WAY back in the day, in the early ’90s, my Hypercard programming partner, Peter Sugarman, published a concept piece in Mondo 2000, in my “Street Tech” column, on “keyboard chaps,” a two-piece split keyboard you could strap onto your thighs so you could type just as soon as twiddle your fingers. I’ve seen several attempts […]
The Astra synthesizer from Not Breathing – 2 VCOs, 2 LFOs, VCF, noise source, ring modulator all built from salvaged parts the keyboard is from a gutted lowrey wandering genie keyboard. i recycled most of the capacitors in the unit from the genie and a dead tr606 […] i didn’t buy anything for this unit. […]
Gorgeous keyboard mod from a German maker, inspired by Jake von Slatt’s steampunk keyboard mod. Love the gothic-y brass frame pieces. German Steampunk Keyboard
The PICSynth project uses 2 digitally controlled oscillators along with analog waveshaper and a voltage-controlled filter resulting in some very sweet sounds. Dual oscillator mono synth Really easy to build using just 1 custom programmed PIC chip, 4 ICs and single 12v supply All circuits built on veroboard – no printed circuit board making skills […]
Stephanie was going through some watch parts she’d bought on eBay and some reminded her of Jake von Slatt’s iconic keyboard, so she was inspired to make a dollhouse-size replica. Awesome. The full-size inspiration: Steampunk Keyboard, The Mini Me Version [via Steampunk Workshop]
Paul Freedman of Rock the Bike fitted a utility bicycle with instrument rack + seat – thus creating a mobile music performance vehicle. This demo vid shows the maiden voyage his friend Janaysa on vocals/keyboard – would’ve been nice to hear them ride through my neighborhood. Just imagine all the other instruments this could carry, […]
Most commercial MIDI controllers are unnecessarily large and awkward – certainly not designed to be on ones lap while soldering/bending/wiring/coding. Hopefully Korg’s upcoming line of “nano” devices can fill that void. Peter Kirn of Create Digital Music runs through the slated features – nanoKEY: 25 keys, transmitting either as MIDI notes or (via a separate […]
