Kraakdoos

Kraakdoos.

The Kraakdoos (or Cracklebox) is a custom made battery-powered noise-making electronic device.

It is a small box with six metal contacts on top, which when pressed by fingers will generate all manner of unusual sounds and tones. The human body becomes a part of the circuit and determines the range of sounds possible — different people will generate different results.

The concept was first conceived by Michel Waisvisz and Geert Hamelberg in the 1960s, and developed further in the 1970s when Waisvisz joined the STEIM foundation in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The kraakdoos is a simple device, based on a single operational amplifier (one of the earliest models to be produced) and a few transistors, and can be easily constructed by someone with a basic understanding of electronics.

See also

• Atari Punk Console
• Circuit bending

External links

• DIY Kraakdoos / Crackle Box — contains a schematic and sound examples.
• The CrackleBox — includes a history
• (Dutch) De Kraakdoos
• STEIM foundation
• Cracklebox Sinfonietta - for 9 crackleboxes, double bass and soprinano saxophone, hommage to Michel Waisvisz
• "Cracklebox" by tombola — a range of sound examples from The Freesound Project

Experimental musical instruments Gaia- phones Chordo- phones Aquavina Bazantar Fotdella Gittler guitar Gravikord Home Swinger Kaisatsuko Long string instrument Moodswinger Springtime (guitar) Tritare Viola organista Membrano- phones ... Idio- phones Amplified cactus Cristal baschet Daxophone Waterphone Hydraulo- phones Blackpool High Tide Organ Sea organ Wave Organ Aero- phones Cycleonium Folgerphone Klaxophone Tromboon Whirly tube Plasma- phones Pyrophone Singing Tesla coil Quinte- phones Big piano Electrocardiophone Electroencephalophone Jammer keyboard Kraakdoos Mellotron Ondes Martenot Swarmatron Theremin Other Experimental Musical Instruments List of instruments by Harry Partch