For the uninitiated, Circuit bending is an unique and creative way to explore and upcycle discarded consumer electronics. It is the creative, chance-based customization of the circuits within electronic devices such as low-voltage, battery-powered guitar effects, children’s toys and digital synthesizers to create new musical or visual instruments and sound generators. Let’s Get Bending is AGSM’s first hands-on battery-powered electronics hacking & building experimental sound and noise making workshop led by sound artist Jeff Morton.

In this workshop participants will learn the basic tools and techniques in soldering and simple electronics hacking by creating their very own circuit-bent instrument (that they will get to take home afterwards). Learn how to take apart, manipulate and re-wire simple electronic sound-making toys and devices by making new connections directly on the circuitboards, attaching new controls like knobs, buttons and dials, and by wiring in an audio output jack to amplify the results. Through the process of circuit- bending, we will create a makeshift orchestra of bizarre noise and sound making devices. The end result will be a one of a kind set of lo-fi electronic musical instruments, and we will all plug in to a sound system for a massive collective glitchy-synth noise jam at the end of the workshop.