Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Talking about voltage starving your audio equipment with friend of the channel Will Klingenmeier (@SpectralEvolver).
I sat down for a virtual chat with Will, who has been doing some interesting experiments voltage starving his Moog DFAM and Subharmonicon. Voltage starving is when you intentionally deprive a circuit or device of the full voltage it needs to function, simulating a “dying battery”. The sounds you get are probably not what the manufacturer intended, but definitely an aesthetic worth exploring as you look for new sounds.
In this wide-ranging discussion, we talk about circuit-bending, starving stompboxes, and whether or not this is a good idea with your expensive equipment.
0:00 Introduction
0:30 What is "voltage starving"?
1:08 Voltage starving & circuit-bending
1:54 Voltage starving Moog synths
3:46 How to do it
4:33 Is this dangerous to your equipment?
6:07 Thinking about guitar pedals
8:15 Closing thoughts
💬 *Join the Discussion!* Have questions or want to share your own projects? Drop a comment below – I love hearing from you all!
Will's DFAM voltage starve: youtube.com/watch?v=4iENdYQjo4M
Will's Subharmonicon voltage starve: youtube.com/watch?v=3xAGwYXR-50
*Check out more videos on Will's Channel here* youtube.com/channel/UCDEFYX06AvP54D_F-HHbgkg
*More creative electronics videos here* youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7w4cOVVxL6F_MAwxOJbq73HXdG0OjdXn&si=0z9H-2dlxbxHUMeq
* Subscribe: youtube.com/user/SimonHutc/?sub_confirmation=1
* Official Website - simonhutchinson.com
* bandcamp (lots of free music!): simonhutchinson.bandcamp.com/follow_me
* Sign up for my mailing list: eepurl.com/hVs7bT
* Grab my old gear on Reverb (affiliate link): tidd.ly/48iMpdH
* Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/simonhutchinson
_My voiceover recording gear_ (affiliate links):
Aston Microphones Origin (Reverb): tidd.ly/4aiVSnj
dbx 286s Channel Strip
* Reverb: tidd.ly/4as22Bm
* Perfect Circtuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fdbx-286s.html
(I sometimes provide affiliate links for products that I use and enjoy. If you end up buying something through these external links, it helps to support the channel, while the price for you remains the same.)
#SoundSynthesis #SoundDesign #voltagestarving #circuitbending #creativeelectronics #moog
Talking about voltage starving your audio equipment with friend of the channel Will Klingenmeier (@SpectralEvolver).
I sat down for a virtual chat with Will, who has been doing some interesting experiments voltage starving his Moog DFAM and Subharmonicon. Voltage starving is when you intentionally deprive a circuit or device of the full voltage it needs to function, simulating a “dying battery”. The sounds you get are probably not what the manufacturer intended, but definitely an aesthetic worth exploring as you look for new sounds.
In this wide-ranging discussion, we talk about circuit-bending, starving stompboxes, and whether or not this is a good idea with your expensive equipment.
0:00 Introduction
0:30 What is "voltage starving"?
1:08 Voltage starving & circuit-bending
1:54 Voltage starving Moog synths
3:46 How to do it
4:33 Is this dangerous to your equipment?
6:07 Thinking about guitar pedals
8:15 Closing thoughts
💬 *Join the Discussion!* Have questions or want to share your own projects? Drop a comment below – I love hearing from you all!
Will's DFAM voltage starve: youtube.com/watch?v=4iENdYQjo4M
Will's Subharmonicon voltage starve: youtube.com/watch?v=3xAGwYXR-50
*Check out more videos on Will's Channel here* youtube.com/channel/UCDEFYX06AvP54D_F-HHbgkg
*More creative electronics videos here* youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7w4cOVVxL6F_MAwxOJbq73HXdG0OjdXn&si=0z9H-2dlxbxHUMeq
* Subscribe: youtube.com/user/SimonHutc/?sub_confirmation=1
* Official Website - simonhutchinson.com
* bandcamp (lots of free music!): simonhutchinson.bandcamp.com/follow_me
* Sign up for my mailing list: eepurl.com/hVs7bT
* Grab my old gear on Reverb (affiliate link): tidd.ly/48iMpdH
* Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/simonhutchinson
_My voiceover recording gear_ (affiliate links):
Aston Microphones Origin (Reverb): tidd.ly/4aiVSnj
dbx 286s Channel Strip
* Reverb: tidd.ly/4as22Bm
* Perfect Circtuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fdbx-286s.html
(I sometimes provide affiliate links for products that I use and enjoy. If you end up buying something through these external links, it helps to support the channel, while the price for you remains the same.)
#SoundSynthesis #SoundDesign #voltagestarving #circuitbending #creativeelectronics #moog
