Events
Intermediate Synthesis: Patching Beyond Subtractive
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)
Intro to Tape Loops
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)
Form and Structure of Techno
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)
Electronic Music Meetup for People in Recovery
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)
Synth Library Open House
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)
Build a 4MS DIY Looping Delay or DIY Sampler
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.
Women and Nonbinary Electronic Music Meetup
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)
New Member Orientation
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
DJing Without Decks: Octatrack Techniques and Other CDJ Alternatives
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)
Open Channels
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.)
Intro to Modular Synthesis for Women, Femmes, and Non-Binary Folks
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)
Modular On The Spot PDX - July @ Kenilworth Park
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)
Matmos Artist Talk
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
(Tickets are required to attend)
Tapeheads Meetup
This event is a DIY meetup for people interested in hacking audio tape. Come make tape loops, hang out with tape friends, and talk tape. We'll provide tools and cassette players, BYO cassettes if you want to make loops, or bring your loops if you want to play them for others.
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
12 pm - 2 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
$1-10 Suggested Donation
(RSVP and donation encouraged, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for free entry)
Intro to Video Synthesis
Info coming soon
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.)
Build a DIY Noise Swash Pedal
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
Contact Mics and Piezos: Every Speaker is a Microphone
Ever wanted to hear the sound of ice melting? Or record the sound of metal expanding? Contact mics can make that possible!
In this workshop we'll be exploring the mighty piezo crystal, how to convert vibrations into sound and back into vibrations again, and how to turn a colander into a custom reverb device.
You'll learn how to make your own contact mic and how to build a simple amplifier for a piezo transducer. All parts for these will be provided, but feel free to bring something from home to use for the custom reverb device. Anything that will vibrate can work, but the best results tend to be with metal objects or thin plastic.
This workshop involves soldering, and beginners are welcome. No prior knowledge of soldering or audio electronics is required. Attendees will build their own devices at separate soldering stations and all building/soldering tools will be provided on site.
$40, includes supplies to build two contact mics and an amplifier
Saturday, August 9th, 2025
12 pm - 2:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
$40
includes supplies to build two contact mics and an amplifier
Taught by: Jon Daries
Modular On The Spot PDX - August @ Cathedral Park Amphitheater
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 -
blond-noise
SPINES
Casual Decay
Trust Anchor
EZBOT
CJA
- 9 pm -
Sunday, August 10th, 2025
6 pm - 9 pm
@ Cathedral Park Amphitheater
6635 N Baltimore Ave, Portland, OR 97203
Free
(donations to Synth Library Portland encouraged, just buy a ticket at the link below)
Video Sync 2025
Video Sync is an ongoing series of events by video artists, for video artists, celebrating the toolmakers, performers, educators, and aficionados of video signals as a performative medium.
Video Sync 2025 will be presented at the Lloyd Center in Portland Oregon with help from Synth Library Portland. From August 15th-17th we will be featuring video art installations, tabling from toolmakers and artists, presentations and talks, live audio visual performances, and more!
Friday, August 15th we will feature artist talks & presentations during the day. In the evening we will have party in the art gallery with Sean Russell Hallowell presenting on and performing with their custom designed modular video synthesizer.
Saturday, August 16th will feature Toolmaker talks & presentations during the day. In the evening will have live a/v performances from Bastien Lavaud & Eric Schlappi, Eva Aguila, Knob Fondler, sarah sarah turner turner, Alex Pelly, Andrei Jay, and more TBA.
Sunday, August 17th will feature everything that we couldnt quite fit into Friday or Saturday. We will close out the day with informal skill sharing, cross patching, and trying to create a giant mixer feedback loop.
More information and details will be posted to https://videosync.xyz/portland2025
Pre-sale tickets are available at early bird prices until August 1:
$25 single-days tickets
$70 weekend pass
Video Sync sponsorships are available for $150-200. Sponsors will receive
- access to the entire weekend
- your name up on our website and in a special video art installation at the event
- some special merchandise!
Friday, August 15th 2025 - Sunday, August 17th 2025
Lloyd Center (view map)
$25 Single-Day Tickets
$70 Weekend Pass
(Tickets/RSVP are required to attend)
Modular On The Spot PDX - September @ Rocky Butte
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 5 PM and continue until approximately 8 PM (one hour earlier than prior MOTS) 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:
- 5 pm -
Ovr.Grwth
Musique Mystique
everything is circles
Max Myriad
Pink Buddha
Production Unit Xero
- 8 pm -
Sunday, September 14th, 2025
5 pm - 8 pm (one hour earlier than typical!)
@ Rocky Butte
3102 NE Rocky Butte Rd - Portland, OR
Free
(donations to Synth Library Portland encouraged, just buy a ticket at the link below)
Intro to Creative Breadboarding
In this hands-on DIY workshop, we'll explain how and why breadboards are used in creative circuit design and get you started building right away.
We'll build an oscillator that can make a speaker buzz. We'll explore how this works, and then expand upon the simple oscillator to create some of the basic parts of a synthesizer on your breadboard. No experience with electronics, synthesizers, or breadboarding is required. Beginners are encouraged to come!
Sunday, September 21st, 2025
1 pm - 4 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
$30
(The cost of the workshop includes a breadboard and parts, which you can take home)
Video Mixer
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.)
New Volunteer Orientation
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.
@ 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.
Modular On The Spot PDX - June @ Overlook Park
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 Rack Design
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)
New Member Orientation
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
Women and Nonbinary Electronic Music Meetup
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)
Open Channels
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.)
Synth Library Open House
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)
Electronic Music Meetup for People in Recovery
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)
The Fourier Transform and You
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)
Intro to Modular Synthesis
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, May 18th, 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)
Make A Mikrophonie
Learn to make your own contact mic and preamp in eurorack form! In this workshop you will assemble and take home a Music Thing Modular Mikrophonie V3 module.
DIY beginners are welcome! No prior experience necesssary and we are happy to teach you how to solder
Saturday, May 17th, 2025
1 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
$30
Workshop fee includes all tools and supplies to build a module. We will have soldering irons/solder available for all attendees.
Baby’s First Show: A Workshop for First Time/New Performers
Learn to Play Your First Show EVER! Our aim is not to infantilize or haze new performers. To the contrary, we aim to support you as you navigate the ins and outs of your first performance whilst maintaining the idea that performing should be fun!
As performers it’s important to not take ourselves too seriously and get trapped in the pitfalls of perfectionism, fear and nerves. Your workshop instructors will guide you through a series of writing activities to help you conceptualize who you want to be on stage and recognize the tools, materials and supports you currently have that will enable you to get out there and perform. They’ll touch on logistics, give you a list of accessible venues and open mics, allow the opportunity to connect and network with your fellow developing performers and host guest speakers to give you an idea of what performing in Portland (and beyond) is like! We will be demystifying performing, working through the limitations of fears and nerves, build awareness of potential performance opportunities and enable you to connect with other performers and aspiring performers like you!
Instructors: Mae Pettit and Sawyer Sweet
Sunday, May 11th, 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)
Delay Techniques
Delay deserves praise, so we made a whole workshop about it! This intermediate-level talk explores the many faces of everyone's favorite effect, delay. Time scales determine how delayed audio effects function, so we will explore these qualitative changes that occur as the delay time changes. We'll illustrate how delay is central to many forms of audio synthesis/manipulation beyond traditional echo.
We will delve into the anatomy of the delay effect, showing you how to create echos with any audio buffer and creating feedback routing ourselves using a generic mackie mixer. We'll show how adding effects inside the delay feedback loop can help you gain precision control over how repeats unfold, as well as provide an opportunity for unexpected results and wild recursive madness!
Instructors: Max Jersak (Max Myriad) and Jon Nasrallah (Casual Decay)
Saturday, May 10th, 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)
New Member Orientation
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, May 9th, 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
Women and Nonbinary Electronic Music Meetup
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, May 7th, 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)
Intro to Modular Synthesis @ Control Voltage
Learn the fundamentals of modular synthesis in this beginner workshop with no prior knowledge necessary. We’ll lay all the necessary groundwork to get you started on your modular journey. It’s also a great review of the basics to ensure you have a solid grasp of fundamental modular concepts and terminology. This is a 90 minute abridged version of the class, but we also regularly offer 3 hour version on weekends in our space at lloyd center.
Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
5:30 pm - 7 pm
@ Control Voltage
3742 N Mississippi Ave
$10-20 sliding scale
(tickets required to attend, no one turned away for lack of funds, email info@synthlibraryportland.org for no-cost tickets)
Portland Synth Improvisor Collective (PSIC) Meetup & Jam
A Wonderful group jam! Bring your own instruments and play electronic music with fellow community members.
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
3 pm - 5:30 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
Free
(RSVP required to attend)
DIY Video Glitcher
Learn to make your own analog video glitch device in our AVE-MOD workshop. In this workshop you will assemble a Syntonie AVE-MOD kit.
The AVE-MOD is a circuit-bent version of Radio Shack's Archer Video Enhancer, a set-top device for enhancing your TV image in an era when picture adjustments weren't common on TVs themselves. The bends allow you to create exciting glitch effects that will be the envy of your friends.
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
12 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
$50
Workshop fee includes: a kit to build AVE-MOD, power supply, and RCA cables to connect it to video source and TV. Kits will be brought to the event the day of so you can simply show up and everything you need to build the video synth will be provided.
Synth Library Open House
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 3rd, 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)
Electronic Music Meetup for People in Recovery
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, April 29th, 2025
Repeats monthly - Stay tuned!
5:30 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
Free
(RSVP encouraged but not required)
Spring Concert
Join us for a Spring Concert at Synth Library Portland! All performers are members of the library to celebrate their contribution to the community and highlight their incredible artistry. The concert is bookended by audiovisual sets, with live visuals from the SLP crew for the three music sets in the middle. We hope to see you there!
Performances by:
Cellographic
Cattafaxxa
Gregory Allison
blond-noise
Clayton Davis
Sunday, April 27th 2025
4 pm - 7 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
All ages (10+ recommended)
$10-20 sliding scale
(Tickets are required to attend)
Intro to Ableton Live
Join us for our Intro to Ableton Live workshop. This is a beginner friendly workshop for all those looking to delve into this popular DAW. Learn the basics and familiarize yourself with this powerful electronic music canvas. We will show you how to work with both audio/samples and MIDI-based instruments. By the end of the workshop you will know what you need to start making your own songs!
Saturday, April 26th, 2025
3 pm - 5:30 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)
Video Mixer
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.
Presentation: Synth Library volunteer, treasurer, and video/DIY maestro Jon Daries will be showing off Retina, his custom DIY modular video synth. He'll be presenting us with Retina's capabilities, his process and ethos, and what it was like designing and building this monster of an instrument!
Saturday April 19th, 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.)
Expo Tabling (Sunday) @ Portland Synth & Pedal Expo ‘25
During this time the library will be tabling at this years Synth & Pedal Expo 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.
Sunday, April 13th, 2025
11 am - 5 pm
@ JaJa PDX (view map)
819 Southeast Taylor Street
Portland, OR 97214
Free
(Expo tickets are free but limited and required for entry)
Expo Tabling (Saturday) @ Portland Synth & Pedal Expo ‘25
During this time the library will be tabling at this years Synth & Pedal Expo 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, April 12th, 2025
12 pm - 6 pm
@ JaJa PDX (view map)
819 Southeast Taylor Street
Portland, OR 97214
Free
(Expo tickets are free but limited and required for entry)
New Member Orientation
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!
Open Channels
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, April 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.)
Intro to Creative Breadboarding
In this hands-on DIY workshop, we'll explain how and why breadboards are used in creative circuit design and get you started building right away.
We'll build an oscillator that can make a speaker buzz. We'll explore how this works, and then expand upon the simple oscillator to create some of the basic parts of a synthesizer on your breadboard. No experience with electronics, synthesizers, or breadboarding is required. Beginners are encouraged to come!
Sunday, April 6th, 2025
12 pm - 3 pm
@ 1256 Lloyd Center (view map)
2nd Floor, near Dicepool
$30
(The cost of the workshop includes a breadboard and parts, which you can take home)
Synth Library Open House
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, April 5th, 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)