Category: news

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I made an analog saturation box for $2, and here’s how it sounds (diode clipping)

Can you build a stereo analog distortion box for just $2? Yes, you can! What does it sound like? Well, you’ll need to watch the video for that.


In this video, I put together a simple passive DIY distortion circuit using just 4 diodes, 4 wires, and 4 audio jacks—all dirt cheap but surprisingly effective. This little box works by clipping taking advantage of the diodes’ forward voltage to clip the signal, a classic analog distortion method found in everything from guitar pedals to vintage studio gear. It’s cheap, it’s basic, but listen and see if this might add that grit and warmth that you’re looking for (and, if not, you’d only be out $2).

🎛️ Tools & Materials Used:
* 4x Diodes (1N4148)
* 4x 3.5mm Audio Jacks
* 4x Wires
* Small Enclosure
* Soldering Iron & Solder
* Drill

More creative electronics videos here:

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Introduction to Immersive Audio in Games (Spatialization & Unity3D Audio Sources)

Explaining the fundamentals of spatial audio in games and its relationship to immersion.

In this video, I share some basic ideas about real-time audio spatialization in videogames, focusing on creating immersive environments. This is a wide-ranging discussion defining “immersion”, outlining audio techniques for spatialization, and then showing how you can make them interactive in real time using Unity3D audio. I cover concepts such as front-back spatialization, parametric support, and how interactive environments enhance immersion.

Check out more videos on game audio here:

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Voltage Starving in Eurorack

Voltage starving op-amps with Blood Cells Audio‘s “Mangle” module.

Following up on my voltage starving conversation with Spectral Evolver a few weeks back, today I’m exploring Blood Cells Audio’s “Mangle“, a Eurorack module that’s basically a voltage-starving VCA, where you can send CV to the op-amps (or insufficient CV to the op-amps to voltage starve them). Here, I try a few different program materials, and show some interesting results of modulating voltage starving over time.

You can check out Spectral Evolver’s voltage-starving Moog gear here:

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“Speculation and Imagination”

New music! 🎛️ 🎵

Check out my latest release “Speculation and Imagination”, combining gentle melodic sequences with harsh, noisy feedback.

These tracks are an edit of my live analog synthesizer improvisation from a online “session” with painter Onozaki Takuya. Onozaki and I meet monthly for jam sessions over Zoom, him in Hanamaki and me in Connecticut, where he paints, and I play my synths, exchanging artistic ideas across our mediums.

If you happen to be around Toyko this week, Onozaki’s works, some of which were created in these sessions, are on display 2/7/25-2/16/25 at “Gallery Camellia”in Ginza.

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Karplus-Strong Synthesis in Reaktor Primary

Patching up a Karplus-Strong synth from scratch in Reatkor 6 Primary.


Karplus-Strong synthesis is a digital synthesis technique that simulates the sound of plucked strings by using a feedback loop to model the behavior of a vibrating string. Developed by Kevin Karplus and Alex Strong, this method generates resonant waveforms by feeding back a short noise signal through a filtered delay line with feedback.

In this video we build a simple K-S synth from scratch in Native Instruments Reaktor 6, exploring what happens based on the design decisions that we make. By the end of this video, you should understand both the theoretical concepts and practical implementation in Reaktor, giving you a unique tool for your music production arsenal.

Check out more intermediate Reaktor Tutorials here:

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Homemade Binaural Dummy Head Microphones

Digging through my closet, I found this binaural dummy head that I made several years ago, and I thought I’d take it for a spin. Perhaps it’s time for me to transition this channel into ASMR content?

I’ve talked before about binaural recordings, but I forgot that I had made this cheap binaural head probably close to 10 years ago. While it’s certainly not of the same quality as professional binaural microphones, give it a listen and let me know what you think about it as a $20 solution!

Ingredients:

  • Syrofoam Mannequin Head (e.g. this)
  • 2x Electret Microphone (e.g. these)
  • Rocker Switch (e.g. this)
  • Battery Holder, 3xAA (e.g. this)

More spatial and immersive audio videos here:


More “creative electronics” videos here:


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Low-Battery as Aesthetic Practice: Voltage Starving Audio Gear

Talking about voltage starving your audio equipment with Will Klingenmeier.


I sat down for a virtual chat with Will, who has been doing some interesting experiments voltage starving his Moog DFAM and Subharmonicon. Voltage starving is when you intentionally deprive a circuit or device of the full voltage it needs to function, simulating a “dying battery”. The sounds you get are probably not what the manufacturer intended, but definitely an aesthetic worth exploring as you look for new sounds.

In this wide-ranging discussion, we talk about circuit-bending, starving stompboxes, and whether or not this is a good idea with your expensive equipment.

0:00 Introduction
0:30 What is “voltage starving”?
1:08 Voltage starving & circuit-bending
1:54 Voltage starving Moog synths
3:46 How to do it
4:33 Is this dangerous to your equipment?
6:07 Thinking about guitar pedals
8:15 Closing thoughts

Check out more videos on Will’s Channel here.

More creative electronics videos here:

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Karplus-Strong Synthesis in Pure Data Vanilla

Patching up a Karplus-Strong synth from scratch in Pure Data Vanilla from scratch.

Karplus-Strong synthesis is a digital synthesis technique that simulates the sound of plucked strings by using a feedback loop to model the behavior of a vibrating string. Developed by Kevin Karplus and Alex Strong, this method generates resonant waveforms by feeding back a short noise signal through a filtered delay line with feedback. In this video, we build a simple K-S synth from scratch in Pd, exploring what happens when we mess with the various parameters.

  • 0:00 Defining Karplus-Strong synthesis
  • 1:25 Noise “burst” to excite the string
  • 3:23 Adding the delay
  • 4:57 Setting up the feedback
  • 7:13 Controlling the rate of the delay
  • 10:21 Understanding the range of pitches
  • 12:06 Adding the low-pass filter
  • 13:21 Talking through the patch
  • 14:05 Adjusting the envelope of the noise (bowed sounds?)
  • 16:02 Closing / Next steps / Randomization

More Pd Tutorials here:

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iPad OSC Tilt Controlling Pocket Dimension (MaxMSP & Open Sound Control)

Sending OSC messages from my iPad, transformed in Max/MSP, and used to control FreakshowIndustries’ “Pocket Dimension” plugin in real time.


The plugin itself has an XY axis, and I didn’t want to just sitting down wiggling a mouse around. Luckily, Freakshow Industries included MIDI control for the plugin (as from continuous controllers), so all I had to do was create an instrument track in Logic with the plugin, and then convert OSC data to MIDI CCs in Max.

Sorry if the aesthetics here aren’t up your alley, but hopefully the ideas here can be helpful!

Gear/Software in this video (not sponsored, but a few affiliate links):
Arturia DrumBrute Impact (affiliate links)
* Perfect Circuit
* Reverb
Elektron Analog Heat Mk. II (affiliate links)
* Perfect Circuit
* Reverb
TouchOSC
Freakshow Industries Pocket Dimension

Check out more music with Max/MSP here: