Six oscillators from one 74C14 chip can be mixed with resistors to prevent shorts and create dense textures

Each of the six Schmitt Trigger stages in the 74C14 can be independently wired as an oscillator with its own R and C values, covering any range from sub-audio rhythm to ultrasonic. To mix multiple oscillators to one output, each output must connect through a 10k ohm resistor to the shared jack — never wired directly together, as that creates a short that can damage the chip. Alternatively, small signal diodes used for mixing produce a ring-modulation-type distortion between oscillators. Different capacitor sizes per stage give each oscillator a different pitch range, creating layered timbral density with six photocells or electrode pairs as controllers.

Examples

Wire six oscillators from a 74C14 each with a different capacitor (1nF to 10uF); mix all outputs through 10k ohm resistors to one jack. Substitute diodes for the summing resistors to hear ring-mod interaction.

Assessment

Why must each oscillator output connect to the mix bus through a 10k ohm resistor rather than direct wire? What would happen if diodes replaced those resistors?