Here’s a short video of the keyboards kinda acting out a little song. I kinda lose control there at the end but for my first attempt i think this is kinda fun. I’ll have some better pics of the building process and final layout soon…
Modular Circuit Bending Project
Here’s a photo of my latest circuit bending project. I wanted to build a MOTM Modular synth after hearing a friend’s System 700 but decided that doing a more circuit bent version could offer me more of the sounds i wanted. This is the first part in a series of units that will all integrate together. This unit consists of a Casio SK-1, SK-5, and a Yamaha VSS-30. All bending points are banana plug with 1/4″ ins and outs. Its about 90% done at this point and will hopefully be finished for beepcon.
I’ll post a lot more pics when it is finished…
other inspirations:
http://www.anti-theory.com
http://highlyliquid.com
http://frederic.letaconnoux.free.fr/cpg135/thumbnails.php?album=27
http://electro-music.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=76364#76364
http://www.jz-server.de/forum2/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?233
Circuit Bending
i came across an old casio sk-1 keyboard in a waco pawn shop and bought it thinking that an old sampling keyboard would be a helpful tool for getting weird sounds and for programming beats. the keyboard can actually sample about three seconds of audio and play it back at 8 bits.
it didnâ??t come with a manual, so in order to learn the sampling procedure i went on-line. while searching i started to come across sites talking about the use of an sk-1 keyboard as an experimental instrument. they spoke of how they would pull apart the keyboards and install â??shortsâ? in the circuitry. these short circuits would be wired through custom mounted toggle switches and potentiometers on the frame. being some what electronically minded, i had to try it. i couldnâ??t believe how cool the finished project sounded (think of a 70â??s space movie soundtrack mixed with an 80â??s video game). since then i have circuit bent a few other various items and have one other very large project in the works.
circuit bending links:
www.anti-theory.com – this is the home of reed ghazala, the “father” of circuit bending.
www.cementimental.com – this is probably the most comprehensive list of circuit bending links.