Circuit bending

Circuit bending is modification of circuits in electronic devices such as children's toys and digital synthesizers to change or control their sound output, usually by dismantling the machine and adding components such as switches and potentiometers.

Probing for "bends" using a jeweler's screwdriver and alligator clips

Circuit bending has commonly been associated with noise music, though many other contemporary musicians have experimented with it.

Experimental process

A circuit-bent Walkman

A 1989 Kawasaki toy guitar used in a circuit bending project

The process of circuit bending involves experimenting with inexpensive second-hand electronics that produce sounds, such as toys, keyboards, drum machines, and electronic learning products.^[1]

A Yamaha PSR-6 used in a circuit bending project

Innovators

Serge Tcherepnin, designer of the Serge modular synthesizers, discussed^[2] his early experiments in the 1950s, with the transistor radio, in which he found sensitive circuit points in those simple electronic devices and brought them out to "body contacts" on the plastic chassis. Prior to Mark's and Reed's experiments other pioneers also explored the body-contact idea, one of the earliest being Thaddeus Cahill (1897) whose telharmonium, it is reported, was also touch-sensitive.

Since 1984, Swiss duo Voice Crack created music by manipulating common electronic devices in a practice they termed "cracked everyday electronics".^[3]

Musician and technologist Reed Ghazala coined the term circuit bending for the practice in 1992.^[4]

See also

Kraakdoos

• Atari Punk Console
• Chiptunes
• Data bending
• Electronic art music
• Glitch (music)
• Glitching
• Kraakdoos (CrackleBox)
• MIDIbox
• MOS Technology SID
• Music Tech Fest
• NIME
• No-Fi
• Noise music
• List of music software