Ep 319: Experimental Archaeology, Demoscene Oscilloscope Music, and Electronic Memories

Hackaday Podcast · 2 May 2025 · 56m · Episode 319

What this episode covers

Hosts Elliot Williams and Dan Maloney review a week of hacks, including Clickspring's experimental archaeology on making gas-tight concentric brass tubing with a bow-driven lathe, and the Bus Error collective's oscilloscope music demo. They also discuss Mitzella's hybrid knob/jack for Eurorack synthesizers, a pneumatic robot gripper, and the historical context of Heathkit and electronic magazines. The episode covers the Sigrok data loss, VR text entry research, and open-source library controversies involving LibOGC and We Homebrew.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

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    124: Please Don't Light Yourself on Fire (Repeat)

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  • Making It · 1h 21m

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    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects and media consumption habits. David Picciuto is converting a Casio toy keyboard into a Moog-style synthesizer with integrated effects pedals, while Bob Clagett iterates on 3D-printed hinge designs for a magnetic phone charger. The hosts also debate the value of consuming maker content versus creating, with Jimmy Diresta sharing his experience building a light-based Theremin for his college band.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 05m

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    Eric Schlaepfer and Windell Oskay, authors of the book Open Circuits and creators of Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories, discuss their work in open source hardware and retro computing. They detail the design and production of kits like the discrete 555 timer and the Monster 6502, explaining how these projects serve as educational tools for understanding internal chip architecture. The conversation also covers the meticulous process of cross-sectioning electronic components for their book, highlighting the safety hazards and artistic effort involved in revealing the inner workings of electronics.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 08m

    358: Woodturning Influencer

    Emily Velasco, a science writer at Caltech and creator of the YouTube channel Emily's Electric Oddities, discusses her hobbyist projects that blend electronics with retro-future aesthetics and unconventional materials. She details the construction of specific devices like the Optical Sound Decoder, the Port-A-Vid, and the Lissajukebox, explaining her use of salvaged junkyard parts and her resistance to the 'hustle culture' pressure to monetize or constantly document her maker process. Velasco also shares insights from her professional life, including her work on complex science communication and recent research into sweat-powered fuel cells and Jupiter's atmospheric storms.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 06m

    491: Oscillators Oscillating Other Oscillators

    Kirk Pearson, founder of Dogbotic, discusses his book "Make: Electronic Music from Scratch" and his virtual workshops that teach beginners to build analog synthesizers and other audio gizmos. He explains how simple oscillator circuits create complex sounds, details the logistics of shipping global kits, and shares his philosophy on demystifying electronics for creative artists. The conversation covers specific projects like the electro-cricket and early drum machine designs, emphasizing intuition over rigorous engineering.

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