December 18, 2025
Description
Recorder is a wall-mounted digital recorder and the starting point of a larger project I call Framed Music.
Instead of desktop gear, Framed Music explores the idea of framed, interactive music objects. Each unit designed to live permanently on the wall, with a clear function, physical controls, and a strong visual identity. Recorder is designed as framed digital music art. It can record sound, store it like tapes, and be used as a simple music or sound guestbook, all without menus, screens full of settings, or a computer involved. Interaction is intentionally retro-inspired. Physical buttons, clicky controls, and immediate visual feedback make it feel closer to a tape machine than a modern digital device. Each frame in the Framed Music system is meant to be visually complete on its own, something you’d still want on the wall even when it’s idle.
The Recorder frame holds two Pocket Operators of your choice, mounted directly in the frame.
In this setup, two Pocket Operators can be:
This makes Recorder both an instrument and a capture device, and allows it to integrate naturally with other Framed Music units in the future.
The project includes eight different color themes.
Each theme:
Each theme also includes a set of ten tapes, each with its own label, giving the frame a bit of personality without adding complexity to how it’s used.
Recorder includes a mode button.
The same physical buttons are reused as game controls, and the visuals adapt to the active color theme.
It’s not meant to be a full game system, just a small extra that fits the playful, retro nature of the project.
One intended use for Recorder is as a sound or music guestbook.
Instead of writing something down, people can walk up, record a short sound, and move on.
Because everything is immediate and physical, even people who don’t normally make music can interact with it easily. In shared spaces, it naturally invites hands-on, expressive use.
For this build, I used PLA Matte, but most common filament types should work fine.
Before printing, I recommend reading through the documentation to understand print orientations, design choices, and assembly flow.
The project is built around a Teensy 4.1 with an Audio Shield Rev D.
The provided files include:
The code is structured to make color themes and future expansions easy to modify.
All files are available here on MakerWorld, including:
The project is fully DIY and openly shared.
If you’d like to support my work, I also share:
These are available through my Patreon, but everything shown in this build is freely available.
Recorder is the starting point for Framed Music.
More frames will follow, each with its own function and visual identity, designed to work together on the wall and expand the system over time.
License:
Standard Digital File License
Artifextron
