Solar Sound Card

A collaboration with Grilling Park 桂林公园​​

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Solar Sound Card is a series of light-sensitive, portable sound generator.

 

Its circuitry responds to ambient light, transforming sunlight, shadows, or small light sources into dynamic sonic textures.

Built for direct interaction with the environment, it invites musicians to listen with their eyes and see with their ears, shaping sound through the shifting presence of light.

Equipped with an integrated speaker and powered by a coin-cell battery, it functions as a self-contained instrument—intimate, mobile, and alive to its surroundings.

The audio output provides SP+ (tip) and SP– (ring) signals.

At present, there are seven types of Solar Sound Cards — each with its own character, circuitry, and way of playing.

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Type I

 

 

Based on four different filters combined with strong feedback, creating sustained, evolving tones.

Each of the four light sensors controls the feedback amount of one filter.

 

 

Type II

 

 

Built upon four square-wave oscillators in series, whose interactions generate complex, changing timbres.

Each light sensor controls the frequency of one oscillator.

 

 

Type III

 

 

Constructed around a noise generator, where white noise passes through filters and self-oscillation to form unpredictable textures.

Each light sensor controls the noise level and the cutoff frequency of the filters.

 

 

Type IV

 

 

A lo-fi sampler, allowing live recording and playback by pressing rec.

The four light sensors control playback speed, loop rate, and start/stop functions.

 

 

Type V

 

 

Based on an echo effect, capable of functioning as a drone generator through strong feedback.

The four light sensors control delay time, feedback, and wet/dry balance.

 

 

Type VI

 

 

Also built from four filters like Type I, but with different frequency ranges.

Strong feedback creates continuous evolving tones, while the four light sensors each control the feedback of one filter.

 

 

Type VII

 

 

Formed by Sallen-Key filters in interlaced feedback, producing richly modulated sounds.

The four light sensors control the cutoff frequencies of the filters.

 

 

Each Solar Sound Card design introduces subtle variations on these foundations,

inviting players to explore light as sound, and sound as light.

 

The DIY Kit is beginner-friendly — simple soldering is all that’s needed.

Each card is powered by two CR2032 coin-cell batteries,

making it a fully portable, self-contained sonic object.