Hi! My name is Matthew and I am a electronics and software engineer, recording musician, and proprietor of Extralife Instruments. I enjoy all things D.I.Y. and have lived in San Francisco since 2011. On this website I share some of my projects. You can find some of my hardware, software, music, and videos below.
I finally got hold of a pre-war Disston backsaw to do some proper woodworking joinery. First, I had to do some old-school wood and metalwork to restore it to cutting condition.
In this video I built a super-simple all-wood eurorack synth case using only hand tools and reclaimed materials like pallet wood. I think it came out pretty well but the dimensions could’ve been improved!
Super Sixteen has received a new, firmware update with many requested features like song mode and generative mutations!
I built a new “Hex Drum” 6-channel trigger sequencer based on Look Mum No Computer’s classic “Big Button” design. It uses a custom etched enclosure and adds new features like presets, MIDI input, and clock output.
To celebrate my new sequencer I decided to record 10 of my favorite synth riffs as tracks using only my modular rig, some pedals, and a Bass Station II.