Muff's Modules & More

jake · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:31 pm Post subject: need some help

okay, well basically i spend far too much time on the computer (ridiculous amounts of time even for a 17 year old) and my family is getting concerened im turning into a zombie just on the computer all day, the reason is i make music all day (but they dont understand) and pretty much all i do hobby wise is on the computer, obviously i go out and do stuff sometimes but thats only out with friends or work. so im thinking it would be a good idea to get a new hobby and pastime of sorts. i have a budget of 250 pound to get me started and i was thinking of buying a soldering iron and doing kits and learning electronics, the reason been if i can make kits for music gear it comes in useful and i do find the whole electronics side interesting due to liking synths/computers and studying IT for a career ect. what stuff would i need to get me up and running whilst staying in my budget, what kits could i do that would be interesting and that are not too hard or come with instructions. It's motherfucking bacon yo

jake · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject:

oh

i also fap fap fap...

all day too

hihi

just thought i would throw that in there....

thumbs up

sandyb · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:33 pm Post subject:

here's some light reading for you.
have fun smile

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21085

jake · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject:

thanks sandy, do you have any suggestions of kits, most of the ones i have seen have been for modules but i dont have a eurorack any more

thumbs up

polyroy · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:04 pm Post subject:

If you've never done anything before, get one of the cheap kits from Maplin. £5 and you can have a LED Christmas tree or something lame, but it's better to fuck that up and learn whatever lesson you needed to learn, than on a PCB you paid better money for.

reignbear · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:14 pm Post subject:

i've been eyeballing these amdromeda space rockers kits. make a little modular drum machine.
http://ericarcher.net/products/

add some delay
http://woosteraudio.com/space-baby.html

midi sync with your computer
http://woosteraudio.com/midi-ir.html

reignbear · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject:

reignbear · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:31 pm Post subject:

also lunetta circuits are a great and cheap way to learn and make cool stuff. the designs are built around cmos chips that are generally less than a dollar and minimal components.

http://electro-music.com/forum/forum-160.html

they can be just parts on a breadboard or perfboard or you can turn them into modules...

b3nsf · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject:

soldering is fun and creative, however, you're still sitting, and hunched over something....

So I think a great hobby besides making music is biking aka cycling, you can get in shape, see the beautiful things in life as you pass thru towns and country side... plus you can eat more and drink more without as much guilt!

I always think about music making when I ride too.. In my mind I'm connecting effects in a different way that sounds new and fresh!! hihi

too bad I forget by the time I get home... applause

anyways! have fun with your new hobby! thumbs up

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject:

mhmm · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:44 pm Post subject:

join a gym and start workin out and like bensf says cycling is great too

jonah · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject:

If you really want to tie it into music, what about playing shows? I'm pretty sure it's the not getting out of the house that's concerning your parents more than the one hobby.

DIY stuff is fun, maybe try to find some folks locally to teach you? Even a stained glass class might be a fun way to level up your soldering skills.

The noise/DIY/circuit bending scene might not be your bag musically, but they're often enthusiastic, openminded and into sharing knowledge.

If you really just want to get your parents off your back consider volunteering somewhere for a few hours a week. Adults will put up with a lot more bull if they think you're socially responsible! smile

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:33 pm Post subject:

Have you considered RC Planes as a new hobby?

Flying RC planes is a pretty exciting hobby, because any accidents can leave you without a plane; it's a non stop adrenalin rush! OK maybe I'm over hyping it a little, but it's definitely a bit of fun.

It used it be a hobby that was quite expensive, but these days you can get into it for about $200 (HobbyZone "champ", and a second hand DX6i controller).

Most importantly it's a hobby that old people seem to respect.

I'm going to start a RC Hobbies thread sooner than later, so that i can suss out all the wigglers who have planes, heli's and cars, I'm pretty sure there's a fair few here.

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:58 am Post subject:

actually, SDIY might be a great way to get back into Euro hihi

An AVR (atmega) kit might be another option, and a good way to get into programming (c), plus there are many different fields you can use a kit in (robotics, synths etc) Most kits are compatible with breadboards, so you don't even need to solder (I'm recommending AVR's instead of arduino becuase of the type of coding you'll learn is transferable if you study IT/Electronics at a higher level).
The only downside is that it will inevitably have you stuck behind a keyboard, which will still upset your parents, so perhaps not the best suggestion...

Did i mention that RC planes are awesome? w00t

Backroads · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:05 am Post subject:

Ha, I started playing hardware synths etc. to get myself away from the computer.

elgato · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:27 am Post subject:

drewtoothpaste · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:43 am Post subject:

Learn to lift weights. You can join a gym that has free weights or buy a power cage + barbell set, both are cheap.

My parents worried that I was spending too much time on the computer (in the 90s) and I did get a little fat but I work on the computer for a living now, so you can tell them that + then explain you're going to lift weights to take care of the fat thing.

whitewulfe · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:53 am Post subject:

I would normally suggest the stuff from Games Workshop, but their miniatures tend to rapidly eat away at any budget you have - even if you stick to just ONE army in one of their two main games (Warhammer Fantasy, or Warhammer 40,000). I've easily spent $2k CAD on the minis for my various armies (current two 40k, and one fantasy), and have at least another $2.5k CAD on the wishlist to make those armies more flexible!

Autoslalom/autocross is always a fun hobby to get into, plus it gets you outdoors, usually pushes you into learning how to work on a car, and it's also a great "excuse" to use for driver training ^_^ (aka telling your parents "oh, it's a fun sort of driver training"). It's also usually not that expensive to do (out here, a solo2 event is maybe $35 CAD per day, usually cheaper with a membership in the local car club)

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:08 am Post subject:

jake · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 10:24 am Post subject:

Luka · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:15 pm Post subject:

M. Rishi · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:11 am Post subject:

JAKE.

1. LAWYER UP

2. DELETE FACEBOOK

3. HIT THE GYM

4. $$$

LoFi Junglist · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:23 am Post subject:

Anyone game to suspend their modular from the ceiling like that? hihi

metasonix · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 3:09 am Post subject: