Technabob » sound

FYLM Foldable Speaker: Ultimate Portability

Range — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:50 +0000

Speakers come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but this is one of the first that I’ve seen that completely folds down flat, making it extremely portable, especially if that’s the kind of thing you need to share your tunes. FYLM is the perfect size to fit in a bag or notebook and it won’t take up much space.

FYLM unfolds and attaches to itself using a magnetic latch. It uses a film speaker that’s less than 0.25mm thick, allowing it to be a lot less cumbersome than other portable speakers. It’s supposed to deliver full and rich directional sound, but that claim needs to be tested. The FYLM speaker needs no battery, as it’s powered by your music device’s 3.5mm audio jack – which means it’s unlikely to be very loud.

It will come in several different colors, each with matching cables. It was created by the Design Affairs Studio. No price nor availability has yet been set as the product is still under development.

[via Looks Feels Works]

Amplifiear Amplifies iPads with a Cartoon Mouse Ear

Range — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:00:27 +0000

If you’re annoyed with the tiny built-in speaker of the iPad and want something that will beef up the sound, check out the Amplifiear from Nonlinear Studio. It’s basically a clip-on device that will enhance your iPad’s integrated speaker. It works by redirecting and reflecting the sound of the iPad through a Mickey Mouse ear-shaped cup.

The Amplifear slides onto the top corner of the tablet, giving it an ear-like appendage. The lightweight and recyclable plastic ear was conceived by Evan Clabots. He created it because the back-facing speaker of the iPad has less than optimal sound.

It comes with a tension clip that will fit the 3rd generation iPad and iPad 2, and can easily be removed and tossed in your bag.

Amplifiear was launched as a Kickstarter project, and you’ll need to pledge at least $15(USD) to get yours.

[via Cool Hunting]

Bicycle Upgraded with Train Horns Sure to Clear the Way

Technabob — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:54:07 +0000

Ever find yourself on your bike, only to be cut off by some jerk who doesn’t think bikes belong on the road? Or maybe you’re slowed down by some peds hogging the bike path. While you could try and ring your little bicycle bell or squeeze your meek little horn, you’re much more likely to get their attention with the horns they use on a train or an 18-wheeler. That’s exactly what DIYer Chad Thoren (aka “The Chadster“) did with his bike.

The Chadster outfitted his bike with a large dual-trumpet horn from a train, connected up to a tank filled with compressed air. He says this produces much louder results than you get by just hooking up the horns to an air compressor, so I can only imagine how loud it really is. The video clip below gives you a sense of it, but I’m guessing that in person, it’s much more startling.

The rather simple build requires a cruiser in order to provide a large rack for holding the compressed air cylinder, along with some hose, bungee cords and duct tape. Chad provides instructions on how to build your own over on Instructables, but recommends that you only use it to give pedestrians a scare (and maybe a heart attack,) and not riding in vehicular traffic. Personally, the bigger problem I see is that the rider of the bike probably needs to wear earplugs when riding if they don’t want to go deaf.

Soundlazer Parametric Speaker Shoots Sound Like a Laser Beam

Technabob — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:30:45 +0000

Ever wanted to listen to something without anyone around you hearing it? While you certainly could go with a pair of headphones, there’s something that just seems that much cooler about using a parametric speaker instead. Parametric speaker technology forces highly-directional sound from the front of its speaker elements, so you only hear the sound if you’re standing in a direct line with the speaker.

Up until now, parametric speakers were pretty difficult to come by, and generally very expensive. The Soundlazer aims to change that, offering individuals the opportunity to play with their own complete parametric speakers for as little as $175(USD). The Soundlazer uses an array of 39 piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers, which work together to generate an incredibly directional audio beam. Stand in front of the speaker, and you hear perfectly clear sound. Stand to the side, and you hear nothing. You can connect the Soundlazer directly to the 3.5mm audio port on your computer or media player, or can also experiment with custom filters, compressors and sound algorithms via its built in USB port, and Analog Devices DSP programming tool, Sigma Studio.

Soundlazer creator Richard Haberkern is currently raising funds for production of the device over on Kickstarter, and has already raised over $44,000 of his $48,000 goal with 45 days to go. So it’s almost a certainty that the Soundlazer will go into production this Summer. Prices range from $50 for a pair of bare-bones circuit boards to $175 for a functional version without a case, to $275-$300 for the version with the red anodized aluminum case shown here.

Battlefield 3: NES Edition

Technabob — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:30:23 +0000

Thinking back to games on 8-bit systems like the NES, one of the things I remember most was the music and sounds they were able to make with the primitive sound technology available at the time.

While tunes the original sounds of Super Mario Bros. will always have a fond place in my heart, today’s game consoles create a much more immersive experience with fully digitized sounds of everything from weapons fire and explosions to symphonies and recorded vocal tracks. But what would a modern A++ title sound like if it were made on an old 8-bit game console.

YouTuber Omega52 had the same question, and decided to answer it by replacing the 21st century, Dolby 5.1 cinematic sounds of Battlefield 3, and swap them out with some good old 8-bit beeps and blips. The results are pretty entertaining, if you ask me:

The sounds were all plucked from Contra and Top Gun, while the music came from Journey to Silius and Batman. And if you like that, there’s another BF3/NES mashup floating around with the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack. What other games would you like to hear remade with old-school soundtracks?

[via Destructoid]

Zumreed X2 Hybrid Headphones Double as Speakers

Jack Kieffer — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:00:50 +0000

Your headphones are great, but they just aren’t loud enough for when you want to share a cool song that you’re listening to, or for when you have an incessant need to incessantly annoy your incessantly irritable friend with a good dose of Kelly Clarkson. The Zumreed X2 Hybrid Headphones solve all of these problems, and in return, increase those having to do with your ability to manage fiscal responsibility. These geeky headphones actually double as speakers, so you can listen to your music and force others to enjoy it with you.

The Zumreed X2 Hybrid Headphones have a lithium-ion battery that will give you a bit over four hours of speaker time, and can be recharged via a USB cable in just under an hour. The headphones themselves are noise canceling, and of overall impressive quality. Because of this, and the fact that they are also speakers, these headphones cost $159.99(USD). Kids, start saving your pennies, because you’re buying me these headphones. “Sir, you were supposed to tell us about your career.” What? “It’s career day. This is an elementary school.” Wait, I don’t even have a kid – how did I get here? Can I adopt one? I actually have a presentation I could give – “You should leave now.”

Headphones are not often as unique as the Zumreed X2 Hybrids, so you should get yours and distinguish yourself from that crowd of people who aren’t as cool as you. If you’d like to pick up a pair of the Zumreed X2′s, jump on over to Audiocubes. If you’re looking for some more geeky headphones, check out the Klipsch M40 Headphones and the Koss Porta Pro Headset.

Contributor Jack Kieffer owns Cool Gizmo Toys, a blog that rants about random geeky products.

Speech Jamming Gun: Literal Silencer

Lambert Varias — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:00:02 +0000

We may someday have a weapon that will safely and effectively combat noise. Called the SpeechJammer, the device uses a technique called Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF) – it replays back the target’s speech with a slight delay. This messes with our brain and makes it difficult for us to continue speaking. You could of course achieve the same silence by shooting someone with a real gun, but that’s way too drastic for librarians.

The SpeechJammer was invented by Kazutaka Kurihara and Koji Tsukada. As you can see in the picture above, it has a directional microphone to capture the target’s speech, and a directional speaker to play the captured sound back. The distance sensor uses the laser pointer to calculate the distance of the target. The on-board computer needs the distance to ensure that the delayed playback is consistent. Here’s Mashable with more on the device:

And here’s a video from a Spanish talk show that shows DAF in action. The musician wears a pair of headphones and his voice is played back to him. He manages to sing, but the technique did have an effect on him:

The funny thing is, DAF doesn’t work if you stutter. In fact, it has the opposite effect, making stutterers speak better. That’s why there are programs – and even an iOS app – that cause DAF. I guess we’ll just have to deal with noisy stutterers with a good ol’ punch to the face.

[via Cornell University Library via Mashable & Reddit]

Insane Austrian Daredevil Will Attempt to Break Sound Barrier with No Aircraft

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:39 +0000

An Austrian daredevil named Felix Baumgartner plans to attempt to break the speed of sound without actually being inside of an airplane. If he is successful, he will become the first parachutist to manage that feat. If he is unsuccessful, he could be the first person to splatter on the ground after jumping from 23 miles in the air.

Baumgartner will be placed inside a capsule to attached to a gigantic helium filled balloon which will carry him to about 120,000 feet in altitude. The air temperature at that altitude is -70°F and there isn’t enough oxygen to sustain life. The daredevil plans on wearing a custom-made pressure suit that is designed to handle the velocities he will attain on his return trip. It will take him roughly 3 hours to get to 120,000 feet while it will take him only 5 1/2 minutes to freefall to 5,000 feet, at which point he will pull his parachute ripcord.

Baumgartner says that from the time he steps out of the capsule and begins his freefall, it’ll only take 30 seconds for him to break the sound barrier. He claims that testing has been completed and the jump window is set for July. The stunt will be performed somewhere over New Mexico. I hope he has a camera that can survive the jump. I want to see some first-person video.

[via Fox News]

Luke, I Am Your Speaker

Conner Flynn — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:00:18 +0000

Wanna play the Imperial March with a bit of Imperial merch? Well, if you are looking for a new speaker for your desktop, Funko’s Star Wars Darth Vader MP3 speakers are for you. The head of Darth Vader will play whatever you like, without James Earl Jones’ voice as a DJ.

Bring me the head of Darth Vader and plug it into my MP3 player! As far as sound quality, it is likely on par with something that the Ewoks built, but at least it’s cool to look at.

These speakers feature an audio jack and a USB connection, so you can plug one directly into your phone/MP3 player or your computer. They’re available for pre-order from Entertainment Earth for $30(USD) and will arrive in April 2012. Boba Fett and Stormtrooper versions are also on the way.

[via Chip Chick]

Christmas Present Shake Prank: Mess with Their Heads This Holiday Season

Technabob — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:00:35 +0000

We all do it. Despite the fact that we might be destroying some fragile major award under the Christmas tree, we like to shake our wrapped gifts to try and figure out their contents. Well, here’s a geeky prank you can play on your loved ones the next time they go to shake their presents.

Instructables contributor DIYHacksAndHowTos came up with this simple circuit which you can install into a box, and it’ll play back any sound you want when the box is shaken.

The circuit requires just a small number of inexpensive components you should be able to pick up at a Radio Shack (or order from their website), and minimal soldering skills. Once assembled, you record the sound you want it to play, hot glue it to the box, and let the fun begin.

Nice sound there at the end. Though I like the idea of recording Chewbacca’s growl or maybe some broken glass if I make one.

This seems like a simple enough gag that someone over at ThinkGeek should consider turning it into a product for next Christmas. For now, you’ll hae to build your own. You can find complete build instructions over at Instructables.

Pyro Board: Your Tunes are So Hot!

Technabob — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:00:50 +0000

I’m sure many of you have are familiar with the Rubens’ Tube, which is a device which works sort of like a VU meter, but with flames. But I have to say that this thing is even cooler. It’s like a Rubens’ Tube which operates on two axes.

The Pyro Board was constructed for Fysickshow Aarhus in Denmark, and can create patterns from sound using flammable gas, pushed through a grid of pinhole jets. The rig sits on top of a loudspeaker inside of a flameproof metal box. When the sounds or music are played, they create low and high pressure zones between the metal box and the grid. These result in cool patterns of flame which move along to the beat of the music. Here, check it out for yourself:

It’s sort of like one of those sound-synchronized light shows, but using flames instead of LEDs or bulbs. While the patterns are definitely not as predictable as a Rubens’ tube, I think the effect is still pretty cool. Now I want a nightclub to install one of these and hand out marshmallows to roast on top of it.

[via Buzzfeed]

MIDI-Moov Controller Lets Musicians Add Effects Simply by Moving Around

Technabob — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:46 +0000

Musicians looking to add effects to their performances have a variety of ways they can do this – using dedicated “stomp boxes”, standalone effects processors, and even apps on their iPhone or iPad. This device will give musicians yet another way to produce effects, which integrates more naturally into their performance.

The MIDI-Moov is a new device from TangibleFX. Currently in the prototyping stages, it’s a small box you can attach to your body or musical instrument to detect motions and use them to control effects. The wireless device acts as a full MIDI controller, allowing you to attach an effect to each X, Y and Z axes of movement. So for instance, leaning forward or backwards could trigger an increase or decrease in the intensity of an effect or sound. The transmitter would then send these signals directly to a remote computer running software like Logic Pro, Cubase or Ableton Live to manipulate sounds in real time. Here’s a demo video of the current prototype in action:

Currently, the guys at TangibleFX are in the early stages of fundraising over on IndieGoGo for production of the MIDI-Moov, but haven’t really nailed down retail pricing for the gadget at this point. A $500 contribution will get you a handmade beta unit, but that seems like a whole lot of coin – especially on a musician’s budget. Still, the idea is cool, and I hope they figure out a way to get the costs down or to apply the same idea to an iOS or Android app at some point.

iBox XC iPod Dock Speaker is a Wooden Wonder

Technabob — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:45:57 +0000

iPod speaker docks are (less than) a dime a dozen these days, and so many of them are made out of plastic and look cheap. So it’s always nice to come across an alternative which looks as substantial as this one.

Created by Dutch audio designers Thodio, the iBox XC is packaged in a handcrafted wood cabinet, and looks like it means business. The speaker system has a pair of 6.5-inch Kevlar coned drivers with soft-dome tweeters. Power output is a hefty 70 watts RMS (140 watts peak) per channel, so this thing is going to push out some serious sound.

The system weighs in at a hefty 19.8 pounds, partially due to the built-in rechargeable battery, which is supposed to give you about 12 hours on a charge. The iBox XC and can be custom ordered a variety of different woods, including MDF, beech, oak, teak and zebrawood, and there are options available for a Bluetooth audio receiver, or an integrated Apple universal dock if you prefer not to connect via the 3.5mm audio jack.

The iBox XC is available over on broodr starting at $495 (USD). That’s the price for the MDF model. Solid hard woods will run you a bit more.

Toilet Buddy Covers Your Ass (Sounds)

Lambert Varias — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:00:23 +0000

We shared with you a portable version of the Otohime aka flushing noise generator found in female public restrooms in Japan. Here’s a custom version of that gadget that not only masks your number two tunes but also teaches you manners.

Made by the tinkerers over at Gadget Gangster, the Toilet Buddy has three abilities based on two parameters. When it senses that the toilet seat is up and the restroom light is on, it plays a flushing sound. When the toilet seat is down but the room’s light is on, it plays back a reminder to turn off the light. And when the toilet seat is up but the room’s light is off, it’ll tell you to put the toilet seat down. You monster.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As you may have guessed you can turn the Toilet Buddy into another kind of Buddy, like one that automatically rings the door bell or plays a scary sound to surprise passers by. And then reminds them to put their toilet seat down. Check out the build instructions and parts list over at Gadget Gangster.

[via Hack A Day]

Ringtone Unlocked: Achievement Unlocked Sound Officially Released

Lambert Varias — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:00:19 +0000

Here’s an instant upper for Xbox 360 gamers. Xbox director of programming Major Nelson recently released an .mp3 of the instantly recognizable Achievement Unlocked blip. Yes, it’s barely two seconds long, but that’s two seconds that many gamers work for days or even weeks to hear. Unfortunately you don’t get Gamerscore for downloading the sound.

Of course, if you’re even the slightest bit tech-savvy, you’d have long found a way to procure the tune through less official channels, like from this YouTube video for instance:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Head to Major Nelson’s blog to download the Achievement Unlocked sound. The Major was considerate enough to upload an .m4r version as well, meaning iPhone owners can use it as a ringtone right away. Would you like to have the multiple notes of the PlayStation Trophy sound as well? Go here, then here. You’re welcome.

Image via Wallpapers Wide

[via Joystick Division]

Maschine Mikro Electronic Groove Composer Kicks Out the Jams Without Killing Your Bank Account

Technabob — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:30:07 +0000

Electronic musicians, here’s another new gadget you might just have to add to your arsenal of music-making toys. The Maschine Mikro is a moderately priced, but professional-grade music composition tool, designed for use in the studio or in live performances.

Based on Native Instruments’ Maschine groove composer, the Mikro is its new little brother. Running the same acclaimed sequencer, effect and sampler software as its older sibling, the Maschine Mikro lets you easily access the vast majority of the software’s capabilities using the hardware controller itself. It also includes a massive 6GB sample library for you to play with, and works with both Windows 7 and Mac OS X (10.6 or greater) computers.

The compact box offers 16 backlit performance pads, each sporting velocity and after-touch sensitivity, along with a variety of smaller buttons for controlling software functions remotely over a USB connection. Here’s a couple of videos showing off the Maschine Mikro in action.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The second clip is defnitely worth watching if for nothing more than watching the prowess of the fleet fingers of Jeremy Ellis.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The best thing about the Maschine Mikro is its price. While the original model sells for $669, the Mikro will sell for $399 (USD)/349 € just including both hardware and software. It’s expected to launch on October 1, and you can find more information and demo videos here.

Logitech Tablet Speaker Adds Sound, Bulk to iPads

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:11:42 +0000

I rarely use my iPad anymore except for the occasional vacation or trip where I don’t want to tote a notebook. Mostly my daughter uses the iPad for watching Netflix movies and she has a taste for any movie with a horse in it. The problem is that she doesn’t like to wear headphones and if she watches with a friend, it’s hard to hear since 6-year-olds never stop talking.

If you have a similar experience trying to listen to music with a group or to hear the audio from your videos, you might like this new Logitech Tablet Speaker for iPad. The new speaker is a rectangular looking device that is a bit narrower than the iPad in landscape mode. It plugs into the 3.5mm headphone port of the iPad and runs from a rechargeable battery.

The speaker has iPad in its name, but it will work with any 3.5mm headphone port device. The battery is good enough for eight hours of use per charge. It also comes with a fabric carry bag and has clips to grip the iPad and prop the screen up. The battery is charged via USB and the cable is included. You can pre-order the Logitech Tablet Speaker for iPad for $49.99 right now.

NuForce uDAC-2 SGE Digital Audio Converter Goes for the Gold

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:11:28 +0000

If you are a fan of listening to your digital tracks, but you prefer the analog sound from the old days for your tunes, and you like your gadgets blinged out, there’s a new digital audio converter for you. The converter is called the uDAC-2 Signature Gold Edition (or SGE.)

The 24-bit/96kHZ uDAC-2 converter is covered in 24K gold, and has a Swarovski crystal on the volume knob. The front and back panels of the device are stainless steel, rounding out its luxurious styling. The converter has a USB port for power and connectivity to your computer. Sound from your computer is then converted into analog signals and sent to your headphones.

The device has an audiophile grade USB connector for input. Outputs include analog RCA, coaxial RCA digital output, and a 3.5mm headphone port. The uDAC-2 SGE has a double jitter reduction mechanism and an oversampling filter. You can buy the SGE version of the converter right now for $399 (USD).

Hacked Keyboard Plays Obama Voice Samples

Shane McGlaun — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:52:46 +0000

If you are a fan of President Obama (or even if you are not a fan of the Pres) you will like the interesting keyboard that has turned up over on Make:. The keyboard was designed by Ashley Lewis and she took Obama’s voice from his inauguration speech and then grabbed choice words from the speech.

Each of the words is bound to one of the keys on the keyboard with the white and black keys getting their own words. The project is called the Obama Board and mostly you can use it to make gibberish sentences. (That might be what some of you already think come out of Obama’s mouth anyway.) Here it is in action, so turn up the volume:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The words seem like you would be able to make a sentence pretty easily, but it’s actually harder than it looks. Lewis says she is a big fan of Obama, even though she didn’t vote. Actually, she can’t vote since she is Canadian.

[via Make:]

The Steampunk Plasma Speaker Looks Mighty Fine While Playing Mozart

Hazel Chua — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:42:15 +0000

I know it’s not the first time I’ve said this, but I really admire steampunk artists and designers who come up with such ingenious yet fully-functional creations.

Case in point? This Steampunk plasma speaker that produces sound because of a small electrical discharge inside a glass tube.

It sounds pretty complicated, right? It’s probably not something that we ordinary folks can come up with, but it sure wasn’t that tough to figure out for Polish artist Conscious Flesh. (In case you’re wondering, no, that’s not his real name; that’s just his YouTube handle).

The Steampunk plasma speaker is actually a small, audio-modulated VTTC, which stands for Vacuum Tube Tesla Coil. The sound is produced in the large glass chamber that’s connected to the horn, which improves the low-frequency speaker response as you play your music.

Check out the video below of the speaker while it’s hooked up to its maker’s equally Steampunk MP3 player:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via Dvice]