NoCo Mini Makers Faire is coming to Loveland on October 5th!
Time to bend some circuits!
Check this link for more information about the Faire
So, what is Circuit Bending? A “Bent Circuit” is an electronic circuit that has been modified (i.e., warranty voided!) in a way that creates a new circuit that behaves in a manner unlike the original circuit. Circuit Bending is the technique used to creatively customize a device by adding jumper wires, discreet components and switches within the electronic device. Typically used for audio effects, the method could also be applied to visual displays and robots. The term “Hardware Hacking” has also been used to describe such activity.
Essentially anyone can bend a circuit but some knowledge of basic electronics is helpful. Some things to keep in mind if you try this on your own:
1) Safety First: Always use battery operated circuits. Don’t mess with line voltages that WILL kill you!
2) Have some basic tools available: Soldering iron, test clip wires, small screw drivers (an electric drill/driver is nice to have)
3) Get your devices cheaply from yard sales and expect to destroy some of them while in the bending mode.
4) Have fun and make some noise!
First, the classic keyboard bend:
The Concertmate 500
This was the Radio Shack version of the Casio SK-1 sampling keyboard. I bought this one new at RS in 1980 primarily because it had a sound sampler that was quite radical for 1980. It’s considered a classic because it was the first “circuit bend” experiment documented and written by Reed Ghazala, published in Keyboard Magazine (1987).
Inside the Concertmate 500
With the bottom cover removed, the back side of the circuit board is exposed. A simple bent circuit is shown using four jumper wires (white, green, black and red). The bend is basically 2 digital output signals that are fed back into an input further down the circuit. The resulting electronic noise can be switched on and off without damaging the instrument.
And then there’s the weird bend:
The Bent Circuit Theremin Vox
This instrument seldom gets played because:
1) I don’t know how to play it.
2) All the dogs in the neighborhood start to howl whenever I turn it on.
3) Nobody around here appreciates Avant-garde music
…but it does get out of the box at times, like just last year:
Other possible instruments:
Harmonix “Fender Stratocaster” Input Device
It’s one of those wireless models. It seems that there are a lot of switches to interface with modular bent instruments and it might actually be cool to “play” a bent circuit on a guitar! The tremolo arm is linked to a potentiometer and there are several momentary leaf switches and some sort of “wiggle switch” that might be interesting to interface.
PowerTouch Learning System
Made by Fisher-Price, this is a lap-top learning device designed for children ages 3 to 8.
PowerTouch book Opened
TYCO Sesame Street Car Sounds toy
I originally acquired this toy for parts. It seems there are a lot of momentary electrical switches in this toy that could be used to control other bent circuits. The toy includes digital sound samples of car ignition, horns and voices of Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Big Bird.
Inside the Sesame Street Toy
There is a PC board with a number of discreet components just asking to be bent. The goal here is to try to make the Cookie Monster sound like a member of the Russian Mafia.
The Leapfrog Little Touch LeapPad
As their marketing suggests: This toy is a “delightful, high concept toy which teaches memory skills, language acquisition skills, and creative thinking. There are three separate learning settings, and the LeapPad employs a full range of rhythms, sights, sounds, and songs to engage youngsters; they won’t even know they’re learning! The Music and Soundscapes mode stimulates with sounds and rhythms. The Wordplay mode develops word object association skills.” Lots of stuff here, indeed.