That's why I love buying from your webshop, everything is so quality made with attention to details. Thanks for your work, keep doing it because it makes me happy. 😁

I'm about to order one from Serdashop (because this is awesome), but I was wondering if you were ever planning to make the STLs for the enclosure available for people that have 3D printers? This seems to be the arrangement with the PS2TOSERIAL and it was very convenient there when that enclosure was only €4 extra. With this enclosure coming in at nearly half the cost of the board, it would be even more convenient.

(For what it's worth, the €10 for the enclosure feels like the correct price: there are plenty of hidden costs in maintaining a 3D printer for production parts, there's the extra handling time for each unit that goes out the door, and of course there are the NRE costs of actually designing/testing the thing. So don't change the price; I was just hoping that us 3D printer owners might get to take a small shortcut. Other benefits include being able to choose my own filament color/material, etc.)

Thanks!

Falonn wrote on 2022-10-30, 15:08:

I'm about to order one from Serdashop (because this is awesome), but I was wondering if you were ever planning to make the STLs for the enclosure available for people that have 3D printers? This seems to be the arrangement with the PS2TOSERIAL and it was very convenient there when that enclosure was only €4 extra. With this enclosure coming in at nearly half the cost of the board, it would be even more convenient.

(For what it's worth, the €10 for the enclosure feels like the correct price: there are plenty of hidden costs in maintaining a 3D printer for production parts, there's the extra handling time for each unit that goes out the door, and of course there are the NRE costs of actually designing/testing the thing. So don't change the price; I was just hoping that us 3D printer owners might get to take a small shortcut. Other benefits include being able to choose my own filament color/material, etc.)

Thanks!

Hi Falonn,
i will pm you

Hmm, it looks like my post count only lets me receive but doesn't let me reply to PMs yet. 😒

In any event, I assent to the question you asked! Thanks again.

For those who haven’t seen, Clint/LGR has done a video on this, too:
https://youtu.be/IZKttBr2Y8g

Somehow, I missed this thread, and root42’s video about it. I ordered one as soon as I saw the video. Thanks @matze79 for designing this, and @dreamblaster for making it available!

- Alex

Mine was sent last week but still hasn't arrived even though I live in Belgium. I really expected to get it before the weekend 😖. Fingers crossed.

ajacocks wrote on 2022-11-03, 13:31:

For those who haven’t seen, Clint/LGR has done a video on this, too:
https://youtu.be/IZKttBr2Y8g

He was surprisingly critical of it. I know what he means but considering it's driven by the LED impulse of the hard drive, it's hardly going to be completely accurate. As is, since all my retro PCs run off a Compact Flash or SSD (both to save the PSUs, save power & because reliable old drives are hard to find) it's a nice thing to have since these are all 100% quiet.

I'm happy with LGR review, i appreciate his honest opinion. He is right that it is quite loud, especially with the enclosure on it (it functions a bit like a horn).
On my 386 with CF card interface, i run it like that, i find it nice actually, i can hear it work from a distance.
Even scandisk sounds good on there, i think the hdd led doesn't go that frequently on my system.
For faster pc's / other mainboards, may have more regular and more frantic hdd led flicker frequencies.
In my faster pc, i put a small sticker directly on the buzzer (it sounds more like a quiet modern hdd then).
It is easy to adjust the sound characteristic this way, and it fools me enough into feeling i use a harddisk.
Would not be easy to simulate complete mechanical behaviour sounds, and sync to the disc interface,
that would be another much more high end project, on different hardware.

dreamblaster wrote on 2022-11-04, 10:59:

I'm happy with LGR review, i appreciate his honest opinion. He is right that it is quite loud, especially with the enclosure on […]
Show full quote

I'm happy with LGR review, i appreciate his honest opinion. He is right that it is quite loud, especially with the enclosure on it (it functions a bit like a horn).
On my 386 with CF card interface, i run it like that, i find it nice actually, i can hear it work from a distance.
Even scandisk sounds good on there, i think the hdd led doesn't go that frequently on my system.
For faster pc's / other mainboards, may have more regular and more frantic hdd led flicker frequencies.
In my faster pc, i put a small sticker directly on the buzzer (it sounds more like a quiet modern hdd then).
It is easy to adjust the sound characteristic this way, and it fools me enough into feeling i use a harddisk.
Would not be easy to simulate complete mechanical behaviour sounds, and sync to the disc interface,
that would be another much more high end project, on different hardware.

If it could get a small control board, you could filter the amount of clicks per second and slow them down?

Having said this, the moment you head towards faster PCs, you move away from drives that were that clicky in the first place.

Personally, I'd 3D print an enclosure that has a piece of cloth inside which will muffle the sound somewhat.

red_avatar wrote on 2022-11-04, 11:37:

Personally, I'd 3D print an enclosure that has a piece of cloth inside which will muffle the sound somewhat.

As it is now you can probably just open it and stuff some cloth over the buzzer and screw it back together.
It will give again a different sound... heh we should inventorize these tricks and try to match to drives

red_avatar wrote on 2022-11-04, 11:37:

Personally, I'd 3D print an enclosure that has a piece of cloth inside which will muffle the sound somewhat.

I was thinking of doing something similar using a project box. It would be pretty easy to use foam or other materials as inserts to change the acoustics.

Once I get mine delivered we'll see how it goes. I imagine even different computer cases will produce different levels of noise depending on case configuration and materials.

Oh i'm curious for the results !
In case you have a 3d printer, and want to modify my designed case, or design a new one based on my dimensions, i will provide for you the stl files.
Ideally we find some variants sounding like specific brands or types of drives.

The first batch of enclosures didn't have mounting ears, i still added this in the final design as found in attachment :

CLICKER_TOP_221022.STL : top lid --> this is the part that affect the accoustics
CLICKER_BOTTOM_EARS_221022.STL --> bottom part with mounting ears, you could change the mounting options

And wait, there is more - now on PCGamer even:
https://www.pcgamer.com/hdd-clicker-retro-sound-device/

oh cool.
All clickers are shipped now, I'm curious to hear your feedback.
especially regarding volume/tone control : minor mechanical changes have huge impact on the sound
the 2 extremes are selectable as options :

But there is much in between, just pierce a small hole in the sticker, and slowly enlarge it :
you can quite accurately control the volume this way.

dreamblaster wrote on 2022-11-11, 09:52:

oh cool. All clickers are shipped now, I'm curious to hear your feedback. especially regarding volume/tone control : minor mech […]
Show full quote

oh cool.
All clickers are shipped now, I'm curious to hear your feedback.
especially regarding volume/tone control : minor mechanical changes have huge impact on the sound
the 2 extremes are selectable as options :
HDDCLICKER_STICKEROPTIONS.jpg

But there is much in between, just pierce a small hole in the sticker, and slowly enlarge it :
you can quite accurately control the volume this way.

I started reading this post thinking there would be a jumper added or a resistor that needs to be shifted from one pair of pads to the other, but no, it's a sticker. I'm laughing out loud and everyone at the office thinks I've gone crazy, and it's your fault Serge 🤣

appiah4 wrote on 2022-11-11, 11:21:

I started reading this post thinking there would be a jumper added or a resistor that needs to be shifted from one pair of pads to the other, but no, it's a sticker. I'm laughing out loud and everyone at the office thinks I've gone crazy, and it's your fault Serge 🤣

haha 😀
i updated the descriptions, and made 2 options available now :
- Quiet rounded tone - IDE HDD sound (sticker on buzzer) --- THIS IS THE NEW DEFAULT CHOICE
- Loud and noisy - Quantum HDD sound (no sticker on buzzer)
The physical difference is small (only a tiny sticker), but the sound difference is huge !
It sure is worth experimenting until you get it right to your taste.

I made a quick video to show what the test button does, and the sound difference when placing a small sticker :
When built into a pc case, the conclusion may be different, but out in the open, I personally prefer the more gentle sound with sticker.
What do you think ?
https://youtu.be/dmasdJUSR9c

Will there be a premium version which uses an actual relay for the ticking and a solenoid for the occasional 'clonk' sound ? 😁

weedeewee wrote on 2022-11-13, 15:28:

Will there be a premium version which uses an actual relay for the ticking and a solenoid for the occasional 'clonk' sound ? 😁

I would love to make that, i would be pretty big thing though.

I was excited to find my HDD Clicker in the mail today. Installation only took 5 minutes. The 3D printed case (made from the STLs) fit perfectly. And I love the clicking! 😁

The "sticker" mod feels like the right way to go. Afterward, the sound is very authentic and nostalgic without being obtrusive. Defragging is more fun again, hehe.

Thanks for making this and making it readily available!