Now you can luxuriate in a nice jail cell, but if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty flowered bonnet, I will end you.

Mal ,'Our Mrs. Reynolds'


Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."

Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!


tommyrot - Feb 28, 2007 10:07:45 am PST #737 of 25496
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Jon, does the toy have a volume control? If so, you could maybe get away with doing it with the volume turned way down.

Othewise, ND is right. Hmm... I wonder if you could take the signal at the toy speaker and put a resistor on it... OK, I'm getting over my head here....

The aux in is a stereo jack (hence the three wires), but the speaker is mono.

Connect the wires to both channels (left and right) of a stereo jack plug. Then the ground goes to the other wire.

There's a big subculture of people who hack electronic toys to make bizzarre musical instruments. Google "circuit bent" - there's gotta be discussion on how to do what you want.

eta: x-posty.

Also try googling "circuit bent line output"


tommyrot - Feb 28, 2007 10:11:41 am PST #738 of 25496
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

OK:

Line outputs are important if you want to experience the full potential of an instrument's frequency range (which often far exceeds the capability of the built-in speaker). Adding a line output also opens the unit up to external signal processing.

A suitable line output can usually be derived from the wires going to the speaker. Simply mount the output jack of choice on the case and solder new wires to it that come from the speaker terminals. Then, plug the instrument in to a small amp to check the output level.

Slowly turn the amp up. If the signal is too hot, add a trim pot to one of the wires going to the new jack you installed and adjust it accordingly (1 Mž will probably work).

[link]

eta: OK, this is better yet: [link]


Jon B. - Feb 28, 2007 10:53:42 am PST #739 of 25496
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!

Thanks for those links, Tommy.

Connect the wires to both channels (left and right) of a stereo jack plug. Then the ground goes to the other wire.

What other wire? Sorry, I\'m not following.


tommyrot - Feb 28, 2007 11:02:56 am PST #740 of 25496
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

What other wire? Sorry, I'm not following.

Oh, I mean connect one wire to feed both channels (left and right) and the other wire to the ground. (The stereo plug only uses those three wires, right?) Basically, you'd make a Y-connector. Or you could just buy a Y-connector (or mono-to-stereo plug) at Radio Shack or something.


Jon B. - Feb 28, 2007 11:10:26 am PST #741 of 25496
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!

Oh, I mean connect one wire to feed both channels (left and right) and the other wire to the ground.

Ah! Got it.


Atropa - Feb 28, 2007 11:14:45 am PST #742 of 25496
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.

Who here has experience with Cafe Press and other print-to-order merchandise places? The Gothic Charm School store is currently Cafe Press -based, but I'm idly looking for other options. Options that might offer messenger bags in a color other than eye-searing yellow.


tommyrot - Feb 28, 2007 11:17:20 am PST #743 of 25496
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Options that might offer messenger bags in a color other than eye-searing yellow.

I'd buy one in black.

Actually, I need a new laptop case for my 13" MacBook. One option I'm considering is a laptop sleeve (or whatever you call them) and a messenger bag....


Atropa - Feb 28, 2007 11:23:12 am PST #744 of 25496
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.

I'd buy one in black.

See, that's my problem with Cafe Press. Everyone would buy a GCS messenger bag in black. But does CP offer them in black? No, they do not. They only have eye-searing yellow.


-t - Feb 28, 2007 11:31:37 am PST #745 of 25496
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Raq mentioned someone she liked better than Cafepress for her stuff, but I can't remember what thread that was in.


esse - Feb 28, 2007 11:42:17 am PST #746 of 25496
S to the A -- using they/them pronouns!

I use laptop sleeves! For both my laptops. They are invaluable. They protect your computer from so much, in whatever back you thrust it into--I have used backpacks, my leather messenger, my generic jansport messenger, my overly large handbag. So worth it.