Test of my just finished Arduino synth!

Test of just finished homebrew synth based on the Auduino project...

Distorfrost box: an EF9-based distortion pedal

Many old tubes sleep in my country house, since the old times when my father used to build vacuum-tubes radios in his green days. There are also lots of miniature 7-pin EF95 pentodes, that were used in high-frequency amps.

Now people round the globe is using them for audio applications... so I decided to try out a low-anodic voltage circuit. With small signals you can't drive the valve into the distortion zone, therefore I added a FET stage. I've also inserted a pot that moves the pentode's operating point, but its effect can be noticed only at high distortion levels. 

It works sweet, it's really easy to build – and it does not sound bad at all!

On stage I'm using it with a 'burglar alarm' type lead battery not to have to plug one more "brick" PS.

Building and playing the Bullroarer

I'm interested in both electronic-generated music using modern technologies, and in primitive musical instruments that exploit the very basic laws of acoustics. I try to make them converge in my practice as a musician as well as in my instruments-making.
Recently I've read on a book that the Bullroarer is one of the oldest instruments used by humans to produce sounds.

We decided to make one and this is the result.
Sergio cut the fish-shaped thing from chipboard wood and shaped its edges to an airfoil.

Barbara decorated the surface with patterns inspired by aboriginal artworks.

Il looks great and makes a nice roaring sound.


To make it play great, you have to find the optimal rope lenght and thikness, by trial and error.






A small, portable drone generator that requires no batteries!

 Make it turn!

Ghirondrone: A new instrument under construction

The Ghirondrone is a self-playing chordophone.
It is drone generator inspired by the work of Vulpestruments.

 The pickup is made from a salvaged contactor coil.
We'll see if it gets enough audio signal...

An A and a D guitar strings ready to be tuned...

The motor that will play the strings will be placed between the "pickup" an the "bridge".

Maybe the Ghirondrone will be given a distinctive Steampunk look... we'll see.

Walter playing my Steampuk Theremin. Gig at the Casa della Musica, february 2012.

Playsound: an unusual Sound Object

I gave new life to this old musical toy...

I removed its old guts beyond repair :( and put inside Maker's shed  Loud Objects Noise Toy Kit. I managed to use three of the original buttons...
Sounds really funny, 8-bits era vintage computer voice...

Steampunk theremin, finished

Brass, iron, wood, and leather: The Steamy Remin ready for playing. Front:

Back:

Clockwork details...

Raimbow LEDs...

The Meter and the special Steampunk logo

A porthole-styled speaker is a great Steampunk addition!