Record every wire connection and modification as you make it—notes taken after the fact are unreliable

Rules #4 and #6 encode a discipline essential to hardware hacking: document in real time. Rule #4 states: ‘Make notes of what you are doing as you go along, not after.’ Most wires look identical, circuit board traces can be confusing after disassembly, and hacks often exploit rare, unrepeatable sweet spots. If a modification sounds great but is undocumented, it may be impossible to recreate after the circuit is reassembled or damaged. Rule #6 acknowledges that many hacks are ‘like butterflies: beautiful but short-lived’—some will permanently damage the circuit. Recording the sound immediately and noting the configuration is the only preservation strategy. This discipline mirrors scientific lab notebook practice adapted for musical instrument building.

Examples

Before opening a toy: note every wire color and connection point. During clock hack: write down the color code of every resistor tried and what it sounded like. If a hack sounds great: record audio immediately before doing anything else.

Assessment

Why does Collins say to record documentation ‘as you go along, not after’? What two threats to a hack’s repeatability does this practice guard against?