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Leafcutter Graphic Score film to be shown at Barbican Gallery

Just a quick one to let you know that one of my short films will be shown at the Barbican in London on Saturday the 20th Feb. It’s my first graphic score as played by the Kammer Klang Quartet at Charlie Wright’s a little while back. 

It’s a free event and is listed in the new and updated live shows Section of my site. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend myself as i’m on Polar Bear duty in Canterbury that day (also listed on Live Shows page).

Take care & don’t forget the Nails gig at the Vortex this Wed! 

Leafcutter John.

Tags: Barbican, graphic score, kammer klang, leafcutter john, nails, vortex

Introducing the Wrongamin, wrong sound generator.

The Wrongamin is an easy and cheap to build sound maker that I designed to create a range of wrong sounds. From dusty old record crackles to a deep hungry animal growl heard through several out of tune AM radios. 
 

 
It uses three LDRs (Light dependent resistors) to change the pitch of three very high frequency oscillators. What is interesting about this machine is that in normal operation we don’t hear the oscillators directly as they are tuned far above the highest sound a human can hear. What makes this instrument audible are the interactions between the three oscillators which project downward into the realm of our perception. Some Theramins operate on a similar principle and this is where the Wrongamin gets its name.
 

“A Theramin can sound very wrong in the wrong hands, a Wrongamin sounds wrong in everyones hands!”

I have drawn up a schematic for the Wrongamin (click above for full size version). As you can see this is quite a simple circuit. You can build it using just one integrated circuit (40106B or 74C14) 3 x LDRs, 3 x signal diodes, 4 capacitors, and 2 resistors. If you want to get fancy and have more gain to drive a line level input then add one more IC and a hand full of components. (See Wrongamin Pic above for all parts needed).

NOTE: if you want to leave out the amplifier section: connect A (oscillator out) directly to input of the Output Section – easy. I have not actually tested this configuration but I have no reason to believe it won’t work. I included the amp section because I want to boost the signal a lot to drive my sound-card’s line input.

Here is a video of the Wrongamin’s first test…

Hope you enjoy, Let me know if you make one!

Leafcutter John.

Tags: AM radio, CMOS, leafcutter john, noise maker, Synth, Synthesizer, Theramin, Wrongamin

Chekhov Challenge now on BBC iplayer

 

Just a quick one to let you know that the BBC programme I took part in recently is now on iPlayer. More info here.

It’ll be there for just under a week. Not sure if you can listen to it outside the UK – anyone?

Click here to listen to the show.

Best,

Leafcutter John.

Tags: BBC, breaking string, Chekhov, leafcutter john, Radio 3

Nails Play London 17th Feb 2010

Nails is my free duo with Seb Rochford, we are playing in the 5 day Loop Festival at the Vortex in Dalston. We are on at 8pm! I am exhausted having just finished my tax return and am unable to say anything other than I am really looking forward to it. 

Leafcutter John x.

Tags: leafcutter john, loop collective, nails, seb rochford, vortex

London Word Festival Commission

 

I am just about to start work on a new piece commissioned by the London Word Festival. They have asked me to remake Basil Bunting’s long-form poem Briggflatts. 

Born in 1900, Basil Bunting was imprisoned as a conscientious objector, lived in Persia as a British spy in the 40s and later worked as a journalist in his native North East. Briggflatts, a poetic autobiography which celebrates the culture and language of Northumbria, was published in 1966 and belatedly announced Bunting as one of the great Modernist poets alongside T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound.

Have a go on this video - VOICE! 

I’ll be performing the piece on Sunday the 28th March, at Stoke Newington International Airport . It’s £6.50 adv / £8 door and starts at 7:30.  Any you’ll get my good self + Peter Finch+ MacGillivray + Hannah Silva.

All the info is here.

All I have to do now is make the thing….

Leafcutter John x.

Tags: Basil Bunting, Briggflatts, leafcutter john, London Word Festival

BBC Chekhov Challenge airs 30th Jan 9:15 BBC Radio 3

 

A little while back I received a challenge to make the sound of “A string breaking and decaying sadly” It’s a sound effect direction from Chekhov’s ‘The Cherry Orchard’. Well after sacrificing several guitar and violin strings and strangling some nice fresh leeks to within an inch of their lives it’s all finished. The sounds and interview material and will be played on BBC Radio 3’s Between the Ears on Saturday the 30th January.

I think it stays on iplayer for about a week and I think you can listen to it even if you are outside the UK.

All the best, 

Leafcutter John.

Electronic Music DIY Component Order Form (Rapidonline.com)

I thought I’d put together a kit of the components you’ll need to get started with Nicolas Collins excellent book “Handmade Electronic Music” My review and videos HERE. I decided to do this because it took me quite a few attempts to obtain the correct parts from uk suppliers to make the projects in the book. I thought it would be great to be able to get all the parts in one go without having to pay multiple shipping charges and risking not getting the correct components. Included in the kits are everything suggested in the book with the exception of a few components which were left out due to high cost, unavailability, or because you may never actually use it.

The only things not included are: Wire (you’ll need some, solid core, stranded, shielded) telephone coil Pickup, Inductor, Transformer, Phototransitor (LDR’s or Light Dependent Resistors ARE included),Fixed Voltage Regulator (variable Regulator IS included). That said you will be able to build 95% of what is in the book including all the chip based CMOS noise maker  circuits.

The Kit contains:

• 5 x 1/4″ Jack male
• 5 x 1/4″ Jack female
• 4 x 9v Battery Clips (good quality)
• 10 x Heavy Duty Crocodile clips / leads
• 2 x Electret Microphone Elements
• 6 x 1M Lin Potentiometer
• 6 x 10k lin Potentiometer
• 4 x 10k log Potentiometer
• 2 x Piezo Transducer
• 6 x Photoresitor
• 610 piece Carbon Film resistor kit
• 92 x Assorted Capacitors kit (values for the book)
• 6 x Super Bright LED’s
• 6 x Signal Diode
• 3 x CMOS HEX SCHMITT TRIGGER chips
• 3 x CMOS QUAD 2 INPUT NAND SCHMITT TRIGGER chips
• 2 x CMOS 12 STAGE RIPPLE CARRY chips
• 2 x CMOS HEX INVERTERS/BUFFER chips
• 2 x CMOS MICROPOWER PHASE LOCKED LOOP chips
• 2 x CMOS DECADE COUNTER/DRIVER chips
• 1 x POWER AMPLIFIER chip
• 1 x ADJUSTABLE VOLTAGE REGULATOR
• 1 x Solar Cell
• 2 x 8 pin DIL socket
• 4 x 14 pin DIL socket
• 4 x 16 pin DIL socket
• 1 x Large Breadboard
• 1 x 64 x 95 mm Strip-board

Download the Handmade El Music Rapid order.xls, I really like getting stuff from Rapid, delivery is quick (for UK residents at least), and much cheaper than Maplin. But make sure you order enough to avoid paying the delivery charge! 

Best of luck, 

Leafcutter John.

Handmade Electronic Music – Mini Book Review

Handmade Electronic Music
The Art of Hardware Hacking
Second Edition with DVD

by Nicolas Collins

 ISBN 9780415998734
£21.99 (cheaper online)

First of all I must say that before I read this book I my experience of electronics was very basic. I had begun to get interested in making circuits but didn’t really know where to start. As it turns out this publication is an outstanding introduction. 

Nicholas Collins is a composer and performer of electronic music who has worked with John Cage, Alvin Lucier, and David Tudor he is also Professor of sound at The School of Art Institute of Chicargo. It’s clear from the start of his book that this is a man on the same wavelength as the many experimental musicians and artists, the makers and hackers. His teaching style is hands-on, informative and favors the rational of  the ear over that of the oscilloscope. 

HEM Kicks off Part I with what tools you’ll need to get started and outlines the ‘Seven Basic Rules of Hacking’ which starts out like this”

Rule #1: Fear not!
Ignorance is bliss, anything worth doing is worth doing wrong, and two wrongs can make a right.

Swiftly into Part II which is entitled ‘Listening’ where the subject of ‘Circuit Sniffing’ is introduced. This part covers various ways in which we can listen to and make sound from electrical sources. It also includes detailed how-to’s on: soldering, making a contact pickup, and making an electret microphone.

In Part III it’s time for ‘Touching’ and techniques for making your body part of the circuit are introduces. There is also an introduction to circuit-bending. And a tiny bit of theory (Ohm’s Law – well kind of….)

Part IV is ‘Building’ and covers how to make sound using simple (and cheap) CMOS chips. Various well documented projects progress through: making an Oscillator,  Cross Modulation of  Oscillators, Feedback Loops, Tone Controls, Gating, Tremolo, and panning signals, amplification, distortion, pitch tracking and even a simple sequencer!

Part V covers ‘Looking’ where sounds are drawn from: IR remote controls and Video signals. He also covers ways in which LCD displays can be corrupted.

Part VI ‘Finishing’ sweeps up the loose ends by looking at making your own Mixers and Mixer matrices (think aux sends), he shows plans for a cheap and simple power amplifier, using sensors to interface with a computer, and a quick look at alternative power supplies including: solar, dynamo, and using transformers instead of 9v the battery power which is used for the projects in the book. At the end of this part is an informative and inspiring look the work of  a selection of makers. 

The book is rounded out with an excellent set of Appendices. Covering Resources on the web, books and other sources. All the tools and components needed are listed – US suppliers are listed (which is not very useful to most of the world). The ‘Rules of Hacking’ are expended to 25 in number. And finally notes on the DVD which includes links to a million and one interesting web sites. 

The DVD has features some of the projects in the book, an artist gallery which gives you some nice examples of other peoples work, and and audio section. It’s not a super slick affair  but it gets the job done and is an excellent accompaniment to the book.

What did i think of this book?

Simply put – I love this book, it’s fascinating and informative in equal measure, Collins has the demeanorof a child at play as he talks you through ripping apart CD players, radios, and transforming kids toys into demonic sound makers. He obviously still has a lot of fun exploring sound and sound making. Writing clearly and logically (with a hint of the magical) the ideas raised really do come across in a powerful and  inspirational way. Although there is not much in the way of technical speak, there is enough to get you going and the websites listed at the end of the book will take the interested reader further. 

My only criticism is that as soon as you start this book you want to start making circuits, It would be amazing if this book came with the components required to build some of the projects. 

Want help with the components – Look no further!

Limited “Handmade Electronic Music” Preview via Google Books

Here are a couple of projects which I made from the book:

 

Have a happy 2010,

Leafcutter John.

p.s. I know it sounds like I’m getting paid to say I love this book. It would be nice, but no.

Tags: 9780415998734, circuit bending, CMOS, hacking, Handmade Electronic Music, leafcutter john, Nicolas Collins, Oscillator, Step sequencer, The Art of Hardware Hacking

Duo Concert with Pete Wareham. De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill, Nov 6. FREE TICKETS!!

Just wanted to let you know I’ll be playing a duo show with Acoustic Ladyland front man and my Polar Bear band-mate Pete Wareham.The show takes place at the beautiful De La Warr Pavillion in Bexhill, 7pm Friday Nov 6.
Tickets are FREE – you should call (01424) 229 111.

Also on the bill are: Midori Hirano, and Juliet Russell and The Vocal Explosion Orchestra

I’m really looking forward to playing with Pete, this is our first proper show together but if our improv moment at the LOLA Festiva in Canada last month is any kind of indicator it should be fun. It’ll be the first outing of my new guitar controller pedal too…

I should get back to building it….

See you there,

Leafcutter John.

Tags: De La Warr Pavillion, Free Concert, Juliet Russell and The Vocal Explosion Orchestra, leafcutter john, Midori Hirano, Pete Wareham, Random Fridays

Challenge set by the BBC

 

I got a call from an arts unit editor at radio 4 last week who set a very interesting challenge. He is making a programme about the use of sound FX in theater. Particularly a sound cue from Chekhov’s play The Cherry Orchard:

“the sound of a breaking string which dies away sadly”.

The challenge is of course to try and make this sound. The nice part is that I’ll have time to make and document various approaches which will hopefully make an interesting segment for the show.

All being well it’ll air at the end of January next year, I’ll remind you closer to the time…..

Twaangggggg :-(

Leafcutter John.