Things have been a little quiet on the blog, but behind the scenes, I’ve been a writing/editing/formatting/coding/building/designing/marketing/coffee-drinking machine! Two years ago I had an idea to write an e-book about the 555 timer. That has now manifested itself into a full-blown print book, Kindle book, and a complete parts kit for the projects listed inside.

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to the 555 Timer: Build the Atari Punk Console and Other Breadboard Electronics Projects. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but it gets the entire scope of the book across in the title.

The book is available on Amazon here.

I also collaborated with Jameco to assemble a full parts kit with all of the components required to complete the projects listed in the book. The parts kit is available from Jameco here.

The official homepage for the book, which will include videos of each chapter and project in the book, plus much more, is here: bent-tronics.com/555-timer-circuit-book

Check out this video of me opening up the book and kit for the first time and a quick overview of each.

Here’s the Amazon blurb:
Unlock weird noises, hypnotic lights, and master the 555 timer.
Buy the print version of this book first to get the Kindle version for just $0.99! (not available in all countries)
This fast-paced, easy-to-follow book teaches you how the 555 timer works with step-by-step instructions and hands-on projects. Whether you are an electronics enthusiast or a beginner, this DIY guide shares simple tricks and hacks to put the 555 timer into action. FULL-COLOR illustrations show you how to transform circuit schematics into real-world working examples on a standard breadboard – no soldering required! High-resolution oscilloscope screenshots reveal detailed views of complex waveforms not able to be seen with the human eye. Advance your skills by completing the included projects so that you can create your own unique designs. A complete parts kit is available too!
You will learn how to:

• Use a breadboard
• Utilize the 555’s pins
• Trigger “one-shot” mode
• Blink an LED
• Generate noises with an oscillator
• Create a frequency divider
• Make a bistable flip-flop
• Source and sink current
• Build and understand the Atari Punk Console

The post My new book: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to the 555 Timer appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Tripods get in the way, boom arms are either unstable or expensive. For many years I struggled with shooting video or pictures from an overhead viewpoint. This week, I finally decided to do something about it.

With just a few pieces of extruded aluminum, some plastic brackets, an aluminum bar, and a commercial camera mount for car windows, I was able to successfully put an end to my struggle. The extruded aluminum and plastic brackets are Opensource Hardware from Openbeam. This means you could easily 3D print or mill accessories to further customize your own rig.

Parts  List

OpenBeam Starter Construction Kit: http://amzn.to/29VfZKc

OpenBeam Kossel Pro, Extrusions: http://amzn.to/29C8PhO

Alpen Car Window Mount: http://amzn.to/29VfOij

3-ft x 2-in 1/8″ Flat Aluminum Bar Stock: http://low.es/29tMP50

The post Video: Make this helpful Overhead Camera Rig using Open Source Hardware appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Sometimes you just need to know if a MIDI controller is outputting anything. Even many high-end MIDI modules/boxes will have a “MIDI Activity” light, just to let you know something is being transmitted/received. That’s what I have made in this video.

Using a sacrificial MIDI cable, an LED, and a 220 Ohm resistor, you too can make this tester/activity light, probably in less than 10 minutes. Here is a rough wiring diagram.

There really isn’t too much critical about the parts used. MIDI devices use a 5 mA current loop at 31.25 Kbaud as part of their serial communication protocol. Most LEDs and a ~220 Ohm resistor will result very close in the neighborhood of 5 mA when used in this circuit. Devices with a MIDI input have basically this same thing as the LED, except in the form of an optoisolator IC.

If you don’t want to sacrifice a MIDI cable you currently own, cheap ones can be found here on Amazon, and here on eBay.

I’ll be exploring MIDI much more in-depth in future videos. Let me know in the comments below if you have any ideas/questions for future videos about MIDI.

The post Video: Make the World’s cheapest MIDI Tester appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

After a year hiatus, not only is Moogfest back for 2016 but so is their popular Circuit Bending Challenge.

Past years have had certain themes or requirements for entry into the challenge, and this year does too, however it seems pretty standard.

• The device you bend must be battery operated with a power supply no greater than 9 volts.

• Your project must be completed for a total cost of $70 or less. This includes the device you bend and all parts you use to bend it.

• You’ll need to create a Bill of Materials, Build Instructions, and Photos sequencing the build step by step.

Once you’ve created your instrument, create and upload a video to YouTube and title it “Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2016.” Send an email with the subject Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2016 to circuitbending@moogfest.com with your Build Of Materials, Photos, and the YouTube link to your entry. Your video will be evaluated by Moog and its staff, and three finalists will be chosen. Audio quality and concise editing will be taken into consideration. The better you document, the better we can judge.

The deadline for this year’s entries is Midnight EST on March 27th, 2016. Prizes include a Moog Sub 37, Moog Sub Phatty, and Moog Minataur.

Here’s a link to some of the more popular videos of past entries.

More information and official rules can be found here. Are you going to enter? If so, let me know in the comments.

The post The Moogfest Circuit Bending Challenge is back for 2016 appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

The power supply in question is an HQ Power (Velleman) PS1503SBU (Amazon; Jameco). I was able to replace the factory single turn pots with these 10-turn pots from Jameco, and now have more precise control of the voltage and current settings.

The formula for adding the 22k pots in parallel to the 10k pots is: R_total = R1×R2/(R1+R2)

The post Video: I add 10-turn pots to my variable power supply for more precision control appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

If you’re a fan of live DIY synth/circuit bent performances, you need to check out Not Breathing, aka Dave Wright of Tucson, AZ.

His newest album, Wrightman II, was released earlier this month on Bandcamp. $5 for 9 songs. Be sure to check it out on a decent sound system, there’s some killer low end.
Some may be remiss upon first listen to say these tracks are “simple.” However, keep in mind, they’re all played live on mostly hand built/hacked instruments.

Catching a Not Breathing show in person is the best way to see the sheer madness (genius?) that Dave possesses. A danceable noise assault is the only way I’ve come up with to describe it.

You can see the madness for yourself this weekend if you’re in the Tucson, AZ area:
Saturday, April 26, 8:00 pm
2500 N Stone Ave, Tucson AZ 85705

http://www.notbreathing.com

The post Circuit Bending/DIY Synth guru Dave Wright/Not Breathing releases new Album appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

Before Glitchmachines was known as a high-level, futuristic software effects brand, Ivo Ivanov was very busy releasing beautifully crafted circuit bent devices. He recently put up a gallery of said devices and it’s impressive, not only in quality but quantity.

The full album can be found on FaceBook here. Below are a few of my favorites:

The post Ivo Ivanov of Glitchmachines Releases Impressive Pictue Gallery of His Circuit Bent Instruments appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

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Chris Randall, from Audio Damage has a great flickr album of the 2015 Denver Synth Meet.

A few highlights below:

The post Pics from this weekend’s Denver Synth Meet appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

The six week, one-night-a-week classes start this Monday, March 9 and are going to be taught by Jimmie P. Rodgers at the Artisan’s Asylum.

Course Description:

Join us for an intense six-week introduction to electronics through an exploration of sound. This will be a hands-on workshop where you will build a variety of sound-generating and -manipulating circuits. Through this process, you will learn enough about electronics to be able to continue with similar work independently. You will leave with an understanding of the basics of analog and digital electronics, and the beginnings of your own modular synth system.

Spots are limited. All materials are provided and the course costs $200 (+$4.99 fee & book).

Dates:
Session 1: Monday, March 9, 7:45-9:45PM
Session 2: Monday, March 16, 7:45-9:45PM
Session 3: Monday, March 23, 7:45-9:45PM
Session 4: Monday, March 30, 7:45-9:45PM
Session 5: Monday, April 6, 7:45-9:45PM
Session 6: Monday, April 13, 7:45-9:45PM

Artisan’s Asylum
10 Tyler Street
Somerville, Massachusetts
02143

Details here.
Artisan’s Asylum

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