The Feedbox

This prototype noise machine is my latest creation for Music 250a - Physical Interaction Design for Music. The task was to construct a mini-instrument that is "off the breadboard."

the feedbox from Christopher Carlson on Vimeo.

My general goal in this class and in my personal work is to make expressive devices that allow performers to explore new or unconventional sounds. Since i have always loved feedback, I took this lab as an opportunity to test out some ideas for generating and controlling it.

The materials in the instrument include: 4 piezo discs connected to rings of aluminum foil, a mini amplifier: (radioshack.com/​product/​index.jsp?productId=2062620) (hacked to enable toggle switch control for power), an aluminum foil pad connected to the hot lead of the audio input to the speaker, and the aluminum enclosure (with holes drilled for the wiring from each piezo and to the user's hands).

UPDATE:  The feedbox is featured on the Make Magazine blog today.  Thanks guys!