Collin’s Lab: DIY Cymatics
Cymatics explores the amazing effects that sound has on liquids and some downright bizarre effects on non-Newtonian fluids
sound
Tangible drum machine
Here are instructions for building a drum machine with a tangible visual interface. A camera above the paper drum board reads the positions of physical objects and translates them into sounds, as indicated on the labels on the objects. It looks fairly easy to make, with most of the components from paper and card. The […]
Getting to know the diode mixer
Dave posted this vid along with a write-up, covering the ins-and-outs of the unbalanced diode mixer circuit – This circuit uses the small non-linear response area of a single diode to create combinations of sum and difference frequencies of two input signals (or one input signal containing multiple overtones). Radio designers use this type of […]
How-To: Make an audio cassette tape loop
Instructables author (and Community Manager) Randy Sarafan writes: Theoretically it sounds really easy; you can make a tape loop by taping the ends of a short piece of magnetic ribbon together and sticking it back inside the cassette tape. However, if you ever actually tried to do this, you will soon realize that it is […]
Collin shows his projects
Before people came in for Education Day at Maker Faire, I had a chance to talk with Collin Cunningham about the projects he has built and is showing in the Maker Shed.
Dekatron tube sequencer
Cirtcele built a synth sequencer module using a dekatron vacuum tube display – The clock circuit includes a relay which clacks away somewhat charmingly. The relay noise does not get into the sound path of the synth, it is just the noise the synth makes whilst operating. Sound is recorded over the camera’s microphone so […]
Music box plays solenoid beats
From the MAKE Flickr pool Rotormind puts a new spin on a classic concept – The Micro Rhythm Orchestra is an update on the venerable music box tradition. I made it from a wooden cigar box and head-park solenoids scavenged from old disk drives. The solenoids are controlled by a microprocessor. Instead of playing a […]
