11.30.2007

HARDcoded


HARDcoded :: Digital Punk Magicians

SAT Dec 08 2007
1 PM - 9 PM
@ EN3MY
1550 N. Milwaukee Ave 3rd Fl. Chicago, IL 60622

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CentroMultiMedia + BORDER
Mexico City DF, Mexico

HARDcoded is an ongoing collaboration between newMedia artists in Chicago and Mexico City, that explore the cross-over between digital noise, punk, and magic. HARDcoded is a wordplay between embedded/non-mailable data sets in software development, like End User License Agreements (or EULA) or closed-source proprietary computer applications, and the xXxHARDCORExXx ethic of Punk culture. Our (artists and organizers alike) approach to reconstruct/disrupt the controlled environment of digital technology by breaking these social devices with wizardry. Here, wizardry is informed by Tolkien references in early moments of information technology and digital networking, as well as playfully applying narratives of spell casting, enchantment, and fantasy to the otherwise dull architecture of cyberspace. This wizardy of course would be nothing without "magic." This "magic," which serves as ironic term with a critical bent, can break the spell of traditional methods of cultural communication and sharing in an ever-growing oppressive state.

HARDcoded seeks to create a space where ruptures in our digital playing field (glitch, noise, and hacked/repurposed material/tools) can take precedence over the norms of our contemporary static digital landscape. The collaboration borrows from a Punk ethics/ethos and the necessity for a sustainable break away from the normative practices of commercial platforms. By invoking these ideologies/methodologies HARDcoded hopes to provide/facilitate a DIY/DIT network of subversion. In attempting to approach this task, HARDcoded wishes to provide a social platform of workshops, talks, and performances (and hybrids of these three) to enable these fissures to break through the veil of our closed-source expectations and reliance.

The Program consists of workshops/talks by ::

[1PM – 2.30PM ] Alex Ignlizian + Mark Beasley + Cassandra Rosas (Hardware Hacking/Building)
[2.30 PM – 3 PM] Jake Elliot dai5ychain.net (Reprogramming Computer Literacy)
[3 PM – 3.30 PM] Marisa Plumb Working Engineer, Pathegon corp. (Lecture/Performance)
[3. 30 PM – 4.30] PM Temporary Services temporaryservices.org (Lecture on Urban Hacktivism)
[4.30 PM – 5 PM] criticalartware criticalartware.net (Media Art Histories Lecture)

[5 PM – 7 PM]
Installation By ::
Mark Beasley (DotMatrix Printer + Sound Installation)
Paul Hertz collaboratory.nunet.net/phertz/ (Ignotus the Mage, Performance/Installation)
[7 PM – 9 PM]
Nightly Performances/screening by ::

Valerie Brewer (Machinima Video)
Professor Pangaea (Machinima Video)
CHHO (The Chicago Hacked Hardware Orchestra, Performance from Workshop)
criticalartware w/ Morgan Higby Flowers criticalartware.net (Realtime Artware Development Performance)
I <3>

10.08.2007

Upcoming Performance

Friday. October 19. 8:00 pm.
South Union Arts. 1352 S. Union. Chicago, IL.
W/ Tim Kaiser, Roth Mobot, & Creme DeMentia.





9.29.2007

A circuit bender's worst nightmare!

Long story short: I bought this Roland TR-626 from a guy for $5... the power input was broken so I opened it up to fix the problem... Guess I got more than I bargained for.
BUGS!!!





7.20.2007

joySYNTH_





This device is a self contained synthesizer built into an IBM joystick (circa 1984). Because of the simplicity of the original construction, it was quite simple to 'hack' the joystick control to interface with my circuit. Essentially the two axis of the joystick controls two 1 mega-ohm potentiometers. There is also a momentary button which triggers the amplitude envelope. It's fun to play and has lots of expressive potential.

7.04.2007

Emergency Responder III






Found this mysterious box at the local thrift store today. I decided it is either a portable emergency telephone dialer for the elderly or a Bat Phone. Everything seems to work perfectly... all the buttons light up and it makes this really annoying buzzing sound when one of them is pressed. The entire inside surface is velvet and it also came with a functional remote. Anyway, i plan to gut most of it and reuse the case for one of my electronic instruments... i think the wood detail along with the velvet will make an excellent synthesizer case.

6.22.2007

heterodyne_




An audio synthesizer controlled by your proximity to an attached antennae. Based on the heterodyne principal, the same technology used in the Theremin.

[listen]

6.15.2007

The H3X3N Collaborative (IX project)



For the past couple of weeks I've been helping out with a collaborative project being developed for the Interactivos festival in Madrid, Spain. My specific tasks were to interface a wii remote w/ a blue-tooth arduino board as well as other computers using Open Sound Control, and write an audio synthesis program using Max/MSP. You can check out what the project is all about as well as the development process at our blog. [h3x3n.wordpress.com] Also, here is a Flickr album from the lab in Madrid.

6.11.2007

Circuit Bending Workshop @ E.S.S. Chicago


I will be conducting a circuit bending workshop at the Experimental Sound Studio here in Chicago on July 28th and 29th.
Topics will include:
- technology of toys
- hacking the clock
- glitches
- interfacing controls
- LEDs and photo-resistors
- audio output
- packaging your instrument
- building circuits to control your toy
- automatic switches
- step sequencers
- and more...

[sign up by calling E.S.S. @ 773-769-1069]

Hope to see you there!

6.08.2007

Casio SK-1 sync input: [2]

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[TR-606]------>[SK-1]
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
.....................

6.07.2007

Casio SK-1 sync input:



This sk-1 modification is based off a 4016 bilateral switch IC. The 5v analog pulse from the tr-606 drum machine is triggering the IC which is in turn switching the 'one key play' function on the Casio. This allows for prerecorded melodies to be synced with the tr-606. by SWIFT



this vid also features my speak & spell w/ trigger input.