Projects / Capacitive Touch Synth
Capacitive Touch Synth
Build a birch-panel touch synthesizer: copper-foil or bare-pad capacitive sensing on a laser-cut 3mm birch faceplate drives tones from an Arduino (or a classic 555 touch path). Touch the pad—change the field—hear the frequency.
$9 Circuits
Digital guide + cut files + BOM + code · Parts sourced separately · Ages 8–14 with adult help
Sensing8 capacitive pads (RC timing)
Structure3mm birch faceplate
Outputtone() / piezo
Optional555 analog path
Build time3–5 hours
Skill levelIntermediate
Pack contents
- Faceplate, back tray, pad outline SVGs
- Cut → pads → sense → tones guide
- First-principles: capacitance, RC sense, pitch
- 8-pad CapacitiveSensor firmware (C4–C5) + optional 555 notes
- Verified BOM (~$21–56 hardware)
Typical hardware cost
Default structure is laser-cut birch plywood with real fasteners and hobby electronics you can source—honest BOM, not mystery modules.
- ~$21–56 in typical parts (makerspace cut toward the low end; mail-order toward the high end)
- Digital pack price ≠ hardware
The $9 pack is the digital guide + cut files + BOM + lessons + code, plus printable Builder's Corner build journal pages. Hardware is sourced separately — see Where to get kit materials. Buy with Stripe is live below.
Questions? Email us at lance.haney@gmail.com.
Pricing
- Home / Personal license $9
- Classroom license $35 — 1 teacher, up to 30 studentsOne $35 Classroom license covers one group of up to 30 students. Each additional group needs another license.
- Build materials available at cost + 10% — email for a quote
Learning outcomes
- Explain C = εA/d and finger capacitance change
- Read touch via RC charge timing and choose the sense resistor
- Map pad index → note frequencies
- Threshold-tune without false triggers