Can cheap crud be more fun?

[Erisian]

I have often wondered what it would be like to record a piece of music using only children's toys or household noises that have been modulated and effects added. How much fun the BBC must have had grinding piano strings to get the sound of the Tardis. Today, everything seems just a little too easy sometimes and I feel like venturing into the real world to see what junk I can find to make new sounds with. Has anybody here done this?

[nix808]

yeah- found sound is pretty famous I think

when I first started with computer audio, I used almost anything-
jackhammer to steel bowl filled with water, dropped box, saw blade-
resonance, boxed nails

here is a collection of hole saws for you if you'd like some small bells->
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/h6u1jy

imo try it, sounds like fun! I bet you can bend your recordings into amazing sounds

[Erisian]

yeah- found sound is pretty famous I think

when I first started with computer audio, I used almost anything-
jackhammer to steel bowl filled with water, dropped box, saw blade-
resonance, boxed nails

here is a collection of hole saws for you if you'd like some small bells->
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/h6u1jy

imo try it, sounds like fun! I bet you can bend your recordings into amazing sounds

Thanks. I'll be sticking those in a sampler to start with, or maybe Audacity just to see what I can come up with.

[vurt]

kitchens are full of sounds.
grab your phone, make a brew.

tap squeak.
water in to sink.
water in to kettle.
kettle being replaced on base or plugged in.
kettle being clicked on.
water boiling.
kettle clicking off.
jar opening.
spooning sugar.
jar closing.
diff jar opening.
spooning coffee.
diff jar closing.
water in cup.
stir.
slurp.

16 sounds,no milk.

slice the longer ones, paul stretch the shorter...
process in multiple ways, layer, loop...

now just imagine the rest of those little noises you ignore
bit of gain, low electricity hum, becomes a drone, add moving filters and delay....

[BertKoor]

Bang a stick really hard on the cushions of your couch. Best kick drum sound evvah!

[deastman]

A good friend of mine has gradually transitioned to only making music with cheap Casio and Yamaha home keyboards, cassette recorders, 1980’s effect boxes, and other cheap and unwanted gear. He gets pretty good results out of that stuff, which just goes to show that the musical concept is far more important than the gear used to execute that idea.

[Erisian]

A good friend of mine has gradually transitioned to only making music with cheap Casio and Yamaha home keyboards, cassette recorders, 1980’s effect boxes, and other cheap and unwanted gear. He gets pretty good results out of that stuff, which just goes to show that the musical concept is far more important than the gear used to execute that idea.

Absolutely. You don't hear much of anybody using the General Midi sounds on their computer but there are some great sounds there. I love synth strings 1 and the warm pad in particular but the orchestral sounds are really useful and there are so many awesome drum kits to choose from with a ton of percussion instruments.

[Erisian]

kitchens are full of sounds.
grab your phone, make a brew.

tap squeak.
water in to sink.
water in to kettle.
kettle being replaced on base or plugged in.
kettle being clicked on.
water boiling.
kettle clicking off.
jar opening.
spooning sugar.
jar closing.
diff jar opening.
spooning coffee.
diff jar closing.
water in cup.
stir.
slurp.

16 sounds,no milk.

slice the longer ones, paul stretch the shorter...
process in multiple ways, layer, loop...

now just imagine the rest of those little noises you ignore
bit of gain, low electricity hum, becomes a drone, add moving filters and delay....

What great ideas. I was given an electric massager a few years ago and I was thinking of recording that and using it. I have a damaged toy zither that could be useful and who knows what else.

[vurt]

[AnX]

. I was given an electric massager a few years ago...

course you were

[vurt]

[Distorted Horizon]

You don't even need a field recorder. If you have a cellphone from the last decade, it can record.
Have fun

[Erisian]

. I was given an electric massager a few years ago...

course you were

[Erisian]

You don't even need a field recorder. If you have a cellphone from the last decade, it can record.
Have fun

OMG! And I was using it to make phonecalls!

[Aloysius]

Has anybody here done this?

Yes