Motherboard

A nice quiet bike ride is just that, too quiet. So EFFALO, a research and design collaborative in Portland, Oregon created Velosynth. The hackable, Creative Commons licensed microcontroller that combines two of their favorite things—bike riding and synthy-sounds.

What do you do with a synth controlled by a bike? Well, you can use your bike’s movement to control the synth—slowing down or speeding up can change the sound, or you can make a nice sound each time you turn the corner. You can augment your ride using data and sound for good (the velosynth could make a certain sound when you’re heading North, making for a nice audible compass). Or you can network with other velosynth riders using the micro-wireless your synth can rhythm, melodies, or messages to your buddies.

Basically you stick a magnet in your spokes, then an accelerometer can detect turning, leaning, and tilting. Then the little CPU inside the velosynth provides the feedback. Audio is controlled by a digital potentiometer connected to the CPU, the sounds generated are amplified and sent out the speaker. Visual feedback comes from a little LED display under the skin of the velo’s enclosure.

So if you’re somewhere in their venn diagrammed (intersection of bikers and hackers/makers) target audience get on it.

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lots more hacked-noise on motherboard