I am nowhere near "halfway" done on this, but today I have the #BuddhaMachine completely wired for sound and two out of four pedals operational: American Metal distortion and an Envelope Filter. So the example is kinda metal. 🤘🏼

The things remaining are a Compressor/Sustain and Digital Delay. I built this so it would be modular, there is a pin-sized patch-bay inside that lets me route the in/out and pedal order.

I can also run an external input into the box and it acts like a big complex guitar pedal, my first sound check was with the tabletop guitar. Sound is coming through my Crate amp under the table, and let me tell you... this is nowhere near as loud as it can get.

This is going exactly as planned and I am so excited it is finally coming together!!

#SynthDIY #DroneMachine #Upcycled #craque

❝To mark the recent reissue of FM3’s #BuddhaMachine, Steve Barker tells the story of its origins, a tale which takes place in Chinese temples and a Hong Kong branch of McDonald’s, a Beijing foot massage parlour, and dinner with #BrianEno.❞ https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/essays/meta-machine-mantras-the-birth-of-the-buddha-machine
Meta machine mantras: the birth of the Buddha Machine - The Wire

To mark the recent reissue of FM3’s Buddha Machine, Steve Barker tells the story of its origins, a tale which takes in Chinese temples and a Hong Kong branch of McDonald’s, a Beijing foot massage parlour and dinner with Brian Eno.

The Wire Magazine - Adventures In Modern Music

Today I wrapped up clean and repair of this AIWA TP-32A portable tape recorder from 1960 that we found at an estate sale.

The original handset needs rewiring. I couldn't find a single working mic in my place with an 8th inch jack (several broken ones tho). I plugged in a Buddha Machine to test it out.

I also recorded the repair, working on putting that video together. Really interesting and deceptively simple device!

#AIWA #vintage #TapeOp #BuddhaMachine