Dictionary definition of “circuit bending”

circuit bending

n. the manipulation or modification of electronics or electronic instruments, via chance short-circuiting, to create sounds or (experimental) music. Subjects: English, Music, Technology

Editorial Note: Reed Ghazala writes in a private note, “The addition of ‘chance’ to the definition is the key factor dividing bending from the more theory-true hacking. Bending is like Calder’s mobiles or Japanese suminagashi: dependent upon chance for its configurations.” Etymological Note: The term was coined by Qubais Reed Ghazala.

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Citations: 1997 Qubais Reed Ghazala Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones: Experimental Musical Instruments (Jan. 29) @ Washington Post (Jan. 29, 1997) Richard Harrington “Just Playing Around; Experimental Instruments Tickle the Ears” p. D1: While, in an attempt to confront reality, current “fuzzy logic” technologies confront chaos, the reverse-image clear illogic technology of circuit-bending, in looking at the other side of that same reality, implements chaos. Perhaps the much-lamented lack of human spirit within computers could be addressed through circuit-bending’s personalized electronic systems of organic eccentricity, a very human trait. 2002 Natasha Kassulke Wisconsin State Journal (Madison) (Feb. 14) “Biff In Bloom ; Musician Making A Name For Himself” p. 3: [Biff Uranus Blumfumgagne has] invented a few instruments, including the Bat-tar (a heavy bat-shaped electric guitar), the Therolin (a five-string electric violin with a theremin hiding inside), and the Mando-synth (an electric 5-string mandolin with a synth pickup and a whammy bar). “I enjoy circuit bending and experimental musical instruments.” 2003 Qubais Reed Ghazala Electronic Musician (Jan. 1) “The Art of the Creative Short Circuit” vol. 19, no. 1, p. 86: The creative short circuit, or the technique that I call circuit bending, is a form of hardware hacking or modding, but with two important differences. First, whereas hackers usually know something about electronics, you don’t need any real knowledge of electronics to circuit-bend. Second, while most people hack an instrument with a particular goal in mind—such as increased frequency range or cleaner outputs—the circuit bender works improvisationally and has no idea where the trail will lead. In circuit bending, the instrument shapes itself by telling the bender what it can do. 2004 Marc Weidenbaum Disquiet “Sacto Instruments”: Circuit-bending reinforces the unique characteristics of physical instrumentation, without which discourse among electronic musicians might end up becoming little more than the sharing of home-coded subroutines (or “plug-ins”) for commercial software programs. Circuit-benders, hackers by nature, thrive on the quirks of the devices they choose to retrofit, bypassing owners manuals in favor of experimentation.

Posted 10 Dec 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend