You’re going to need some bigger pockets. (Overalls?)
British-born, Kyoto-based Ally Mobbs has hacked the inexpensive Teenage Engineering PO-12 drum machine into a full-sized box. Instead of the tiny, fingertip-challenging buttons, you get nice, big arcade buttons. He’s also made a lovely-looking wooden case and a jack connector.
All in all, what you get is decidedly less mobile, but also nicer to play. I can imagine running even further with this board – perhaps MIDI and, if someone is very clever indeed, a “dock” so you can disconnect the PO-12 and get going.
This isn’t the only lovely object Ally has created. He’s also made an exhibition of works made for kids, including a kid-friendly MIDI controller.
And there’s some excellent music to hear, too, under the heading “instrumental hip hop.”
I really love the PO-12. Its all-digital sound source can be just massive – and it’s also not noisy like the inexpensive analog drum boxes currently on the market. I had a play with the calculator-style rubber case you can add to it. It leaves the bottom of the circuit board bare, but otherwise makes the PO-12 a lot more comfortable to use and finally something you might actually consider taking out of the house with you. It transforms the PO-12 into something resembling a fine Dieter Rams Braun product. I’m just waiting for mine to ship.
But I think it was an unexpected surprise getting this incredible, ultra-cheap machine – and you can actually make music on it.
Previously:
Nintendo Game & Watch Inspires Tiny, $59 Synths from Teenage Engineering [CDM Hands-on]
Now, maybe Ally will inspire some other hacks and mods.
Love it! I must research a bit on those boards…
Love it! I must research a bit on those boards…
Love it! I must research a bit on those boards…
Good things come in small packages, especially if you add big buttons to them.
Good things come in small packages, especially if you add big buttons to them.
Good things come in small packages, especially if you add big buttons to them.
So good! The hack and the beat making!
So good! The hack and the beat making!
So good! The hack and the beat making!
What do you mean maybe? lols his Beat Picnic project is amazing. check it out!
What do you mean maybe? lols his Beat Picnic project is amazing. check it out!
What do you mean maybe? lols his Beat Picnic project is amazing. check it out!
So she made a midi fighter…?
So she made a midi fighter…?
So she made a midi fighter…?
Really nice build work. Very appealing, love the quarter inch output and the clackety noisy action on the arcade buttons.
Really nice build work. Very appealing, love the quarter inch output and the clackety noisy action on the arcade buttons.
Really nice build work. Very appealing, love the quarter inch output and the clackety noisy action on the arcade buttons.
Very cool. And just to note, in reference to some of the comments, Ally is a guy. Here are some videos of him at work. The one with the kids is pretty great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNwS95Uc8mU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JX4l5DTymQ
Very cool. And just to note, in reference to some of the comments, Ally is a guy. Here are some videos of him at work. The one with the kids is pretty great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNwS95Uc8mU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JX4l5DTymQ
Very cool. And just to note, in reference to some of the comments, Ally is a guy. Here are some videos of him at work. The one with the kids is pretty great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNwS95Uc8mU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JX4l5DTymQ