Microphonic Soundbox
The Microphonic Soundbox is an acoustic wooden experimental instrument, which perfectly integrates in any audio setup to create interesting and otherworldly soundscapes. It comes prepared with metal springs, metal rods, sand paper and a Kalimba made from carbon strips, but it can easily be extended with any other found materials. It can be played in many ways by scratching, bowing, etc., to create totally unique sounds. It's the perfect sound design tool - be creative!
The Jazz musician and master of experimentation Bugge Wesseltoft told us „Microphonic Soundbox was my favorite at Superbooth synth exhibition"!
Technical info: It features 2 internal contact microphones and 2 battery powered low noise pre-amps (~100x Gain), both signals can be mixed together and sent to the mono out as a line level. Inserting an external signal to the input will switch off the first internal mic and use the external signal instead, what also makes it a platform for amplifying and mixing external Hi-Z signals. It's standing on soft rubber feet, which guarantee a good grip on most surfaces, and also do some acoustic decoupling.
How to use: Standalone it's already fun, but its whole potential is unveiled when it's being processed in realtime by livesampling, loopers and effects like in our video. Please note that in the end of the video there are lots of effects on it, the pure sound can be heard in the beginning. For getting you started, we provide a Live-Set for Ableton as a free download, but of course you can use it with any other DAW or mixing desk. You can also interact with modular gear and use it as a trigger or create sound spectrums to use with modules like Clouds or extract gates from its sounds. Possibilities are endless and we are looking forward to see what people will do with it.
Soundbox History: Manuel from LeafAudio created this instrument in the late nineties and used it on lots of his Xabec albums, in live shows and sound design work. Before we made it public now, it had a 20 year long and very personal history.
Soundbox Community: We created a facebook usergroup for you to share your experiences, pictures, music & videos. Feel free to join our community.
Microphonic Soundbox
The Soundbox mk2 is ready, pre-orders will be shipped early sept, all new orders after the 15th.
We only distribute within the EU but DIY kits are available in the US via Modular Addict, assembled versions via Analogue
Haven.
The Microphonic Soundbox mk2 is available as a DIY kit or ready built version.
- The amplifier circuitry has even better audio quality and extended frequency range now.
- The power supply unit has a new battery management circuit and switches the LED from blue to red when battery goes under 7 volt (still hours left then).
- The Kalimba features now 5 strips and is mounted on a threaded M3 strip, so can be exchanged against whatever you want, using M3 screws.
- Also on the left side we have integrated an M3 strip over the whole length and we include an additional wood piece, which allows to mount a big range of sound-generating objects and we include additional thumb screws.
- An add-on package with more springs etc. is planned and coming soon.
- Mk2 has two outputs now: one mixes both amp-channels together, if the other one is used additionally, channels are sent to the outs separately.
- The Soundbox is now a hub for external contact mics: By the two outs you are able to use the external input on a separate out and can still play the Soundbox via the other channel.
- The output features an attenuator, which makes it possible to use the Soundbox with more sensitive audio interfaces and consumer equipment.
We recommend to additionally buy the violin bow and rosin for being able to play it properly. You can download a Live-Set for Ableton 9 here to get started with performing with the box. It's exactly the Live-Set we used in the video, new video featuring the mk2 will follow in october.
DIY Info: The new mk2 has a lot of SMD parts, which are pre-polulated on the circuit board, all through-hole components and wiring has to be done by you. All parts and wood glue are included, you will need some additional tools. The assembly manual and videos guide you through the building process of the DIY kit (manual is still for the mk1 version but will guide your way, we'll update it as soon we find the time) .
DIY level: medium. You have to assemble some electronics, as well as wood parts and mechanical parts. It is not complicated but every step has to be planned and thought through, if you are not sure that you can make it, please buy the ready built one. You will find the assembly manual here on our support page (manual is still for the mk1 version but will guide your way, we'll update it as soon we find the time).
*B-Stock modules contain some small optical or technical inaccuracies. No returns for B-Stock modules.
229,00 €
- 1,4 kg
- Available
- Ships within 5-10 days1