Unveiled at the beginner’s class at Handmade Music Austin #4, the SimSam (Simple Sampler) is a single-chip “sample-rate cruncher” that’s glitchy as all-get-out but only costs about $8-$12 in parts. It’s an effect with an input and output jack; and it’s a noise-maker since a jumper shorts the output back into the input when nothing is plugged into the input jack. We built 28 SimSams in a couple hours at the workshop.
Update: SimSam 2.0
SimSam 2.0 is an improved version that runs the same code as v1.0 (thus has the same functionality), but adds a Reset button. This button is on the left. The other two buttons are the same as SimSam v1.0. Also, on the PCB v2.0 there is a spot for a fourth button underneath the middle button. This is not used and only for testing/hacking your own firmware. Really, it will do nothing (except possibly damage the chip) if you install a button here, so don’t think about it. The code uses it as an output, low when the code is initializing and high when it’s running. Continue reading SimSam→
YouTube via EA78751
“Video from Handmade Music Austin #3, Dec. 20th 2009. At this workshop 13 people built the free project, Mini Space Rockers. After that we witnessed live electroacoustic sound by Lustigovi. And then 19 people built the upper division project, Andromeda Mk-4 Analog Bass Drum. And last there was an open jam with DIY bassline and drum machines from this workshop series, plus acid lines from a MIDIbox SID.”
It was a success, we built 30 mini-Space-Rockers and 25 Autonomous Bassline Generators (in 5 hours!). Treasure City was there selling some used electronica miscellanica… Douglas Ferguson & Steve Marsh , Red X Red M, and Telepathic Friend rocked the house, and we capped it off with a set using a couple dozen Andromeda Space Rocker devices… yeah!
4ms Pedals and Eric Archer teamed up to present an interactive bass&beats installation at the Hope Center last night in Austin, TX. There were four stations around a table, each station had three Andromeda MK analog drum machines and one Autoanomous Bassline Generator. Each station also had four LEDacle bendy-light tentacles courtesy of Bleeplabs, which you could shine on the photocells to sweep the filter sounds. Each device kept in time with an IR beam, and a MIDI clock ran between each board to bridge Nathan Wooster’s MIDI-IR Sync devices. It was packed!!
We’ll break it out again at the next Handmade Music Austin event Dec. 20 at the Salvage Vanguard Theater…. Maybe some more events too?
In a friendly workshop setting, we’ll present a newly-designed series of miniature electronic instruments, called Andromeda Space Rockers. No bigger than a credit card, these projects are designed for DIY’ers like you. They can be built in a couple of hours to make a working drum machine, bass generator, or micro-synthesizer. These fun little instruments love to jam together, and they do it by forming a wireless network to keep the rhythm! They react to the environment as well… for example, the drum machines‘ filter, pitch, and envelope are controlled with light-reactive photocells.
Each workshop will feature a different instrument.
The full series of kits will be available online as well (to be announced soon).
BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME TOO
Basic classes are offered for beginners free of charge, where you can learn to solder and build an easy music project that will prepare you for Andromeda Space Rock.
Or you can skip straight to the ‘Upper Division’ and build one of the Andromeda Space Rockers instruments. Soldering equipment will be provided. To participate in the Upper Division classes you should be familiar with assembling printed circuit boards. An understanding of electronics theory is not required; just patience, hand-eye coordination, and enthusiasm for DIY music.
OPEN JAM AT EVERY WORKSHOP
Of course, there will be an open jam / performance once the instruments are built. We encourage you to bring some pedals and a small amp to plug in your new synth or drum machine and participate in an exciting musical experiment. Huh? Since the Andromeda Space Rockers communicate with each other using infrared wireless, they keep the rhythm automatically – the space will be filled with synchronized sound as you tweak the tones and control the arrangement. The network supports an unlimited number of instruments; we are building a musical organism that reacts to its environment, part human and part machine, and containing the love built into it by your own hands.
Performances are FREE to attend.
CLASS SCHEDULE
All workshops are on Sundays.
4PM – 5:30 Beginner’s Workshop
6PM – 8 Upper Division instrument building class
8:30 – ? Open Jam and featured performance
CLASS DATES
2009
October 18
November 15 (coincides with East Austin Studio Tour)
December 20
2010
January 17
February 28
March 14
April 18
LOCATION
Salvage Vanguard Theatre
2803 Manor Rd
Austin, TX
HOW TO REGISTER
Beginner’s Workshop is free. Upper Division registration is $45 and includes materials. We’re accepting workshop preregistration for Oct 18th and Nov 15th. The first 2 workshops are filling up quickly!
REGISTER VIA EMAIL AT: churchofthefriendlyghost@gmail.com