CHA/V 3.0 is the most recent DIY PCB version of the cheap, hacky, audiovisual synthesizer, based on Jonas Bers’ tutorial “How to Make a Crap Video Synth for $10”, which was included in the essential Handmade Electronic Music (3rd Edition) by Nicolas Collins.

VGA devices have a surprisingly tolerant window for accepting signals that are nowhere near the “required” specifications. CHA/V devices gleefully hurl garbage into that window. This is not a precision instrument. This is an inexpensive and convenient way to experiment with VGA hacking and video synthesis basics.

(v2.0 shown in video)

Updates from CHA/V 2.0 (2019):

• improved signal routing
• improved component footprints (easier to build)
• expansion header for use with VGA4EVA

In previous versions it was necessary to source a VGA test signal generator and wire it to the CHA/V. This is still an option, but no longer necessary when the CHA/V is built with VGA4EVA.

BUILD GUIDE (including quick-order BOM)

USER GUIDE

Inexpensive PCBs for CHA/V 3.0 and VGA4EVA are available basically as a public service exclusively by Modular Addict (USA) (Jan. 2024)