2025 Year in Review
Time for a reckoning. After discovering this little corner of the universe a couple of years ago and getting some of the basics in place in 2024, I set a goal for 2025 to build a new module every two months. I figured that this would get me to the point where I had the core of a basic synth: VCO, envelope, VCA, VCF, and maybe couple of extras. Results and stats below the fold.
Modules
Looking back, there were a lot of (sometimes pleasant) detours, but in the end
| Module | Revisions | PCB | Faceplate | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer+ | 2 | v1.2 | Y | |
| Noise | 2 | v1.2 | Y | |
| ProtoPower | 3 | v1.2 | N | MX breakout, current sense |
| Sample and Hold | 1 | v1.0 | Y | |
| Low Pass Gate | 1 | v1.1 | Y | |
| VCA | 1 | v1.1 | Y | |
| Gate Delay | 2 | v2.0 | Y | ATTiny programming |
| ADSR EG | 2 | v2.0 | Y | |
| Sequencer | 1 | v2.0 | N | Keypad risers |
| State Variable Filter | 1 | v1.0 | N |
While the first few had their origins in 2024, the rest came along in 2025. I accomplished my goal and I have the core of the synth in place now.
Supplies and Costs
One thing about this experience that still amazes me is how accessible parts and production services are now. My three main suppliers are JLCPCB, DigiKey, and AliExpress:
| Supplier | Key Parts | Order Count |
|---|---|---|
| JLCPCB | PCBs, faceplates | 27 |
| DigiKey | ICs, discretes | 10 |
| AliExpress | knobs, jacks, pots, switches, headers, etc. | 28 |
That works out to more than an order each week! If I break it down by cost, the largest slice goes to DigiKey (the majority of those components are still sitting in the various drawers on my workbench).
In the end, I built 14 modules this year, so the "development cost" per module works out to be just over $100 CAD. On a per module basis, the averages work out to (all $CAD, including shipping)
| Component | Avg. Cost |
|---|---|
| PCB | $1.80 |
| Faceplate | $2.05 |
| BOM | 8-18 |
The BOM cost depends a fair bit on the design: a pot+knob pair averages out to about $1 ea., ICs are about $1, front panel switches are about $1.50, and the base cost of discretes is around $4 (again, all $CAD, shipping included). Keep in mind that these are all in small batch quantities and this is only important to answer "how much do I budget for my hobby this year?" The real cost is time.
Outlook
2025 was a productive year. What's next for 2026? I don't plan to build as many new modules, but would like to finish the sequencer and make a song. This last one is probably the most important: figure out how to use the thing I've built! There are a couple of areas I'd like to explore as well,
- effects (ring modulator, distortion, wavefolding, ...)
- percussive sounds (try to catch up with Moritz Klein's drum modules!)
Any requests?