For a while I was sort of obsessed with Sinclair computers and peripherals. The ZX Spectrum was the first computer I discovered, and it was probably some nostalgia fetish :)

I have made over twenty sound related devices that are cased in old Sinclair computer and peripheral cases. I love the design of them, most of them designed by the late Rick Dickinson. Before you get all worked up, the units where all broken beyond repair.

I am intrigued by the challenge of working with an existing object. The possibilities and limitations fuel my creativity, and I enjoy the practices of reuse and DIY.

The full setup

  • 2 x SID-chip synths
  • 2 x Game Boy synths with Arduinoboys
  • FM synth (drums)
  • NES synth
  • YM 2149 synth
  • Vocoder
  • KORG MS-20 filter clone with CV
  • 7 x effect boxes
  • Audino synth
  • Speech chip synth
  • MIDI keyboards and controllers
  • PC running a MIDI sequencer

MIDIbox Stereo SID

Stereo Synthesizer based on the SID-chip MOS 6581 from the Commodore 64, in a ZX Spectrum + 128K case (toast rack)

MIDIbox Stereo SID

Stereo Synthesizer based on the SID-chip MOS 8580 from the Commodore 64, with Feedback Mod, in a ZX Spectrum + case.

MIDI NES

Stereo Synthesizer controlling the RP2A03 chip in the Nintendo NES with a MIDI NES cart, and a full control surface, in a ZX Spectrum + 128K case (toast rack)

YM2149

Synthesizer based on the Yamaha YM2149 chip from the Atari ST, in a ZX Spectrum + case.

MIDIbox FM

FM Synthesizer based on the Yamaha YMF262 (OPL3) chip, in a ZX Spectrum + case.

EHX V256

Electro-Harmonix V256 Vocoder with MIDI keyboard, in a ZX Spectrum + case.

PC

IBM laptop PC with touch pad, mouse buttons, arrow buttons and a big red button, in two joined QL cases.

I haven’t dared to press the red button yet…..

Here is a couple of videos of the setup