Using a Hex Schmidt Trigger (HST), this week I create a very simple analog circuit to produce square waves, which when hooked up to a speaker, produces an audible sound. The first iteration creates a square wave by hooking up the HST directly to the speaker.
The 2nd iteration uses a potentiometer to change the frequency of the square wave. In this version, if I turn the knob all the way up, the HST produces a pitch that is too high for the human ear. It would also drain my 9V battery much quicker than I'd want to.
The 3rd iteration uses a 10k resistor between the potentiometer and the HST. This controls the amount of current that goes through the circuits, essentially lowering the maximum pitch of the potentiometer to one that is audible by the human ear.
I then hooked the HST up to my computer (amplified by the speakers) and recorded this sound:
We're going to use this in class tomorrow to mix into our composition from last week, and add some effects!