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Musical Electronics Library

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Coordinates: 36°51′24″S 174°45′35″E / 36.856699°S 174.759786°E / -36.856699; 174.759786
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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, and is a world-wide leader in the Scavengetronica movement.[1][2]

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.[3][4][5][6] 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.[7]

MEL is run by volunteers and curated by musician and device-builder Kraus.[8][9] The library was inspired by the work of Nicolas Collins and Bob Widlar.[10][11] Musicians using equipment from MEL include Hermione Johnson, Kraus, Pumice, Diana Tribute, the MEL Orchestra, Piece War, Ducklingmonster, The Biscuits|the Biscuits, Powernap, Herriot Row, and Chronic Fatigue Sindrome.[12][13]

The library has been running synthesizer-building workshops around New Zealand.[14] MEL also co-hosts an open weekly maker night with the Auckland University of Technology where projects are developed in a collaborative environment.[15]

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."[16]

References

  1. ^ Norling, Sean. "UTR's Highlights Of 2014". Under The Radar. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. ^ "About". Musical Electronics Library. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Musical Device Library Set To Launch In Spring". Under the Radar. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  4. ^ Thomas, Melody. "Kraus Synth Workshop". Radio New Zealand National. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Musical Device Library Set To Launch In Spring". Under the Radar. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Musical Electronics Library Inventory". myTurn. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  7. ^ Smith, Emma (11 October 2014). "Smashingly Good Time". New Zealand Listener. 245 (3883): 44–45.
  8. ^ Silver, Harry. "May Creative Technologists Meetup". Colab. Auckland University of Technology. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Musical Electronics Library". Sonorous Circle. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  10. ^ Kraus, Pat. "MEL prehistory 1". Musical Electronics Library. Musical Electronics Library. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Bob Widlar". Space Surveillance Network (July 2014): 5. July 2014.
  12. ^ "MELtastic Auckland Artists". Space Surveillance Network (July 2014): 26. July 2014.
  13. ^ Dass, Kiran. "Nowhere Festival 2014". Radio New Zealand National. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  14. ^ Thomas, Melody. "Kraus Synth Workshop". Radio New Zealand National. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  15. ^ "MEL & AUT Colab:Weekly Maker Nights". Space Surveillance Network (July 2014): 24. July 2014.
  16. ^ Smith, Emma (11 October 2014). "Smashingly Good Time". New Zealand Listener. 245 (3883): 44–45.
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