Electronics Projects San Francisco

# Analog Electronics for Guitar Pedals ## Session 1: Breadboarding the Transistor Amplifier Ever wondered how a guitar pedal actually works? At the heart of most fuzz and boost pedals is a humble transistor doing something elegant: amplifying your signal. The **common emitter amplifier** is one of the most important circuits in analog electronics — and once you understand it, you'll see it everywhere. The Big Muff Pi is a chain of common emitter stages. The Electra Fuzz is built around a single one. Joe Davisson's Vulcan Overdrive uses the topology as its foundation. In this session we'll build one from scratch on a breadboard and learn exactly how it works. We'll cover: * **Ohm's Law** — the foundation of everything * **Resistor dividers** — how to set voltages * **Biasing a transistor** — how to wake it up and make it work * **Building a common emitter amp on a breadboard** — see and hear it in action No prior electronics experience required. Bring your curiosity. Breadboards, components, and multimeters available to share. Already working on a pedal project? Bring it along! This is an open, collaborative space — you're welcome to work on your own build, ask questions, and share what you're making. This is Session 1 of a three-part series. Session 2 will take what we build here and turn it into a real prototype, and Session 3 will explore the op-amp.

6 attendees

Open House / Open Build / Open Repair Projects Workshop

Sat, Apr 18, 1:30 AM

From Circuit Launch

4.8

Our monthly Circuit Launch Oakland "Open House" evening for everyone, fun for the whole family! Join us every third Friday evening of the month: **○ Robot, AI and Electronics Projects:** Start a project, continue a project or discover one here: we provide the space, tools and peer learning – you bring your project and enthusiasm! **○ Repair Projects:** Fixit Clinic's monthly residency at Circuit Launch: bring your repair projects – electronic gadgets, appliances, computers, toys, etc.– for consultation, assessment, disassembly, and possible repair. We’ll provide workspace, specialty tools, and guidance to help you disassemble and troubleshoot your item. First-time repairers and “Fixing Families” are heartily invited. Learn more at [https://www.fixitclinic.org/](https://www.fixitclinic.org/) **○ Tech Topic Discussions and Practice:** join the AI thought leadership practise group for lively conversation: Come share your knowledge -- or your lack thereof: all experience levels welcome. It's definitely worth a visit if you've never been here: tour Circuit Launch and see all the exciting companies and projects in progress. – U18s heartily welcome with a participating adult. – Equipment use outside of the soldering and debugging gear requires certification. Looking forward to seeing you this third Friday!

8 attendees

Turn a Knob to Control Piano Sounds (ESP32 Beginner Project)

Tue, Apr 14, 2:00 AM

From Willard Park Yoga Collective

In this beginner-friendly class, you’ll learn how to use an **ESP32**, a **knob (adjustable resistor)**, and a **passive buzzer** to create simple piano sounds. As you turn the knob, you’ll hear the notes change speed—just like speeding up or slowing down a song! Along the way, you’ll get hands-on experience reading analog input and using it to control sound. No prior experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to build something fun. **If you have a laptop, please bring it — but come anyway if you don’t!** Activity notes (pdf) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RFoET0a_QjvNODCkcKKt8oygCEwEYLFA/view?usp=drive_link

15 attendees

Lunchtime Yoga in the Park: Willard Park Yoga Collective

Thu, Apr 23, 7:30 PM

4.9

Join the Willard Park Yoga Collective every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday at Willard Park in Berkeley! Friday online! Integrated Hatha Flow classes are based on classical Hatha, mixed with the specializations of each teacher. We flow thoughtfully through poses taking time to notice the nuances, and match movement with breath. Chrissy, Carmen, and Jess integrate somatic modalities and the eight limbs into the yoga practice to increase body and breath awareness, and regulate the nervous system. Finding all of this in the present moment, we aim to foster agency, gratitude, peace, and joy. Teaching outside further deepens the practice by connecting to Nature and the elements. All levels are welcome and will be accommodated, judgement free. *"We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness"* **Thich Nhat Hanh** \*We work on a donation-basis, making yoga more accessible to all. Come as you are, pay what you can. Your teachers: Mondays 12:30pm Jess Tuesdays 12:30pm Carmen Wednesdays 12:30pm Chrissy Thursdays 12:30pm Carmen Fridays 5:30pm Chrissy (Online in the late fall-winter. Got to event for link) Sundays 10:00am Chrissy **Meet Chrissy:** Chrissy is a 500HR-RYT, Yoga Therapist, and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist. She came to teaching yoga with a 25+ year personal practice in vinyasa and kundalini, and training in modern dance, music, and theater. She also holds certification in ECE(12unit) and Social/Emotional Learning Facilitation. Her classes are integrated Hatha flow, influenced deeply by yoga philosophy and functional strength. With an emphasis on breath and accessing the present moment, she delights in walking the line between play and prayer. Chrissy strives to honor the origins of yoga while making it accessible to every body. She acknowledges her position as white, able-bodied, and cisgendered, aiming to be inclusive and trauma informed. Her classes are donation based with no one turned away for lack of funds. Private clients are sliding scale. In lieu of a studio, Chrissy teaches on line and outside in parks on the sovereign land of the Lisjan Ohlone. *Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu* May all beings be happy, healthy, and free. May we contribute to that. [https://chrissyyoga.com/](https://chrissyyoga.com/#home) **Meet Jess:** Jess is an artist and an athlete. At the beginning of her ceramics trajectory, working as a studio tech at a college clay studio, she realized she needed to be strong to load kilns and make large batches of clay. The physicality of her art became a driving reason to care for her body and its functional strength and mobility. Strength, agility, balance, flexibility and injury prevention (and recovery) were all things she found her personal yoga practice improved. In 2015 she became a certified 200 HR-RYT through Core Power and in 2021 she received a second 200 HR-RYT from Purusha Yoga. Jess guides a vinyasa flow based practice, with an emphasis on linking breath to movement and being in the present during practice. Jess teaches yoga in Willard Park and on the SF Bay on stand up paddle boards. She owns her own stand up paddleboard company, 510-Waterline, in Richmond, CA. [https://www.510waterline.com/](https://www.510waterline.com/). And she currently makes pots at her home studio in Berkeley, CA. teaches adult ceramic classes, workshops and has exhibited her work internationally. What she says in her artist statement about her pots also applies to her yoga practice “Strength lies in the fluidity of opposites – of line and mass, contraction and relaxation, tension and softness, push and pull. Ultimately, I want my pots to be graceful, elegant, and straightforward. It’s all about strength and beauty.”[ https://www.jesspots.com/](https://www.jesspots.com/) **Meet Carmen:** Carmen has long believed in the body's innate wisdom and capacity for resilience. In her work as a Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner she helps this wisdom to emerge and transform. She completed her 500 hour (RYT) Yoga Therapy training at Purusha Yoga in San Francisco, a three-year professional Somatic Experiencing® training at Somatic Experiencing International®, is a certified Veterans Yoga Project teacher, as well as a trained wellness coach with the Kresser Institute. Carmen is currently teaching group yoga classes and offering private integrative somatic therapy and somatic wellness coaching sessions. Her mission as a yoga teacher is to create a safe and supportive environment for her students to explore the eight limbs of Raja Yoga, while cultivating resiliency and a deeper connection to self. Carmen also co-facilitates wellness retreats, and works individually with clients offering integrated somatic therapy sessions. [https://carmencasado.com/](https://carmencasado.com/)

2 attendees

The Happy Little Arduino Spin Machine (CHM)

Tue, Apr 21, 2:00 AM

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll build your own **motor-powered spin art machine** using an Arduino—no experience required. At the heart of it all is a **DC motor**—your tiny but powerful artist. You’ll wire it up, control its speed, and watch as simple code transforms motion into mesmerizing patterns. Turn a knob, tweak the speed, and see how different rotations create completely unique designs. This isn’t about perfection—it’s about **controlled chaos**. A drop of paint, a burst of speed, and suddenly you’ve got something surprisingly beautiful. By the end, you’ll: * Understand the basics of controlling a motor with Arduino * Adjust speed in real time to shape your art * Create your own one-of-a-kind spin paintings * Walk away thinking, *“Okay… I can actually do electronics.”* Expect a little mess, a lot of laughs, and a machine that turns code into creativity. **If you have a laptop, please bring it — but come anyway if you don’t!**

2 attendees

Resident Electronics Monthly meetup!

Fri, Apr 24, 3:00 AM

A recurring electronic music open mic. * **Every 4th Thursday of the month at 8pm** * **INSTAGRAM:** [https://www.instagram.com/resident_electronicmonthly/](https://www.instagram.com/resident_electronicmonthly/) * **YOUTUBE:** [Playlist and upcoming live](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR85h2qnyy8Aubv2FvK-H9zL1fGhPbFxR) * **FREE** **Hosts** * [Franck Martin](https://www.peachymango.org/) * [TanukiSpiderCat](https://tanukispidercat.com/) **Sign up / further info at**: [https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Resident_Electronic_Music](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Resident_Electronic_Music)

5 Minutes of Fame!

Fri, Apr 17, 3:00 AM

Happening in the space Let's share all of the cool things we've working on! 5MoF, or 5 Minutes of Fame, is where hackers get the opportunity to present what they've been working on to an audience of fellow hackers and curious, awesome people. With enough people, we generally let everyone get to speak, but given we can talk about our things forever, there will definitely be an after-hours hangout sesh. No need to bring a project, just come and get inspired!

Woodworking Wednesdays

Thu, Apr 16, 1:00 AM

Come to work on your own projects and learn how to use our tools. We have a planer, drill presses, hand tools, a table saw, and much more!

3 attendees

Music Writing Group

Sun, Apr 19, 11:00 PM

If you write music or want to start, come to Noisebridge and meet others doing the same. Connect, collaborate, and get creative feedback. If you’re stuck or dealing with writer’s block, swing by for inspiration and to learn from others. We’ll occasionally have short presentations on music topics, and we’ll wrap up each session with some chatting or a casual jam. In this group, we’ll take turns sharing the music we’ve been working on recently. If you choose to receive feedback, members will offer constructive comments and critiques. Each person can share one piece per session. If time allows, we’ll give everyone a chance to share additional work or ideas :)

All things software infrastructure

Tue, Apr 14, 2:00 AM

Bring a laptop if you can. Meeting format: * Introductions. Background & goals/interests for the meeting. * Lesson or Demo * Questions & Discussion * Readings & Exercises, for future meetings Find [past notes & more information online](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Meetups/Infra). Find us also in #meetup-infra of [Noisebridge's Discord server](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Discord#Join_our_Discord).

4 attendees

Gamebridge Game Development Meetup

Thu, Apr 16, 2:00 AM

THE MEETUP IS HAPPENING IN PERSON AND ONLINE VIA STREAMING ON OUR DISCORD SERVER. (https://discord.gg/R9GkDjk) IN THE "Church Classroom" CHANNEL. Learn to make games, music and art in free beginner-friendly class meetups with tutorials! (https://gamebridgeu.wordpress.com/tutorials) and projects (https://gamebridgeu.wordpress.com/projects). WHEN: 7-9ish PM PST Wednesdays WHERE: Noisebridge Hackerspace, (https://noisebridge.net) 272 Capp St, San Francisco, CA 94110 WE ARE IN THE DISCORD!! ^__^ https://discord.gg/R9GkDjk • Noisebridge Hackerspace Meeting (https://noisebridge.net/meeting): 7-7:30pm every Tuesday. meet Noisebridge members & participate in the broader community! • What to bring: a laptop, Unity, Unreal, Godot, or any game engine of choice, game, art and music tools!(http://gamebridgeu.wordpress.com/resources). .

Laser Cutter Safety Training

Sun, Apr 26, 9:00 PM

Learn how to be safe while using the laser cutter! We have a 150W, CO2 laser cutter with a 3 x 4 ft bed. This training is required to use the laser cutter because we don't want people setting our most expensive equipment donation on fire. You have to do this training even if you were trained at the old space, as we have different safety features now. Training covers * Dangers of the laser cutter * How to be safe * How to put out a fire Each participant will cut a piece of cardboard on the laser cutter while following all the safety steps. This is also a good place to ask questions about specific materials or projects. There is a 5$ fee to register, and we suggest a 20-30$ donation for this class: https://donate.noisebridge.net. If the registration fee is a barrier to your participation, please reach out to the event organisers.

4 attendees

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