NES-SY37 synth project by Love Hultén is inspired by the retro gaming console

Only real musicians can understand the beauty and benefits of synthesizers. Those who are not into music may only appreciate the cool sound effects when you press or play with the buttons. But if you are into electronic 80s or synth-pop music, you will love anything with synthesizers. Many may also be amazed at how a synth looks, especially if Love Hultén designs it.

There is a reason why this designer is always featured here. His creations always show retro-modern style and jaw-dropping craftsmanship. The last one we noted was the TE-LAB handcrafted sound machine. There was also that MIDI Synth designed in collaboration with digital artist Lirona. We remember a few memorable ones too like the EC1 modular synthesizer that can fold up and fit inside a slim wooden suitcase and the MDLR-37 foldable synthesizer that wowed us with its spring reverb and tape delay.

Designer: Love Hultén

Love Hulten NES-SY37 NES inspired Synth Project 2

The latest design is based on an old Nintendo Entertainment System, so this is another retro-modern creation. Officially called the NES-SY37, this is a conceptual synthesizer that will let you play synthesized music and old NES games. This thing accepts NES cartridges, and you can view the games on the 8-inch LCD screen with 800 x 600 resolution. You can control the game with the keys, but you can also use an old NES controller attached to the 7-pin port.

NES-SY37 NES inspired Synth Project Launch Love Hulten

The NES-SY37 is an NES-inspired synth project that pays homage to the old way of playing video games. Those who grew up playing NES will love this sound machine as it brings back memories of when we were young and carefree. It combines several components like an NES Poly Chiptune Synthesizer, real-time MIDI visualizer by p1xelfool, Twisted Electronics’ hapiNES L, and spring reverb.

The Swedish craftsman and audiovisual artist Love Hultén loves to capture the old and combine it with the new. When put into work, the results of his passion and talent are beautiful, unique projects that evoke feelings of nostalgia. One glance at this creation is enough for you to love Love Hulten once again.

NES-SY37 NES inspired Synth Project Information

The NES-SY37 is wooden with details based on the old gaming console. The red buttons and black D-pad are very NES-inspired. The synth part of this machine includes an 8-bit MIDI visualizer, a keyboard, NES Poly Chiptune Synthesizer, and a multi-track chip-tune synth. You can say this is more of a mod, but wow, it really is one quirky and awe-inspiring creation.

NES-SY37 NES inspired Synth Project Design

NES-SY37 NES inspired Synth Project Information

NES-SY37 NES inspired Synth Project Details

The post NES-SY37 synth project by Love Hultén is inspired by the retro gaming console first appeared on Yanko Design.

TE-LAB handcrafted sound machine lets you play and create sci-fi sound effects

Music makes the world go round. Without it, life is meaningless. Music serves different purposes. It entertains, evokes feelings, and enhances experiences. Sound, in its raw form, engages audiences and helps communicate. When you play sound in an ordered manner, it turns into music.

One can’t just claim to be a music expert just because he listens to different genres or plays instruments. There are audiophiles and then there are sound engineers. These people can be considered experts in their fields in ways regular music lovers can’t comprehend. Perhaps they hear music and sound differently. It’s inexplicable but maybe playing around with the TE-LAB will give us an idea.

Designer: Love Hultén

TE-LAB Love Hultén Sound Box

TE-LAB is a project by designer Love Hultén who is also an audiovisual artist. This Swedish craftsman has created this semi-modular sound machine based on various effects and instruments. Hultén used modules from the Teenage Engineering PO Modular series to build the core sound engine.

TE-LAB Love Hultén Sound Machine Teenage Engineering Modules

You will see different features like a sequencer, filter, analog oscillators, and a Holograms Microcosm. The latter comes with eleven unique algorithms right on a granular effects pedal. When you play sounds on TE-LAB, you will hear the rearranged sound the way the machine interpreted it.

TE-LAB Love Hultén Sound Machine

If you’re into sci-fi stuff, you will love the sounds this machine can make. Artists and musicians can get inspiration from the unique sounds and timbres. You can try a lot of effects from loop techniques to delay, sampling, and pitch-shift. Other features of TE-LAB include a circular oscilloscope and a turntable sequencer with pins.

Telab Teenage Engineering PO Modular Turntable

The large device stands out as a bright yellow wooden console. It’s handcrafted which makes it special. Love Hultén also looked at modules from Holograms Microcosm. The design of the sound machine was inspired by a Lomond Campbell turntable.

The sound machine is like a toy for the big boys. Those who want to practice being a disc jockey may try this. Those who want to learn sound engineering can add this to your collection. Those who want to just play, get this. If you want those sci-fi sound effects playing, TE-LAB will be perfect for you.

TE-LAB Love Hultén Sound Machine Design

TE-LAB Love Hultén Sound Machine Teenage Engineering

Teenage Engineering PO Modular series

Telab Teenage Engineering PO Modular series

TE-LAB Love Hultén

The post TE-LAB handcrafted sound machine lets you play and create sci-fi sound effects first appeared on Yanko Design.

Marvel Sound Effects Machine: Hulk Smash!

Just like Star Wars merchandise, there’s a market for every single sort of Marvel product you can think of. And to prove that point, this is the Marvel Sound Effects Machine. With the push of a button, you can play one of eight sound effects from Marvel superhero movies, and I’m pretty sure I just found the new soundtrack to my life.

The small, 3″ tall sound machine is powered by two AAA batteries and sound effects include Hulk’s “HULK SMASH!”, Iron Man’s suit launch, Captain America’s shield toss, Spider Man’s web shooters, Falcon’s wing darts, Groot’s “I am Groot”, Hawkeye’s arrow shot, and Thor’s Hammer Blow. Unfortunately, it does not include Hulk’s “Puny God” or Iron Man’s “I am Iron Man.”

Obviously, I’m going to put one on my desk at work and only respond to coworkers with Marvel Sound Effects. And if I can’t answer a question with a Thor hammer blow or Hulk smash, well, I’m not answering it.

USS Enterprise Christmas Tree Topper: Beam Me Up, Santa!

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Star Trek, right? I mean, how could it not be? So what better way to celebrate the holidays than with this $150 Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Musical Tree Topper With Light (affiliate link) from Hallmark. Wait – did that say $150? I was ready to pay at least $250. They’re practically giving them away.

The topper remains constantly illuminated when plugged in. With the push of a button on the included Starfleet insignia remote control, the Enterprise plays the theme from Star Trek and performs an accompanying light show. The ship can also be wired to additional Captain James T. Kirk, Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura Star Trek ‘Storyteller’ ornaments (seen above, $35 apiece) to unlock additional performances. It’s a Christmas miracle!

I remember growing up how our Christmas tree topper was usually just the ceiling because my dad regularly overestimated the height of a tree that would fit in the living room. He’d also make sure to choose one with really low hanging branches, so it took fewer presents to fill the space under the tree. Consider that a free tip for all you parents out there.

[via Borninspace]

Make music with any conductive object – fruits, water, even your own body!

While we have the miracle of technology, why not use it for fun and games too? Unusual designs like Playtronica show us that simplicity can be powerfully innovative too. Playtronica describes themselves as a digital playground that uses technologies to unleash a whole new world of possibilities for humans in terms of experiences with audio. Their purpose is to give sound a tactile dimension, and they rock it like Bowie! No really, the fruits literally rock it like Bowie and Let’s Dance is a fineapple (get it?!) song!

Playtronica’s most recent audio-tech is a midi device that can fit in your mom and lets you create music with pretty much anything. They have a list of 16 objects you can experiment in your first try but hey, let your imagination run wild because that is exactly what Playtronica was made – to encourage the creative genius in you. The midi device system has 2 boards with ample cables and alligator clips that you can plug into multiple objects like fruits, water, even your friends and then connect the other end to a computer. As long as the object is conductive in nature, Playtronica will have a sound for it. You can literally even measure the intensity of touch if you form a human chain which is actually the change of electric resistance. That signal can be captured with various online synthesizers via the web MIDI API – our minds are blown! Now you can connect with people in the literal sense.

The cool tech toy requires a 5 minute set up, anything in your house (including yourself) and a computer to hit your first note. I find this is something that the ASMR industry can take over and turn into a goldmine. It’s unique sensory experience really lets you see and feel sound in a whole new way, that is why you can find this stimulative piece of tech in museums like Pompidou, Exploratorium, and even at music festivals! Playtronica has collaborated with brands like Nike, Boeing, Mercedes Benz, Google in the past to conjure immersive audio experiences. Make music with anything – holding hands, your lunch, coffee (I am curious if the Monday cup yawns harder than the Friday one), the movement of paint on paper when you make art, or wind in your hair…curiousity will not kill this musical cat.

Designer: Playtronica

Click Here to Buy Now!

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Pour Your Booze into the Minibar Guitar Effect Pedal and Get It Drunk

Do you like to have a drink while you’re playing the guitar? Well, if you’ve got any booze left over, you can now put it to good use as part of your performance. Yep, this unique guitar effects pedal is designed to sip liquids and uses them to influence its sounds.

Simply unscrew the watertight lid on its top, pour the beverage of your choice into the Rainger FX Minibar Liquid Analyzer, and the conductive properties of said liquid will be used by its circuit to affect signal gain. In addition, the opacity of your drink will affect the equalization of the sound.

So your IPA will sound dramatically different than your chocolate stout, and your Kentucky bourbon will most definitely make different sounds than your Highlands single malt scotch. It works with other kinds of liquids too, like soda pop, coffee, or even nail polish remover.

The Minibar stomp pedal is available direct from Rainger FX for roughly $150. Booze not included.

[via Guitar World – Thanks, Mike!]

The Batmobile Guitar Effects Pedal: Dunna Nunna Nunna Nunna, Batman!

If you’re into playing the electric guitar, you probably have a bunch of foot pedals on the floor, ready and waiting for you to add noise, wah-wah, echo, and other effects. But I bet you don’t have an effects pedal this cool.

Built by Sizzorfite Studios for Vinyl Ventures, this awesome foot pedal is built into a Batmobile. The 1:24-scale Batmobile is based on the one in the 1990s animated series, and packs a ProCo RAT2 distortion pedal inside, perfect for overdriving your rock and roll sounds. Or better yet, crank this thing up and shred yourself a version of Neil Hefti’s original 1960s Batman theme song.

Only 100 of these awesome Batmobile pedals are being made, and you can pre-order one now over at Reverb for $159.99. Seller Vinyl Ventures expects to start shipping them by mid-September.

Adding sound effects to your life!

The more I think about it, I would have loved to have the Moff band as a child, and it would have probably driven my parents bat-crap insane. The band, is basically an audio trigger. What for? Sounds! It animates a child’s life by providing appropriate sound effects based on gesture. When paired with the app, and once you’ve selected which sounds you want, the Moff turns into a dedicated SFX unit.

Strum in the air and it plays a guitar sound, twirl your hand around and it plays magical sounds, as if you were twirling a magic wand, make like superman and it plays a whoosh sound! Moff is all about helping kids live their fantasies, or rather create them. All these sounds would play in our heads as kids, but with the Moff Band, they play out in real life! What a wonderful way to make kids stay creative and keep day-dreaming!

Designer: Akinori Takahagi

BUY NOW

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Circuit Playground Adds Light and Sound to Your Toys or Props

Are you looking for an easy and inexpensive way to upgrade your toy weapons or props, whether for cosplay or just fun? This is a pretty cool way to do it. An all-in-one board called Circuit Playground lets you add light and sound effects to any weapon or wand, or really almost anything else, with a couple of zip ties.

circuit_playground_1

It couldn’t be any easier to use and it will really make your weapon or anything else a bit more colorful and cool. John Park has made a video to show you how it’s done.

The Circuit Playground should be available very soon from Adafruit, and sells for just $19.95(USD). Cosplayers are going to find this thing very handy.

[via Nerd Approved]

Endless Rain Record: A Literally Long-playing LP

Normally, when I want to relax and block out the sounds of the world, I turn on the White Noise app on my iPhone, and crank it up. But if you want something a little different to help you unwind, check this out.

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Designed by Kouichi Okamoto for Kyouei Design, this unique vinyl record is designed to play the sound of rain in a never-ending loop. Thanks to is special groove structure, it will play for as long as your turntable and needle can survive. The 12″ record comes with six different audio loops of rain and rain drops, and works with any turntable.

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You can grab one over at the designboom Shop for $25(USD).