Jump to content

Musical Electronics Library

Add links
Coordinates: 36°51′24″S 174°45′35″E / 36.856699°S 174.759786°E / -36.856699; 174.759786
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Haminoon (talk | contribs) at 03:26, 15 November 2014 (←Created page with '{{Infobox organization |name = Musical Electronics Library |bgcolor = <!-- header background color --> |fgcolor = <!-- header text color --> |i...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Musical Electronics Library
AbbreviationMEL
Formation2014
TypeNGO, lending library
Location
Coordinates36°51′24″S 174°45′35″E / 36.856699°S 174.759786°E / -36.856699; 174.759786
Region served
New Zealand
Websitemusicalelectronicslibrary.wordpress.com

The Musical Electronics Library (or MEL) is a lending library of homemade electronic musical devices in Auckland, New Zealand.[1]

The library contains electrolytic capacitors, rampwave oscillators, white noise generators, light theremins, sample and holds, ring modulators, preamplifiers, pitch shifters, phasers, and mixers; mostly built inside repurposed VHS cases.[2][3][4][5] Two highlights of the collection are the "electric bee motorcycle sound-maker box" and a device which emulates the sound of meowing cats inside a Cats VHS box.[6]

MEL is run by volunteers and curated by musician and device-builder Kraus.[7][8] The library was inspired by the work of Nicolas Collins and Bob Widlar.[9][10] Musicians using equipment from MEL include Hermione Johnson, Kraus, Pumice, Diana Tribute, Piece War, Ducklingmonster, the Biscuits, Powernap, Herriot Row, Chronic Fatigue Sindrome.[11]

The library has been running synthesizer-building workshops around New Zealand.[12] MEL also co-hosts an open weekly maker night with the Auckland University of Technology where projects are developed in a collaborative environment.[13]

Kraus stated in a New Zealand Listener interview that "doing any kind of community project like this for me is a political thing - of self-organisation and encouraging people to take control of their lives, instead of just being a consumer, buying something someone else has made, or some robots in China. The kind of empowerment that comes from learning a new skill is a really powerful thing."[14]

References

  1. ^ "About". Musical Electronics Library. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Musical Device Library Set To Launch In Spring". Under the Radar. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  3. ^ Thomas, Melody. "Kraus Synth Workshop". Radio New Zealand National. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Musical Device Library Set To Launch In Spring". Under the Radar. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Musical Electronics Library Inventory". myTurn. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  6. ^ Smith, Emma (11 October 2014). "Smashingly Good Time". New Zealand Listener. 245 (3883): 44–45.
  7. ^ Silver, Harry. "May Creative Technologists Meetup". Colab. Auckland University of Technology. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  8. ^ "Musical Electronics Library". Sonorous Circle. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  9. ^ Kraus, Pat. "MEL prehistory 1". Musical Electronics Library. Musical Electronics Library. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Bob Widlar". Space Surveillance Network (July 2014): 5. July 2014.
  11. ^ "MELtastic Auckland Artists". Space Surveillance Network (July 2014): 26. July 2014.
  12. ^ Thomas, Melody. "Kraus Synth Workshop". Radio New Zealand National. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  13. ^ "MEL & AUT Colab:Weekly Maker Nights". Space Surveillance Network (July 2014): 24. July 2014.
  14. ^ Smith, Emma (11 October 2014). "Smashingly Good Time". New Zealand Listener. 245 (3883): 44–45.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Musical_Electronics_Library&oldid=633895746"