is perfect for harsh noise, drone, industrial, power electronics, breakcore, chiptune, circuitbent, EDM and other experimental electronic music, and works great played thru effects or other synths with inputs. It’s great raw material for sampling or DAW manipulation too.

As this is an open circuitboard synth, handle with care and make sure you don’t accidentally short-circuit anything with metal objects i.e. don’t play it on a metal/conductive surface!

The Dark Harvestator incorporates CCBY licensed code from Rob Stave’s ‘ArduinoComponentSketches’ library

Dark Harvestator – Build Document