[sdiy] Crackle Box PCBs

Fri Jul 8 20:18:41 CEST 2005

i couldn't say, being a bit of an idiot with the magic of 
electromagnetic
theory... ;-) and i also have to add the caveat that i've never played
a cracklebox other than my own steim-built model, based on michel
waisvisz's original design. however, when i play my box and move
my fingers (or whatever... tongue?) over the traces the sound varies.
i use both the squarish pads and the thin traces in various 
combinations,
sometimes use metal objects, etc. a world of variety....
cheers
bruce

On Jul 8, 2005, at 2:06 PM, Rafael_Cohen at prusec.com wrote:

>
> That's interesting.
> So you think that there is more variation in sound available through 
> the
> PCB touchpads as opposed to the wires to some other cntact point 
> method.
> Did I get that right?  Why is that?
>
> Yes, I am generally in favor of leaving off the line out and using the
> telephone taps also available at Jameco for $2 or something.
>
> Thanks,
> Rafael
>
>
>
>
>               bruce tovsky
>               <bruce at skeletonhome.com>                    To:          
>                                Rafael_Cohen at prusec.com
>                                                           cc:
>                                                           Subject:   
> Re: [sdiy] Crackle Box PCBs
>               Friday July 8, 2005 01:35 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
> a couple thoughts from a cracklebox fan:
> first, i believe (not being any kind of expert with pcbs) that the
> "dual" means double-sided pcb. if you go to the cracklebox
> webpage - http://www.crackle.org/CrackleBox.htm - you'll see
> what that means: the back side of the pcb has traces that are
> used to play the box. from my experience playing mine, you can
> get a lot more variation in sound over point contacts.
> second, relating to the line-out issue: there was quite a bit of
> discussion about this issue recently on the list (check the archives)
> and the upshot was that adding the line out affected the sound.
> i've been using an old radio shack telephone pickup (the suction
> pad type) by holding it against the bottom of the cracklebox right
> below the speaker and it works great.
> have fun
> bruce
>
> On Jul 8, 2005, at 1:08 PM, Rafael_Cohen at prusec.com wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> The design so far is not dual, just single.  I have not seen an
>> original
>> CrackleBox, I was just going off the schematic on the page I
>> mentioned.  I
>> did not know that there were dual boxes.  That schematic has no line
>> out,
>> so I did not design that into it.  If someone has a convenient idea
>> for a
>> way to work that in I am interested and excited to hear about it.  I
>> have
>> been using the built in speaker method.
>>
>> Also, I have heard that in the original Crackle Boxes the touch pads
>> were
>> on the circuit board itself, but the boards I have designed do not 
>> have
>> that either.  Just a wirepad on the board for the wire to the contact
>> poin
>> t on the enclosure.  Plus, I wanted to save space (much cheaper
>> boards) and
>> I prefer to use other objects to conduct anyhow, such as my current
>> favorite stainless steel shiny thing (did I mention I was a magpie
>> yet?)
>> Acorn Nuts.
>>
>> I don't want it to get too complicated but like I said, if someone has
>> a
>> simple way that they know works to give it a line out, then I will
>> design
>> it into the board.  Actually, the regular, speaker output tends to
>> work OK
>> as a line out, except it picks up a little more radio perhaps than
>> usual.
>>
>> I am trying to climb the learning curve with Eagle right now, because
>> it
>> seems there are places that have better prices but take only Eagle and
>> BRD
>> files.  If anyone wants to see my previous design in the ExpressPCB
>> software, let me know and I can forward it to you off list.
>>
>> Rafael
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>               Fernando de Izuzquiza <fdi at ran.es>
>>                                                           To:
>>                                Rafael_Cohen at prusec.com
>>                                                           cc:
>> synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>>               Friday July 8, 2005 12:52 PM                Subject:
>> Re: [sdiy] Crackle Box PCBs
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Rafael,
>>
>> I love it. Count on me for some boards.
>> Great for sessions with other musicians or for children!
>> Or even some animals may play it (well it might be annoying for some 
>> of
>> them... let's see =:)
>>
>> A line out would be great too (instrument, line or synth level?) to
>> integrate it with the synth.
>>
>> Are your boards going to be dual as in the STEIM unit showed?
>>
>> I'd like to build at least 6 (3 if dual), maybe more depending on
>> price.
>> So 6 for shure. PayPal OK? Tell me/us about please.
>>
>> Thanks for the work!
>>
>> Fernando
>>
>>
>>> De: Rafael_Cohen at prusec.com
>>> Fecha: Fri, 8 Jul 2005 10:55:13 -0400
>>> Para: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>>> Asunto: [sdiy] Crackle Box PCBs
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>> I just got a couple of requests yesterday about the boards I am
>> designing.
>>> Is there anyone else that would be interested in sharing the price of
>> some
>>> boards from the schematic here:
>>>
>>> http://www.eam.se/kraakdoos/
>>>
>>> Just figured, why not... cheaper for everyone, the more the merrier.
>>> Email me if interested or questions.
>>>
>>> Rafael
>>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Rafael,
>>
>> I love it. Count on me for some boards.
>> Great for sessions with other musicians or for children!
>> Or even some animals may play it (well it might be annoying for some 
>> of
>> them... let's see =:)
>>
>> A line out would be great too (instrument, line or synth level?) to
>> integrate it with the synth.
>>
>> Are your boards going to be dual as in the STEIM unit showed?
>>
>> I'd like to build at least 6 (3 if dual), maybe more depending on
>> price.
>> So 6 for shure. PayPal OK? Tell me/us about please.
>>
>> Thanks for the work!
>>
>> Fernando
>>
>>
>>> De: Rafael_Cohen at prusec.com
>>> Fecha: Fri, 8 Jul 2005 10:55:13 -0400
>>> Para: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>>> Asunto: [sdiy] Crackle Box PCBs
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>> I just got a couple of requests yesterday about the boards I am
>> designing.
>>> Is there anyone else that would be interested in sharing the price of
>> some
>>> boards from the schematic here:
>>>
>>> http://www.eam.se/kraakdoos/
>>>
>>> Just figured, why not... cheaper for everyone, the more the merrier.
>>> Email me if interested or questions.
>>>
>>> Rafael
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> bruce tovsky
> www.skeletonhome.com
>
> "To know is nothing at all; to imagine is everything."
>  Albert Einstein
>
>
>
>
>
bruce tovsky
www.skeletonhome.com

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
Philip K. Dick