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Super EASY and super CHEAP magneto scratcher!

Super EASY and super CHEAP magneto scratcher!
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  • 01_Parts.JPG
  • 02_Head.JPG
"Magnero scratcher " is device which can create funny sounds just by "scratching" magnetic materials. Such as audio tapes, video tapes, credit cards, magnetic disks etc...

Here is an super EASY way to build one. No need of soldering. Only tool you need is JUST a Screwdriver!

So everything you need is:

Screwdriver
Car Audio Tape Cassette Adapter
Audio recorder with microphone input (a computer with microphone input will work fine)
Something magnetic to scratch (credit cards work fine)

Super cheap also. Car Audio Tape Cassette Adapters go for just a few bucks in Amazon or in eBay for example. You can buy it anywhere and any type you want. They are all just as simple as seen in this Instructable. I have made three of these already and all work fine. They have little bit different sound quality, but all work just fine. The ones with stereo are little bit more fun! Remember to make sure that casette adapters "input plug" is right size for your equipment or buy adapter for it.

Cassette adapters are completely "passive electronics" so they do in work both ways. Normally music (electric currence) is inserted in it and magnetic head oscillates. With magneto scratcher it is works completely opposite way. Magnetic head picks the oscillation in magnetic surface and turns it into electric currence.
 
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Step 1Open up

Open up
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  • 03_DeAssebly.JPG
  • 04_DeAssembled.JPG
  • 05_Head.JPG
  • 06_Removal.JPG
1) Remove screws with Screwdriver

2) Open casette into two parts

3) Remove magnetic head

YOU ARE DONE! Super easy!
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29 comments
Oct 31, 2010. 4:27 PMEl-Frencho says:
This is flippin fantastic!
Does anyone know of a free program I could use to manipulate the sound? And add layers of recording etc??
Aug 26, 2010. 5:27 AMrodeo.slang says:
What are you plugging the connecting jack into to amplify the sound? Any ideas on how this could be used as an instrument in a live, computer-free setting?
May 11, 2010. 10:52 AMJimbobwey says:
Mine seems to have ALOT of static when I have it playing from the speakers...if I hold it "just" right, it goes away. I made sure no wires are touching...it's weird...but a totally neat concept!
Apr 15, 2010. 9:21 AMJeroen1022NL says:
huh? i opened an cassette but all i saw was a little metal plate and a really small weird spongy thing
Mar 14, 2010. 9:31 AMpanzuman says:
just an idea since all this needs is a magnetic strip some one should try a credit card you might get some crazy stuff out of that!
Mar 15, 2010. 7:49 PMpanzuman says:
oh well then shouldnt it work on cds sice it is based on similar principle? or what about old 45's / vinyls?
Mar 5, 2010. 10:20 PMelkalpin says:
Diz iz de bezt!!! XD
Feb 2, 2010. 1:23 AMsamuraiclinton says:
this is what i'm talkin' about!

vinyl record turntablism is now a "thing of the past".  now you can crunch your scratch package into a strip of magnetic tape!  Too bad professional DJs don't go the extra mile to be like this!
Oct 3, 2009. 10:04 AMSkateboardingForLife says:
Dude this is awesome!!! i have, maybe, 3 of the cassettes and am a Dj. This will be a cool odd addition to my set up
Sep 9, 2009. 1:38 AMlukaj2003 says:
Nice Instructable. After seeing this, I rushed online and bought myself a car cassette adaptor off eBay for around 0.99 cents. After waiting the anxious 3 weeks, I opened it up and decided to give it a whirl, only to find it won't work. I took a look at the PCB and noticed the soldering, it seemed to bridged at one point but I'm not sure whether it should be like that. Here's some pictures, I might fix up the mistake tommorow if I can get around to it.
Jul 4, 2009. 3:24 AMBOOM5601 says:
Could I use a small coil of wire instead of the Audio Cassette Adapter?
Jul 5, 2009. 8:45 AMBOOM5601 says:
I'll just try wrapping it around a pencil. You could probably make a whole range of sounds with different sizes of coil.
Jun 29, 2009. 5:16 PMcardboarddude says:
Could I make one from the magnetic head from a cassette player? Because i have one from a tape player and it has 4 wires and im not sure which wires to connect to the speaker. The wire colors are green, pink, blue, and white.
Jun 28, 2009. 7:09 PMasianwizard says:
wild idea but if i some how recorded data off a card would i be able to reproduce it on another?
Jun 26, 2009. 6:33 AMbFusion says:
This is really cool, do you have any recordings you could share about what this sounds like? I might want to make my own (not that it seems that difficult), but I'd like to know what it sounds like first :)
Jun 26, 2009. 11:14 PMbFusion says:
Thanks, I'm not able to view YouTube at work, so I didn't see it. Sounds pretty awesome, might have to make one :)
Jun 25, 2009. 6:56 AMefabric says:
Can you post a detail image of the back side of your tape head? I would like to see the small component behind. Does it work If y solder a mini jack directly to a basic tape head ?

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