littleBits Electronics Synth Kit

I just received this and got to putting things together immediately. I love it, I think it's a great idea, but I had a number of issues with the product right off the bat. There doesn't seem to be enough connector cables, first off, to do anything mildly complex, and I feel a push-button would be handy as well for a drum synthesizer (I noticed the lack in the parts list, so I ordered a pressure sensor, which has worked alright. Great for other fun noises, too!). Secondly, the magnets don't hold together quite as well as one would hope, so occasionally, pressing on a key or turning a knob makes loud noises in the speakers as the connection breaks. Lastly, the octave selector on my keyboard has a bad connection somewhere, so it's always at the lowest octave (maximum resistance) unless I push on the variable resistor just right. Unfortunately, this being the main HMI in the package, it handicaps the kit rather severely. I'd love to be able to recommend the kit, but due to the issue with the magnets, I feel I can't. Great for learning, but frustrating if you want to have a working project in the end. The broken part was a huge letdown, too. UPDATE: There are mounting boards available that I was unaware of, so if you have an issue with your project coming apart too easily, a solution exists. Also, the customer service was very helpful. Getting the defective part replaced was quick and painless to say the least. I'd still recommend getting extra connectors and some sort of push button along with this product, but it seems the remainder of my gripes have been addressed. Very likely to pick up a few additional pieces.

Great! Powerful little synth and teaching tool. On the speaker/sound out module the 1/8th inch audio out seems poorly soldered and cuts in and out. One of the keys on the keyboard module is not working. Great price, great product, poor build or inspecting. Is that why it was on sale (shady)?

I just love this super-simple modular kit. I'm a musician and analog synth enthusiast, so this is more than just a great toy to me. I've been making some awesome little sounds come out of this kit. It has everything you need to get started with some cool sounds. It's easy to use, takes all the guess work out of connections by using magnets and fits-only-one-way connectors. It comes with all the synth essentials: 2 oscillators, filter, envelope, delay, keyboard, sequencer, mixer, noise, speaker with headphone jack (which silences the speaker output that you can also just detach). The included manual provides a good primer for theory and history of analog synths, as well as a bunch of project ideas and easy-to-follow illustrations of suggested configurations. You'll definitely want to have some free table/desk space to layout your setup, everything stays connected on flat even surfaces, but quickly pulls apart on uneven surfaces. I recommend picking up a precision screwdriver kit from the bargain bin at the hardware store for manipulating the various knobs that are close to the board -- although the tall pot knobs are easy to handle, some of the knobs that sit closer to the board are tight and hard to turn without an extension of some kind. I think beginners/kids would like this kit, but it also holds up to regular analog synth users.

When I bought this as a gift for Christmas, it turned out one of the pieces wasn't working correctly. I requested a return and Amazon quickly sent another kit, all with working pieces. It's a great product and fun for kids and adults who like making music, or just like to annoy the rest of their family. The headphone function is definitely a great feature!

Got pretty bored of it after an hour or so of use. I think the idea is great but this is more of an expensive toy rather than an cheap synth. I am pretty familiar with synthesis and sound design being a hobby music producer. For what you get this is pretty expensive, for the sake of building it yourself I guess the price is justified. I think they should improve the sequencer a bit, I was hoping for a loop option to actually create some music instead of endlessly warping sounds. I did successfully create a a snare, kick, hat, most of the signature dubstep womps screetches jikes ect, and few different arps as well as sweeps and sfx. I am going to give this to my nieces (3,5, and 7) so they can hopefully grasp an idea of analog before it is forgotten.

Purchased the kit as a Christmas present for one of my daughters. Even the basic circuit with an oscillator doesn't work. Checked that the random (white) noise generator works fine in the same configuration. Used my portable oscilloscope on both oscillators... No output whatsoever. For a basic collection of electronic components neatly packaged into a kid-friendly kit this is bit of a disappointment. So much for educational value. Contacted the manufacturer, will see if this can be resolved... Hopefully quick enough. Will update my review when/if I get response from the manufacturer. EDIT: Customer service responded very quickly. After some back and forth around troubleshooting the problem the power supply was deemed defective (one of the connector pins is not making a good contact with attached components). The replacement is in the mail.

This product is seriously cool. So quick and easy to swap around the modules - actually easier than the typical method of using phono cords and jacking them in and out of modules. Great way to teach or learn about analog sound synthesis. Could make an excellent hands-on introduction to analog synths for the purpose of extending this knowledge to a wider platform, such as customizing instruments in Propellerhead's Reason music software. You can slap the keyboard into an oscillator, snap on the speakers, and (with the power module too) you've got music. Want a more complex sound, just snap another oscillator between the first one and the speaker. And maybe the filter. Want a sound that fades up, or attacks like a piano key? Add the envelope. You don't even need to know what any of them do, because the accompanying guide book starts with basic projects and builds up. With some quick explanations, but honestly just putting them together gives you a pretty good idea what they do (though I must admit to having prior experience). The only real point of dissatisfaction is that the keyboard is both very basic/klunky (due to having just normal button switches, not "keys" per se), and very short in range. Even reaching like half an octave more could make a difference. Also, some modules (like the filter) seem to get into a funky state from however it was previously used, and connecting to briefly to the trigger rather than the input seems to clear that up. It's amazing how fast you can get started, and how quickly you can alter your chain of modules (soooo quick...). I bought it as a Christmas gift for kids, but I was the first to start playing with it. Then the kids saw how cool and easy it was, and excitedly took over :D

I'm jealous - they didn't have toys like this when I was a kid! This is a lot of fun. After 20 minutes of use I'd come up with some very interesting sounds and noise patterns, which I plan on recording and multi tracking, as well as using it as a source for my sampler. Rubbing the bottom of some of the bits creates some interesting variations, and because it's all powered with a 9-volt battery, you won't get electrocuted (always a good selling point.) The one minor issue is that after adding or removing one of the bits, you may need to give your creation a little jiggling to get the thing re-connected. This could be addicting and may lead me to crave another kit for more oscillators, filters, delays, etc...