I’m no fan of smoking, and I’m really no fan of vaping either — to me, the sickly smell is just as bad as the traditional cigarette smell, and the e-waste problem is concerning.
However, this isn’t a rant about vapes, particularly as this story sees the “paper bag team” (a shuang cai, David Rios and Kari Love collaboration) create a synth from a disposable vape.
Millions of these little electronics hubs are sold every month, and they’re not all going to be turned into synths — or even repurposed — but every little helps.
The Vape Synthesizer project is developing two distinct models of the Vape Synth, both inspired by the ocarina.
They both make use of the original batteries (which must be severely underused in the original use case), charging circuit with LED, and case.
A novelty model keeps the original low pressure sensor, which… ewww… means you have to suck on the instrument to play it (I suppose it’s authentic to the original product). There’s an onboard speaker to hear the results of your sucking…
A future MIDI Electronic Wind Controller model uses a wireless connection to existing instruments or software, acting as an alternative input device.
All the instructions are available over on Instructables, if you’re keen to repurpose your own vape addiction. Good luck.
