The Sound of Machines

Now Shipping Internationally!

Hey everyone. I had initially set up my shop to only ship within the US while I got everything running. A few folks were asking when I'd be shipping to their country.

Good news—I am now set up to ship world-wide. Come on by!

2025-05-07 15:50:42 +0000 UTC View Post

Update: Rotary Drone is Shipping, and Regularly Scheduled Content

Woohoo! The Rotary Drone tutorial is wrapped up which means I can start putting the kits in the mail! Those will go out in the mail starting Monday.

In the second part of this update I address my struggle with creating a regular schedule of downloads and content for you guys. I'm really exc...

Let's Hear How This Sounds Ep.5 (With Stems)

Welcome to the last episode of the "old version" of Let's Hear How This Sounds. An experimental series where I document the process of writing and recording music in my home studio.

Each episode starts with random prompts that dictate which instruments and effects will be used in the song.<...

Let's Hear How This Sounds Ep.4 (With Stems)

Welcome to the fourth episode of "Let's Hear How This Sounds". An experimental series where I document the process of writing and recording music in my home studio.

Each episode starts with random prompts that dictate which instruments and effects will be used in the song.

Below are t...

What's up with the Cassettone Two?

Hey I know, I know. It's been a minute since I've even uttered the word "Cassettone", right? Here's where I'm at with the project.

Let me know your thoughts, and I'll tell you why you are my favorite Patreon subscriber. Fair?

Seriously. You guys are awesome and I thank you for support...

Rotary Drone Kits (and fully-built units) Are Now Available!

It took a while to get all the measurements right, but I'm finally ready to start selling these little guys. I am going to take pre-orders for a week or two to get a sense of how many are ordered before cutting a ton of pricy wood at the maker space.

Orders will begin shipping in May until ...

Triggering Midi With Contact Mics: Part 2

This is the second video in the series that starts here.

Using a tin can to trigger ...

How I Prepare Backing Tracks for Playing Live: Behind the Scenes

After over TEN years, I am finally getting back on stage performing live music.

All of my previous performances have been as the bassist and singer in a band called Go Home Robot. But now it's a different beast, as I am performing these sets as a solo musician.

Now I am not the type...

My New Favorite Plugin Turns Live Audio into MIDI

I love this plugin and have been using it a lot for random experimental-type work.

 It's been in a few of my Instagram reels, and each time I use it, people reach out asking what it is.

It's called 2025-04-02 00:38:21 +0000 UTC View Post

The Final Motor Drone Update Before Kits!

Hi all! I have been futzing about quite a bit with the design and audio quality of the motor drone before feeling like it's "kit-ready". I'm finally there.

Because of the redesign, I'm now calling these "Rotary Drones". Cause they slightly resemble old rotary phones. Look.... It's fine. 2025-03-26 22:45:37 +0000 UTC View Post

A List of the Contact Microphones That I Use.

A common question I get on my posts is "what is that little thing you are using?". The answer, more often than not, is "a piezo mic".

Also known as "contact microphones", they are fun, affordable elements that can pick up vibrations in objects and convert them to sound.

While some of ...

Awww. It’s so cute!

Here’s another post about that motor drone that’s sweeping the nation.

A few tweaks and it’ll be ready for “kit-ifycation”. That’s like, turning it into a kit…

I also wanted to show some of the new piezo mics I just got!

See you in the next video.

-Rich

Metal Percussion: T Pot Bridge Sample Pack

I really enjoy taking walks across this pedestrian walkway in my city of Richmond, VA. While it's official name is the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, locals refer to it at the T-Pot Brid...

The Simple Circuitry of a Motor Drone

Hello. This here is the first of two videos I will post about the motor drone.

I'm still in the process of making a case that I can sell as a kit but didn't want to hold off any longer on showing you how to build the electronics portions if you wish to source all the bits yourself.

So...

An update on the Motor Drone Video for you drone heads

Hi everyone! Nice to see you.

 I'm bolts-deep in the process of creating the "how to" video for the Motor Drone machine and came across a tweak I'd like to make to the build.

This just means I need an extra day or so before it'll be ready to post.

In the meantime, with you...

Let's Hear How This Sounds Ep.3 (With STEMS)

Welcome to the third episode of "Let's Hear How This Sounds". An experimental series where I document the process of writing and recording music in my home studio.

Each episode starts with random prompts that dictate which instruments and effects will be used in the song.

Below are th...

Let's Hear How This Sounds Ep.2 (With Stems)

Welcome to the second episode of "Let's Hear How This Sounds". An experimental series where I document the process of writing and recording music in my home studio.

Each episode starts with random prompts that dictate which instruments and effects will be used in the song.

Below are ...

Let's Hear How This Sounds Ep.1 (With STEMS)

Here is the first episode of a series that I made a couple years ago on YouTube. It never got much traction, and I think that's why I stopped after doing five of them.

I really enjoy the process of recording these tracks that are prompted from randomized selections of instruments and ...

The Cassettone Live on Set!

So there's this cool Synth collective where I live (in Richmond, VA) that meets every month at a bar that is decked out with all kinds of amazing art.

Each meet-up ends with an open mic for anyone interested in playing a short live set. This month, the organizer was nice enough to give me ...

A Long February Cassettone Update!

Hi! Come join me on this epic adventure as I continue chipping away at the circuitry of the Cassettone.

Because the length of this update is quite long, let me spoil the end.

I fail.

I fail over and over until I throw in the towel and decide to hire outside electronic engineer h...

ISO Audio Greeting Cards from the Past...

My love of circuit bending started way back around 2006 when I saw my first bent Speak and Spell. From that point on, I was buying junk toys at thrift shops and dollar stores to exper...

Using a Minibrute to Affect a Modified Tape Player

Here is a nine minute jam from a few years back that has been sitting on my computer waiting for a home. I stumbled across it the other day and remembered how much I loved the sounds I captured here. I thought that you might too!

In the video I'm running the audio output from a 2025-01-26 17:11:23 +0000 UTC View Post

A Chilly Cassettone Update for Jan 2025

Hello everyone. There is a lot of really fun stuff to cover in this video!

Come meet a new member of the team that's helping the Cassettone Two become a reality, and watch me present the project to a room full of synth fans. Things are moving faster now!

Wishing everyone well.  2025-01-13 03:49:22 +0000 UTC View Post

A little mess before Christmas

Hey all! Our work on the Cassettone Two is in a bit of a lull as the holiday season pulls both Becky and I in different directions, but progress is being made!

Here, Becky and I chat a bit about the current state of the guts of the unit. She has outgrown the hardwiring phase and is now read...

Sample Download: Piezos in Ice

This sample pack is the beginning of a series in which I will be recording the sound of piezo mics as they are destroyed. While the ones in this recording survived unscathed, the following experiments will not be as kind. Think laser cutters, cnc routers, fire, microwaves, and trains...

I h...

Christmas Cassettone Updates

Hi everyone. The holidays are upon us and both Becky and I have been in a bit of a holiday-inspired lull, but there are still some exciting updates!

After I make some minor updates to the button layout (the drone switch will be moved to the front panel), Becky will be sending out the desig...

The Sound of Machines Store is Live!

Hi everyone. In case you didn't catch it in the last update, thesoundofmachines.com is up and running! Currently, I have 10 loop tape...

Dec 2 Cassettone (and loop cassettes) Update

Hello and happy holiday season! Hope all my American members had a good Thanksgiving, etc, etc.

Here are some of the latest updates on where I am at in the production of The Cassettone Two, and also on the first series of cassette tape loops that will be available this week on 2024-12-02 17:34:12 +0000 UTC View Post

A win for tape loop quality

I was pulling my (beard?) hair out trying to figure out why the recorded loop audio had terrible frequency feedback. This is just a day in the life moment of what the issue was.

New stuff tomorrow!!

Audio Download - Rain Notes in Fall

The past few days, I have been enjoying this Max for Live plugin called "Augmented Percussion". If you follow my Instagram, that is what I used for the knife synth sounds and also how I m...