You know, for kids.

[fluxivity]

I'm trying to come up with a modular project that could be used to instruct junior high schoolers on some aspect of sound or recording technology. I've already thought of a small tube amp that could instruct them on how to blacken their fingernails and dance cursing about the room. Any ideas for something that would be more fun to realize and elucidate some physics in the process?
thanks
P

 

[Infernal_Death]

Well not sure what a suitable project would be but i think a project involving tubes sure isn't. I think it's a bit too dangerous for kids to handle so much voltage. Especially if they don't pay too much attention which can happen with kids of that age. Also i would hate to be the instructor and then a kid under my care would get electrocuted.

Flo

 

[Ptownkid]

Why not a small solid state amp like the RUBY.


http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html

 

[AnalogPackrat]

How about a few simple analog synth modules? VCO, VCA, LFO, VCF. The filter might get a bit hairy to explain, but the other stuff is relatively simple at a conceptual level.

A P

 

[Gus]

Why not something like a Si fuzz face type circuit?

low parts count

 

[rodabod]

Again, the FF is the first circuit that came to my mind. Despite the circuit's simplicity, there are some interesting points to note...

 

[hejsan]

How bout a tiny battery driven chip-poweramp with one tiny speaker on it and one mini jack input which they could use to blast their iPods?

just a tiny box.. you know... for kids..
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[Sammas]

[quote author="AnalogPackrat"]How about a few simple analog synth modules? VCO, VCA, LFO, VCF. The filter might get a bit hairy to explain, but the other stuff is relatively simple at a conceptual level.

A P[/quote]


I think this is a good idea. Start simple with a VCO or two... you could spend weeks talking about the various waveform shapes as well as the effects of superimposing one waveform over another -> phase relationships, constructive and destructive interference.

 

[jensenmann]

What about a bigger project like active speakers? There are following subjects included:
-linear PSU
-poweramplifier (you could use the easy-to-build 40W chips)
-active frequency dividing network
-speakers
-enclosure

Loads of theoretical background can be covered this way and you could give different tasks to different groups of students, for example 2 building the enlosures, 2 building the FDN, six building the amps, 2 building the PSUs. The good thing about this kind of project is that they only succeed if they work together hence social competence will be delivered.

 

[kvintus]

I think a speaker or amplifier project would be more suitable than a stompbox or a synth. Not everyone plays an instrument but almost everyone listens to music. It's really important to let them build something that is useful to them.

/Anders

 

[therecordingart]

The Ruby would be a kick ass project for a kid. Have them come up with the money for parts and they leave school with a practice amp.

 

[ioaudio]

i second the idea of building speakers. we did that at school as a project which was planned to last for 1/2 a year, but we spend way over 1 year building speakers... parents and teachers were buying them, the money was used for new equipment for the school theater. we felt quite proud and learned a lot...