RSS
Archive: Music
Smarty Request:
Total Pages: 30
Offset: 0
Category Home | Next >
March 1, 2008
Turn your broken Rock Band kit around
If you are like most people who play "Rock Band" religiously, chances are you've broken your kit and are debating whether or not to toss it and buy a new one or call Harmonix and ask for a refund. This hack shows a rather complex, but do-able way to fix your ailing plastic musical life.
Fix Your Rock Band Drums - Link
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Mar 1, 2008 05:41 AM
Electronics, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 27, 2008
The Furby Gurdy
Ran across this circuit bent Furby sequencer over at the Matrixsynth blog -
Each furby has 4 controls: mute, crash, loop and reset. The handle turns 8 cams which operate corresponding microswitches to create interesting rhythmic patterns. Part of the 'setting up' section at the beginning has been fast forwarded. Please commission me to make lots more of these machines!The video starts off a bit slow but gets pretty interesting around the halfway mark. Interesting to see a mechanical/electronic hybrid instrument! - [via]Link
Related:
Circuit Bent Furby - Link
New Furby Hacking : Part 1 : Skinning... - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 06:10 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
Sax-a-ma-phoooone
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Check out Ranjit's homemade reed instrument, the Saxamaphone -
I cut the stick in half the long way and chiseled out a rectangular trench in one half. I clamped the two halves together while I made the mouthpiece (which is coated with lemon oil and olive oil to protect it from spit) and tested the first reed. Then I glued the halves together and drilled the finger holes, and made a bunch more reeds.In this sound sample, he tries out a number of different reeds. Impressive sound - especially for a stick! - Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 27, 2008 03:00 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
February 26, 2008
Cocktail Amp
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Member Pekar poses the question - 'Fancy a drink with that solo?'
This is a crackerbox type guitar amplifier I built into a vintage cocktail case. It runs on a 12 volt battery and uses a JRC386D to drive the 7" driver.Hope that strapping keeps the bar kit from rattling too much. Dig that open/closed-back option - suave! - Link
The amps sound and output can be influenced by opening the case.
Related:
Coconut amp - Link
From the pages of MAKE:
Project: The $5 Cracker Box Amplifier. Small box, big sound. Read this article in MAKE: 09: Fringe, Page 104. To get MAKE, subscribe or purchase single volumes. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition!
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 26, 2008 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 21, 2008
Vintage headphone mod
Over at the Steampunk Workshop, Jake inaugurates a new Guest Artist Project feature with the wonderful Molly "Porkshanks" Friedrich as the first artist in residence. Molly shows how to update an antique Cannonball Empire headset with modern headphone innards.
Porkshank's Dieselpunk Headphone Mod - Link
Related:
- The Ambiance Enhancer (retro MP3 player) - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Feb 21, 2008 10:00 PM
DIY Projects, Music, Portable Audio and Video, Retro |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
The Swiss Army Bass
Jay Wasco's Swiss Army bass - an inconveniently unique instrument; hard to play, interesting to hear -
Yup-that's right. It's a bass guitar with a midi keyboard mounted on it. Yes, the two are played simultaneously. The bass is played with the left hand alone by means of a guitar technique known as "hammer-ons" while the keyboard (which emulates a distorted slide guitar most of the time. among other things) is played with the right hand. This instrument has a weight equivalent to that of a small motorcycle, and as you might imagine, requires years of time and patience to "master".He does make it look easy, check out the videos on JaysMuseum.com -Link
While you're there, check out the Egotar, bass/slide guitar hybrid -Link
Related:
weird bass guitars -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 21, 2008 04:24 PM
Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
StrobeTronic noise synth
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Another very original enclosure design, this one goes knob-less. Flickr member Rarebeasts writes-
This unit makes a huge range of strange noises. You start by setting the controls on the top of the unit, this sets up a sweep on the LEDS, by moving the LEDs around the light sensors a basic noise loop is set up. Combinations of frequency, volume and the two LEDs make for interesting sounds.Somewhat reminiscent of salt & pepper shakers, and cylindrical is very 'in' this season! -Link
StrobeTronic details, pics, and video -Link
Related:
Bleep Labs photos! -Link
In the Maker Store:
Loud Objects Noise Toy Kit -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 21, 2008 05:15 AM
Electronics, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
ABSOLUT MACHINES - Amazing robotic, web connected ping-pong tossing musical instrument, a large-scale electromechanical sculpture
I met up with Dan Paluska (the other maker is Jeff Lieberman) - they have created the "ABSOLUT QUARTET", an "automated multi-instrumental orchestral machine, a large-scale electromechanical sculpture consisting of three instruments and thousands of parts, working together to create one piece of music. The main timbre is a marimba played by balls shot from a robotic cannon. Other components include a series of wineglasses played by little robotic fingers and an array of robotic percussive instruments". If you're in NYC this is a must-see in person (186 Orchard st.).
Above - some photos and my video!
ABSOLUT MACHINES - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 21, 2008 12:00 AM
Arts, Music, Toys and Games |
Permalink
| Comments (9)
February 20, 2008
Coconut banjo
From the MAKE Flickr pool
More good stuff from member Ranjit -
The frets are bamboo skewers - I tuned them by ear so the tuning is kind of shaky. I might add more frets later. Note how the bamboo bridge rests on a point on the membrane (architectural vellum)- this helps to transfer the vibrations of the string.It would be awesome to add a pickup and plug it into Steve's coconut amp, seen below. (I'll spare you the applicable "nutty" puns) -Link
Related:
Coconut amp -Link
From the pages of MAKE:
Cigar Box Guitar, MAKE:04 p.76 -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 20, 2008 03:00 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Very small midi controller
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Member Recotana may have built the smallest MIDI input device ever. It uses a PIC12F675 chip, a few basic components, and single switch to register input. He plans to use it in conjunction with a heartbeat sensor - cool! This could come in handy for quite a few project ideas. -Link
Related:
Homemade MIDI controller -Link
From the Maker Store:
MidiTron, unassembled kit -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 20, 2008 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Schoenhut - toy piano maker for over 135 years
Not a kit or a toy but worth noting - Schoenhut has been making toy pianos for over 135 years - here's an amazing harp (for kids) they make too. I think these folks are the best and only makers in their space - gorgeous looking (and sounding) stuff.
More:
- Schoenhut - Link.
- More photos of Schoenhut @ Flickr - Link.
- Giant set of NYC Toy fair 2008 photos @ Flickr - Link.
- MAKE's coverage of the NYC Toy Faire 2008 in one place! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 20, 2008 01:30 PM
Music, Toys and Games |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
BENT 2004 documentary online
Derek writes -
In order to promote the art of circuit bending and the BENT festival, Absurdity.Biz has uploaded the first BENT festival documentary dvd online in its entirety for free viewing.Learn more @ bentfestival.org -Link
Shot at the first international circuit bending festival for Absurdity.Biz's ongoing Circuit Bending documentary, it later became a side-project DVD series sold at the BENT festivals.
Related:
Bent NY | The BENT Festival 2007 coverage- Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 20, 2008 01:00 PM
Electronics, Events, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 19, 2008
Optical theremin (from space?)
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Member Makaaberi's optical theremin looks like a curious alien visitor. That's quite a unique enclosure taken from an "antique" phone. -Link
Related:
HOW TO - Make a Radio Shack optical Theremin -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 19, 2008 02:27 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 15, 2008
Box organ + breath controller
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Ranjit returns with another compelling artifact on red, this time reusing a box formerly occupied by some smoked fish -
The keyboard is copper tape cut to shape. It's tuned (approximately) to the twelve tone Just scale based on 2's, 3's, and 5's. When the little red plug is plugged into the "No breath" jack, the thing plays at full volume without the breath controller.Hmm, I wonder if he considered naming it "Fish-Breath"? Hit up Flickr for further details and a sound sample -Link
Related:
HOW TO - Build an electric organ -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 15, 2008 05:00 AM
DIY Projects, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 14, 2008
Feedback Harmonizer by Folktek
The Feedback Harmonizer, by Arius Blaze of Folktek
Electro acoustic hybrid piece...unfortunately vid and audio don't synch proper. The piece is based on drone feedback insanity with delay and oscillation.Feedback, usually seen as an obstacle to be avoided, here it's reconsidered as a basis for an instrument's voice. The Harmonizer's classic wooden aesthetic and experimental qualities are typical of Arius' other creations like the Harmonic Field:
Aside from basic controls for pitch, volume and activation - it is all touch based. There are four panels of twelve points each that allow the user to play a full range of notes and alter those sounds with an entire amp section.The Harmonic Field's touch interface is suitable for 2 users seated across from eachother, similar to a tabletop arcade machine. Hit the link for more examples. -Link
The amp section controls filtering, resonance, distortion, bass boosting, noise etc. - abundant variations depending on which points are being touched together and how hard or soft.
Related:
The Drum Buddy -Analog synth drum machine vintage -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 14, 2008 01:00 PM
Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 13, 2008
Build the handheld "8038 Audio Generator"
The Thomas Henry 8038 Audio Generator device -
The audio generator operates in the the range of exactly 20 Hz to 20 kHz. It features sine, triangle and square wave outputs. The frequency control set consists of a coarse and fine tune arrangement - the coarse control obviously will move the frequency in greater increments, and the fine control allows one to set the frequency exactly at the desired point.Altogether it's a very cool device and handy tool for audio/music use. Check Scott Stites' site for schematic, parts list, and PCB image.
In addition to the front panel frequency controls, the audio generator also accepts an external control voltage in the range of 0 to +12V. An input attenuator is provided to scale this voltage to the desired range of control.
Finally, the schematics include a +/-12V power supply to power the audio generator, so that the audio generator can operate as a completely stand-alone unit.
The designer, Thomas Henry, has written a number of books on the subject of electronic sound synthesis. He has become well known for his ability to push an IC's ability beyond the manufacturer's specifications. When it seems a chip is unable to fully perform a desired function, he begins to experiment - as with the ICL8038 in the Audio Generator:
As it turns out, what the 8038 needed was a good change of diet. Instead of junking out on positive voltage rails, Thomas fed it a steady diet of good old fashioned negative rail. For +V Thomas gave it a nice vitamin enriched ground potential, and for the pin formerly known as ground, a nice fibery -12V. That alone catapaulted the 8038 from mediocrity to true A Number One function generator-hood.He's used similar techniques with the 566 function generator chip, for more info see his book "Making Music with the 566".
Audio Generator build guide -Link
Thomas Henry books on Lulu.net -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 13, 2008 08:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Laser harp
Check out this awesome light-controlled synth "harp." The builder explains:
The harp is connected to the impOSCar VSTi software synthesizer, the TAOS sensor array sits on the floor in it's own stand. The array above the harp i is just made up of fs mirrors for added p'zazz.
Stephen Hobley Photography - Link
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Feb 13, 2008 05:00 PM
Computers, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (5)
Stereo PWM Audio
Dane has another interesting project that asks the question "Can PWM from a simple micro-controller duplicate complex sounds?" The answer is yes, with surprising results.
Wouldn't it be sweet if you could have your micro play back complex things, over audio for an extremely low cost? Imagine replacing that one i/o line that used to drive an led, be able to reproduce the human voice and exclaim "Hello world",
PWM with an AVR - Link
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Feb 13, 2008 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
February 12, 2008
Physical drum loop
I had doubts that Matt Mets could pull off an awesome hardware project every day for Thing-a-Day, but he's doing a pretty stellar job so far; keep it up! He made this drum loop recorder that records physical inputs and plays them back in a loop using an Arduino Barebones board. Source code and schematic included - Link.
Related:
Solenoid concert - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Feb 12, 2008 07:00 PM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Low frequency percussion mic
From the MAKE Flickr pool
Member Aud1073cH writes -
My DIY low frequency speaker microphone, inspired by the Yamaha Subkick. I feel this one is much better with a dual coil woofer allowing for coil selection, damping, and input modes. Also has its own DI circuit for use as a DI and speaker, and a balanced output. Pad, phase flip, and ground lift included.He's also created an instructable for the project. Nice remake!
SPKR MiK on Flickr -Link
SPKR MiK on Instructables -Link
Subkick on Yamaha.com -Link
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Feb 12, 2008 02:30 PM
DIY Projects, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Features and more @ MAKE!
Make store - Stirling Engine kit
Make store - More Gakken kits!
Make store - Peggy v1.0 kit - FTW!
Make store - Magnet Sculpture kit - Floats!
MADE in Japan - Part I.
MADE in Japan - Part II.
MADE in Japan - Part III.
MADE in Japan - Part IV.
MADE in Japan - Part V.
MADE in Japan - Part VI.
Makers - MAKE Flickr pool contest winners!.
Makers - Join the MAKE Facebook page - Meet other makers.
MAKE on Twitter - Tweet! Tweet!
Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker
Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher
Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT
Becky Stern
Culture jammer
Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker
Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker
Current Podcast
Hack Your Brain - Best of Weekend Projects
ipod|mp4|mov|hd-appletv|3gp|3g2|pdf|itunes This weekend on Best of Weekend Projects with Bre Pettis, learn how to hack your brain by making Mitch Altman's Brain Machine! It flashes LEDs into your eyes and beeps sounds into your ears to make your brain...
More...
