Think, Make, Investigate: Carts & Kits at Steenbock Library : littleBits Synth Kits
About the littleBits Synth Kits
littleBits Synth Kits are easy-to-use, magnetized circuitry kits designed for exploring the science of sound and experimenting with noise and music. A collaboration between littleBits and electronic music pioneer Korg, these bits are modeled after the components of classic analog synthesizers. No background in electronics or music needed!
Steenbock's kits circulate with:
A littleBits USB I/O bit for recording directly from the kit to a digital audio workstation on your laptop (for instance, Garage Band or Audacity) via USB. Add tracks to your heart's content and create your own ambient masterpiece, spooky movie soundtrack, or quirky pop tune.
- Headphones to keep things quiet as you work through your noisiest ideas.
A littleBits USB I/O bit for recording directly from the kit to a digital audio workstation on your laptop (for instance, Garage Band or Audacity) via USB. Add tracks to your heart's content and create your own ambient masterpiece, spooky movie soundtrack, or quirky pop tune.Steenbock Library has two littleBits Synth Kits for checkout.
Applications
- Livecoding the SynthKit: Little Bits as an Embodied Programming Language by James NobleArticle from the 2014 Second IEEE Working Conference on Software Visualization that discusses how the LittleBits Synth Kit functions as an example of "livecoding," facilitating both learning and debugging.
- SoundTree littleBits Lesson PlansLearn about the bits and find ways to use the Synth Kit in a classroom setting.
Getting Started
The kits circulate with a user manual. You can also download a PDF version below.
YouTube is full of great ideas that others have executed using the littleBits Synth Kit. Here are a few particularly helpful videos:
Recording with the LittleBits Synth Kit
The USB I/O bit included with Steenbock's synth kits is compatible with most Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) for relatively easy recording. Below are instructions for using the USB I/O bit with Audacity (a free, open-source DAW compatible with Windows, Mac, and other operating systems) and GarageBand (included with macOS and iOS devices).