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[chrisbrowne]

Hi people,

My name is Chris, Im from Ireland.

I would really like to start circuit bending. I have been researching to some degree what tools you need to make it happen but i also heard that some times the batteries can overheat in the toys you might use.

basically i would really like to know

A) where can i get circuit bending kit online?
B) What is the best toys or technology to use for cb?

Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

[nochtanseenspecht]

hello Chris,
good desicion to start bending 

as long as you use low voltage (battery) powered stuff, your wet fingers are enough to start,
maybe you can salvage some parts from old machines, like capacitors, potentiometers etc

good technologys are : fm and pcm based keyboards , toys etc.
like casio sa series and yamaha pss series

i think this forum is a rich source of info for the starter
and don't forget to share your discovery's here ! (mp3, pictures)

good luck !!

[Circuitbenders]

Take a look in the TIP's section for guidance in getting started, especially this thread

http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,509.0.html

In the 'Parts & Components' board theres a thread listing component suppliers

http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,275.0.html

I usually advise people to start with a speak & spell machine, if you can afford one these days. A Casio SK is also a good place to start but failing that any really cheap kids toy is probably a useful starting place. Even if you can only add a pitch control and a line out to something it'll give you a feel for the process or opening stuff up and installing bends before you have a go at something more complex

[chrisbrowne]

im going to pick up a toy of some sort this wkend.

ill try to get it going and ill post a video on here when i do, thanks guys

[chrisbrowne]

managed to do my first bend the other day in my college,

was so happy. I was just messing around and managed to get the voice to pitch up really high when i bridged 2 connections together.

But i broke the toy a while after that, i think i over heated the battery or something?

anyways, gonna pick up something else soon and try it again but i can see the appeal in it already,

it felt like i was making my own toy or like modifying it, the minute something happened i was like I DID THAT!!!! haha

[Spann]

Just wait until you finally finish the bend, rehouse it, turn it on and it still works.

That was a moment of great pride for me, and also the moment I REALLY got interested in circuit bending/DIY synthesis. The thrill of the build is all well and good, but (to me at least) there's an almighty sense of accomplishment when you have a finished article.

[Timodon]

Start with something CHEAP and then if/when you make a mistake and fry it/ turn it into swiss cheese with badly positioned drill holes it won't be such a big deal. Before you know it you'll have a drawer full of parts you haven't used yet and be itching to try something more complex...

[chrisbrowne]

Hi guys, hope your all doin good?

This is my latest update on where i am, and im very happy to say ive just compleated my first official bend:)

Its a kids keyboard and ive managed to get it to trigger the sound i use to start again and again like a sampler.

I soldered on my switch and also a 1/4 inch jack so it can be used with my sound card at home. I made a video to formally introduce myself to you all and will have it uploaded very soon along with a demo of the toy and also pictures to top it off.

Thanks again to everyone on this site for your comments and help.

Chris.