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Analog to digital converter guide…

Analog to digital converter guide…

Home-1Handy guide for the home automation Makers…“Home automation systems that are a step beyond your basic “X-10″ light control usually consist of a mechanism for controlling and monitoring digital input and output modules. These systems may include an Ocelot with SECU16(I) and/or RLY8-XA expansion units, Caddx Security Systems, Elk M1 Gold Systems, JDS Stargate and others. Their basic functionality of simple, digital inputs and outputs serves most automation and security purposes.” Link.

Run front row on a Mac mini

Run front row on a Mac mini

FrontrowFront Row is a new media center application from Apple, it’s shipping on the new iMacs and you use it to manage movies, photos, music, DVDs and more from your couch – with a slick interface. No word if Apple will sell or distribute versions for that Mac you already have, but a couple folks have already hacked up a version of Front Row and have it working. Here’s a HOW TO of sorts via Digg and here’s a video over on TUAW + Flickr shots.

The HiFiMac

The HiFiMac

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Rob has a great Mac mod – He turned an old hifi system he got from a prop clearance from the local actor’s workshop for $10 bucks in to a rocking Mac stereo system complete with the Sonic Impact Portable T-Amp. If you like this project, in MAKE 04 we also have Mr. Jalopy’s LP-to-MP3 convertor cabinet. Link.

Custom built effects pedals

Custom built effects pedals

Fuzzbobmuffpants
Great site and custom bass pedals, Mike writes “Once I became disgusted with trying to find a great sounding distortion/fuzz pedal for bass guitar I decided that since i knew how to solder and basic circuitry I was going to build one instead. After many hours researching on internet sites and soldering away in my basement, I have come up with two pedals that I feel have a great vintage, yet over the top, tubey fuzz to them… without the loss of bass most distortion pedals give you. Then, much to my wife’s dismay, I began to build other pedals…” Thanks Star! Link.

Make a Mac mini TV recorder…

Make a Mac mini TV recorder…

Minipvr Nice HOW TO for making a Mac mini into a sweet TV recorder “No, this isn’t the first Mac mini – PVR tutorial, but new products hand software have made this more interesting than ever before. And, with the best options available, this will be the last Mac PVR tutorial you’ll need to read”. The best part is the encoding happens off the mini in this example. [via] Link.

Amateur Boat Building

Amateur Boat Building

Elaine-Painting Gary writes “This site has project information for amateur boat builders. This sounds particularly fun–The infinite modular sharpie: “TIMS (The Infinite Modular Sharpie) is an idea that has been around for a couple of years: Basically the idea is someone builds a bow and stern unit, then at a messabout, a number of people bring “middle” sections, and the whole thing is strung into a single boat.” I Googled “messabout,” and it’s “A Messabout is a gathering of amateur boat builders and lovers where YOU get to see and usually try out many different amateur built boats.” Link.