Drop-in hours for members of any tier to drop by the library every Thursday 4-7 pm, no RSVP needed!

If you’ve never been to the library before and want to check it out, feel free to stop by at this time. Check in with our facilitators when you arrive and we’ll introduce you to the space.

Thursday, December 18th, 2025
(Recurs every Thursday at the same time)
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free

Learn the fundamentals of modular synthesis in this beginner workshop with no prior knowledge necessary. Hands-on instruction puts concepts into practice. Open to all.

Sunday, December 14th, 2025
3 pm - 6 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

This workshop provides an introduction to the principles, history, and practice of granular synthesis, a method of sound generation and transformation based on the manipulation of very short audio fragments, or “grains.” Participants will trace the development of granular concepts from early musique concrète and electroacoustic works through to modern digital and modular implementations.

The session will combine theoretical discussion with practical demonstration. Topics include the origins of the sound-particle concept in the work of Dennis Gabor, the evolution of grain-based composition, and the implementation of granular techniques in both software and hardware. Participants will explore granular synthesis with free software tools as well as modular hardware including the Mutable Instruments Clouds, and Intellijel Multigrain, applying these systems to create evolving textures, time-stretched transformations, and complex soundscapes.

Instructor: Stuart Frederich-Smith

Saturday, December 13th 2025
1 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
(This is an intermediate level class but no prior technical background or experience is required. Beginners are absolutely welcome!)

$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

Drop-in hours for members of any tier to drop by the library every Thursday 4-7 pm, no RSVP needed!

If you’ve never been to the library before and want to check it out, feel free to stop by at this time. Check in with our facilitators when you arrive and we’ll introduce you to the space.

Thursday, December 11th, 2025
(Recurs every Thursday at the same time)
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free

Have you wanted to get more involved with the library but didn’t know where to start?
This in-person onboarding seminar will get you up to speed about the many types of work that helps run and grow our organization.
We’ll cover in detail how to facilitate our lending program, host or assist workshops, manage event logistics, and many more behind-the-scenes administrative tasks inherent to non-profits.

Click Here to Sign Up

Wednesday, December 10th, 2025
5:30pm - 7:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
RSVP Required

NOTE: We ask those wishing to attend to first attend the library’s new member orientation if they have not already done so.

The mixer channels are open—bring some gear and share your sounds, or just come to see what happens. This monthly gathering is for electronic musicians of all experience levels to connect, experiment, and share with the community. Our goal is to lower the barrier to entry and bridge the gap between performer and audience. It's perfect for new musicians or experienced musicians looking to simply try out new material and techniques in a low-stakes environment.

Sunday, December 7th, 2025
3:30 pm - 6 pm
Performance slot signup at 3:30 pm, Music starts at 4 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(Performance slots are determined on site on a first come, first served basis. RSVP encouraged to receive an email reminder about the event but does not reserve a performance time slot.)

During this time the library will be open for all to explore our collection of gear and meet our facilitators! It’s also a great chance to learn more about member perks like our lending program, drop-in hours, and studio hours.

Saturday, December 6th, 2025
(Recurs every 4 weeks)
3 pm - 6 pm
(Come at any time, or stay the whole time!)
Starting one hour later than our normal open house time
Video Mixer event will end immediately prior - come to both!
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

Join us for a video art and visual synthesis workshop and meetup at the Synth Library! Whether you're into software, hardware, flatscreens, CRTs, raster or vector, euro, lasers, VHS, LZX or anything else that makes light wiggle - we're into it!

We'll have several CRT monitors set up, and anyone is welcome to bring their rigs or play around on the various stations of gear we'll have set up there already.

Open Projector: Attendees are encouraged to share their own video art works during the open projector portion. We can play VHS, DVD, or most digital formats from SD card. Pieces should be under five minutes long. Attendees are encouraged to share their own video art works during the open projector portion. We can play VHS, DVD, or most digital formats from SD card. Pieces should be under five minutes long.

There will be a small gear swap table at the space to buy/sell/trade your video gear.

Saturday, December 6th, 2025
12 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$0-$20 sliding scale
(Tickets/RSVP are required to attend. No one is turned away for lack of funds.)

Drop-in hours for members of any tier to drop by the library every Thursday 4-7 pm, no RSVP needed!

If you’ve never been to the library before and want to check it out, feel free to stop by at this time. Check in with our facilitators when you arrive and we’ll introduce you to the space.

Thursday, December 4th, 2025
(Recurs every Thursday at the same time)
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

All women and non-binary folks are welcome to join us for a monthly event series that encourages learning together, jam together, and connect with other artists in the area. We want to create a welcoming environment to help grow our community of electronic musicians for all femmes and enbies regardless of skill level or experience.

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025
(Recurs every first Wednesday of the month)
5:30 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore circuit bending, the experimental process of modifying audio circuits to create new and unexpected sounds. The Speak & Spell series of educational toys, launched by Texas Instruments in 1978, has been a popular target for benders, and can spew out a variety of metallic glitch noises along with altered synthesis of human speech. This workshop is the 7th installment of Get Bent!, a series of circuit bending workshops initiated in 2007.

Each attendee will receive an original vintage Speak & Spell, Speak & Math, or Speak & Read to bend and take home. The workshop is open to all skill levels including beginners, but previous experience with soldering is helpful. We will provide guidance on "classic" bends suggested by Reed Ghazala (credited with coining the term circuit bending) and others, but please note that the bending process does have some inherent risk of damaging the Speak & Spell's audio circuit in ways that are not desirable. We will also supply switches and potentiometers for implementing bends.

Disclaimers:
- Attendees may also bring their own Speak & Spell to bend, but please note that old ('70s/'80s) devices are far easier to bend than modern reissues.
- Instruments supplied for bending may be missing some of their pushbuttons, have dim displays, or cosmetic wear and tear. If you prefer a pristine unit, please purchase one separately on eBay before the workshop.

Sunday, November 30th, 2025
12 pm - 4 pm
(Your bend duration may not last this whole time depending on your project goals and DIY experience)
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
Beginners welcome, we can provide tools and teach you how to solder!
Total class size is limited to six, and tickets must be purchased in advance.

$50, Includes materials cost.

Our biggest event of the year!
Do Not Miss It!
Bring Friends!

We’ll have a curated lineup of great performers to come see. Come out to show your support, win raffle prizes, hang out as a community, and raise the funds we need to continue our mission providing access for all.

-

Doors at 5pm featuring:
Ambient Vinyl DJ Bar + Lounge
Interactive Patchable Modular Silent Disco
Glitch Photo Booth
Raffle + Silent Auction
Installations by Cyclop Toad, Mr. Mae, Casual Decay, and Arson Rivvers
and More!

Live Music performances:
~ 6pm ~
Musique Mystique
Solenoid
Spines
Family Trust
Production Unit Xero
~ 9pm ~

Performing Live Visuals All Night:
Matthew Rempes + Madonno Productions

Friday, November 28th 2025
5 pm - 9 pm
@ 1222 Lloyd Center H220 (In the old GAP, where we held VideoSync) [view map]
2nd floor, walk toward ice rink/atrium if coming from Synth Library Portland HQ
All ages

$10-50 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, please show your support for the library!)

Member Drop-In Hours this week is cancelled this date for Thanksgiving.

We’ll be returning to normal on drop-in hours next week, on December 4th, 2025.

[Cancelled] - Thursday, November 27th, 2025 - [Cancelled]
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

All people in recovery are welcome to join us at Synth Library Portland for a monthly event series designed to foster connection, creativity, collaboration, and community among local artists.

We aim to create a supportive and empowering space where people in recovery—however they choose to define it—can grow, express themselves, and build relationships, regardless of experience or skill level. This is an inclusive, welcoming space for all.

While Synth Library Portland is providing the gathering space and sponsoring this free event you do not need to be a member of the library to attend, though we hope you consider joining our diverse crew of creatives.

Tuesday, November 25th, 2025
Repeats same time every last Tuesday of the Month!
5:30 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

Join us as we dive into crafting percussion from scratch! This workshop will introduce how drum sounds are made, both in principle and in practice.

Instructor: Max Jersak

Saturday, November 22nd 2025
1 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
(This is an intermediate level class but beginners are absolutely welcome)

$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

In this brief in-person gathering you can learn about our organization, how to begin checking out gear from our lending program, and how to access all our member resources including weekly drop-in hours, studio hours, and more!


Friday, November 21st, 2025
6 pm - 7 pm
Recurs Every 4 weeks
(Email us if your work schedule prevents attendance)
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Drop-in hours for members of any tier to drop by the library every Thursday 4-7 pm, no RSVP needed!

If you’ve never been to the library before and want to check it out, feel free to stop by at this time. Check in with our facilitators when you arrive and we’ll introduce you to the space.

Thursday, November 20th, 2025
(Recurs every Thursday at the same time)
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free

The workshop describes
- Why MIDI exists at all
- What is happening electrically on a MIDI cable (with demo)
- the basic MIDI IN and MIDI OUT circuits
- what can go wrong with these circuits in a real DIY project
- the Type A and Type B Tip Ring Sleeve (TRS) MIDI connector types
- A DIY TRS to DIN Type A and Type B identifier device (with demo)
- special TRS MIDI issues
- A better MIDI OUT circuit that is protected against Eurorack power supplies and control voltages
- A better MIDI IN circuit that automatically works with Type A or Type B MIDI wiring and is protected against Eurorack power supplies and control voltages
- How to make your own USB Host to MIDI adapter using a Raspberry Pi Pico and the MIDI I/O circuits described above (with demo)
- How to find all of my Raspberry Pi Pico USB MIDI and Bluetooth MIDI projects on GitHub so you can build them yourself

NOTE: While this is a hardware-focused talk, no building/soldering will be done and there is no physical project/device to take home, only knowledge.

Instructor: Paul Kovitz

Sunday, November 16th 2025
1 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free (RSVP required!)

Prepare to plunge your hands into the wax during this 90-minute turntablism-taster! The workshop will cover a quick history of vinyl DJing, turntable and mixer setup, signal flow, and essential gear tips, but then comes the fun part--practical skills: beatmatching, smooth mixing, cueing, cuts, drops, and an introduction to basic scratching. You’ll also pick up fundamental DJ etiquette and best practices—like track selection flow, proper vinyl handling, and monitoring techniques—so you can walk away ready to practice and impress. No prior experience required—just bring your curiosity and your rhythm.

Session A and Session B are identical workshops (two smaller class sizes accommodates hands-on instruction with limited gear)

SESSION B
Saturday, November 15th 2025
3:30 pm - 5 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
(This is an intermediate level class but beginners are absolutely welcome)

$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

Prepare to plunge your hands into the wax during this 90-minute turntablism-taster! The workshop will cover a quick history of vinyl DJing, turntable and mixer setup, signal flow, and essential gear tips, but then comes the fun part--practical skills: beatmatching, smooth mixing, cueing, cuts, drops, and an introduction to basic scratching. You’ll also pick up fundamental DJ etiquette and best practices—like track selection flow, proper vinyl handling, and monitoring techniques—so you can walk away ready to practice and impress. No prior experience required—just bring your curiosity and your rhythm.

Session A and Session B are identical workshops (two smaller class sizes accommodates hands-on instruction with limited gear)

SESSION A
Saturday, November 15th 2025
1 pm - 2:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
(This is an intermediate level class but beginners are absolutely welcome)

$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

Drop-in hours for members of any tier to drop by the library every Thursday 4-7 pm, no RSVP needed!

If you’ve never been to the library before and want to check it out, feel free to stop by at this time. Check in with our facilitators when you arrive and we’ll introduce you to the space.

Thursday, November 13th, 2025
(Recurs every Thursday at the same time)
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free

A Wonderful group jam! Bring your own instruments and play electronic music with fellow community members.

Sunday, November 9th, 2025
3 pm - 5:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP required to attend)

During this time the library will be open for all to explore our collection of gear and meet our facilitators! It’s also a great chance to learn more about member perks like our lending program, drop-in hours, and studio hours.

Saturday, November 8th, 2025
(Recurs every 4 weeks)
2 pm - 5 pm
(Come at any time, or stay the whole time!)
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

Drop-in hours for members of any tier to drop by the library every Thursday 4-7 pm, no RSVP needed!

If you’ve never been to the library before and want to check it out, feel free to stop by at this time. Check in with our facilitators when you arrive and we’ll introduce you to the space.

Thursday, November 6th, 2025
(Recurs every Thursday at the same time)
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

~~~
This month in collaboration with Women In Music's Portland Chapter! We will be hosting four 20 minute show and tell demos from local artists discussing their work and processes, including two from Synth Library Portland. This month we are extending our event from the normal 7pm to an 8pm end time. Note however that the mall technically closes at 7pm so the outer doors to the building may be locked from entry past 7pm, and we will need to leave promptly at 8pm.
~~~

All* are welcome to join us for this monthly event series that encourages learning together, jam together, and connect with other artists in the area We want to create a welcoming environment to help grow our community of electronic musicians for all femmes and enbies regardless of skill level or experience.

Wednesday, November 5th, 2025
(Recurs every first Wednesday of the month)
5:30 pm - 8 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

***Note that Synth Library normally technically only invites attendees who self-identify as women or fall (loosely) under the non-binary umbrella. Because Women In Music welcomes all genders to their events we are (very slightly) altering our policy to accommodate the for this month's meetup.

Welcome all Women, Femmes, and Non-Binary folks! This introductory workshop teaches the fundamentals of modular synthesis. If you are new to synths don't worry! Neither a traditional background in music nor a familiarity with electronic instruments are necessary to attend - in fact, the course is explicitly designed for total beginners.

Sunday, November 2nd, 2025
3 pm - 6 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

Drop-in hours for members of any tier to drop by the library every Thursday 4-7 pm, no RSVP needed!

If you’ve never been to the library before and want to check it out, feel free to stop by at this time. Check in with our facilitators when you arrive and we’ll introduce you to the space.

Thursday, October 30th, 2025
(Recurs every Thursday at the same time)
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map) first
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free

All people in recovery are welcome to join us at Synth Library Portland for a monthly event series designed to foster connection, creativity, collaboration, and community among local artists.

We aim to create a supportive and empowering space where people in recovery—however they choose to define it—can grow, express themselves, and build relationships, regardless of experience or skill level. This is an inclusive, welcoming space for all.

While Synth Library Portland is providing the gathering space and sponsoring this free event you do not need to be a member of the library to attend, though we hope you consider joining our diverse crew of creatives.

Tuesday, October 28th, 2025
Repeats same time every last Tuesday of the Month!
5:30 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

"We are the music makers" but what about the listeners of the music makers?

Have you thought about how your listeners perceive your sonic journey? If you are curious, join us for a relaxed and fascinating electronic music appreciation evening. We are going to play some classics and obscure tunes, focusing on beats, textures, layers and fun facts. But above all, we are going to enjoy the art of listening to music.

Open to anyone who enjoys listening to electronic music. No musical experience needed. Good vibes are required.

Instructor: Raul Cueto

Saturday, October 25th 2025
1 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

In this brief in-person gathering you can learn about our organization, how to begin checking out gear from our lending program, and how to access all our member resources including weekly drop-in hours, studio hours, and more!


Friday, October 24th, 2025
6 pm - 7 pm
Recurs Every 4 weeks
(Email us if your work schedule prevents attendance)
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool