What’s your first expression, when you’re seeing the colorful monomer flashing on the signboards? If you think, it’s impossible to DIY your own econo monome, then you’re completely wrong in this point!

Before we’re jumping into the econo monome project, there’s something you must know about it! Practically, monomer is a small Catskills-based hardware company, which is making controllers for electronic music performance and new media art. In most of the time, developers have used the monomer as an interface for interfacing other types of software, such as from text displays to games!

When you’re making your very own econo monome, the first factor is to reduce the cost as much as possible. In this case, have a detailed scour in your storeroom, maybe you’ll find the unused parts, such as a batch of tack switches or LEDs laying there.

Ok, let’s start the project now. Firstly, you’ll need to apply a 74LS42 and ULN2803A into the project. For your information, the 74LS42 acts as the row selectors, while ULN2803A acts as the column current sinks. Plus, don’t forget about the TCP6108 p-channel FET, which is functioning as the row drivers in this project!

Furthermore, you have to use the LEDs row driver lines to drive the row of the switch matrix and a 74LS165 shift register to clock the data into the Econo Monome.