It seems like every holiday season there’s some new toy music character thingy, some strange looking robo-alien-critter that plugs into your PC or iPod and dances to the music, or flashes lights, or allows you to play it for sound effects. I’ve always seen these as the kind of present parents blow decent bread on and the kids find exciting on Christmas day at least, but it’s long forgotten by the time the National disco ball lands on the New Year.If this sort of electronic noisemaker is your idea of a good time, here’s one that just might not suck (and might teach your kids a thing or two about analog synthesizers and electronic music).
The Thingamagoop ($100) from Bleep Labs is a boxy little robo-dude that sports two knobs, two switches, a light sensor, and an LED light stalk sprouting from its head like a single strand of wiry hair. On the inside, there’s an analog synth chip, a speaker on the bottom, and an audio-out jack. The Thingamagoops is far more charming than the slick robo-music toys that Sega, Sony, and others have produced. Or maybe I just like the fact that it’s made by sound-hackers and indie electronics product-makers from Austin, namely John-Michael Reed.
The Thingamagoop is played by selecting various sound effects via the two switches (an LFO — Low Frequency Oscillator — and a Pitch Shifter), tweaking the volume, and by moving the LED light stalk in relation to the on-board light sensor. You can also use your hands or objects in front of the sensor. You get a surprising number of sounds by changing these variables. I’ve had some really fun jam sessions and keep coming up with ways of getting different sounds out of the device. The 1/4″ output jack allows you to feed the sound through various effects pedals. I have some of these and can’t wait to try them out.
For a small mom and pop electrics shop, Bleep Labs does a really good job in manufacturing these devices. They’re handsome, well-made, and look durable. Besides a musically-interested young person, this would make a great gift for anyone interested in cool and unusual gadgets, vintage synth tech and electronic music, or anyone looking for curious monitor mojo to decorate his or her geekosphere. The Thingamagoops you order can be customized with different front, back, and eye stalk colors. Bleep Labs is also working on two new projects for the holiday season: Botany Blink, a micro-controlled electronic plant whose blinking LED flowers cause the Thingamagoop to play along, and Bent Bit, a new kind of musical creature that “creates evolving rhythms and melodies using on a unique patch bay.” There are also rumors of a Thingamagoop kit in the works.
