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.
An Instrument for the Sonification of Everday Things is an electronic device that consists of a retractable spindle that will accept most any readily available item. Then a scanning laser reads the distance of the object as it rotates and translates that data into musical notes.
ITP resident researcher and sound artist Nick Yulman has expanded his Bricolo modular music system to now include melodies.
Nottingham Hackspace member Jake Howe built this beautiful beetle from an old violin, with a little laser cutter action mixed in! Check out Jake’s instructable showing how to do it.
These days there are plenty of tactile input options for the digital DJ that try to recreate the traditional UI. Most of these are newer devices are vestigial rotary encoders tacked onto purpose-built decks. If you’re not a DJ, but would like to recreate the tactile experience of an old phonograph with your digital music device, check out this charming iTurntable iPhone dock from maker Austin Yang.
Circuit Benders’ Ball looks amazing! Here are the performers participating: Roth Mobot – Chicago Blight Side of Life – Nashville Brain Lesion – Murfreesboro, TN Elegant Bassterds (Ben Marcantel and Derek Schartung) – Nashville Josh Gumiela, Kelli Shay Hix, Lucas McCallister – Nashville Hadals – Nashville / Montgomery, AL Joey Molinaro – New York City […]
Cephalopods like squid and octopuses have color-changing cells called chromatophores, which enable them to blend into their surroundings to hide from predators and prey. Chromatophores can be triggered by electrical signals, so watch what happens when the folks at Backyard Brains play music through a squid fin. The song selection is Cypress Hill’s 1993 classic track, […]
Back in the day, before iPods were standard-issue for the under-10 set, the Fisher-Price record player was, literally, the jam. Kid-friendly, fully functional phonograph fun. With your own collection of toy plastic records, you could rock out to any number of beloved childhood tunes until Mom came to tuck you in.
