Make: Volume 2 – Home Entertainment is the second Make magazine volume, built around four practical projects: a high-definition video recorder, a podcasting workflow, a robot made from an old computer mouse, and restoration of an old amplifier. It is an original issue—not the later Best of Make: Volume 2 anthology—and is aimed at makers who learn by building, modifying, and repairing hardware.
What Make: Volume 2 – Home Entertainment covers
The issue’s projects apply maker techniques to familiar entertainment equipment. Rather than focusing on one product category, it moves from home-media recording and audio production to small-scale robotics and repair.
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| Project | What you do | Best fit for |
|---|---|---|
| High-definition video recorder | Build a home-media recording device. | Makers interested in recording and home-theater hardware. |
| Podcasting | Learn an audio-production and publishing workflow. | Readers who want to create and distribute spoken-word audio. |
| Mouse robot | Convert an old computer mouse into a playful robot. | Beginners and hobbyists exploring small robotics projects. |
| Amplifier reconditioning | Repair or restore an existing amplifier. | Audio hobbyists working with older equipment. |
Who should buy or read this issue?
- DIY makers: The issue presents entertainment hardware as something to build and modify, not just purchase.
- Electronics hobbyists: The recorder, robot, and amplifier projects span digital media, electromechanical experimentation, and audio hardware.
- Home-media tinkerers: The video-recorder and podcasting projects address recording in both video and audio formats.
- Audio enthusiasts: Reconditioning an amplifier is relevant if your goal is to keep older equipment useful rather than replace it.
- Salvage-minded builders: The mouse robot specifically starts with an old computer mouse, while amplifier work centers on an existing device.
What you can expect from the four projects
Build your own high-definition video recorder
This is the issue’s most direct home-media hardware project: a build centered on recording high-definition video. It is a natural choice for readers who want to understand how a recorder is assembled instead of treating it as a sealed consumer appliance. The available description does not specify the recorder’s component list, supported inputs, storage capacity, operating system, or recording format, so those details should be confirmed in the issue before buying parts.
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Learn how to podcast
The podcasting project addresses the process as a workflow, covering audio creation and publishing rather than a single circuit or enclosure. It suits a reader who wants a practical introduction to producing a show. The publisher’s summary does not state which software, microphones, hosting services, or distribution standards are used; those choices may depend on the edition and the instructions inside the issue.
#1 Best Overall
Make a robot from an old computer mouse
This project turns a discarded mouse into a small robotics experiment. Its appeal is both mechanical and educational: a familiar piece of hardware becomes the starting point for movement and control. The public project description does not establish the robot’s drive system, controller, power source, or required tools, so treat the summary as a project outline rather than a complete parts list.
Recondition an old amplifier
The amplifier project focuses on bringing existing audio equipment back into usable condition. That makes it different from the recorder and robot builds: the goal is diagnosis, repair, and restoration of hardware you already have. Amplifiers can contain hazardous voltages even after being unplugged; follow the issue’s safety guidance, use appropriate test equipment, and do not open equipment unless you understand the risks.
Rank #2
- Used Book in Good Condition
Print and digital editions
Maker Shed lists the issue in both print and digital forms. The print catalog identifier is ISBN 9780596100780; the digital variant is listed as 9781449398019.EB. Availability, pricing, and subscription offers are changeable, so check the publisher’s current listing before ordering.
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Make Magazine Volume 02 versus similar Make titles
Use the following criteria when deciding whether this volume is the right one for you:
Rank #3
- Match the function: Choose this issue for a mix of video recording, podcasting, audio repair, and a small robotics build.
- Check the skill level: The projects range from a creative mouse conversion to electronics and amplifier work; confirm the detailed instructions and safety requirements before starting.
- Consider parts sourcing: The mouse robot and amplifier project make use of existing hardware, while the recorder may require purpose-bought components.
- Pick the format: Select print if you want a physical workshop reference, or digital if downloadable access is more useful.
- Decide whether you want a series: This is one issue in Make’s broader project-focused magazine series, not a complete reference to every home-entertainment build.
What this issue is—and is not
This is the original second volume of Make magazine, titled Make: Volume 2 – Home Entertainment. It should not be confused with Best of Make: Volume 2, a later anthology. The issue’s publisher-described promise is a set of practical projects, not a modern review of streaming devices, current podcast platforms, or contemporary video-recording standards.
Buying checklist
- Verify that the listing says Make Magazine Volume 02 or Make: Volume 2 – Home Entertainment.
- Confirm whether you are ordering the print issue or the digital edition.
- Check the ISBN against the format: 9780596100780 for print or 9781449398019.EB for digital.
- Review current inventory and price because catalog and marketplace conditions can change.
- If you plan to build immediately, read the complete project instructions first and confirm tools, parts, and electrical-safety requirements.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Make: Volume 2 – Home Entertainment is a strong fit for makers who want four varied, entertainment-oriented projects—HD video recording, podcasting, a mouse-based robot, and amplifier restoration—in one original Make magazine issue. Choose the print or digital edition after confirming current availability and the detailed requirements for the specific build you want to attempt.
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Best Value
Rank #4
- Used Book in Good Condition
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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