Making Synths Out Of Audio Cassettes

8bit Mixtapes are simple Arduino-based sound and beat generators based on ATtiny 84s and 85s and designed fit inside old audio cassettes, or at least be about that size. Founded by [Dusjagr], [Ucok] and [Lyok], and including participants from around the globe, 8bit Mixtapes are small synthesizers that play one-line algorithmic symphonies, simple sound generators that work off of a single line of code.

The project has been going on for a number of years, with several different iterations released over the years–the most recent is the Mixtape NEO, released about a month ago that features audio bootloading and a row of NeoPixel LEDs. It’s well documented and fully open source, with a code repository and wiki. The arty PCBs look great as well!

8bit Mixtapes are a natural project for electronics students to tackle. An ATtiny85 with two pots and two buttons? Pretty simple, and the musical payoff makes it a cinch for one-day workshops. The code simplicity makes it easy to modify the software as well.

Quirky synths are Hackaday’s bag, including one we published previously that controls a hexagonal matrix of LEDs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dveu7Udco8whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP1CbmxvEw0

16 thoughts on “Making Synths Out Of Audio Cassettes

    1. Ahja… we talked sooo many times about that idea! We also did some prototype that could fit back into a cassette player. just get rid of the potentiomenters.
      an earliest edition 0.2 or something went towards this:
      http://wiki.sgmk-ssam.ch/wiki/8bit_Mix_Tape#Parts

      some versions are fit into existing tape cases, a bit fiddly and difficult to do at workshops, and we switched to artsy-tape styled PCB at some point, and 3d printed case.

      another edition designed by GaudiLabs, not using the attiny85, is a fork from the spark fun fio3, but redesigned to fit nicely into a cassette tape case. see this nice video:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMRP7uCivyY

        1. Funny, I made the audio bootloader 2011 and now, 6 years later the people seem to use it.
          >There are commerical implementations of this. HaD has covered higher frequency >communications in the past too.
          Do you have some links?

  1. Cool project-I had not heard of these. I love the simplicity of the build and there are lots of possibilities.
    @ChrisMicro-thanks for the audiobootloader and the git link :) I have some weekend tinkering ahead it appears :)

  2. I love the stop motion!

    I use the same laminator for toner transfer and after watching this video I went and looked at mine and – yes – there is a reverse direction switch. DUH

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