The Buddha Machine 3G

The first iteration of FM3’s Buddha Machine caused a certain stir in the ambient, electronica, and experimental music communities. The device itself was basic enough, a tiny little box that played several ambient drones on continuous loops. The simplicity — it’s little more than a power/volume control and a switch that lets you pick from one of its nine loops — was intriguing, and soon people were recording albums with it. Since then, Throbbing Gristle has released their own version and you can even get Buddha Machine apps for your iPhone and iPad.

Now, just in time for the holiday season, FM3 has released the third-gen Buddha Machine, aka “Chan Fang” (or “Zen Room”). In lieu of playing ambient loops, however, the Buddha Machine 3G plays four extended loops that were performed on the qin, a seven-string zither considered to be the father of all Chinese instruments, as well as the instrument of scholars and other refined members of high society (more info). And it comes a slick-looking translucent case.