Strumming Up a Business
How a kids’ bike inspired the creation of a cool new guitar kit.
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.
Calliope #5: Ed Haas (video)
Ed Haas shows his Calliope #5, a handmade pyrophone, at Maker Faire Bay Area 2011. Controlled by a midi keyboard, this wind instrument is similar to an organ, but has the ability to shoot fire if propane gas is used in addition to air when sounding the pipes.
VJacket: Tyler Freeman (video)
Tyler Freeman hacked his clothes and created a jacket that transforms movement into video performance art. The VJacket senses gestures and then uses that information to create complicated visuals right from the dance floor. Filmed at Maker Faire Bay Area 2011.
The Stella Amp, a Cigar Box Guitar Amp
John Wilson of Minneapolis, MN, created the Stella Amp, his own twist on the cigar box amp. The Stella Amp is a portable battery powered guitar amplifier! Perfect for making your own mini-practice amp, cigar box amplifier, headphone amplifier, or any other kind of battery powered amplifier you can think of. Engineered for a good […]
Tune into the Past with Radio Arduino Classic Edition
Mycroft Milverton used an Arduino and a Wave Shield to create the Radio Arduino Classic Edition, a retrofitted vacuum tube radio that plays different classic radio tracks when it’s tuned. The device plays 60 tracks in normal mode, but also has an easter egg mode, which can play thousands of tracks. Be sure to check out Mycroft’s original Radio Arduino as well; it’s built in the shell of an Oscar Belle two band transistor radio from the 1960′s.
Hand-cranked Toy Piano Hack Keeps the Tunes Coming Forevermore
When a battery operated device runs out of juice, most of us reach for a fresh pair of AA’s. But when his daughter’s electronic toy piano had drained its batteries, Dominik instead installed a hand-cranked dynamo to power the instrument ad infinitum. He hacked apart an Ikea flashlight to co-opt its cranked generator and installed it inside his daughter’s plaything. Now a little bit of elbow grease keeps the tunes coming while saving the environment and a little bit of money to boot.
ArcAttack! at Maker Faire Bay Area 2011 (video)
Joe and John DiPrima’s ArcAttack! is a performance group that creates electrifying melodies by controlling the frequency sweep on their solid state Tesla coil. This is accompanied by a full drum set that’s controlled electrically through a series of rotary solenoids.
