Take your creations beyond the workshop and onto the stage with diy music instruments! Let us show you how these creations range from simple, basic setups that produce beautiful sounds to more complex projects that require a greater level of engineering knowledge. With these tutorials and examples, weโll guide you on this journey to make your own musical instrument for experimental, artistic or everyday use – so whether you’re starting out new or a seasoned sound creator, come explore the wonderful world of making your own music.
I’ve always been fascinated by the pocket gramophones of the 20s and 30s. I discovered there’s a bunch of them on YouTube. The top one here is a Mikiphone, from 1926. The second one is a Peter Pan gramophone, from 1930. Some models of the Peter Pan even had a clock built into the carrying […]
It seems at least one member of Toronto’s HackLab collective may have actually grown tired of laser-cutting. Jed wrote up some code turning those high-end onboard servos into sound synthesizers. I guess it’s true – you really can make just about anything with a laser cutter, even the Super Mario theme =P
Nick sent word of his digitally squarewave take on the legendary theremin instrument – hmmm, a Squaremin perhaps? This battery powered electronic musical instrument is a descendant of the theremin and can be played without contact from the musician. This small instrument contains two infared (IR) sensors, one controlling the note, with the other controlling […]
Adrian Mann has built what’s being called the world’s largest piano, measuring in at over 18.5 feet long! He began work on the project at the age of 16 and continued construction in a local barn over the next four years. It seems all his hard work was worth it considering the instruments commanding voice. […]
Coinciding with NYC’s Bent Festival Handmade Music initiates an especially hacked event tonight at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn. The free event features a pretty amazing lineup including – “modular synth meets circuit-bent Barbie dolls. noise, drone, dance party with Peter Edwards of Casper Electronics.” – A surprise mystery instrument(s) from Handmade Music superstar Ranjit Bhatnagar, […]
GetLoFi points out this rather mighty specimen of circuit bending – The Speak n’ Spellbinder fuses a Rock Band guitar controller with (of course) a Speak and Spell and supporting switches, pots, and pushbuttons – resulting in a plastic speech axe complete with tone triggers, pitch contol, whammy bar and more. The ‘binder’s creator, AJ […]
Zeni sent me this really interesting, and amusing, hack of the Gakken SX-150 from the Maker Shed. Just remember to, drink, mod, and create music, responsibly! I’ve made a modification to the Gakken Analog Synthesizer SX-150. The interface for making sound with the original SX-150 is with a small stylus. I’ve added another interface (there […]
