Price: $80
Manufacturer: Microkits
Link: microkits.net or Maker Shed
Banan-a-Synth is just what it sounds like: a banana-sized, 20-note, capacitive touch keyboard that can mimic different instruments (including a goofy jaw harp and adorable “ba-na-na” voice) and layer multiple effects such as pitch bend, high/low pass, and delay. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter stretch goal by inventor David Levi, the back of the board is protected by a flexible yellow peel. And it sounds great.
I love using music in my microcontroller projects (see my book Musical Inventions), but I’m sometimes frustrated by boards that stay tethered to a computer or by the quality of their on-board speakers. Banan-a-Synth packs a nice robust sound, it’s portable (it uses two AA batteries, included), and it’s 100% screen-free.
To be clear, the Banan-a-Synth is not meant to be reprogrammable. But with so many options to tinker with — Change the metronome beat! Reposition Middle C! Vary the “effects pedal” with a touch! — you may not even notice.
Best of all, you can attach the included alligator clip wires to the note pins and to the ground pin to build your own instruments from conductive materials (like real bananas). A full-color instruction guide gets you started, with additional online learning resources to come.
For many adults and educators, the self-contained tech will be a big plus in itself. No need for tablets, Chromebooks, or phones, which kids can find distracting. (Did I mention I teach afterschool STEAM enrichment to fifth graders?) It’s unfortunate there’s no onboard rechargeable battery. However, the specs say normal alkaline batteries should last long enough for up to five hours of continuous play. And if you wish, you can also plug it in with a USB-C cable (not included).
Photography by Microkits.
Playing the Bana-a-Synth is easy, even for non-keyboardists like me who just like to pick out tunes by ear. It took a moment to figure out the best way to touch only the pad I was aiming for and not the notes nearby, but once I got going I had a blast messing around with the different voices and effects. The compact keyboard may actually be a bonus for kids and people with thinner fingers.
One other issue was my conductivity. Apparently, my fingertips have more resistance than the average human’s skin. Moisturizer (and, in a pinch, licking my fingers) improved things greatly. Since I got my test unit at the beginning of the run, it’s likely to be less of a problem in future batches. If not, a small screw on the back of the board lets you adjust the sensitivity of the keys as needed.
Finally … gotta admit, the idea of circuit bending this baby is tempting. But try out all the built-in permutations that are possible before you break out your hacking tools. I’m looking forward to playing around more with my Bana-a-Synth and trying it out with my students this year!
This article appeared in Make: Volume 99.
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