E-waste is piling up, and vapes are one of the main culprits. The disposable vape business has exploded since Juul was ordered to pull its product from US markets, leading to a flood of other disposable devices on the shelves. Now, a group of makers in New York City have turned spent vapes into digital musical instruments called Vape Synths.
These unique devices are created by taking apart spent Elf Bar nicotine vaporizers and hacking them into digital musical instruments. The resulting device still looks like a vape cartridge but with a small speaker nestled amid an array of lights and buttons. To play it, you put your mouth on the mouthpiece to draw your breath inward, triggering an oscillator circuit that generates an audio signal.
The team's leader, Kari Love, explains that the project started as a way to make a miniature fog machine but eventually evolved into turning vapes into musical instruments. The Vape Synth's tonal quality is lacking, sounding more like a dying rabbit or swarm of flies than pleasing music. However, the team is already working on an updated version with a wider musical range.
The makers' goal is not to create perfect instruments but to encourage people to find creative ways to repurpose e-waste and bring attention to the issue of electronic waste. By making these devices easily accessible through DIY instructions online and workshops, they aim to empower people to take action against waste.
These unique devices are created by taking apart spent Elf Bar nicotine vaporizers and hacking them into digital musical instruments. The resulting device still looks like a vape cartridge but with a small speaker nestled amid an array of lights and buttons. To play it, you put your mouth on the mouthpiece to draw your breath inward, triggering an oscillator circuit that generates an audio signal.
The team's leader, Kari Love, explains that the project started as a way to make a miniature fog machine but eventually evolved into turning vapes into musical instruments. The Vape Synth's tonal quality is lacking, sounding more like a dying rabbit or swarm of flies than pleasing music. However, the team is already working on an updated version with a wider musical range.
The makers' goal is not to create perfect instruments but to encourage people to find creative ways to repurpose e-waste and bring attention to the issue of electronic waste. By making these devices easily accessible through DIY instructions online and workshops, they aim to empower people to take action against waste.