Circuit bended Casio SK-1

Wan

I received this on another mailinglist i'm subscribed to. Though some here may like it. I think it is a cool thingy. Don't know any specifics, this is the text from the creator, Michael:

Alexander · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:38 am Post subject:

This looks amazing...

I am very curious to how it sounds. The SK1, being one of the holy grails in circuit bending, has been bent into very powerful synths before, but this takes it a step further.
Is it possible to post some more technical info and maybe some sound examples?

Wan · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:52 am Post subject:

mosc · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 8:32 am Post subject:

michaelstein · Joined: May 03, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: dallas tx

This would be a performance/studio use circuit bent instrument.
(still has speaker installed for playing where ever you are and to
keep it feeling like a serious toy.)

plans to ad cable holding compartment on back.

Specifications:

Lower left > Pitch bend wheel: up(raises pitch) and down(lowers
pitch).

Lower right & middle right > Joy Stick: activate bends via diamond
patchbay. common white connection point in middle.

Top right > 4 multiples: can be chained together to bring 1 glitch
point out to 12. or used separately.

Top middle/right > 20 point patchbay: many bend combinations here.

Top Middle > vertical row of 4 skew points: create loops, interesting
effects, blah blah

Top middle > 4 Presets: turn preset bends on/off via toggle switch.
(I plan to ad some different components across the rca jacks for more
interesting effects, so each of the for are unique)

Top middle/left > 4 Effect Levels: run bend points via different
value pots to achieve desired bend effect level.

Top left > Poly dial & voice filter: drop up to 2 voices(lower notes
fade out first) & apply filter to voice.

Top Left > Drum Volume & drum filter: turn drum volume up/down &
apply filter to drums.

Upper Middle left > Soft & Hard Reset: Completely power off with
rocker switch or quickly reset with momentary push button.

Lower Middle Left > External trigger input & evelop LED : Triggers
notes in one key plays memory. LED lights to show signal output.
(although I need to still find a good looking LED to put there)

I built this because I got frustrated with the black/white tablebeast
mod instruction manuel and decided to highly improve the design and
quality of circuit bent instruments. I would like to thank
Electrifire and pete from casper electronics for answering some
questions I had in the beginning when I was preparing for this
project. They were very generous and helpful.

Feedback welcome.

-michael-

01 Track 1.wma

Description:

This is a sound sample. I made this very quickly and stacked up about 15 tracks of rythmic noise I could get out of this casio in 30 min. Everything but the kick drum and snare(drum machine) and the lead synth line(sh-101) that you will hear is this instr

Download

Filename:

01 Track 1.wma

Filesize:

1.68 MB

Downloaded:

1047 Time(s)

Alexander · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 10:10 am Post subject:

feedback...?

You're a hero! This is really impressive stuff, have you contacted Reed Ghazala, I think he'll love it!

I am speechless. Thumbs up!

opg · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:

Awesome. Totally brilliant sound.

I've had the same Casio SK-1 since I was 8 years old. I couldn't possibly do anything to it, but I know it would be proud of this.

mosc · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 10:30 am Post subject:

Michael. Thanks for checking in and sharing the info about your project with us. Neat sound example too. Very Happy

It's really a beautiful thing you have created there. If you are free in June, consider coming up to Philly for electro-music 2006. If you can't make it, that's cool. Hope to see you around here and I encourage you to share all of the audio examples you wish.

Wan · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 10:39 am Post subject:

Scott Stites · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

Cool beans! This Saturday I picked up a fully functional SK-1 at a garage sale for $1.

Cheers,
Scott

Pehr · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 11:12 am Post subject:

Wow!

I wish I could bend like that! Rolling Eyes

Someday I'll try to bend one of my two SA-10... Razz

dnny · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 5:57 am Post subject:

wow

welcome.

Wild Zebra · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:54 am Post subject:

That thing is f'n sweet. I have a little question about circuit bending in general. First off it's cool, I have yet to circuit bend any "commercial" toys/ instruments. My question\comment is, it seems to be such a secret society, I mean I can go on the internet and plenty of people are inventing, sharing, building tons of synth stuff and posting the know how and instructions, in a very nice and easy to use manner. I don't do a bunch of searching on circuit bending, but it'd be sweet if someone had a "turn your SK-1 into the ultimate circuit bent machine" how-to. Ton's of people will still buy circuit bent toys. And tons of people will get turned on to DIY.
I have synth freak friends who are very smart and I says, "dudes you could save tons of money by building synth stuff" and they say "ain't got the patience timmy my boy"
Ya get what I'm saying?

Are there any sure fire how to's. I mean I get the principle I could bend something myself for sure. Open it up probe around experiment, but it seems some of the "famous" circuit bends have some tried and true mods that stay the same. Well enough ranting. Keep em coming. Nice work

Pehr · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject:

There are som hints on how to bend a speak & spell here Cool

Pehr · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 12:18 pm Post subject:

http://s2.excoboard.com/exco/forum.php?forumid=55931

Wild Zebra · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 12:56 pm Post subject:

Thanks Pehr

jksuperstar · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject:

I hear you Mr. Zebra. It seemed like DIY/bending was a big community thing a while ago, with lots of schematics & how-tos being shuffled back & forth, especially wehen someone found something really cool, it seemed like a proud moment to share with the world. Now, it seems people just want to keep it secret, and sell their work on ebay. Ever seen how much a $10 Seak & Spell goes for after someone adds 3 switches and a blue LED?

Bah! Hum-bug.

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:05 am Post subject:

It seems the best way to save time finding the classic bends would be to pool our resources and start a bending forum where people who are into it can go for inspiration. It would also be an active way of thumbing our noses at the unscrupulous rip off merchants such as JK pointed out on Ebay.
Sure, speaking for myself, we may not know much about the specifics of bending now. But that could change very quickly if we band together! Wink

Edit: Sorry, I just realised there is already a circuit bending forum! Embarassed

Maybe those interested just need to get it happening more?

Wild Zebra · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:41 am Post subject:

You're right with me JK. It's been awhile since I've seen a speak n spell at a thrifty, but a week doesn't go by when I see a casio or know someone who has a unbent, SK-1 SK-8 you name it.
I guess I "bent" my weird sound generator. I randomly touched wires to the circuit board. When I heard a different sound, I hooked up a switch. Voila!

toppobrillo · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject:

yeah for real! something about all that bothers me. theres alot of pretentious attitudes among some of these cats, and most of them don't know anything about electronics. it seems that their main motivation for doing what they do is an insane profit margin on ebay! and some of the hype that they use... what alot of GUFF. piff!

mosc · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:32 pm Post subject:

Come on, no need to trash talk people who sell bent instruments on Ebay. We want to attract circuit benders to our community, not dis them. If the internet was about 50 years earlier, I'm sure Moog would have been selling his Theremins on Ebay. I think the circuit benders are for the most part very willing to share what they know with anyone that is interested - at least that's my experience. The Bent Festival in NYC is 50% concerts and 50% workshops.

Many bent instruments are works of art.

From what I understand, there are a few rules of the road. One rule is always use a battery - never power a bent instrument from the mains, even indirectly.

You have to spend hours and hours experimenting and writing down everything you can. You'll eventually find nodes that are sensitive and responsive. Every bending target is different because of manufacturing changes. Bending doesn't require very much knowledge of engineering - in fact engineers probably make lousy benders. It takes curiosity, enthusiasm, creativity and tons of patience.

toppobrillo · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 1:10 am Post subject:

Alls i'm saying is this: it seems to me what jk was saying is pretty true.

ever seen those 'circuit bent plans' and 'how-tos' on CD-R for sale on the bay? im sure there are some there now. they are just capitalizing on the trend, and keeping it exclusive is what allows them continue to do so.

Do an internet search for a good step by step, point by point on modifying the SK-1 or SK-8... see how many times you find kids trying to sell you this information or a 'kit' or a premodded one versus actual useful information! it's pretty insane. im glad its not that way with diy synthstuff.

they were lucky enough to find this information, or were shown how to do things themselves, and now they have become businessmen because they learned which end of a soldering iron was hot.

and, to that end, sell what you wish, bob selling theremins? Good! doepfer [well, maybe i shouldnt use doepfer] selling modules, fine! whoever selling whatever, whatever! you gotta right todo so. i am not going to say that a more 'substantial' product, in my opinion, has more a right to sell than another, it's all fair, and, so is the withholding of information to secure your claim to something that is somewhat exclusive, but, that doesn't mean that that it isn't very lame to do so, par-ticularly when that information isn't really much of your own original stuff.

i am generalizing alot, there are alot of people who do awesome and creative modifications to otherwise not so great stuff, and it actually seems like the better, more creative ones are cool and aren't the guys with 25 auctions for 'artist's series' SK-1s for a buy-it-now of $499 with abunch of 'artist's' pomp and whatnot..

i in fact [probably like alottakids these days] started with electronics by trying [and sometimes failing miserably] to get my shitty casio or yamaha to make weird sounds. it was cool! so, i am all about people doing this stuff, and constantly coming up with new ideas and sounds- the more the merrier! just be cool about it and share! here is a sight with this philosophy: www.freeinfosociety.com rock on![/b][/i]

michaelstein · Joined: May 03, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: dallas tx

Hi, When I initially built this, I had no intention of selling it, and I still don't plan on it. I had done some simple circuit bending of other toys but nothing serious before. I think as far the simple 3 toggle switches and a reset button moded galore of bent instruments for sale on ebay at prices of $50 -$100+ , it's kind of ridiculous. I like the idea of people sharing these bent instruments. If you have a sampler, you pick up a cheap toy, bend it, sample what sounds you can use for your music, then sell it off and make your $5-$10 back and do another. I just wanted one very versatile bent instrument that could stay in my studio and look professional on my keyboard stand with my other equipment. There has been interest in my design and some people are wanted to buy it. I am considering making a run of 5 more. maybe different colors if people want. Its not for sure and I wouldn't know how much $ to ask. what does anyone here think? in terms of pricing.
thanks,
-michael-

also here is a great tutorial for bending an sk-1

http://www.processr245.com/articles/howto_sk1.php

Wild Zebra · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 9:13 am Post subject:

Thanks for the link!! Thats a nice start.

dnny · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:46 pm Post subject:

if you are bending SK-1 you maybe want to read the Casio SK-1 Service Manual