>> The real long-term future of computing consists of figuring out how to make the best possible use we can out of the literal millions of devices which already exist.
You’re reading[^shortcut-print] *A Field Guide for Salvaging Sound Devices*. In here, we’ll explore the practical side of salvage computing: is it possible to *live off* (create with) electronic components salvaged in the wild? And what would such a practice look like?
Buying new parts and components is usually cheaper than repairing or salvaging existing. In my experience, the DIY synth community has fully embraced this notion; when publishing about a project it’s common practice to share a pre-filled webshop cart along with the schematics. This not only causes us as students to buy new parts out of convenience, but by only publishing the *solution*, and not discussing the design process and it’s challenges, we are not developing the much needed problem solving skills [@CooperativeExperimentalismSharing]. And what if that one ultra important part is no longer produced? Or you’d rather make use of all these other electronic parts that already exist?
Salvaging is the practice of making use of computational resources that already exists, however, not in hardware stores or pre-filled webshop carts, but on landfills and hidden away in storage boxes. According to Jennifer Gabrys, salvaging is not just about re-using materials, but also about confronting the systems that created the waste in the first place. [@gabrysSalvage2012].
Within the DIY Sound community, DIWO workshops are a common way of sharing knowledge. This guide itself is created during and around so-called *(un)repair nights[^unrepair-night]* at the klankschool[^about-klankschool]. I would really encourage you to do DIWO this guide too. The frustrating process that can be learning electronics is much better to manage when shared.
[^about-klankschool]:[klankschool](https://klank.school) is a Rotterdam based community of sound practitioners and amateur repair people.
[^tinkering-methodologies]: TODO: Tinkering methodologies is coming from “Zombie Media: Circuit Bending Media Archaeology into an Art Method” although I don’t really know what to add about that here, even though I do want to mention it.
On that note, I am by no means and expert in electronics. When I write about how things work, please take it with a grain of salt. It's 'my' logic, and i'm sure it's full of incorrect assumptions. If you have improvements, feel free to reach out, or create a pull request with your improvements.
