Read the full article on MAKE

Read the full article on MAKE

Read the full article on MAKE

Read the full article on MAKE

Amanda Ghassaei built this sweet vocal effects box:

This effects box uses an Arduino to sample incoming audio at 40kHz with 8 bit precision, the audio data is then digitally pitch shifted and distorted to produce a wide variety of effects. To minimize the amount of computation required by the Arduino, I used a technique called granular synthesis to perform the audio processing. Essentially, as audio comes into the Arduino it gets cut up and stored as small (millisecond or microsecond sized) samples called “grains.” These grains are then individually manipulated and played back; they may be lengthened or shortened, stretched or compressed, played back in reverse, copied several times, or mixed with other grains.

Hear her remix of Over the Rainbow! [via Arduino]

This giant-size version of Operation from Brian of the Lansing Makers Network was an enormous hit at Maker Faire Detroit. The game is played just like the original and uses scaled up pieces and kitchen tongs as tweezers. An Arduino detects any false moves and reports them to a computer running a custom Processing sketch. In addition to keeping score, the sketch also keeps track of the the fastest times, peak usage, number of games played and any other information Brian, a self proclaimed data fanatic, could think of. I was a bit disappointed that the ‘scare you to death’ buzzer of the original was left out. Maybe he could work that in on the even larger version he’s building for next year?

For Maker Camp, our virtual summer camp for teens, most of the materials for the projects use common household items, others, such as the Compressed Air Rocket Kit in the picture, can be purchased in the Maker Shed.

To celebrate the launch of Maker Camp, the Maker Shed is offering free shipping on all orders over $50! Just use coupon code MAKERCAMP upon checkout to get the deal. It’s the perfect way to stock up on camp supplies or to take your new found skills to the next level. With everything from Arduino, to guitar kits, to tools, the Maker Shed has something for every maker.

Want to attend Maker Camp? It’s easy and free, just follow MAKE on Google+!

Ellen Sundh’s Bad Posture belt uses an Arduino, wave shield, and a flex sensor to detect when the user slouches. If your posture needs correcting, the belt literally yells at you. How’s that for motivation?

The belt is calibrated when the user presses a pushbutton after attaining good posture. After that, he/she is free to be lambasted by this piece of wearable tech.

[via The Creators Project]

An LCD screen can bring a whole new level of interactivity to your Arduino projects. They can provide instant data without using your computer and give visual feedback about your project. Normally, you would use a separate breadboard to hook up an LCD but using a MakerShield and this tutorial from Make: Projects, you can make your own LCD shield!

LCD screens look complicated but using an Arduino it’s not too bad at all. This tutorial will teach you how to hook up an LCD display to an Arduino using a MakerShield. All the components you need for this build are included in the Ultimate Microcontroller Pack.

You can pick up an Ultimate Microcontoller Pack from the Maker Shed, Micro Center, and select RadioShack locations. Call me crazy but I love the look of all those jumper wires!

More:
Using the MakerShield – Button
Using the MakerShield – Servo Control

Larry Ogrodnek, creator of the LED NameTag kit, figured out a great way to use an RGB backlight LCD to display temperature data.

This is a really simple ambient display for temperature using an Arduino, an RGB backlight LCD, and a temperature sensor.

The LCD displays the temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius and adjusts the color of the backlight depending on the reading. An ideal range is set at 61F to 67F. If the temperature is in this range the backlight will change green. Above this range and the color will change red, below the range it will change blue.

The great thing about these kinds of displays is that you can immediately get some rough information from across the room.

This is just a quick project. An obvious improvement is to have more variations in color depending on how far you are from your ideal range. I.e. as the temperature increases out of the ideal range, move along the color wheel and use shades of yellow, then orange before hitting red. There’s also a lot of empty room on that LCD. Possibly room for data from other sensors, or maybe just a larger (2-line) font.

This is perfect for someone like me who only needs 5 different temperature increments; really cold, cold, nice, hot, and really hot. Most of these parts and (Larry’s NameTag kit) are available in the Maker Shed.

[via Analog Machines]