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Workshop
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audio spectral imaging, spectrograms, spectrographs...
In 2000, I was tinkering with a program intended to help the blind "see" with sound, hoping to get some unique synthesis out of it
what I got was some very interesting sound, that i was not sure how to use, and upon opening the spectral view window of my audio editor,
something that amazed me...

left to right axis is time in tenths of a second increments andup/down is sound frequency in 5000hz increments.
the resulting sound from the Indole Ring logo above is the beginning of the 9th track on "REMEMBER WHAT THE DORMOUSE SAID".
the sounds are all pretty much alike in being grainy, chaotic, glitchy digital sounding blips... but the effect is cool.
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GADJETS
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Circuit-Bent gadjetry...
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the Glitchcraft
this is one of my favorite ciurcuit-bent creations, and the only one I've used live.
It's several modes are determined by holding down different red-button combinations on start-up and is then
controlled completely via the added photo-cell in the right window.
changes from light to dark (the waving back and fourth of my hand) will hold and release a loop from the stream of glitches it generates.

"furborgs"
these charming creatures are furbys, exposed and circuit bent by me.
they permanently speak glitch- no more furbish- no more english.
"parameter"
formerly a simon-sez-like talking game, the parameter now features...
3 of the four large green buttons now introduce resistors and capacitors into the circuitry, additional short circuit button,
red envelope/squelch LED, frequency booster knob, 1/4" audio out.

the "space urchin"
now unfortunately deceased, the spaceurchin was a simplistic creature who's pitch was controlled via the photo-cell on top.
other mods include 2 tone change buttons 4 sound buttons 1/8" audio out and internal speaker.

"Incantors"
"incantor" is the name given to circuit bent Speak & Spell, Math, and Read toys.
my modifications to these include loop grab, loop hold, random glitch, capacitor and resistor filters and effects, photo-cell control, envelope light,
pitch bend body contact and knob, reset button, and additional audio outputs.
the "Strobophonic Photonoid Signal Slayer"
this gadget is the 3rd incarnation of a transformers-like voice effects mask I received for x-mas in 1986. (pic1)
it's second incarnation was for the industrial/noise project Din/Aught in 1995
where it was wired into a guitar and walkman (pic2) that was used alongside
the c.o.m.t.(pic3), a steel sculpture/percussion piece I made and other modified instruments.
it's latest incarnation features this circuitry housed in the decapitated head
of a toy robot. other modifications include- left antennae=power switch,
right antennae=photo-cell envelope control on/off switch, mouth=photo-cell control,
right ear 1/4" input and left ear 1/4" output (in one ear and out the other),
RCA inputs and outputs in back of head, input level knob in back of head, internal speaker,
4 body contact points (often pick up radio and tv audio signals), green envelope LED eyes,
3 mode switch removed and all modes combined,
functions as amplifier and effects, or stand alone device.
this is a very simplistic, totally passive, four-way MIDI splitter/adder
with a green indicator LED, that I made from scratch without a schematic.
passive MIDI components are often not encouraged, but this gadget has
served my purposes flawlessly.
Custom and Kit-Built MIDI Analog Synthesizer
-UPDATE- 01-28-10 - after burning up all those bits putting this on a stainless face,I switched it over to this clear lexan rack-mount faceplate
-UPDATE- 04/05/2010 I just cannot leave well enough alone with this whole rack business...
so heres a new one.. the paint was just about dry when i remembered i have an empty aluminum
2-space enclosure that i want to use as well...
here is the original assembly...

feeling good about my soldering skills, I decided to build a synthesizer from a kit.
the kit I used was the "fatman" analog MIDI synth from PAIA music electronics

the kit when I got it...
just a big sack of components and a bare circuit board (and fortunately a booklet)
this took me about 12 hours to assemble all the components and I was thrilled, and very
proud that this worked right off the bat with no big issues.
the case, since it was totally custom, took along time- finding out how hard stainless steel is to drill.
here it is now...

fun stuff!
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