This synthesiser project has prompted me to learn about the innerworkings of transistors; they are fascinating devices, and underpin my learning about opamps. I feel as though I am encroaching on the base elements of electronics: the BJT transistors that I have bought and have been researching are constructed of a sandwitch of silicon, either PNP or NPN. The P or the N refer to silicon that has been ‘doped’ with other elements that with will result in it having more free electrons (P) or less (N). Silicon is a semiconductor; this means that it can conduct electricity under specific conditions. For example, if silicon is heated to glow red hot, it will conduct electricity. The NPN or PNP transistor relies on a concept of electrons and holes, which is still sliiightly out of my grasp, but the notion that I am dealing with elements (perhaps alloys, if they are doped?) rather than contrived, human-made devices is immensely exciting! The sheer simplicity of the devices that I am manipulating is encouraging to me: I feel as though I am dealing with very natural forces, not operating within systems that have been constructed for my benifit. The idea of learning a coding language, for example, is at complete odds with this thought process: the things learnt within that language might be entirely obsolete within the next 30 years, but silicon will not be obsolete so long as we have electricity. This is a seemingly illogical thought process, but is rooted in themes of DIY culture and (once again) in the childlike delight in asking ‘why??’ time and time again.

BJT transistors function as a VCA, with only a few additional components. This has been a hugely impactful discovery withim my electronics journey and has opened up a vast world ahead of me. The scan of my notebook below details the breaking-down of a very simple transistor based VCA circuit, and I am already invisioning the voltage control that I can exert over existing circuits that are on my breadboard as I write. All of the writings and drawings below were scribed whilst working at my breadboard; making changes to the circuit, writing down the effects, changing only one thing at a time so as to respect the scientific method which will enable the most efficient gathering of knowledge. I really do feel as though a new world has opened up infront of me.