Summer is coming to an end, and that means school is back in session. To get into the swing of things we’re putting on workshops/classes galore! We will be putting on events three weekends in a row starting October 13th. We are now hosting all of our events through Meetup.com. This will slightly change the way you sign up for events with us. We are dividing events into two categories:

• Classes – events where the attendees aren’t required to bring anything (except maybe a laptop). Payment can be made before the event or at the time of the event.
• Workshops – events where materials will be provided for a fee. Payments need to be received in advance so materials can be purchased accordingly.

Registration and payment for events will proceed as follows:

For Members: Both classes and workshops are free for all current paying members of SSD. If it’s a workshop, members will get the materials at cost. Members are required to RSVP on the Meetup.com site to register for an event. However, they are not required to pay through the Meetup.com site (unless they want to pay full price 😉 ) Instead, a separate donation can be made through the SSD website for the member cost of the workshop. This should be done at the same time as RSVPing. Both member and non-member costs will be posted in all event announcements. If the event is a workshop, payments will need to be made in advance so materials can be purchased for the event.

For Non-Members: There will be a cost associated with both types of events for non-members. To register and pay for events, use the Meetup.com site. If the event is a workshop, payment will need to be made in advance. If the event is a class, payments can be brought on the day of.

We accept all of the following payment methods:

• PayPal (through the SSD website or the Meetup.com site)
• Credit Cards (using a Square)
• Cash

And now, on to the good stuff….

Soldering Workshop: MintyBoost
What: MintyBoost Mobile Device Charging kit
When: Saturday, October 13, 2012, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: Solid State Depot, 5311 Western Avenue, Suite 115, Boulder, CO 80301
Why: To learn to solder! And, to have a sweet mobile device charger that you built.!
Who: Instructed by Joel.
Cost: Members: $13, Non-Members $25
Want to learn to solder for the first time? Want to hone your soldering skills that may be a little rusty? Then this is the class for you.

We will start by covering some soldering basics, and then we will be putting together MintyBoost kits, which allow you to charge mobile devices with AA batteries. The workshop will last 2-3 hours, and when you are finished, you will have a fully functional MintyBoost. Soldering iron and other tools provided. (Altoids tins NOT provided) Please bring your own if you have some.

SSD Members, please pay here, under the donations section.

Intro to 3-D Printing Class

Who: Anyone interested in printing 3D objects. Instructed by Lee.
What: 3D printer workshop
When: Saturday, October 20th, 2012. From 2pm-4pm.
Where: Solid State Depot 5311 Western Ave, Suite 115, Boulder, CO
Why: To put objects YOU design on your computer into YOUR hands!

Cost: Free for members, $20 for non-members.

We will be covering the basics of 3D printing from the hardware to the software. 3D printers are robotic machines capable of extruding plastic in ways that create real, physical objects that you design. You will leave with an understanding of what a 3D printer is capable of making, how to operate it and how you can build your own. You will learn how to use open-source software tools to configure and control the printer, and “slice” your own designs for printing.

No tools required to attend, although you can bring a laptop if you wish to setup printer software on your own computer.

Introduction to Pure Data Class: Oscillators, Sampling, and Filters

Who: Instructed by Chris.
What: Pure Data Class
When: Saturday, October 27, 2012. From 1pm-3pm.
Where: Solid State Depot 5311 Western Ave, Suite 115, Boulder, CO
Why: Why not? Also, to mix up a bit and get some software classes in the lineup.

Cost: Free for members, $10 for non-members.

Pure Data (Pd) is a visual programming environment for generating, processing, and manipulating audio. With Pd, you can design your own synthesizer, build custom effects for your guitar, or compose music algorithmically. This workshop will introduce the basic concepts of working with audio in Pd, with a focus on oscillators, sampling, and filters. No experience necessary. We’ll start with a group install; Pd is free and open source software.

What to Bring:

-A Laptop (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
-> If you can install Pd before the workshop, that will save some time. What you want is pd-extended (http://puredata.info/downloads/pd-extended)
-Headphones
-MIDI controller (optional)