Before iPods, Before Walkmans, The Mikiphone Pocket Phonograph
OT: This is a video demo of the Mikiphone Pocket Phonograph, a sort of steampunk precursor to the Walkman and iPod. via bb
Tag: steampunk
Steampunk Noisemaker An Homage To Reed Ghazala
This steampunk noisemaker, the Beam Ready, is an homage to Reed Ghazala, the pioneer of circuit-bending: Thanks to Reed Ghazala, who sent me some really killer cold war era military surplus lamps. The big one says BEAM READY, and the smaller one has the atomic symbol, hence the name. via SonofCastille
Bizarre Steampunk Spirograph Acid Synthesizer
This bizarre little DIY synth is part steampunk, part spirograph. The circle with the lines that you see on the top of the machine rotates and displays the note you are playing. Details on the Acid Machine here.
Bizarre Steampunk Circuit Bent Casio SK-1
A video demo of a strange electro-mechanical circuit-bent Casio SK-1.
The Steampunk Steam-Powered Synthesizer
The Parker Steam Synthesizer is a steampunk-style coal-fired steam synth. (video) The steam synth runs on coal, Esbit Tablets (hexamine), Ethanol or Propane. It requires a pretty constant, hot fire to keep the synth going continuously. The boiler can build up to 40-50psi before the safety valve opens. The pressure delivered to the engine is… Read More The Steampunk Steam-Powered Synthesizer
Beautiful Steampunk Synths
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.
Awesome Steampunk Modular Synthesizer
Over at The Steampunk Workshop, Jake von Slatt has a nice write up on a Jules Verne inspired analog synthesizer with etched brass control panels. While we’ve seen hundreds of nice modular synths, you have to admit the etched brass panels on this are pretty sextacular. Here’s what the synth’s creator has to say about… Read More Awesome Steampunk Modular Synthesizer
Steampunk Electrochemical Synthesiser
Not sure what to make of this – pask present has created a sort of steampunk electrochemical synthesizer: Pressing a key causes salt solution to flow over a copper and aluminium connection, generating a low signal which is filtered by a capacitor and then amplified, creating a complex white noise, with amazing fluctuating oscillations. The… Read More Steampunk Electrochemical Synthesiser
Steampunk Furby Music Sequencer
This is one of the stranger bent instruments I’ve seen – a sort of steampunk Furby sequencer by nervoussquirrel. Here’s what nervoussquirrel has to say about the Furby sequencer: 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… Read More Steampunk Furby Music Sequencer
The Bubblegum Sequencer
Remember the steampunk music sequencer? Here’s something even more lo-fi. The Bubblegum Sequencer is a physical step sequencer that lets you create drumloops by arranging colored balls on a tangible surface. It generates MIDI events and can be used as an input device to control audio hardware and software. The Bubblegum Sequencer senses the position… Read More The Bubblegum Sequencer
