Circuit-bending

—Reed Ghazala

Alien music could be inside that old Speak & Spell at your neighbor's yard sale. Circuit-bending sets it free. Start turning throw-away audio electronics into magical music engines and discover a freedom of expression that comes straight from your dreams. All you need to know about electronics is how to solder—an how to read these instructions from the guy who accidentally started it all. Limitations? Only your imagination.

Inside you'll find detailed instructions for turning ANY circuit you find into an alien music engine overnight, along with never before revealed secrets to bent instruments including:

1. Incantor
2. Cool Keys
3. Casio SK-1
4. Casio SA-2
5. Harmonic Window
6. Phone Toys
7. Casio SK-60
8. Realistic MT140
9. Casio SA-5
10. The Electronic Womb
11. Casio Sax
12. Particle Bays
13. Write with Light
14. Rap Rhythm
15. Mall Madness

• Fans will get bent out of shape if they miss the first book to cover circuit-bending-"bending," for short-the method by which an electronic toy or a device such as a keyboard is short-circuited and modified to create an entirely different sound
• Written by the inventor of the technology, this book covers the tools of the trade, shows how to build a bending workshop, and reveals secrets that will have readers of all levels making sweet music in no time
• Readers learn basic bends, body contacts, and other bending skills, as well as ways to create bent instruments from a variety of popular toys and electronic devices
• Features some of the author's own unique creations

Introduction.

Part I: Exploring Circuit-Bending Today.

Chapter 1: Bending the Headspace of Electronic Design.

Chapter 2: Circuit-Bending’s New Instrumentarium.

Chapter 3: Considering a New Music.

Chapter 4: Bending for Business.

Part II: Building Your Circuit-Bending Workshop.

Chapter 5: Tools of the Trade.

Chapter 6: Your Electronic Parts Supply.

Chapter 7: The Well-Behaved Workspace.

Part III: Dr. Frankenstein, May We Proceed?

Chapter 8: Soldering Your Way to Nirvana.

Chapter 9: Designing Your Personal Alien Orchestra.

Chapter 10: Building the Bent Instrument.

Chapter 11: Bending Beyond the Basics.

Chapter 12: Finishing Techniques.

Part IV: Eighteen Projects for Creating Your Own Alien Orchestra.

Chapter 13: The Instrumentarium: An Overview.

Chapter 14: Project 1: Original Pushbutton Speak & Spell Incantor.

Chapter 15: Project 2: Common Speak & Spell Incantor.

Chapter 16: Project 3: Speak & Read Incantor.

Chapter 17: Project 4: Speak & Math Incantor.

Chapter 18: Project 5: The Casio SA-2 Aleatron.

Chapter 19: Project 6: The Casio SA-5 Aleatron.

Chapter 20: Project 7: The Realistic Concertmate 380 Aleatron.

Chapter 21: Project 8: The Casio SK-60 Aleatron.

Chapter 22: Project 9: Casio MT-140 Aleatron.

Chapter 23: Project 10: Casio SK-1 Aleatron.

Chapter 24: Project 11: Mall Madness.

Chapter 25: Project 12: The Inverter.

Chapter 26: Project 13: Electronic Rap Pad.

Chapter 27: Project 14: Bent Book Strip.

Chapter 28: Project 15: Cool Keys Bent Music Stick.

Chapter 29: Project 16: Fisher Price Electronic Womb.

Chapter 30: Project 17: The Harmonic Window.

Chapter 31: Project 18: Hyper Sax.

Closing Words.

Appendix A: One Dozen of the Best Generic Bends.

Appendix B: Benders’ Resources.

Appendix C: Common Electronic Components and Their Schematic Symbols.

Index.