Ideas for experimentation
- Try different kinds of paper, and pencils. Mechanical pencils are great, but require a little more work. Check drawdio.com for more information.
- Place a copper coin (like a penny!) on the drawing and use that to make contact with the graphite - it will make the surface area larger and reduce the resistance of the drawing.
- Hold hands with someone and 'draw' on their skin with the pencil.
- Wash and lightly dry your hands to make them a little more wet than usual, this will also affect the pitch.
- Use graphite slugs, available at an art store, instead of a pencil.
- Just hold on to both sides and try twisting and pressing to make different tones.
How to use!
The Drawdio is simple to use. Simply grip the pencil in one hand so that you're making good contact with the copper tape. Then draw a circle on the paper and touch it using a finger from the other hand.Using a copper coin between your finger and the graphite will improve the conductivity. Washing your hands and then drying them will also help, especially if you have drier skin or live in a dry climate.
Choosing a pencil
The 'softness' of the pencil lead will affect how thick the drawn lines are and thus the sound of the pencil. Experiment with hard and soft leads as well as sharpening or blunting the point to see how that affects the drawdio sound.Mechanical pencils also work well. However, you may have to put an insulative layer (like packing tape) on the lower section of the pencil if the body is completely metallic.
Attaching to a pencil
Then take the thumbtack and gently push it into the end of the pencil. You might have to twist it back & forth a little to get it all the way in. The thumbtack will grip the copper tape and also make contact with the graphite in the middle of the pencil to make the first half of the drawing sensor.