EH Switchblade to Harmonic Jerkulator (Redux)

A request for interesting fuzz pedals on an online forum made me suggest a number of circuits. The Harmonic Jerkulator was chosen. I took a commission and built a version of Tim Escobedo's circuit (with silicon transistors and no clipping diodes) into an EH Switchblade pedal. I think it was a success, from treble boost to chunky, gated-fuzz.



It's not going to make all guitarists sound like Steve Albini, but it has a character unlike many other fuzzes and overdrives that is fun to play. I was not trying to recreate the original Harmonic Percolator (by Interfax), but to make a pedal which could give a range of tones that would have impact when used live, and would deliver useful shelving (without needing to use extra EQ) when used in a studio.

It creates plenty of hiss and rumble, and even had traces of radio ghost voices in some settings; It does a great job of distorting that is not done by digital plug-ins.

Karl Klomp Dirty Video Mixer

I built Karl Klomp's Dirty Video Mixer from the schematic he put online.
The schematic with tweaked contrast and brightness
+ build as bare bones without enclosure
+ enclosure with lazer etched graphics:

A demonstration test recorded onto phone camera:

Source material was a VHS of video feedback (camera + monitor) through a circuit bent processor and a DVD of animated loops of diagonal lines created in Flash.

Atari Noise Board 1.2, WSG Filter, Fruit

Cavan Fyans sent me a pair of PCBs for his latest Atari Noise Board.
I housed one in a "Little Miss Trouble" tin that I found in a charity shop. After connecting potentiometers I put sockets into the solder pads marked for touch connectors, then plugged in a few connection wires (usually used for breadboard prototyping) which I jabbed into a mandarin and a banana. The results sound like this:

My second Atari Noise Board isn't housed yet, but I added four copper touch pads to the LM380 which adds some Crackle Box like action to the sound palette. There's always something playful to be made from bench scrap!

I also built a pair of WSG resonant filters. These are the smoothest sounding of all the filters I have made so far. I've enjoyed adding a force sensor/FSR (thank you Ian McCurdy) to squeeze open the vowel sounds.

Table Leg Diddley Bow 1

A while back I was given the book Handmade Music Factory by Mike Orr. It's full of interesting pictures and info relating to DIY instruments. Trying to build some of the projects has been on my 'to do' list for a while.

After playing with the Diddley Bows made by Andrew Cooke I decided to have a go at making something quick and dirty.

A three-legged table fell apart in my yard recently: I discarded the rotten wood and salvaged a few pieces. The legs seemed in fairly good condition, one was used for this build. Other parts, such as the pick-up and tuning peg were from an old bass guitar. The jack socket was new, but fitted to the plate from an old strat-copy. The nut is weathered glass from Helen's Bay beach. The bridge; an found off-cut of conduit pipe. The tail-piece is an old bracket from some furniture.

Here's a demo video of the first notes played through one of my recently built "Smokey" amps:

The amp uses two recycled VHS boxes for the enclosure. The speaker is from an old keyboard, the capacitors and jacks were from an old mixer. More upcycling to follow.

Andrew Cooke Exhibition + ARC Performance 040513

 

Ceramic artist Andrew Cooke has invited ARC (Allen, Rayson, Cullen) to perform on his musical instruments at his latest exhibition in The Loft Gallery, Portaferry on Saturday 4 May 2013.

Andrew makes instruments from ceramic and found materials: gourds, diddley bows, harp etc. ARC will perform a number of short improvisations

04 May - 26 May: 'Musical Mud' an exhibition by ceramicist Andrew Cooke. ‘Since mankind discovered the metamorphosis of soft clay into a hard ceramic material, we have been making instruments from clay. I would love to be able to play music; I have tried but failed. I thus make ceramic instruments; it is my response to the frustrated musician inside Andrew Cooke.’ Call out to all musicians - this Exhibition will encourage interaction between the maker of objects and the maker of music. If you are a musician feel free to come and jam on the instruments! If you are willing then make a video of yourself and send it through to Andrew Cooke to be made into a video collage of musical mayhem by local film maker Rik Peel.

Andrew Cooke is on Facebook.

Nicolas Collins Speaker Oscillator

Nicolas Collins (author of Handmade Electronic Music) was in Dublin. He gave a lecture on Thursday 110413 and he facilitated a workshop on Saturday 130413 at the Science Gallery.







 

BUILD Workshop @ Catalyst Arts 060413

The first workshop of BUILD/CODE/IMPROVISE/PERFORM was carried out on Saturday 6 April 2013 at Catalyst Arts, Belfast (part of their exhibition, 'Under Construction'). The devices built and bent at the workshop will be used in the other workshops in the series in preparation for an event at SARC as part of the Sonorities Festival.

Here's an advert I found after the event had passed:


Here's a short demo video the Poor Man's Synth:


Here are a few photos from the workshop:

DIY Noise Synth Workshop 160313

In this workshop participants are shown how to build a simple 9v battery-powered synthesizer similar to the ”Atari Punk Console”. It is aimed at those interested in creative audio technology, techno, and noise. Knowledge of physics and maths is not necessary.

8 places, £60/£40

All workshops can be booked be emailing catherine@digitalartsstudios.com or angela@digitalartsstudios.com or by telephoning the DAS office on 02890 312900. Costs relate to standard/membership* rates.

*Membership of the Digital Arts Studios is only £30 a year and entitles you to the cheaper rates all year round as well as reduced costs on all other services including equipment hire. 

Here's one I made earlier:


Unpredictable oscillations from a trio of primitive square wave generators = inspiration/agitation in a hand-held box. Learn some basic electronics and simple soldering. Leave with a functioning circuit.

DIY 9v Noise Synth Workshop

First time delivering this workshop in the new venue!

In this workshop participants are shown how to build a simple 9v battery-powered synthesizer similar to the ”Atari Punk Console”. It is aimed at those interested in creative audio technology, techno, and noise. Knowledge of physics and maths is not necessary.

Dates: Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th October 2012

Times: 6.00 – 8.30pm

New Reduced Price: £20 standard / £10 for DAS or VAI members*

*For information on how to become a member please visit our membership page: http://www.digitalartsstudios.com/membership/

Recycling towards fuzz...

I have recently acquired some equipment from a plaster/dirt filled storage room after a recent stage area refurbishment. From the wreckage I got two chunky boxes covered in AV sockets. The enclosures were battered, and their contents a spaghetti-episode mess. I took a while to separate it all, and now I have a want to design a distortion circuit with XLR connections - A vocal muff maybe? From some old VHS gear I've also found some small transformers, diodes, and such - Maybe get an Octaver of some sort in the mix?

I imagine this could be a project with many iterations...updates as I find time.

Fab Lab Belfast 200812

I've had a quick vist to Fab Lab Belfast in the Ashton Centre, North Belfast.

I had a chance to chat with the technician, check out their great tools, see examples of other makers work, and get suggestions on helpful homework to do before booking some time there to work on prototypes. Inspired.

I was told there are links to useful project PDFs and FLOSS software on the Manchester Fab Lab site. I had downloaded Sketch Up and Eagle CAD oonly a few days before, with the addition of Inkscape (best compatibility for vector based projects) I now have a ever growing amount of things on my to-do/to-learn list.

Have a look at what they do, and think about what they can help you do.

Build-A-Booster Workshop 180812 - UPDATED

UPDATED
Here are a few photos from the workshop:



And here's a short video clip of the first test:



Build-a-Booster Workshop

Beginners build a booster unit in one day.
No knowledge of physics is required.
Learn basic soldering.

In four hours participants will build an amp-slapping boost circuit including:
in / out jacks, control pot and bypass switch.
Tools are available in the workspace.

1 - 5 pm
Saturday 18 August 2012

£35 (+ £5 for an aluminium enclosure)

To book a place - dodgystereo at gmail dot com

Example of a booster:

ZVEX SHO Tribute


Address:
Upstairs workshop @
1b Jameson Street, Belfast
(Beside the Errigle Inn on the Ormeau Road)

Subfusc - Acoustic Placemat - Amplitude Recognition

Example 1 - Acoustic Placemat - Amplitude Recognition from SubFusc on Vimeo.

Saul improvising.
It starts quietly.
Lots of interesting textures from a lean set up.

Example 2 - Acoustic Placemat - Amplitude Recognition and Effects from SubFusc on Vimeo.

Build-A-Fuzz

Build-A-Fuzz
Workshop for beginners.
Build an individualised fuzz circuit in four hours
Learn basic soldering.
No knowledge of physics is required.

Date:
Saturday 30 Jun 2012
1.00PM - 5.00PM

Address:
Upstairs workshop behind the big grey doors.
1b Jameson Street, Belfast
(Beside Kurl Up & Dye hairdressers, across from the Errigle Inn on the Ormeau Road)

To book a place contact - dodgystereo@gmail.com

Places limited to four per session.
Cost - £35 or £40 with an aluminium box

http://www.facebook.com/events/243364025781542/

You will have a functional 9v battery powered fuzz circuit with control knob, jack sockets, and stomp switch. Enclosure optional.

Hannah Montana Toy Guts Exploration Edited

Before turning on a soldering iron and committing to a bend on a circuit, it's fun to explore.

FET Booster / Vox Tonebender Tribute

Another two circuits I found online - tweaked to have the dodgy kind of character I like.

FET Booster
This is based on Donald Tillman's circuit (read his article, "An FET Preamp Cable"). I tried four different FETs before choosing the one which produced the most interesting grit when cranked up full.

Vox Tonebender Tribute 1
Based on a layout by Richard Boop. I've tried a variety of PNPs; they're socketed as I haven't settled on a pair yet. They're all producing bright, high gain, silicon fuzz so far, which I like. The original specified germanium transistors (SFT363/SFT337).

I changed capacitor values from the originals a little on each build. I've played them through two different practice amps and they both do different jobs. The FET booster is good for clipped rhythm work and the Tonebender does heavy riffs and solo wailing well.

Squeeler TL071

Noise / feedback oscillator using a TL071 chip.
One potentiometer.
Six touch points.
On / Off power switch.
Features: wheezing, radio interference, and wild volume jumps.

Build-A-Fuzz Trial Workshop 310312

I've moved some tools and components into a new workshop space above pxyl. There is more work to be done to optimise the space, but it's got off to a good start with a successful trial run of a build-a-fuzz workshop.

Two guinea pigs took part. They built their fuzzboxes by combining two versions of the bazz fuss circuit as starting points on bread boards, then experimenting with a variety of transistors, capacitors and diodes to find their own unique voicing, before soldering it to vero board. Satisfying DIY.

UPDATE
Here's a video of one of the builds with a bass guitar:

Harmonic Jekulator Tribute 170312

Circuit based on Tim Escobedo's Harmonic Jerkulator. This is based on the original Harmonic Percolator. Click the link and enjoy some words from Steve Albini.

New Builds 100312

Finally finished building some mini-bleep boxes for Caroline, Martin, and Chris. Compact. Instead of the usual three pots, I dropped one and put in contact points.