Experimental Machine No: 1

Published on Sep 10, 2018 Rarebeasts

Experimental instrument from www.grandtippler.wixsite.com/Rarebeasts/about - Brian McNamara

The Automaphone by Rarebeasts

Published on Aug 17, 2014 Rare Beasts

"More info here: http://grandtippler.wix.com/rarebeast...
The Automaphone is a robotic synth that scans a4 pictures and turns them into songs."

"Have you ever wondered what a picture or drawing sounds like? The Automatphone scans for light and dark areas on the paper and uses the information to set song variables such as tempo, scale, beat, note frequency and length...

The Automaphone uses an old printer mechanism and a basic LDR light sensor to read the information. Lines are scanned to make the 8bit numbers that become the different variables. Three small PicAxe microcontrollers are used in the Automaphone, one to control the old printer mechanism, scan in data and make the beat sounds, the other two are used to make the lead and bass synth sounds."

The Stylo-looper

Published on Nov 26, 2013 grandtippler·167 videos

"Loop synth"

Update: flickr pics here.

"The Stylo-looper is a small stylus synth that allows you to design loops and then play them on a keyboard shifting the sound as you go."

"The Stylo-looper is a small stylus synth that allows you to design loops and then play them on a keyboard shifting the sound as you go.

Sounds are made by playing notes on the keyboard, but if you want you can record a noise loop that will be played and repeated as you hit each key. Just place the stylus on the first key to enter loop mode.

It's so simple to play, the minimalist design means it super easy to make awesome sounds, no need to rush for a 200 page instruction manual to play this instrument.

Before I go into the details here is a short YouTube video showing the Stylo_looper in action: [video above]

This synth is made from NHMI certified hard wood poplar and finished using natural non toxic food grade wood oils.

The Stylo-looper has 4 main controls;

* The keyboard: press the stylus on any part of the keyboard to play a note, it's not fixed to any key and just represents a range of sounds.

* The speed control: this knob adjusts the speed at which the loop is repeated. It gets faster a you increase frequency making some very weird noises at the top.

* The frequency control: Normally the speed control but becomes the frequency control when the lowest note is played with the stylus, entering loop mode.

* The third control is the write button, when pressed in loop mode it writes a sound to memory which is then replayed next time the loop is run.


The output is via a 3.5mm stereo socket which can be plugged into earphones, a computer sound card, mixer or amplifier.

* The Stylo-looper - is powered by a Common 9v Battery which is not included due to shipping restrictions.

Happy noise making,
Rarebeasts"

Available on etsy.

RizeTronic - synth

Published on Nov 14, 2012 by grandtippler

"More info: https://www.etsy.com/listing/115089923/
The RizeTrionic is a dual oscillator lofi synth with a chopper circuit and twin filters."

via Brian McNamara on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Beat Destructor 2000

YouTube Published on Jun 12, 2012 by grandtippler

"https://www.etsy.com/listing/102025245
The Beat Destructor 2000 is a small hand held beat maker that synthesizes industrial beats with various sounds and tempos."

SurfBox Sound prototype

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Feb 26, 2012

Rotoseq, rotary sequencer

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Feb 12, 2012

"http://www.rarebeasts.com
This is a hand generator cranked rotary sequencer. It has 8 slots and 4 sounds and uses 4 LDRs into a picaxe to make sounds.
Sorry about the sound of the dynamo it was sitting next to the mic."

flickr By rarebeasts

"This is a hand generator cranked rotary sequencer. It has 8 slots and 4 sounds and uses 4 LDR into a picaxe to make sounds."

StyloBuzz prototype

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Nov 17, 2011

"Hardware is sorted, just messing about with the software to get some nice sounds. This will come on kit form."

Wicks looper with sound mods

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Nov 7, 2011

"http://www.etsy.com/listing/69406560/wicks-looper-synth-noise-loops
Test of v2.1 software"

EM-Tronic Digital Synth kit

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Oct 17, 2011

"This kit provides you with all the components you need to make a small handheld digital synth. All you need to do is build the kit and find an enclosure to fit it into."

Auto drone : Random drone generator

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Sep 20, 2011

"Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/listing/82154148/auto-drone-random-sound-generator
The Auto Drone is a small noise instrument that makes random long drones. This recording uses some reverb effect."

Machine Music - Sound Sculpture

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Aug 12, 2011

"http://www.etsy.com/listing/79614072/machine-music
Machine music is an auto drone instrument."

Luna Cube Test By CupAndBow

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Jul 18, 2011

Drone violin - Experimental instrument

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Apr 18, 2011

R-Drone Naked

flickr By rarebeasts
(click for more)

"Just like the original R-Drone Station without the front panel print. I did this as a custom order and liked the look of the minimal black front panel.

The R-Drone Station is a small electronic musical instrument that allows you to create deep drone loops at various frequencies and speeds."


Uploaded by grandtippler on Mar 21, 2011

"http://www.etsy.com/listing/70541416/r-drone-station-drone-synth
The R-Drone Station is a small electronic musical instrument that allows you to create deep drone loops."

R-Drone Station

YouTube ploaded by grandtippler on Mar 21, 2011

"http://www.etsy.com/listing/70541416/r-drone-station-drone-synth
The R-Drone Station is a small electronic musical instrument that allows you to create deep drone loops at"

Update: new vid:

R-Drone Station. W/effect

Uploaded by grandtippler on Mar 22, 2011


flickr set By rarebeasts

R-Drone Station Prototype

YouTube Uploaded by grandtippler on Mar 16, 2011

"This is a prototype R-Drone Station I'm working on. I want a deep drone sound from this thing so I have a bit of work to do yet."

Prototype noise maker (RAW)

YouTube via grandtippler | Feb 23, 2011 |

"More of my projects here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rarebeasts This is a prototype noise making machine in it's very early stages. I don't even have a crazy name for it yet."

Luna cube

YouTube via grandtippler | January 09, 2011 |

"http://www.etsy.com/listing/65614630/ The Luna Cube is a small hand held synth that makes a large range of electronic noises."

"The Luna Cube is a small hand held synth that uses light to make a large range of electronic noises.

The light sensor inputs allow you to get a full range of sounds very quickly, they work as fast a you can move your fingers across the sensors.

Main controls:
Pitch: the pitch control allows you to make, 127 tones and 127 white noise variations using the right hand light sensor as an input. For crazy effect use a small LED torch that has a strobe function.

Chopper: The chopper control changes the frequency of the sound up and down. The speed of these changes is dependent on left hand side light sensor. The more light that enters the sensor the faster the sound moment, until the point where sound is chopped up.


The output is via a 3.5mm stereo socket which can be plugged into earphones, a computer sound card, mixer or amplifier.

I hope that gives you a basic idea about how the Luna Cube works, if you have any questions please feel free to convo me.

Happy noise making,
RareBeasts"

The Beat Destructor - Handmade beats

flickr By rarebeasts

"The Beat Destructor is a small hand held beat maker that synthesizes industrial beats with various sounds and tempos."





YouTube via grandtippler | November 19, 2010 | 0 likes, 0 dislikes

"http://www.etsy.com/listing/62394089/
Shows the functions of the Beat destructor."