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.

Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
12 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, August 1st, 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

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, July 29th, 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)

Build your own Noise Swash pedal, based on the classic 1990s 4ms pedal circuit and using rare original old-stock 4ms PCBs.

Noise Swash is a chaotic random noise-maker, generating its own sounds or working as an audio processor. As a stand-alone device it generates unpredictable continuously morphing oscillations on the Audio Output jack.

Each Swash has its own peculiarly unique sound. For a sampling, search for Noise Swash on YouTube to see and hear different versions of this circuit in action.

DIY beginners are welcome! No prior experience is necessary, and we are happy to teach you how to solder.

Sunday, July 27th, 2025

3 pm - 6 pm

1256 Lloyd Center

2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$80

(Deeply discounted from the original kit price before it was discontinued years ago.) Workshop fee includes all tools and supplies to build a pedal including the metal enclosure. We will have soldering irons and solder available for all attendees.)

Tickets are 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, July 26th, 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)

Interested in making your own video art or learning more about the visual tools the library offers? Join us for this beginner-friendly introduction to the techniques and tools of Video Synthesis! We'll explain what a video synthesizer is, covering basic terminology and demonstrating the exciting ways they can reshape video in real time. We'll walk through examples of generating abstract shapes and patterns, colorizing video and layering them together. There will be guided hands-on time with the library's collection of video synthesizers, both from the studio setup and our lending program.

Instructors:
Matthew Rempes, Thomas Fang

New date! Moved to:
Sunday, July 20th, 2025
12:30 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$10-$20 sliding scale
(Tickets/RSVP are required to attend. No one is turned away for lack of funds.)

We are thrilled to have Matmos join us in the Library for an artist talk. Matmos are respected, innovative auteurs in the world of electronic music and sampling culture whose very first album was hailed as “entering electronics Valhalla” by the WIRE magazine for sampling highly unusual sound sources such as the amplified nerve tissue of crayfish.

Their new album, Metallic Life Review (coming June 20th on Thrill Jockey), continues their approach of taking a seemingly impossible premise like making an album only with select, often commonplace objects like sounds of plastic (Plastic Anniversary) or a washing machine (Ultimate Care II), this time by entirely sourcing its sound from the sound of metallic objects.

Matmos will be performing at Holocene on Wednesday, July 16th.

Thursday July 17th, 2025
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$15-$30 sliding scale SOLD OUT
(Tickets are required to attend)

Join us for an evening of live music outdoors at MOTS PDX presented monthly all summer by Synth Library Portland. Watch some of Portland's finest audio-wranglers play 6 back-to-back sets using all modular/hardware gear!

The show will start at 6 PM and continue until approximately 9 PM but you are welcome to come and go as you please. This is an informal all ages show so bring your friends and family.

Performers:

- 6 pm -
Porcelain Girls
Madonno Productions
Half Gate
Cave Cricket
Eric Schlappi
NOCT/FANG
- 9 pm -

Sunday, July 13th, 2025
6 pm - 9 pm
@ Kenilworth Park
SE Holgate Blvd & SE 34th Ave

Free
(donations to Synth Library Portland encouraged, just buy a ticket at the link below)

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

Sunday, July 13th, 2025
3 pm - 5:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP required to attend)

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.

Saturday, July 12th, 2025
12 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)

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, July 6th, 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.)

This workshop will showcase creative ways to perform your own music without relying on traditional DJ setups. We’ll go over the features of standard DJ mixing techniques and explore how to bring those same ideas to gear like the Elektron Octatrack, Akai Force, and even Eurorack. You could be a producer looking to get your tracks off the laptop and onto the stage, a hardware performer looking to streamline your live setup, or a DJ curious about performance tools to spark inspiration.

This session will show how a few tried and true DJ techniques can be applied to nearly any performance setup for intuitive, engaging live sets.

Instructors: Geoff Belcher

Saturday, July 5th, 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, July 4th, 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

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

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

NOTE
While tickets are “free”, signup spots/kits allocated to the workshop are limited so do not reserve a ticket unless you are committed to purchasing the (discounted) kit and attending the workshop.
~

In this hands-on workshop, participants will build and take home one of two synth modules: Looping Delay (https://4mscompany.com/ldkit), or Sampler (https://4mscompany.com/samplerkit)! Looping Delay offers crystal-clear clock-synced delay for looping up to 90 seconds, echoes, sound-on-sound, Karplus-Strong synthesis, and more. Sampler allows you to record, play and loop stereo .wav files from a microSD card. It also includes a sample pack of hundreds of samples. Both modules feature through-hole parts suitable for beginners, and a smaller circuit board with surface-mount parts is already assembled. Both kits are offered at 25% below retail price for this workshop, and previous soldering experience is not required. The modules are in the eurorack synthesizer format and require a eurorack power supply.

We will confirm your kit choice and send a workshop-exclusive 25% off coupon code by email two days before the workshop. You can make the payment online at that time or online on the day of the workshop (no cash please). Kits will be brought to the space rather than mailed. Note that while tickets are “free”, signup spots/kits allocated to the workshop are limited so do not reserve a ticket unless you are committed to purchasing the (discounted) kit and attending the workshop.

Sunday, June 29th, 2025
1 pm - 4 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
While tickets are “free”, signup spots/kits allocated to the workshop are limited so do not reserve a ticket unless you are committed to purchasing the (discounted) kit and attending the workshop.
Tickets are 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, June 28th, 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)

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, June 24th, 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’re all familiar with the hypnotic nature of Detroit techno—the way a track can draw you in, making a 6-hour set feel like 5 minutes. But what is it that makes these tracks so captivating? How do producers know exactly when to drop the kick, snare, and hats to pull us into a trance?

In this workshop, we’ll dive into the art of form in Detroit techno production. We’ll break down the structural elements that define the genre, exploring how iconic artists like Robert Hood, Jeff Mills, and Juan Atkins use repetition, modulation, and subtle automation to keep listeners locked in. We’ll also examine sound design techniques like delay, reverb, and filtering, focusing on how these tools shape the form and overall flow of a track. By the end of the session, participants will have the skills to compose their own track, with a focus on the form and flow that makes Detroit techno so powerful.

Presenter:
CHAiA (NYC) performs house and techno incorporating samples from traditional Yiddish music.

Sunday, June 22nd, 2025
1 pm - 2:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

$15-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)

In this workshop you will learn the magic of tape loops—how they work, how to make them, and why they've been a beloved technique for years. This two-hour workshop is beginner friendly--no experience is required.

We will be teaching you:
- how audio tape works,
- how cassettes and cassette players work,
- and how to hack a cassette to make a tape loop.

By the end of the workshop you will have made at least one tape loop and will go home with supplies to make some more on your own.

Saturday, June 21st, 2025
4 pm - 6 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

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

Looking to take the next step in your synthesis journey? This intermediate workshop teaches synthesis concepts beyond the standard subtractive patch we teach in our intro class. Familiarity with the basics of modular synthesis is encouraged, but we welcome those who just want to hear some cool sounds.

We will discuss processes that add harmonic complexity to sounds, resulting in more sound design freedom than subtractive synthesis.These include but are not limited to Frequency Modulation (FM), Amplitude/Ring Modulation (AM/RM), Distortion, and Wavefolding: the techniques used by all of your favorite electronic musicians. Join us on June 21st at the Synth Library and expand your sonic palette!

Presented by Jakob Kintzele

Saturday, June 21st, 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)

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 mess around on the gear we'll have set up there already. 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.

Presentation about Liquid Lights by Mae Pettit:
As a multi-disciplinary artist in traditional mediums I've been exploring color, texture, emotion, composition and the alchemy of materials for over a decade. For me, liquid light bridges the gap between visual art and music, enabling me to do work with the unpredictable nature of oil, water, alcohol, air and pigment as it all exists in the same confined space. I chose a video projector so I could have more freedom and capability, as well as collaborate with video synthesists doing amazing things with technology in the visual arts realm. The great thing about liquid light is the variables that are in constant flux and easily manipulated by the artist, who is responding to the music in real time.

Sunday, June 15th, 2025
1 pm - 4 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.)

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

@ 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.

Join us for an evening of live music outdoors at MOTS PDX presented monthly all summer by Synth Library Portland. Watch some of Portland's finest audio-wranglers play 6 back-to-back sets using all modular/hardware gear!

The show will start at 6 PM and continue until approximately 9 PM but you are welcome to come and go as you please. This is an informal all ages show so bring your friends and family.

Performers:

- 6 pm -
Weird Things For Imaginary People
ivan jan
amoja
See pg. 163: line#9
Akemie
Geoffrey PB
- 9 pm -

Sunday, June 8th, 2025
6 pm - 9 pm
@ Overlook Park
1599 N Fremont St, Portland, OR

Free
(donations to Synth Library Portland encouraged, just buy a ticket at the link below)

Ableton Racks are the powerful DAW tool in focus in this intermediate workshop.

We will deep dive into how Ableton's Rack system works by exploring their Instrument Rack, Effect Rack, MIDI Effect Racks, and Drum Rack devices. Then we'll go over how you can design your own racks from scratch as well as how to inject creative alterations to the rack devices you already use!

Saturday, June 7th, 2025
12:30 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, June 6th, 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

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, June 4th, 2025
(Recurs every first Wednesday of the month)
5:30 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool

Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)

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, June 1st, 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, May 31st, 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)

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, 27th, 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)

A potentially gentle introduction to the Fourier Transform and it’s applications in audio processing. This talk offers an accessible overview for and applications of the Fourier transform and its derivatives: the Fourier Series, Discrete Time Fourier Transform, and the FFT. The following topics will be covered:

-The biological basis for how frequency and time are perceived
-A manual calculation of the Fourier Series for a square wave and analysis of its components
-The time–frequency uncertainty principle
-Combining signals: multiplication and convolution
-The impulse and its response.
-Applications, including filtering, modulation and information compression.
-Measuring frequency spectra of signals at the library.
-Some calculus and trigonometry will be shown, but math skills are not required to get intuition and delight!


Presented by Lewis Guignard

Sunday, May 25th, 2025
1 pm - 2:30 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)