Bleep Labs has introduced the Thingamakit – a DIY project that lets you build your own anthropomorphic noise maker. According to Bleep Labs, the Thingamakit features “all the sounds of Thingamagoop plus triangle wave LEDacle with shape and speed control. Second photocell patchable to modulator and photocell rate. Square and Triangle wave output. The satisfaction… Read More Bleep Labs DIY Thingamakit
Here’s something fun I saw highlighted at the Califaudio blog – the Theremug, a DIY project that turns your cup of coffee or tea into a theremin, of sorts. Here’s Kyle McDonald’s explanation of the Theremug: 1 Prepare some tea 2 Expose the L/R leads on an 1/8″ cable 3 Immerse leads in tea 4… Read More Turn Your Coffee Cup Into A Theremug
PKNTS has designed an interesting modular sound toy for kids: AMK is a modular sound toy designed for preschool children. In combination with a computer, single sounds and sound sets can be transfered to sound blocks, called ‘Klangbausteine.’ Childrend can play independently with each module, or combine the sounds by plugging blocks together. Only one… Read More Modular Sound Toys
Dr. Earth has launched a plan to use hedonism, sex and dance music to save the world. To forward this goal, Dr. Earth’s first step has been to launch a sustainable clubbing initiative: Working on the basis that a club should be self sufficient and not a drain on the environment, Club4Climate has come up… Read More Dr. Earth Launches Plan To Use Sex & Hedonism, And Some Urine Power, To Save The World
Yuri Suzuki is an artist and musician interested in “revamping and giving new forms and meanings to the turntable, a device which very few of us still have in their house. Music is become more and more digital and abstract, and Suzuki is interested in exploring the physical, tangible representation of sound. The Prepared Turntable,… Read More Yuri Suzuki Explores Physical Value Of Sound
Post-punk pioneers Devo are suing McDonald’s over a Happy Meal doll that sports the band’s signature red flower pot hat. In April, McDonald’s introduced a series of American Idol Happy Meal toys based on a range of music styles, including Disco Dave, Country Clay, Rockin’ Riley and Soulful Selma. Devo’s complaint is that the toy… Read More Devo Sues McDonalds Over “New Wave Nigel” Happy Meal Toy
Sonofcastille has published a set of videos demonstrating beautiful steampunk-style synths and noise generators. Here are a few of the coolest: WSG This is Ray Wilson’s Weird Sound Generator circuit off of musicfromouterspace.com, plus audio amp scavenged out of a Radio Shack amp. The case was an old telephone from the 70s.
Omer Yosha’s AirPiano is a new musical interface which lets you play and control software instruments by moving hands in the air. Above the AirPiano is a virtual matrix of keys and faders, each assigned with MIDI messages and ready to be triggered. The length of a triggered note is equivalent to the time a… Read More AirPiano Lets You Control Music With Wave Of Your Hands
This video demos the string interface or “lasercello” invented by designer Jonas Ericsson/ No Picnic (SE) perfomed by Helene Berg. What this track needs is a little sprechstimme, don’t you think? via Peter Kirn
This video demonstrates making a cheap multitouch control surface, the MTmini: For this to work, all you need is a room with (at least) some light. The results will be best when the room lighting is even (no bright lights shinning from one direction onto the multitouch pad). When you place you fingers on the surface,… Read More How to Make a Cheap Multitouch Pad
