Nice!

Watch first reveal of the HDD Synth Prototype MKII running on YouTube

This video shows it running in the test harness ISA slot I created, to make it easier (and safer!) to test outside of a PC. It uses an ISA slot connector I bought off eBay wired up with a USB C decoy board to provide +5V power

I'm still working on refining the software with the full feature set I want to demonstrate, so I'll post again once that's more developed

Wow, that looks and sounds amazing!!
I really love the volume control.
Can't wait to buy it someday 😀

I built something similar myself, but simpler, without an amplifier. In general, my version is powered by 5V (e.g., from a Molex connector). I considered adding a small amplifier, but it was too loud. But basically, it also plays the sound of the platters spinning up during startup, and the seeking sound of the heads when the activity LED is on. Interesting approach to mount it on an ISA card. Good luck!

elmo7x wrote on 2026-01-28, 19:44:

I built something similar myself, but simpler, without an amplifier. In general, my version is powered by 5V (e.g., from a Molex connector). I considered adding a small amplifier, but it was too loud. But basically, it also plays the sound of the platters spinning up during startup, and the seeking sound of the heads when the activity LED is on. Interesting approach to mount it on an ISA card. Good luck!

That's awesome, have you got any videos of it in action? Sounds like a very nice and small device

My thinking for the ISA card was to make it easy to draw power, but also meant it was easy to install as the card itself is quite large with the speaker attached

I've been having some fun this afternoon creating a jingle for the HDD Synth in the style of the Winamp jingle. So purposely a little cheesy 😀 the plan is that the first time you install the card in a PC it'll play this jingle before starting up in normal operation

https://youtu.be/CiWEeovqQ18

YouTube video update

I've just got the packaging delivered which I'll use to send out a limited run of the HDD Synth MKII to a few select people to gather feedback

If you have an interest in supporting the project by testing an HDD Synth in a range of PCs with ISA slots, please get in touch

I've also been working on a manual to be included with each HDD Synth, styled on the old Sound Blaster manuals

My eldest son has been getting involved too. He felt inspired to do a photo shot and have some fun creating a poster in the style of old Creative Labs 😀

oohh very nice physical box and art! kudos!

Very very nice! 😀
Thanks for the updates and photos!

Can't wait to purchase the final product.
For me it has one big advantage compared to HDDClicker: this is the volume control and that you can turn the volume down completely if you want silence.
With the HDDClicker you would have to open the case and de-attach it if you no longer want to hear the sounds.

Comparing YT videos of the hard drive sounds it seems that your sounds are more realistic.

Keep up the good work!

I took the HDD Synth to a public event for the first time and got a really great response from people. Thanks for everyone who said hello and showed an interest

A few new demos - please excuse some of the incomplete HDD sample packs. These need work for the looping to sound better, I just wanted to put together a few examples to allow me to test the new features

• Demo in 386 PC - loading Windows 3.11
• Demo in 386 PC - changing HDD sample pack

In some exciting news I had the pleasure of meeting an audio professional at the public event who I'm collaborating with to create some fantastic sounding HDD sample packs for the HDD Synth. Watch a demonstration of the inital test sample pack

I also met someone who pointed me in the direction of the solution used to supply the metal bracket for the PicoGUS. So I'm going to get some custom panels made for the HDD Synth that will expose the rear SD card reader, volume control, action button and status LED

Funny, i replace HDD with CF mostly to avoid the horrible sound... no nostalgia for this jeje