Circuit
Bending is the art of modifying existing consumer electronics, usually
children’s toys, guitar effects units, inexpensive battery-powered
musical instruments, portable CD players, etc. to create unique
musical instruments.
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This
is achieved by adding wires, knobs, and switches to control new connections
within the device’s pre-existing circuitry. No prior
knowledge of electronics is required. |
| Well
for starters - don't bend anything you can't live without (especially
if you're just starting out). Also never bend anything that plugs
into the wall.
There
are definitely some "holy grails" of bending - almost
anything by Texas Instruments and Casio.
Lately
I've been bending musical greeting cards. They don't just beep out
a song anymore. They have actual samples in them now. Which brings
me to another guideline - toys that have samples in them are the
most desirable. If it says, "hi!" or barks or meows or
quacks it's probably a good bet. Toys that merely beep and boop
are usually not so fun.
Which
brings up the obvious - toys that make sound. You'd be surprised
how many students bring toys that make no sound to the workshop.
True, you can bend them... but the results have less of an "immediate
gratification" quality to them.
Battery-powered
video devices are a candidate, but require a monitor to see the
results (usually not readily available). |
|
Usually
the older toys are easier to work with. Here's why. There's a trend
in electronics these days towards miniaturization and cost-efficiency
that manifests itself in things known as SMDs (Surface Mounted Devices).
They are tiny tiny versions of basic electronic components.
It's
one thing to go after a fairly "see-able" resistor or
capacitor in a toy, and it is quite a different thing to go after
a little square of metal smaller than half a match head. It can
be done, but requires excellent eyesight. I use one of those big
magnifying lamps.
Some
of the simplest things bend the best. I have this rather stupid
Fischer Price toy that does nothing but count, do the ABCs, and
that's about it. I put one clock bend in it and I love it. (SMD
based, by the way).
Here's
another general rule. Try to stay away from games. Not that they
won't bend - just that they are more difficult to work with because
you have to actually "play" the game in order to get it
to make sound. Kind of a drag when you're trying to get at it's
internal circuitry. |
| Patrick
McCarthy has been conducting Circuit Bending Workshops in various
Galleries, Bars, and Schools in the Chicago area since the year
1999.
He
has performed at such locations as the Athenaeum Theater, The Steppenwolf
Garage Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, The Peter Jones Gallery, and
Looptopia.
He
now teaches a regular Circuit Bending workshop at the
Old town School of Folk Music in Chicago. His students have
ranged in age from six years old to 71 yeas old.
Patrick
has conducted his workshops and lectures at the School of the Art
Institute of Chicago, The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, DePaul University, The University of Illinois
Urbana Champaign, Columbia College, Chicago's Museum of contemporary Art, The Association for Computing
Machinery, and Accenture Technologies. He was recently invited to
conduct a seven week course in the subject at the Oak Park Art League,
in Oak Park. |
 |
Patrick
was the founder of the The Guild Of Acquired Technology (aka The
G.O.A.T.) in Chicago, and was responsible for booking Guild lectures,
demonstrations, and performances that stressed the recycleability
of discarded electronics and e-waste ecological responsibility.
Patrick's
workshops have been written up in The Chicago Reader, Chicago
Tribune, TimeOut Chicago, Pioneer Press, the Daily Candy, and FlavorPill. His work has been the subject of multiple radio and video documentaries.
Along
with conducting workshops with his friend Tommy Stephenson, Patrick
has been performing with Tommy as the Circuit Bent Duo, Roth
Mobot.
Patrick
makes himself available for any correspondence and questions regarding
Circuit Bending and electronics. He may be reached at the email
address at the top of this page. |
