Music

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, we’ll 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.

HOW TO – Simple Microphone Preamplifier

HOW TO – Simple Microphone Preamplifier

MicampTomi writes – “This is a simple microphone preamplifier circuit which you can use between your microphone and stereo amplifier. This circuit amplifier microphone suitable for use with normal home stereo amplifier line/CD/aux/tape inputs. This microphone preamplifier can take both dynamic and electret microphone inputs (preamplifier provides power foe electret microphone elements). The idea of this circuit is to keep the design as simple as possible to be easy to build. That was my goal when I needed a simple external microphone preamplifier for my mixer. The performance of the circuit is nothing superior but can be used with many not so serious projects.” Link.

DIY Microphone Projects

DIY Microphone Projects

MicNice use of a mint tin! – “This site features projects and circuits for building stereo microphones from low-cost Panasonic electret microphone capsules. Included are Mid-Side, XY, and Blumlein microphone setups. In addition, there are interesting related circuits and links to sites with microphone information and parts sources.” Link.

Wireless Guitar hero PS2 controller mod…

Wireless Guitar hero PS2 controller mod…

Ghw-InTheDude06 writes “I finally completed my wireless guitar hero controller mod! With so much space available in the guitar, i knew it was possible. id just never got around to finally doing it. Long story short, i had to completely dismantle the guts of the guitar to do this. its not possible to do this mod without soldering or removing parts from the guitar hero board…. at least, not the way i dd it. Since i wasnt able to find a box that could turn any controller into a wireless controller locally, i figured id take a stab with these…” Link. The project is in our new MAKE forums. If you haven’t checked, hit’em and join–they’re on fire! (In a good way.)

MIDISpeak: Speak & Spell MIDI Kit

MIDISpeak: Speak & Spell MIDI Kit

Midispell2Not a bad deal for $49. “MIDISpeak Module – Version 2, The Talking Toy MIDI RetrofitAdds a standard MIDI IN port to your Speak & Spell, Speak & Read, or Speak & Math. Non-English versions also supported. Trigger thousands of sounds–words, word fragments, garbled speech, percussion and bizarre sound effects.” Link. In MAKE 04 we also show you how to build music toys like this. Modify a Casio keyboard (or other electronic audio stuff) and start playing some of the strangest sounds you’ve ever heard.

HOW TO – The Radio Babylon

HOW TO – The Radio Babylon

Radio Babylon Web“A small wireless battery powered device – Turn it on near a friendly wireless network that contains iTunes shares and plug your headphones in. It picks a random iTunes share, picks a random tune and starts playing. Repeat until bored or the batteries are dead. The size of the system is amazing. The main board is about the size of my little finger. By default it’s running an ssh server, a web server and advertising itself to the network with bonjour.” Link.

Gramophone Recorder

Gramophone Recorder

GramophonerecorderMichael writes: “I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. I remember reading about an expensive commercial product for it, and there’s a much cheaper product available that is similar, but it records only things of a smaller size and the description seems to imply the recordings can only be played back on these machines, not regular turntables. (It’s a kit, which is nice, but the Gieskes.nl recorder looks much cooler.) I’m interested in trying Gieskes.nl’s project, but I’m wondering if there are other people out there who have done this so I can supplement these instructions a bit. Do you know of anyone else who has information about doing this sort of thing?” Link.