Gimme Gimme Gimme

July 18, 2006 12:32 PM

"The Buddha Machine" Does this actually exist and where can I buy it?

Having picked up the recent Believer magazine on a whim, I came across this great article, in which the guy talks about this "Portable Ambient Music Generator." for the reasonable price of $23.00.

So, is it actually out there?

posted by stratastar to Technology (12 answers total)

Yup. I've seen them for sale in Toronto. C$30 at Soundscapes.

Try an alternative music store or buy one thru the band's website.
posted by dobbs at 12:36 PM on July 18, 2006

Best answer: The group that created it is called FM3, based in Beijing. US distribution is by Forced Exposure. That Believer article is pretty good. Pissed me off that they didn't even mentioned the artists behind it.

A while ago I collected some of the press on it, if you're interested.
posted by RobotAdam at 12:39 PM on July 18, 2006

Best answer: It's available here for $25
posted by saffron at 12:49 PM on July 18, 2006

Response by poster: Awesome! The article was fantastic, it caught that feeling of first falling in love with music perfectly. thanks everyone!
posted by stratastar at 12:53 PM on July 18, 2006

For anyone in Austin, End of an Ear on South 1st was selling them a couple of months ago.
posted by lunalaguna at 1:36 PM on July 18, 2006

It's been an under the counter item at my local record shop for a while. I want to take one out and play with it but the glass display case! It prevents me!
posted by shanevsevil at 2:15 PM on July 18, 2006

Buddha-machine.com has the most info, including a link to a demonstration on YouTube.
posted by zonkout at 2:51 PM on July 18, 2006

I just want to say that I bought one as a last-minute gift this past christmas through Forced Exposure, and they were great about getting to me: I'd changed a delivery address late in the game, IIRC, and it was no problem. The Buddha Machine is fun, and Forced Exposure were great.
posted by .kobayashi. at 3:43 PM on July 18, 2006

I have two. They're great, especially hooked into a sound system. My S.O. likes to cook to it.
posted by intermod at 5:54 PM on July 18, 2006

What a charming concept (and at a very reasonable price). I totally just went and bought one. Looks perfect for work, when I need to tune out distractions but not be distracted by the music itself.
posted by ottereroticist at 5:58 PM on July 18, 2006

I got mine at The Thing on Changle Rd, in Shanghai, and thought it was overrated. But then I'm the kind of person who doesn't wear an MP3 player on my commute because I like the urban sounds of the street and subway.
posted by msittig at 8:45 PM on July 18, 2006

Wow, it sounds really cool. If I was looking for one in Sydney, any idea where I would go?
posted by Jubey at 1:59 AM on July 19, 2006