Circuit bending

Circuit bending, an aleatory music art, comprises the creative short-circuiting of electronic devices with low voltage with the aim to create new musical or visual instruments and sound generators. By underlining of spontaneity and randomness, the techniques of circuit bending are mainly with the music genre associated noise, although conventional musicians and music groups with so-called bent instruments have been experimenting.

Bending the circuit in general, the device housing can be opened and there are often additional components such as electronic switches and potentiometers installed which modify the circuit.

Experimental process

Circuit bending is usually operated by experiments by do-it -yourself principles with second-hand electronics. As a starting instruments are, for example inexpensive keyboards or drum machines, small digital synthesizers, battery-powered guitar effects pedals, but also electronic children's toys, which is not intended for music production, are used. While the output instruments have a planned and thoughtful electronic sound design, to Circuit bending is characterized mainly by the unplanned, based on a random, changing the experimental instruments. Although often ready "circuit bent 'instruments are to purchase at, for example eBay, contradicts the use of such a " finished " device, the idea of the Circuit bending and is rejected by one of the supporters of this movement. The contrary is the fact that established bands usually play those foreign -made "circuit bent " instruments and this has contributed significantly to the Circuit bending to make known.

The Circuit bending an audio device is typically modified or transformed by the removal of the back cover of the device and the connection between any two circuit points with a " jumper" cable, is passed through the flow from one point of the circuit to another. The result is monitored either through the internal speaker of the device or by a computer connected to the audio output amplifier with connected speakers. If an interesting effect is achieved, this connection is marked for future use or retain directly by soldering or clamping the connection points. Often other components are installed at this point, for example, toggle switches, which are used to turn the effect on and off; or it can be added to alter the quality of the audio output components, such as resistors or capacitors. This is repeated according to the principle of trial and error. Other components that are added to the circuit, can influence and expand the possibilities of expression. This can be photocells ( for reaction to light ), pressure sensors, and the like potentiometers.

One of the easiest Circuit -bending variations is the "body contact" (English, German to as: " physical contact "). Here, the tone is changed by the user touches the circuit with your bare hand. Often metal knobs, plates or screws are attached to these circuit points to allow the users to easily and selectively zoom comes with hand on certain points to bridge. Some of these are located outside the still existing housing.

Philosophy

While technology is often seen as just a method considered to produce " sounds " that are not intended by the manufacturer, Circuit bending is viewed by some as a more spiritual process. In the popular video What is Circuit Bending? artists describe circuit bending as " parallel worlds within circuits, which actually should not even exist, but they are there ", ... " there is more control over our chaos. And that's what it's about, "..." an explosive psychedelic surreal world of sound. " These views suggest that the sounds reached exist as a hidden potential in each circuit, and it was the task of the Circuit bending to explore these and to tap the potential of a device through experiments.

Founder / inventor

Although similar methods have already been used by other musicians and instrument makers, this is way to create music or sound, usually attributed to Reed Ghazala, which has already been seen, used the term in the 1960s. Ghazala experience with Circuit bending began in 1966 when a toy transistor amplifier itself by accident. Them to any metal part of his desk briefly closed, which led to a series of unusual sounds While Reed Ghazala not take lay claim to be the first ciruit -bender, but he coined the term circuit -bending and spread its concepts and applications through its publications and its website. This earned him the title "Father of Circuit Bending " ( "Father of Circuit Bending ").

Publications

Artists, even "bent instruments" build or use them exclusively were presented on a compilation CD entitled " Noise and Toys Volume 1 ," which was officially released in 2006 on "We Are ... Records ". Tiger Claw Records in Madison (Wisconsin ) specializes in circuit-bending artist and in 2006 published a 12 -band compilation entitled "The Blown Circuit Comp - A Tribute to Circuit Bending ", and a second compilation CD in 2007 with the title "DO NOT BEND " on the 19 bands were presented. The company created since 2003 Absurdity.Biz video documentaries on Circuit bending. So far it has released three DVDs of Bent Festival 2004, 2005 and 2006.