oscilloscope

Casper Electronics has announced that it’s now taking pre-orders for the Drone Lab V2, a 4 voice analog drone synth, rhythm generator and FX processor.

Description:

The Drone Lab is capable of generating rich, textured soundscapes, hypnotic drones and complex rhythmic sequences. It features a series of filter and distortions circuits as well as an audio input jack. This allows it to be used as an effects processor for external audio signals.

The Drone Lab retails for $50 for the PCB only, $200 for a PCB and parts kit, and $350 fully assembled. Read more…

Critter and Guitari’s Color Television Oscilloscope is a $99 device that turns your audio input into psychedelic video output:

This video device has an audio input and video output. It behaves like a traditional oscilloscope, with a control to change the display mode and colors. The sweep rate is fixed at the NTSC frame rate, about 30 Hz.

One knob controls the input gain, and the other controls the display. There are 2 modes: line mode, and color shifter mode. The first half of the knob rotation is color shifter mode, and the second half is line mode. Line mode is simply a line with adjustable width and color. Color shifter mode is made up of bars that change color. The rate of change is adjustable.

Video Scope mounted to painted panel with 2 knobs, RCA audio input, video output (NTSC only), 9v power input (adapter included)

Here’s some video of the Color Television Oscilloscope in action: Read more…

The Strange Agency is turning into one of the most interesting developers of music apps for the iPhone.

We’ve previously featured their app Curtis – a $1 iPhone granular synthesizer. The video above previews a new Strange Agency app, Sound Scope Space.

Description:

Part oscilloscope and part theremin. Part music and part science. Part instrument and part trip toy. Instead of simply displaying a waveform, Sound Scope lets you interactively sculpt sound by shaping sound waves with its unique touch interface!

Play it like an instrument, simply pinching with two fingers. You get full volume control, and the pitch spans an enormous range, from the deepest bass to an ear-piercing screech. Try for vibrato and tremolo effects with a little finger wiggle!

Got an old TV doing nothing because of the digital TV switch?

Instructables has a couple of tutorials on how to turn your old TV into an oscilloscope:

• CRT oscilloscope (more of an audio/visual display)
• How to Make A CRT TV Into an Oscilloscope

All you need to do this MacGuyver-style project is an old TV, some wire, a soldering gun, some rubber-handled pliers and a screwdriver.

Note: “avoid death if possible” recommends one of the tutorials. We second this recommendation.

This video takes a look at UK electronic music pioneer Peter Zinovieff and Electronic Music Studios (EMS). Read more…