NYC Electroacoustic Music Festival

Starting Off w/ Bent Genius!

Today Reid and I set up our new, performance-oriented Alchemy hands at the NYCEMF !

We were having troubles until I arrived in Brooklyn a little after 3am this fine Friday. Among other troubleshooting bulls eyes, (I don't think I have ever written out that expression... is that right?,) we realized we were lacking in the 1/4 inch stereo jack department. I told Reid I could figure out making one, but I never imagined it would be so easy! I was about to start soldering extra pieces of metal all over a jack, but then I took a second look at its automatic shut-off switch. Take a look:

This is a mono jack with a shut off switch:

With some literal 'bending'...

It becomes a stereo jack!


The previous Alchemy Installation (<=check it out) was a triumph for us, and it all went so smoothly, (or so our selective memories led us to believe,) however after creating something with such great sound, looks and control, we wanted to create a (pardon the pun) Hand-held version ever since. The sound generating circuit is from the "super nice dude" (as Reid just put it) Ray Wilson. His Weird Sound Generator is where the project gets its sound. We have made this circuit quite a few times, I still don't know if we have made the same one twice. This time we printed a board posted on the page.


Reid did a lot of work on the images of the hands. The projects driving force was a delving into the world of palmistry and chiromancy. The circuits for both the audio and video respond to the interactors' hands, getting 'readings' of each individual's energy through aural and visual fields.


We prepared the press n peel for the hands. Previously, to more assuredly protect the copper, we covered the whole thing in Sharpie marker.


We went through the whole thing again, çoloring over the whole outline, while listening to a live set Screaming Females recorded for Beastin' the Airwaves with Keili on WFMU - A good ol' time was had by all involved...



Almost completed but not really even close:


Just because they look cool:



After agonizing over so many troubles, instead of three hands, we ended with doubles. Another huge difference is the self-contained light source for the beautifully back lit hands. This time we used Super Bright Leds instead of flourescent flower and Jesus lamps. Reid also did a alot with the video hands. Check it out down below.


We'll see you at the NYCEMFest! and Bent Fest 2009!!!!!!!