MAKE: Blog: Sustainable noise generator

Sustainable noise generator

Synthinetic1
Synthinetic2

The Synthinetic user-powered noise box just begs to be played with, and it most definitely looks the part -

To play the instrument the player has to turn big square knobs that turn the motors and slowly electricity is fed to the circuit, power is stored in capacitors that slowly charges. The instrument will start to produce sound when it has enough power. Two LEDS show how much the circuit is charged
There are various controls, knobs and switches to manipulate the sounds.
It gets most interesting when the capacitor is pushed to its limit - The sound will vary and produce unpredictable results.

One of the best features is the KILL switch - the switch, accessed by sliding your finger in a fur hole, drains all the electricity into a motor that spins a pirate flag. The sound slowly dies as the flag spins. Pressing the button again will stop the kill process and use whatever energy is left to run the circuit.

A device so power-independent that it proudly waves a flag before fully discharging its caps - right on, and then some. Hit up the site for more info and action video - Synthinetic

Related:

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Marty on May 13, 2008 at 4:31 PM

Maybe I'm just perverted...

But this sounded Naughty.

"the switch, accessed by sliding your finger in a fur hole,"

Posted by: Collin Cunningham on May 13, 2008 at 5:10 PM

Everyone's entitled to their own interpretation . . . even perverted ones :)

In person, it reminded me of Meret Oppenheim's fur cup -
http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4416&page_number=1&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Posted by: Milky on May 13, 2008 at 5:18 PM

yeah, i'd imagine the r&d on the 'fur hole/kill switch' was awkward at best.
wish it was 'whack a mole' enabled instead.

in contrast, i'll be introducing my new synth this fall, which will have a large metal wand body contact and two smaller wave shaping/control orbs.

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