Here are some ideas that could be interesting:
-Dissect old microprocessor based keyboards to figure out their sound chips and commands. For example, I have one that uses a YM2163 but it's hard to find datasheets for it. Or if there's a standard way to send address/data commands on keyboards sell a device that can send custom commands in the proper format. Like an "old keyboard posession machine" heh.
-Or take more accessible sound chips(ym2149) and make interfaces with a ZIF socket so you can pop in the chip and make it do things with pots and switches.
-Maybe find a use for old microprocessors, I've got some old 8032 and z80 that would be cool to make use of. I currently just blast random bits into an 8032, sum the outputs and listen to it through an amp.
Anyway, just some ideas.
EDIT here's another idea:
-Do a device that makes salvaged matrix style button setup easy to use. For example I ripped out the control panel of an old music keyboard and it has a numberkeybad and some buttons for selecting voices, etc, using matrix setups. It would be cool to repurpose those somehow as a HID or MIDI device.
examples :
here
EDIT2
Speaking of which, it would be great to take any music keyboard with that matrix setup, connect the 16 wires into something and turn it into a midi controller. wowza.
Last edited by droffset (Feb 23, 2010 8:58 pm)