This final Open Lab session will culminate in a recital of devices constructed over the summer by various participants of all ages. Other instruments will be on display in an interactive exposition wherein audience members can explore homemade experimental musical devices and their sounds.
"Vactrol” is the trade name for an optoisolator or optocoupler. A simple vactrol is a lightproof packet containing an LED and a photoresistor, usually a Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) cell. Practically any material can be used as the vactrol’s casing – as long as it is lightproof (electrician’s tape, gaffer’s tape, heat shrink tubing, opaque epoxy, wood, etc.) Optoisolators are a convenient way to control trigger points within a circuit bent toy. Controlled by a homemade sequencer circuit and various devices can be triggered in predictable (and sometimes unpredictable!) patterns. Though not a prerequisite, participants will benefit from having basic soldering and Circuit Bending skills, a basic understanding of electronics components, and a basic understanding of oscillators. Participants are encouraged to bring a Circuit Bent device to the workshop.
This workshop will focus on a more advanced level of electronics hacking. How to read and write electronics schematics, how to assemble and use homemade sequencers to control and trigger electronic devices. Though not a prerequisite, participants will benefit from having basic soldering and Circuit Bending skills, a basic understanding of electronics components, and a basic understanding of oscillators. Participants are encouraged to bring a Circuit Bent device to the workshop.
Students ages 11- 14 will learn the basics of DIY (Do It Yourself) experimental electroacoustic musical instrument design and construction. Emphasis will be on learning the science behind the amplification of acoustic sound, what is resonance, and how to build experimental electroacoustic musical instruments from common household materials.
Participants are encouraged to continue working on their projects in this informal Show & Tell and Q & A session. Have you taken a workshop at the ESS in the past and have follow-up questions? Are you thinking of taking a workshop at the ESS and have inquiries? Are you an experimental musician who just wishes to meet other artists in a constructive environment? The ESS Open Experimental Sound Lab is the meeting place for experimental musicians of all ages to gather, work on their projects, and discuss their work.
FREE
Not to geek out on science too much, but how does a contact microphone actually work? Learn the basics of the Piezoelectric effect while honing basic soldering skills. During the first half of the workshop participants will learn the physics of a contact mic, as well as the simplicity of its construction from reclaimed materials. The second half of the workshop participants will learn the basics of DIY electroacoustic instrument design and construction. Participants are encouraged to bring random objects to amplify - sheet metal, cardboard boxes, acoustic instruments, slinkies, coat hangers, textured plastic objects, etc. No previous electronics experience is required!
Participants are encouraged to continue working on their projects in this informal Show & Tell and Q & A session. Have you taken a workshop at the ESS in the past and have follow-up questions? Are you thinking of taking a workshop at the ESS and have inquiries? Are you an experimental musician who just wishes to meet other artists in a constructive environment? The ESS Open Experimental Sound Lab is the meeting place for experimental musicians of all ages to gather, work on their projects, and discuss their work.
What is “Experimental Music?” How does one play it? On what sorts of instruments is it played? How do you conduct it? How do you score for it? This workshop specifically designed for children ages 11 - 14 yrs. explores these questions as well as what it means to make your own musical instruments out of common household materials and how to create your own music on them. This three-hour workshop emphasises non-traditional approaches to music and sound. Participants will be engaged in “homemade” instrument design, construction, and playing.
Take apart an old toy and make a brand new musical instrument! At the end of this workshop participants will be able to identify and explore the basic components of a typical circuit board, the basics of soldering, install output jacks, switches, body contacts (and more!), and control a world of new sounds. Tools and components will be provided. Participants are required to bring one or two battery-powered devices (with batteries!) to the class. No previous electronics experience is required!
We will dive into advanced hardware hacking techniques, including a primer on how to read and write electronics schematics, and a tutorial on assembling and employing homemade sequencers to control and trigger your devices.
Students are required to have basic soldering and Circuit Bending skills, a basic understanding of electronics components, and an advanced understanding of oscillators OR to have attended the beginning and intermediate workshops. Students should bring a couple electronic devices to be triggered by their new sequencers.
$40/35 students & ESS members
This class will focus on the next level of electronics hacking, including topics such as how to read and write electronics schematics and how to assemble and use home made oscillators to get more out of your devices.
Contact mics are inexpensive, easy to build, and and provide a simple, fun source of new sounds for performance and recording. In just two hours we will show you how to make a simple, effective contact microphone from surplus and discarded materials. Students are encouraged to bring random objects to amplify - sheet metal, cardboard boxes, acoustic instruments, slinkies, coat hangers, textured plastic objects, etc.
No previous electronics experience is required!
$40/35 students & ESS members
By taking apart old toys and elecronics and modifying their existing wiring, one can enjoy bizarre sounds, electronic loops, sampling, distortion, and other easy to create effects. At the end of this workshop you'll be able to identify and explore the basic components of a typical circuit board, install an output jack, switches, body contacts (and more!), and control a world of new sounds.
