I've been researching how to make the "Atari Punk Console" and it comes from this book "Timer, Op Amp & Optoelectronic Circuits & Projects (Engineer's Mini Notebook)" by Forrest M Mims. This book is actually a combination of several of his books.
What is an Atari Punk Console?
The Atari Punk Console (commonly shortened to APC) is a popular circuit that utilizes two 555 timer ICs or a single 556 dual timer IC. The original circuit, called a "Stepped Tone Generator", was published in a Radio Shack booklet: "Engineer's Notebook: Integrated Circuit Applications" in 1980 and then in "Engineer's Mini-Notebook - 555 Circuits" by its designer, Forrest M. Mims III (Siliconcepts, 1984). It was named "Atari Punk Console" (APC) by Kaustic Machines crew because its "low-fi" sounds resemble classic Atari console games from the 1980s, with a square wave output similar to the Atari 2600. Kaustic Machines added a -4db line level output to the circuit which was originally designed to drive a small 8 ohm speaker.
Atari Punk console is an astable square wave oscillator driving a monostable oscillator that creates a single (square) pulse. There are two controls, one for the frequency of the oscillator and one to control the width of the pulse. The controls are usually potentiometers but the circuit can also be controlled by light, temperature, pressure etc. by replacing a potentiometer with a suitable sensor (e.g., photo resistor for light sensitivity). Most of the time there is also a power switch (often a toggle switch) and a volume knob.
The circuit is a simple DIY noisemaker circuit that is relatively inexpensive and easy to build, easily adaptable and has been configurable in many ways. It has been built into a wide variety of cases, from metal IKEA bowls to light bulbs, an old Atari mouse or joystick. Its flexibility has led to wide scale popularity among electronics enthusiasts. It is often suggested as a good circuit to build for beginners.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Punk_Console
I also went looking for his Toy Organ kit and all the plans refer to his "Engineer's Mini Notebook, Volume 1: Timer, Op Amp & Optoelectronic Circuits & Projects." and I can't really find that book because the searches point to the above book.
Forrest M Mims III: Toy Organ Kit
The Toy Organ project is a music maker based on a simple 555 timer circuit from Forrest's well known Engineer's Mini Notebook, Volume 1: Timer, Op Amp & Optoelectronic Circuits & Projects. With the addition of a resistor, some capacitors and some buttons, you can generate several different tones. Add on a couple potentiometers and you can control the volume and the pitch of a note. Even more, when you press several buttons at the same time, another unique tone is generated. Visit the Jameco Workshop page for complete instructions.
