How to Modify Elextronixs/ cptak 1999

1. Find an older electronic item (toy, gadget, etc.) that makes a sound you like and think you could make even better. For ease try to find something from the late 80's or early 90's that is not too complicated. Also make sure that it can be battery powered when you are trying to modify it. Most importantly, make sure you are not too attached to this item as you may ruin it completely.

2. Undo any screws to open the item up and expose the green board.

3. If necessary unscrew the green board to expose the soldered side (the one with the metal dots and not the components.) Before you do this familiarize yourself with the different buttons and knobs which may be displaced during the disassembing process.

4. Now you are looking at a little board with a bunch of metal dots on it. Start comparing the dots to the components on the other side. The long square black boxes are called IC's (integrated circuits) and are often a good place to start. Also note where the power is connected and try to avoid this area.

5. Take a piece of wire that is stripped on both ends and start touching each side to different metal dots. What you want to do find two or more solder dots which when connected make an interesting sound unlike the normal sounds. It is easiest to do this if you have the instrument running (try taping a button down if needed) while you do this. You may not find something right away, be patient.

6. If you item cuts out and won't make sounds anymore try turning it on and off and disconnecting the battery. If it smokes or pops when you tried a connection you may have blown something permanently. Even if this happened keep testing, you can sometimes reset the instrument without knowing it.

7. Once you have found a connection that changes the sound you want to figure out the best way to make this connection in your end product. First disconnect your power, then solder two wires, one to each point on the board. Try connecting each loose end to a potentiometer. A potentiometer has variable resistance (it only lets a little of the connection happen instead of all of it) and may make your modification easier and more interesting to control. Potentiometers have different ratings, so try more than one. If this doesn't work you may want to put an on/off switch to control the connection. There are many ways to do this, be creative.

8. Keep finding more connections until you are satisfied. Often it is easier to find connections when you already have one or two; you can leave those connected while you look for more.

9. Once you are finished you need to decide how to package your new modified instrument. You may want to leave it in it's original casing with some added swiches, etc; or find or make a whole new box for a specialized look.