Circuitbenders Forum
Circuitbenders Forum => Circuitbending discussion => Topic started by: jamiedodd on February 20, 2007, 12:50:12 PM
-
hullo all
i am a 3rd year sound technology student and as part of our final year we have to undertake a research project where we choose a topic related to sound and technology and write a paper on it.
i have chosen circuit bending as it has been a passion of mine for some time
but to really set my research off, i need some primary research, which is where some of you could come in :)
bascially if any of you could answer the questions below, then it would be a great help to me and much appreicated, as it would provide me with good information from people who are out there and circuit bending.
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
thank you for taking the time to read this
if you could respond to any or all of these questions then it would be much appreciated
thank you
Jamie Dodd
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
I google around about synth-diy and found Anti Theory.
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
Some knowledge definatley makes it easier. It is good to know how caps, resistors and pots work. But it's really about short circuiting...
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
Internet.
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
You just need a soldering iron and som pots and switches!
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
The thrill is definatley in the build. I think I have 99% builing and 1% perforimg live.
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
Not much, newer toys have surface mount components and the keyboards are unbendable...
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
It feels great to be part of a circuit, since I'm in control I don't think it's a bad thing.
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
-
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
I don't really mind. I just don't like those who just does it for the $$$ But I really like sites like this, casper electronics and anti-theory.Tho9se who really has an interest in circuit bending. I couldn't afford any of the bends but I like what trhey do.
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
-
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
The cute little toy sounding as it just came right from hell. The thrill of letting the ghost of the circuit free (sometimes when I crash my SA-10, I really feel like there is a ghost playing).
-
thank you for taking the time to reply
much appreciated
jamie
-
i will be taking the time to reply once my computer allows me to do anything for 5 minutes without crashing >:(
-
thank you!
its all good primary research for my project
im just trying to get opinions on the current state of the art
jamie
-
i'll be replying once i get a sec! :)
circuitbenders; how is it crashing? might be spyware or something nasty installed like a dropper especially if it is crashing after the same amount of time everytime... :( check out hijackthis at www.merijn.org ...
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
was sent a link to an artist recording under the name Toybreaker, she extensively used modified and circuit bent equipment in he music. Googled it to find out more and ended up here.
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
It is perfectly possible to be an accomplished circuit bender with only a trial and error knowledge of electronics. I do find however that understanding some principles is very useful.
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
The mass marketng of inexpensive electronic instruments and toys maybe.
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
I regularly uses circuit bent sapmles in tracks, but it's not the core of my sound, I do enjoy building machines though.
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
Crisis as the supply of cheap, japanese keybaords drys up. In 2025 a bloody, three day street battle will be fought by two rival tribes of circuit benders desperate to possess the last unbent vss-30 on the planet.
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
Personally, i think he should lay off the space cakes.
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
Miniturisation will probably be the bane of circuit bending.
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
I sell on ebay, and though i tend to stick to the same machines i do my level best to make each unique.
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
Everywhere, seeing as it's the new 'in thing'
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
I'm a sucker for punishment.
-
thank you for your reply!
every opinion goes a long way to helping me get some good primary research for my project
if you have anything to add about the development of circuit bending and its place in contemporary music and art, then please post it!
much appreciated for the replies
spread the word! the more the better!
jamie
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
i was bored of standard sounds and especially sample cds and wanted to make something unique
i think i was talking to a pal of mine who does a lot of stuff on c64 and he mentioned circuit bending...
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
not sure really - i had a little bit of experiance from playing around with consoles... but not much else
just dived right in really
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
i think reed ghazala's book has really help push the information out there, and also people getting more and
more sick of boring synth VST's, dull preset keyboard sound and sample cd sounds in commercial music
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
not sure how easy it is to just 'do' = u still have to persist and put a lot of effort in :)
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
i make music professionaly and the instruments i mess around with are incredibly useful -especially for generating sound fx for games :)
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
more experimentation with adding things like midi control ;)
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity – what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
i think its a valid and very interesting point. it almost brings a bit of analog into the digital circuit ;)
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
not sure... might make it a bit more fiddly hehe
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
there is no problem at all in people selling their stuff - its up to them what they do with it.
i would say that you will always create more interesting sounds if you make the stuff yourself tho ;)
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
oh its all over the place...
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
a need for original sounds and a willingness to experiment :)
-
thank you!
keep em coming!
-
goddamnit, i've answered this twice now and its not posted, my own forum has turned against me!
Will attempt to do it again once i've tracked down the problem >:(
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
One day I was just screwing around on eBay and saw all those bent-machines. I was amazed by the sounds. Then I realized I had some stuff that could be bent, so I dove in.
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
No idea there, as I have no knowledge of tru-theory - but it has spurned me to pick up an elec book to learn.
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art? A healthy sense of one-up-manship. To take something one has done and take it even further(I'm looking at you, Andy, and your buddha box!)
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form? The simple genius of it and the ability to make it as complicated as you want
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build? Both. I've made samples for a few of my DJ friends(trying using a sample with Serato's Scratch setup - its so awesome)
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending? What ever you can imagine
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine? Meh - I cant really get into that hippie stuff, but Im not gonna knock it. Reed is the Father.
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art? Both bane and boon. It will eventually lead to higher priced unbent units, while forcing many to create their own circuit boards perhaps. But I lost my psychic abilities years ago. Damn pot.
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
Selling your wares is fine by me, but many are overpriced. I think it helps those who want one to make it themselves, but cant afford a pre-bent.
Mass prod? Probably not. I think its really viewed as a fad(not my view though, I love it!) And the sounds we can make aren't exactly embraced by all.
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music? Try Beck's "The Information" track ten. Try Self's "Gizmodegery"- the entire album made with toys. Its everywhere, and yet nowhere.
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
The chaos. The fun. Plus I got bored screwing around on mySpace. And my porn got lost.
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
Opened up a push button speak&spell about 6 or 7 years ago to reconnect the battery wire and spotted the preset pot for the pitch, then wondered what else i could do with it. Hadn't even heard about circuitbending before and thought i was onto something new, turned out a whole bunch of people were way ahead of me ;)
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
I'd have to say yes. There is no need whatsoever to have any knowledge of electronics when you start out but it does help a lot to have an idea of the 'logic' of electronics. Despite this there is only so far you can go with circuitbending without any electronics knowledge. Its perfectly plausable to circuitbend a whole lot of machines with brilliant results and no theory behind it but you can do so much more if you know some terminology and even simple circuits using 555 timers etc open up a whole new world of possibilities.
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
I'm not sure there is such a thing as a 'state of the art' in circuitbending. The state of the art was probably reached the first time someone circuitbent a speak&spell or casio SK-1. Ever since then people have come to circuitbending, circuitbent those machines and realised theres not much more they can do that hasn't already been done. If anything i'd say that the current state of the art is being developed more in regards to interfaces for playing the machines or external aesthetics. If this is the case then i'd say Tim Kaiser's stuff has been the state of the art for years.
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
I could probably leave the house right now and go to a charity shop where i could get some kind of musical toy for about £2. Within half an hour of getting it home i could have it making noises that you just can't reproduce any other way. It really is that easy. All it takes is spending an hour or so learning how to solder properly and you've got a whole new world of sounds available to you for virtually nothing. It annoys me intensely when people on the Yahoo circuitbending group atart suggesting that circuitbending is some kind of mystical art that shouldn't be revealed to 'commoners'. Basic circuitbending is about as difficult as falling over.
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
I have to say that i'm sick of the sight of the insides of speak&spell machines and certain drum machines but for me it is mainly about the thrill of the build. Personally i love just making bizarre instruments and even when you think that yu've heard every noise you can get out of circuitbent machines something will happen totally by random that will astonish you. I do make music with circuitbent sounds, rarely with the machines themselves as i have gigabytes of interesting samples and if i held onto every good machine i built i wouldn't be able to get into my studio anymore, but i have yet to take any circuitbent machines out live
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
It depends how totally ridiculous the prices for speak&spell machines and casio SK's become. As i said before, most developments i've seen recently are in terms of interfaces and aesthetics rather than actual sound production. It seems to be a common path for people to get into circuitbending and then start building their own analogue synths when they realise that its really not that hard to do. At the moment it seems to be just taking off as a fashion thing so its only a matter of time before Roland kill circuitbending stone dead by releasing a 'virtual bent' synth.
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
umm, Reed is a really nice guy but he is a bit of a hippy. Having said that, you could say the same about any instrument in sufficiently skilled hands. Watching Jimi Hendrix lost in an epic guitar solo i'd be perfectly willing to suggest that he and the guitar are one entity.
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
Its contributed nothing and will probably eventually destroy circuitbending. SMT boards are very difficult to circuitbend, even the leap in technology from the early digital drum machines like the TR707 to 'hundreds of sampled sounds' machines like the Boss DR550 meant that nobody could decently circuitbend any modern drum machine.
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
Well, obviously i have a slightly biased opinion but i am astounded at some of the crap that sells on ebay for ridiculous money. Not because thats what people are willing to pay but because theres a whole section of so called circuitbenders out there that think they can just add a couple of switches to an SK-1 and sell it for £150. I'm amazed that people think they can rehouse a £2 toy in a new case and then call it a 'super analogue noise thrashing zappy box' or something and START the bidding at £150! Has anyone ever heard of the regurgitron? They basically consisted of a load of electronics in a clear box that did absolutely nothing apart from flash a couple of LED's. Someone on the Yahoo group was listing them on ebay as 'overpriced circuitbent crap, does nothing whatsoever' or something similarand sold quite a few but the people on that group tore him to pieces as they just didn't see the irony. Its only a matter of time until 'virtual bent' is a household phrase, and them i'm alerting the UN.
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
In popular music its very subtle but i do hear definate circuitbent sounds buried in the mixes of Hip-Hop & R&B tracks. Apparently one of our drum machines was used on the new Bloc Party album. i don't think circuitbent sounds will ever be overused in popular music as they tend to be harsh by their nature but you hear bent sounds all over contemporary breakbeat and 'electronica'.
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
The ability to cheaply make my own instruments to my own specs to make noises that are actually interesting rather than the same old tired Oscillator - filter - envelope rubbish.
That was a bit of an essay :)
-
some great answers coming through here
really good stuff for my project
thank you all!
jamie
-
anyone else?
-
Just moved this topic to the main discussion page, maybe you'll get some more replies
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
after seeing one of reed ghazalas hippyfied speak and spells i started twiddling with a little yamaha keyboard i had in the shed... i was immediately pleased with the sounds i found and equally happy with the freaked expressions of friends when i showed them what i was doing...
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
initially it isn't at all important but as you go deeper certain basic electronics knowledge becomes vital. i'd admit to still having large holes in my understandings but i scrape by...
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
the cheap availability of old tech and the fantastic way ideas can be shared via the internet have both been important to the development of circuit bending.
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
it's very hands on, cheap and easy to start. the thrill involved in twisting devices into new uses is very satisfying.
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
yes, i'm more of a musican than a circuit bender. i regularly use circuit bent gear live as it creates a craziness that makes for a really 'live' show. i think it's obvious why an audience might get more enjoyment from seeing someone twiddling a barbie karaoke into feedback insanity than standing by a laptop.
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
i dont like predicting the future... but i hope there will be a few years left before the invasion of chinese 'black blob' tech kills the art...
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
i find more interest in the meeting of ideas between technology and art/craft rather then a rather glib sci-fi concept like that.
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
'black blobs' are evil! generally, older ic's and circuits are more fun to bend than newer, miniature ones.
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
selling useful modded instruments is fine. selling one sound / one bend toys is a bit crap however.
a mass production would surely nullify the idea of circuit bending? it makes no sense. bending is craft from mass production. without the craft it's nothing...
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
all over the place! i do think it sounds great when used along side more 'normal' ways to create music. pure circuit bent music does tend to sound a bit limited.
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
a casio childhood and the smell of solder melting.
-
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
I sell on ebay, and though i tend to stick to the same machines i do my level best to make each unique.
Adding a bit more after Our esteemed leader's comment. ;)
As I've said, I do sell on ebay and it is amazing how much badly done shit is out there. It's almost insulting to see someone sell a DD-6 drum machine with 4 switches for 70 quid, when I've done identical drum machines with patch bays and all the trimmings and they've gone for a lot less. I'm alsways fair with my pricing, auctions get started at 99p so people can bid what they think a machine is worth, rather than some over inflated price i consider right. There are however, lots of times when i am utterly shocked buy how much something goes for, but again, if someone feels that the machine is worth that who am i to argue.
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
It was weird; i had heard about circuit bending but never given it much thought, and then saw a circuit bent casio on eBay and found myself buying a soldering iron and hanging around maplins at weekends.
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
Whilst chance be a big factor here you can definately have more control over the sound if you know (a) what your doing and (b) where to look. I have all but a basic knowledge of electronics which gets me by, but I wouldn't get by without the knowledge of other people. I would not have ever figured out the 555 oscillator by chance!
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
The internet been a great source for people to get help/find out about it/share ideas, and also the shear complexity of some music programmes makes it fun just mucking about and having a laugh. I also think the availability of software samplers (perhaps even downloaded for free) means more people have had access to samplers and want to play around with strange sounds.
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
the fact that apart from the odd few most of those 80's keyboards have not held their value. I would hate to have to buy keyboards brand new!
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
I primiarlly bend to get sounds, but I often get more pleasure from the bending (maybe I should rephrase that :o )
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
Some machines have become quite collectable, and I imagine with all those destroyed or circuit bent that will continue. SMD technology could kill circuit bending or it will force people to develop the ideas further.
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
I don't really buy that man and machine thing.
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
I imagine it hasn't in many ways, although cheaper constructions costs due to miniaturisation could allow cheaper products?!?!
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
I can't see it going into mass production because of it's very essence however I can invisage small-scale production of boards and kits such as type Highly Liquid produce. I have never sold any of my machines since I have either bodged them half through building them, or only have one of them and don't want to part with it. Space does become an issue so I expect at some point I will sell a few. Like anything if there is too much crap for sale (one bend wonders) then people will not want to purchase anything and that coulld harm the movement. Being able to make money from your 'art' allows freedoom to some extent because you can buy more gear and if successful give up that horrible 9-5!
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
Right at the forefront wih Phill Collins
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
the unpredictability of it.
-
thanks for replying (and for moving the topic for me and encouraging people to reply)
im most grateful
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
I DID AN EBAY SEARCH FOR "CASIO" AND THE WORD CAME UP. I WAS INTRIGUED INITIALLY BY, "WHAT DID I JUST READ?!!" I HAD TO FIND OUT!
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO IT WITHOUT CLASSICAL ELECTRONIC TRAINING, JUST AS IT IS POSSIBLE TO PICK UP A GUITAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT A MIXOLYDIAN MODE IS. BUT, THE MORE YOU LEARN, THE MORE PROFICIENT YOU BECOME! AS A MATTER OF FACT, I PLAN TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR ELECTRONICS BECAUSE OF CIRCUIT BENDING!
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
I THINK THE INTERNET, WHICH HAS SPED UP THE FLOW OF INFORMATION HAS BEEN A HUGE FACTOR. I THINK ONE DOWNSIDE, IF THERE IS ONE...WELL, CASIO IS NOT MAKING SK1 KEYBOARDS ANYMORE. AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE BENT SK1S, IT IS ALMOST LIKE SHOOTING A BALD EAGLE IN THAT ONCE THEY ARE ALL BENT, THERE WILL BE NO MORE TO BEND, UNLESS SOMEONE IN JAPAN IS MAKING REPLICAS OR SOMETHING.
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
I DON'T THINK IT IS AN EASY ART FORM, REALLY. I THINK BECOMING TOO LAX IN ONE'S APPROACH CAUSES ONE TO BE CARELESS. I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
LATELY I HAVE USED CIRCUIT BENT INSTRUMENTS, AS WELL AS OTHER HOMEMADE SYNTHS IN RECORDING PROJECTS.
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. REED GHAZALA SET HIS RADIO ON A TABLE, IT SHORT CIRCUITED, AND HE DISCOVERED ALL KINDS OF WEIRD SOUNDS...THIS WAS WHEN HE WAS IN HIGHSCHOOL IN THE LATE 50S! SO, IT IS NOTHING NEW. IT SEEMS THE ART FORM HAS REALLY GROWN IN THE PAST 5 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE IT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO INNOVATE, CREATE AS WELL AS PRESERVE A RICH HERITAGE.
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
I THINK THE VERY IDEA OF THE BIOELECTRONICAUDIOSAPIEN IS COMPLETELY FASCINATING! I USE BODY CONTACTS IN A LOT OF MY CIRCUITS. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, IT IS MANIPULATING THE CAPACITANCE OF THE CIRCUIT.
BESIDES, THERE IS A WAVE BEHIND EVERY THING IN THE UNIVERSE, SOUND, LIGHT, MOTION...IT ALL COMES IN WAVES. ATOMS WITH POSITIVE CHARGED IONS AND NEGATIVE CHARGED ELECTRON ORBITALS ARE AT THE BASIS OF ALL MATTER. THESE MOLECULES ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING!
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
I'M NOT FEMALE, SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT! (JUST KIDDING!) ;-)
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on
Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
MY OPINION IS, LIKE ANY ART FORM...THERE ARE THE ARTISTS, AND THERE ARE THE PATRONS. IF I DIDN'T MAKE THIS STUFF, I WOULD BUT IT! PLUS, IT IS HARD TO JUST MAKE A LIVING THESE DAYS, SO ANYTHING ONE CAN DO TO MAKE AN HONEST BUCK...GO FOR IT!
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
I HAVE HEARD THERE ARE RECORDING ARTISTS DOING IT TODAY. THE THERAMIN LIKE SOUND IN "GOOD VIBRATIONS" WAS A CIRCUIT BENT INSTRUMENT. WHAT WAS THAT, 40 YEARS AGO?!
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE VERY IDEA OF IT. WHEN I SAW THE WORD PRINTED ON MY COMPUTER MONITOR, I WAS INSTANTLY HOOKED! I'LL ALSO ADD, THAT THROUGH CIRCUIT BENDING, I AM LESS INTERESTED IN CIRCUIT BENDNING, AND LEARNING TO BUILD MY OWN SYNTHESIZERS FROM BASIC CIRCUIT BOARDS AND COMPONENTS!
-
Jamiewoody - did you notice that this topic is three years old? Also, lay off the capslock ;-)
I wonder how the original poster got on with his project?
-
He siad he was going to send me a copy but inevitably he never did. Shame.
-
nope....i HAD to use CAPSLOCK to differentiate between the questions and my answers...since i can't change the colours.
-
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
The same way Reed did, I guess. I used to poke around inside transistor radios and stuff when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s and noticed that shorting the solder connections with a metal object created weird sounds.
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
I've studied electronics, but I think the whole point of bending is to just poke around and see what noises you can make. An in-depth understanding of electronics could cause you to overthink what you're doing and dismiss some ideas without trying them simply because they don't fit into an engineer's worldview. As a general rule, too much knowledge tends to make us try to force things to fit our preconceptions.
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
I'm not really up on the history of circuit bending, so I won't venture an opinion here.
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
The consumer electronics revolution of the 1980s has left us with a surplus of cheap vintage devices. Anyone can grab an old keyboard off of Ebay and take it apart and try new things without suffering much of a loss if they break something.
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
My Casio drum pads are the first devices I've modified, and I've only just started that project. I'm not much of a driummer, so I think seeing the full velocity-sensitive, 20-pad MIDI drum kit completed will be a bigger thrill than actually playing it.
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
Like all technological trends in music, it will become cliched for awhile, only to make a resurgence some years later. Rinse and repeat.
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
Resistance is futile?
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
Miniaturization actually undermines the ability to bend a device somewhat, as newer devices are mostly DSP-based (i.e., they rely on software algorithms rather than circuit layout) and are thus not really bendable.
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
It's an art form, and artists have to eat too. That said, I think people should come up with their own bends rather than buying a bent device that is an exact copy of a bend that has already been done before.
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
Not sure I get this question.
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
I've been curious about electronics since I was a toddler. Bending is just another aspect of that.
-
This thread is over 3 years old now so i guess the original purpose is way past but having said that, if people want to keep on replying to it then feel free as its always interesting to hear peoples responses to these questions.
-
we see people peruse this forum with occasional posts and reply...it is nice to get to know other's visions behind what they do.
-
fun little tread , here'S my answers
1. How did you first get into Circuit Bending?
i wanted to build an analog modular synth but quicklly understood that i should start with something more easy.
so i started to look around for projects. build an APC and by searching around i found circuit bending , so i fried a little yamaha fm module that was plugged in the mains then learned to do it rigth.
2. How important do you feel it is to have an understanding of true-theory electronics? Is the knowledge necessary to enable one to progress further into the art?
maybe not but personally i'm the kind of guy who wants to understand what is happening and i appriciate having knolegdge that can be of use in what i do. i think that if you want to expand circuits beyond just making shorts and adding pots and switches . also i like to know approximatly what i'm doing
3. What factors do you think have contributed to the development and current state of the art?
communication :- internet wich hs plenty of nice place like here to share ideas and to learn
books i've read circuit bending by Reed G
and am curently reading the art of hardware hacking by Nick C and they helped me a lot to get into it fast and effectively
4. What do you think makes Circuit Bending such an easy access art form?
easy acces ?? i'm nt sure about that. drawing is easy acces, dancing is easy acces. do to circuit bending you need some stuff.
doing it doesnt mean youre doing it as an art form
5. Do you regularly make music or perform with your Circuit Bent instruments? Or is the thrill in the build?
every time i do a new piece i try to use it on a song
5. What do you think the future holds for Circuit Bending?
i fear that maybe the cool bendable stuff will become more rare because of miniaturisation but there will always be tons of junk
6. Reed Ghazala often mentions how body contacts can enable both an instrument and the player to become one entity what is your opinion on this coming together of man and machine?
yeah watever
same ting for any old musical instrument if you ask me
7. To what extent do you feel miniaturisation (both in circuit board and component design) has contributed to the development of the art?
it makes our eyes hurt i guess
8. What are your opinions on people who Circuit Bend for financial reasons (eg people selling bent instruments on Ebay etc)? Do you think Circuit Bendings cottage industry could ever progress to more of a mass production type?
i respect good craftmens selling their work . iwould despise peolple using the hype on circuit bending to sell trashed crap.
9. Where do you see Circuit Bending in contemporary music?
electronic music started with circuit bending
electronic music started in contemporary music
10. What first attracted you to Circuit Bending?
making new sounds
using my iron
taking boring trash around me and turn it into something cool