Where are all these voices coming from?
Posted on June 13th, 2008 at 10:00 pm by Collin

It seems there’s a rash a voice changer circuits going ’round major electronics publications. 03/08 issue of elektor - cylon voice05/08  nuts & volts  - build a voice changer07/08 everyday practical electronics - galactic voice This is a problem because I really like voice changers . . . and have less than no time to build them.

Return to Genius Beach
Posted on March 13th, 2008 at 9:27 am by Collin

Genius Beach Frontandback Web

generic viagra
buy levitra

(hmmm, was that the way CC licensing was written in ‘06?)

I recently had an email requesting this 2-year-oldie be made available again -

Collin Mel - “Genius Beach”

design layout by Erica Magrey (adapted a lil for the web by me) poker texas holdem,poker texas holdem gratis,texas holdem poker downloadsexy poker gratis7 card stud gratisamerican pokergiochi da pokertexas holdem on linetornei texas holdempoker on line italianopoker play moneypoker da scaricare gratisstrip poker flashpai gow pokergioco poker freewarestreet poker onlinepoker tour gamegioco poker texasforum poker on linepoker machine gratispoker sexi gratisfree omaha pokerpoker holdtorneo poker on linegiochi flash pokerpoker on line gratuitogioco poker,gioco poker scaricare gratis,regole gioco pokergioca poker online gratis,giochi online poker gratis,poker online gratiseurobet pokerplay poker on line,video poker on line,poker on linegiochare omaha poker in lineatexas holdem poker regoletornei poker gratisdraw poker goldgioco texas holdemonline casino pokercard studpoker pc gratisstreet pokertexas holdem milanoil pokerplay free omaha poker onlinepoker gioco completoplay omaha pokergioca poker on linepoker texano on linepoker roomtorneo poker onlinegiochi 7 card stud gratisscaricare gioco pokerpoker gratuitopoker superstar gratis

The Staccato Prototype
Posted on January 27th, 2008 at 9:36 pm by Collin

Here’s the first working version of the Staccato guitar effect pedal. I ended up choosing the name based purely on sound description. It uses the Ampeg Scrambler distortion circuit and passes the signal through a Vactrol for a softened gating effect. Every time I try to record a sample of it in action, I end up playing around with it much longer than necessary. But this is a good sign.Controls from Left to right:Pots - Texture, Blend, Rate, WidthFootSwitches - Bypass/Power, Staccato-ON/OFFThere’s switch built into the texture pot that acts as a big ol’ gain boost as well as a DC Jack in the rear with reverse polarity protectionHere’s a sample I recorded off of a little practice amp I rescued from the dumpster. It starts off Dry, then uses the straight distortion, and finally, adds the staccato gating/tremolo effect:Staccato Proto sample AAC 1,009KB

MAKE & Me
Posted on January 24th, 2008 at 3:52 pm by Collin

makeLogo.gifI’ve just been appointed MAKE Flickr Pool Curator! I’m very psyched about this new role I’ll be fulfilling at makezine.com. I honestly couldn’t imagine a publication I’d want to work with more. I’ll be on the lookout for great projects in the pool and adding some hacks/how-to’s/how-not-to’s of my own as well. We’ll be upping the interactive ante with some contests and prizes for user projects. It’s a natural progression - MAKE shows people how to do cool things, people show make how to do cool things, repeat.

IR LED Glasses
Posted on January 18th, 2008 at 1:53 pm by Collin

After viewing Johnny Lee’s incredible head tracking demonstration using the Wii hardware I had to experience it for myself. I had a pair of LED safety googles lying around and decided it was time to put them to better use.

Click each photo for more info.

IR Emitting Safety Glasses 1.0

IR Emitting Safety Glasses 1.2

IR Emitting Safety Glasses 1.5

IR Emitting Safety Glasses 1.6

IR Emitting Safety Glasses 1.7

Super Simple Vactrol Construction
Posted on December 18th, 2007 at 8:22 am by Collin

Quick and Easy Vactrol step1

I start with a tiny light dependent resistor and an amber 3mm LED (use a yellow LED if possible). These two are going to be good friends.

Quick and Easy Vactrol step2

I pushed the LED and photoresistor flush together, then place the kissing components down on a bit of electrical tape.
Thus begins a very long staring contest.

Quick and Easy Vactrol step3

Now roll the tape around a couple of times. Bend the component leads apart and press the tape together in between in order to keep light out.

Quick and Easy Vactrol step4

I then take a thin strip of black tape and wrap it between the leads horizontally.

Quick and Easy Vactrol step5

Squeeze around on the tape a bit in order to seal any openings. (Remember the round leads go to the resistor, the square-ish ones to the LED) You can check to see if there are leaks by hooking the resistor leads to a multimeter - in a dark room shine a flashlight on both ends of your new vactrol. If the flashlight changes the resistance reading on your meter then you have a leak and need to seal the package a bit more.

This is definitely a quick fix, (a sturdier vactrol should be constructed using epoxy or perhaps silicone adhesive) but I’ve found these to be a great way to control resistance. Just add a little LED flasher circuit and you’re good to go for all sorts of effect pedal, synth, and general electronics mods and designs.

PS - Here’s an LED flasher circuit:
blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/10/blinking_eyes_c.html

Building The OpenEEG
Posted on November 20th, 2007 at 1:53 am by Collin



Building The OpenEEG

I’m currently working on building my very own EEG via instructions from the OpenEEG project. It’s a fascinating project to say the least. Above is a shot of one of the active electrodes I’m using with the project. These electrodes are then encased in silicone and wired to the main enclosure via shielded cable. I’ll have some readings/results posted as soon as I get some fine silver fashioned into a comfortable interface.

Brain -> Computer Music Interface
Posted on October 3rd, 2007 at 10:08 am by Collin

I ran across this video posted a while back on Hacked Gadgets regarding a research project being conducted at the University of Plymouth.

I am currently conducting research along the same lines but my concept for utilizing the EEG signal differs signifigantly. In this usage the computer is basically “playing along” with a live reading of the subjects mental state. This approach is intruiging (and seems quite enjoyable for the test subject) but I see the interpretation or judgement made by the programming as a major leap in assumption. The researcher seems to acknowledge this. Perhaps it was the only way to make the dynamic legible and fun. Amplifying the EEG readings and retaining a version to-scale of their raw form is what attracts me to the topic. The ability to flatly reference a commonly invisible/inaudible organic characteristic - and apply that characteristic to active expression. That seems useful.

ArduinoSynth alpha
Posted on August 7th, 2007 at 2:12 am by Collin

Arduino Synth alpha

boards

The ArduinoSynth is my first attempt at microcontroller programming( and pretty much any coding at all beyond a little html). It took me a bit to get started but it’s turning out to be a fun way to learn the language.
So far it’s a 12-note monophonic synth with transposition selection via one 10K pot. I’m using a gutted toy keyboard for the switches and a simple low pass filter to smooth the output a bit. Here’s the schematic:

Simple LPF

Features I’d like to add:
- Another octave (maybe add a transpose switch on each of the next octave, then they can share pins with the first)
- Last note hit priority
- Portamento (note-slide)
- Real sine wave out (no external filter, please)
- Polyphony (I had it working badly, need better math)
- any real keyboard feature in existence(or not) attack, decay, waveform, vibrato, etc.

Source can be found here.
Audio sample here
Sample with no LPF here

The Old Requests Project
Posted on August 3rd, 2007 at 7:15 am by Collin

I

Some years back I was in the habit of taking requests. You made the title, I made the tune. I’d almost forgotten about that era til someone sent me a very kind email asking if those songs were still available for download. Well now, yes, they are . . . once again:

airlock.mp3
amotion.mp3
ancientholiday.mp3
applesmoothcrescent.mp3
asongaboutfredgraver.mp3
bannerbabes.mp3
bedisagraveyard.mp3
bigwork.mp3
boxturtlesdemo.mp3
cantbreathe.mp3
Chemroom.mp3
chokingsound.mp3
circuspicnics.mp3
cityhall.mp3
damned.mp3
donna.mp3
dontconvert.mp3
drinkingfountain.mp3
faggyassbottoms.mp3
feetdown.mp3
Forensics.mp3
fortgreenery.mp3
frothywhores.mp3
glasseye.mp3
globalterror.mp3
golfpunk.mp3
Hardplace.mp3
herecomesbrilliance.mp3
icouldntfindherheart.mp3
infiniteterror.mp3
itissodifficult.mp3
karmicumbrella.mp3
kidssayyeah.mp3
largearthur.mp3
larry.mp3
Lone.mp3
lovetheme.mp3
lovetheme_remix.mp3
maggyexists.mp3
Moles.mp3
moononfire.mp3
Mother.mp3
muscleup2bars.mp3
myskin.mp3
nationwideclyde.mp3
nightlife.mp3
onlyflashlights.mp3
optimusprime.mp3
partsandall.mp3
redman’sfine.mp3
riverrhymes.mp3
schoolgirlblues.mp3
Shotgun.mp3
smacktheface.mp3
specials2.mp3
specialsdemo.mp3
takecareofyou.mp3
takeherhome.mp3
theatre.mp3
tormentedchild.mp3
tremblinglock.mp3
TruthandReact.mp3
vacuumcleanersatellite.mp3
weexplode.mp3
yourwhitethum.mp3

thanks
for
listening.

Previous Entries  

Hey, you just made my arduino light up!