My wife's birthday is coming up in early September and I need help finding a birthday present Fast as I'm going to be tied up the next couple weeks. She likes "toys" like remote control cars, helicopters, preferably that she can build herself. I got her a helicopter last year and a remote controlled car kit already so those ideas are out. She has a basic arduino kit and is always looking for a new project. She also likes cool gadgets for cooking, grilling. And she's into all kinds of music. She has an iPod, iPad, a Mac, a PC (several, actually). I'd like to keep it under $150 if possible. Your ideas would be most appreciated!
posted by anonymous on Aug 3, 2012 - 20 answers

I've got a costume that incorporates LED lights cued to music. I need to re-setup the costume and am trying to find the best Arduino (if possible) tech for them. How do I do so? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Mar 8, 2012 - 7 answers

I'm making my first electronics project: a super-simple musical sequencer controlled by an Arduino and SNES Super Advantage. Can you help me out with some logistics/feasibility questions? [more inside]
posted by griphus on Oct 11, 2011 - 2 answers

Can a guitar amplifier ruin every speaker cabinet it gets plugged into? [more inside]
posted by nurgle on Mar 27, 2010 - 2 answers

Is there a San Francisco or Bay Area equivalent to Austin's (or NYC's) Handmade Music scene, focused on building electronic musical instruments? [more inside]
posted by eschatfische on Mar 24, 2010 - 5 answers

What are some cool arduino music projects, especially guitar effects?
posted by drezdn on Feb 2, 2010 - 2 answers

Should I buy a Pacemaker if I am not a DJ and don't have all that much dance music? [more inside]
posted by jonnyploy on Oct 26, 2009 - 7 answers

Tomorrow, my boyfriend and I will be photographed nude and somewhat covered in electronics (music making equipment and cords). Is there anyway to attach expensive, somewhat heavy mixers and controllers to our bodies? [more inside]
posted by Juliet Banana on Jul 6, 2009 - 12 answers

How do I play videos from my iPod Nano on my Phillips television? My Phillips is a flat screen and has a USB port on the side, which my iPod can dock to. When I connect them, the television even recognizes that an iPod is connected, but doesn't seem to know what to do with it. Any ideas?
posted by gm2007 on Jun 17, 2009 - 3 answers

Which is a better musical instrument: the Tenori-on or the Monome? [more inside]
posted by Juliet Banana on May 29, 2009 - 11 answers

Sync Itunes Playlist to Ipod without copying music? [more inside]
posted by mattholomew on Oct 5, 2008 - 5 answers

DoesorwhydoesntthisexistFilter: A very simple guitar synth. [more inside]
posted by tmcw on Aug 10, 2008 - 19 answers

Effects Pedal Emulation Software? [more inside]
posted by heylight on Aug 13, 2007 - 14 answers

Please tell me everything you know about MIDI over Ethernet or MIDI over IP. [more inside]
posted by loquacious on Feb 11, 2007 - 14 answers

I just got a second-generation iPod Nano as a gift, and I want an inexpensive-yet-functional case for it, that will protect it from damage. [more inside]
posted by Kadin2048 on Nov 11, 2006 - 4 answers

So, the stereo I won on Jeopardy is about to break...what should I replace it with? [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects on Aug 8, 2006 - 17 answers

i just bought a tivoli system (kloss model 2, extra speaker and cd) and have it on the bookshelf but some questions: [more inside]
posted by luriete on Jan 7, 2006 - 10 answers

What DC to AC power inverter can I buy for use in a car that won't contribute hum to an audio signal from devices it powers? [more inside]
posted by odinsdream on Nov 15, 2005 - 11 answers

My MP3 player came with a pair of earbuds, the kind that basically look like tiny headphones with foam covers and sit in the cleft of the ear right in front of the canal. The sound is terrific, but I find them uncomfortable for periods of time over 40 minutes or so, and usually end up switching to a more comfortable pair of overear phones that don't get quite as good sound. Do you have any tips for making these more comfortable? Are my ears just the wrong shape?
posted by PinkStainlessTail on Sep 2, 2005 - 13 answers

I'm in a band. Two guitars, bass, drums. We're looking at maybe throwing in touches of synth -- touches of atmosphere, maybe an occaisional lead line. I have a keyboard/controller (an M-Audio Oxygen8), so I'm just looking for advice vis-a-vis a cheap-but-usable synth module. [more inside]
posted by cortex on May 3, 2005 - 6 answers

I'm looking for a device that processes an audio signal by sweeping the center frequency of a bandpass filter back and forth across a frequency range. What is this effect called, and what sort of effects processor might provide it? [more inside]
posted by Mars Saxman on May 2, 2005 - 8 answers

My car CD player (a Sony unit, probably about 6 years old) pretty much stutters/skips every CD I put in it, usually 5-10 minutes into the disk. Should I replace it, or try those lens cleaner thingies? Also, if I go to replace it, what's the metric in CD players' model specs that will tell me how well the lens will handle light scratches and/or burned CDs? I guess I could just get a really expensive one, but the only feature I really care about is that it doesn't skip.
posted by luser on Sep 14, 2004 - 7 answers