Dreamweaver 4N Jr Tutorial
Beep boop bloop beep! Who doesn't love audio synthesizers? This month's kit is a smaller version of our popular Dreamweaver 4N!
First, you should refresh yourself on soldering safety!
WARNING: SOLDERING IRONS ARE HOT. SOLDERING IRONS ARE NOT TOYS. ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHILE USING A SOLDERING IRON.
Potentiometers → Potentiometers are variable resistors. These are rated at 10k ohm, so when they are dialed one way, you will see 0 ohm, and when rotated the other direction fully, you will see 10k ohm. We use these to vary the signal for processing audio.
Speaker → Speakers convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. A current is sent through the voice coil which produces an electric field that interacts with an existing magnetic field of a magnet attached to the speaker. This gives the motion which produces audio.
Preparation
Count all of your parts and verify everything is in your kit.
Step 1
Locate the 100 ohm resistor. Bend the leads and install into the location marked 100 ohms near the IC socket area.
Step 2
Take the (12) 1k resistors and install them into locations: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13.
Step 3
Locate the Green Inductor. This will install just below the text 4N Jr on the PCB, to the left of the IC socket, labeled L1
Step 4
The two small 0.1uf capacitors will install next, into locations C1 and C2.
Step 5
Find the 5V regulator (7805) and location the U2 location on the PCB. You will need to bend the pins right between where they go from thick to thin. Bend to 90 degrees down and install so that the metal back of the component is touching the PCB. Try to align the hole in the top of the 7805 with the hole in the PCB.
Step 6
Insert the five momentary buttons into locations SW1, SW2, SW3, SW5, SW5.
Step 7
Five RED LEDs will be installed into D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. Be sure to align the longer leg of the LED to the (+) hole, also marked with a longer line to help make sure you do not install backwards. If installed backwards, the LEDs will not light up.
Step 8
Install the slide switch into location SW6. Orientation does not matter.
Step 9
Find the IC socket, and position it with the notch pointed TOWARDS the LEDs. Make sure this notch lines up with the silkscreen on the PCB. This installs at location U1. Solder 1 pin first, and verify alignment looks good before moving on to the rest.
Step 10
Speaker goes on next. Be sure to align the (+) pin on the speaker to the (+) marked hole on the board.
Step 11
The potentiometers will only install one way. The larger pins are tight to help keep them aligned and mounted onto the PCB securely. You may need to push hard to get them into the holes, but they will snap in. We recommend installing all 6 and then flip over to solder.
Step 12
Battery wire lead goes next. Your choice to either solder the wires from the top or the bottom of the PCB. Be sure to align the RED WIRE with the (+) pad, and the BLACK WIRE with the (-) pad.
Step 13
Install the ATMEGA328P IC. You may need to lightly bend the legs inward to align with the socket. BE SURE TO MATCH THE NOTCH WITH THE SOCKET and PCB. Installing this backwards will damage the IC. Before pressing completely in, be sure to visually check all of the pins and make sure they are each going into the socket correctly. Any pins not going into the matching pins on the socket can affect how this kit works. Plug the battery in and turn it on at the SW6 switch and start creating some music! Press a button to turn on an audio channel, and press it again to turn it back off. Adjust the potentiometers to adjust the audio of that channel. Have fun, and thanks for enjoying our kits!
