Gijs Gieskes' Motor Keys instrument produces some beautiful sounds. Reminiscent of the legendary Mellotron tape sampling keyboard, the project uses the popular ATMega168 chip and a modest part count. PCB image and source code is available on Gijs' site. [via Synthtopia]
For a similar project using multiple cassette players, check out Bre and Eric's walkman mellotron -
What a great idea! I'm going to pick up a few old Walkmans at the flea market next time I'm there.
I'm no EE, but I think the schematic for the Arduino-controlled circuit (2:57 in the vid) is incorrect. The Arduino should be connected to the base of the NPN transistor, not the collector like the schematic shows. Also, the base shouldn't be connected to ground, just the Ardy. Right? Or am I missing something here?
Posted by: davydka on February 28, 2009 at 6:43 PM
I was making some tape loops like this, and I found that the erase head causes a little gap between when you start and stop recording. Has anyone found a way around this? Can you just rip out the erase head?
Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!
More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)
Behind the Scenes at MAKE and CRAFT
In January, many of the remote MAKE/CRAFT team members (myself included) convened at the Maker Media headquarters at O'Reilly Media in Sebastopol, California. Take a look behind the scenes of your favorite DIY publications as Goli Mohammadi gives us...
More...
Sign up for the Make: Newsletter
Our Make: Newsletter covers news from maker Media, has original columns, Shed deals, and more! You can also read the archives of past issues.
What a great idea! I'm going to pick up a few old Walkmans at the flea market next time I'm there.
I'm no EE, but I think the schematic for the Arduino-controlled circuit (2:57 in the vid) is incorrect. The Arduino should be connected to the base of the NPN transistor, not the collector like the schematic shows. Also, the base shouldn't be connected to ground, just the Ardy. Right? Or am I missing something here?
Reply to this comment
@borgie - off the top of my head, I'd agree. I haven't made one my self yet tho so can't say if Bre and Eric were up to any sneaky techniques
Reply to this comment
I was making some tape loops like this, and I found that the erase head causes a little gap between when you start and stop recording. Has anyone found a way around this? Can you just rip out the erase head?
Reply to this comment