113 – Music Box Project

I built this music box with piezo/volume knob/output jack today. It was inspired by a design that I saw Marcus Fischer + Taylor Deupree using recently and Jared Smyth has created one also. Taylor’s looks like it was made with an actual cigar box and Marcus and Jared both used plain wood boxes.
 
Mine was built with a box from a craft store and a Kikkerland Make-Your-Own Music Box Kit. I wired a piezo element to a volume knob and output jack and mounted them to the top. It was easy to mount inside the box since it opens up. The hardest part (besides getting all the parts) was drilling the holes and being patient.
 
The piece that winds and plays the music came with a Happy Birthday melody paper spool. I played it and recorded this into Logic and added a touch of reverb. This time I used the TC Electronics M30 reverb plugin. This was a fun project and I’m getting more comfortable creating things. I’m starting to get ideas for other instruments I could possibly make with wood boxes and electronics. It’s nice to make things with your hands – time sure flies by when you work on stuff like this.
 

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