Even with little P.R. for the event (I only found out a couple hours before the event, grabbed my camera and went!), 2016’s Phoenix Synth Meet would be considered by most to be a success. What once started out a few years ago as a small gathering in Chris Randall’s (Audio Damage) house, was hosted this year at the 7,200 sq. ft. Unexpected Art Gallery. At one point in the early evening I counted about 60 people, and probably well more than that attended throughout Saturday’s event, which also included live performances later in the evening.

Flavio Mireles from Blue Lantern Modules was also on hand with a rack chock-full of his Euro format modules for anyone to tweak, along with his new Assist Percussive Utility module (demo in the video). A huge LED video wall was available behind the stage for the small, but cohesive group of video synthesists and artists.

Most people showed up with their favorite synth(s) and set them up for others to hear and learn about. A few seemed to wander into the building wondering what the bleeps, bloops, and blinkenlights were all about, but after hearing a noodle patch on a big modular they stuck around to experience all the demo floor and stage had to offer. There was a very positive and friendly vibe flowing throughout the building, and to top it off there was no charge to attend or setup your gear.

Check out the video below to see all the glitchy goodness!

Phoenix Synth Facebook Group.

The post Video: Phoenix Synth Meet 2016 appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

The video is below. Unfortunately I have a wedding to attend the same weekend as NMASS 2015. What is it, you may ask?

“A 3-day festival featuring music performances, sound installations, film screenings, and a synth meet!”

Here’s a schedule of the 3-day lineup (don’t miss Saturday!):

Thursday 6/11/2015 6:00pm Gallery open, meet and greet 7:00pm Experimental Response Cinema Programming 8:30pm Brent Fariss w/Cathy Marchese and Robin Spiotto 9:30pm Tucker A&M Perry Coalition 10:00pm Locations: Lily Taylor and Sean Miller 10:45pm TxChip (Love Hz, Brother Android, Party Time Hexcellent) 12:30am Enjoy Gallery Installation (New Media Recordings)

Friday 6/12/2015 6:00pm Enjoy Gallery Installation (New Media Recordings) 6:30pm Laura Brackney / Stinson Seusser 7:00pm Andrew Weathers Ensemble 7:30pm David Simons, Bob Hoffnar, Jordan Moser, Oren Porterfield 8:30pm Raquel Bell, Daphane Park, and Derrick Barnicoat 9:00pm Hsin-Jung Tsai & Thomas Helton 9:30pm Chris Cogburn & Steve Parker 10:00pm Tierra Mestiza  Aventuras 11:00pm Alex Keller & Sean O’Neill 11:30pm Illicit Relationship 12:00am Enjoy Gallery Installation (New Media Recordings)

Saturday 6/13/2015 1:00pm-5:00pm Trash Audio Synth Meet 5:15pm Tyler Thompson (Denver) 5:30pm Dylan C (Austin) 6:05pm Snowbeasts (Providence) 6:35pm Surachai (Chicago) 7:15pm Alessandro Cortini (Los Angeles) 8:05pm Richard Devine (Atlanta) 9:00pm Baseck (Los Angeles) 9:30pm Man Forever 10:00pm Christy and Emily w/Brock Monroe 10:45pm Danny Kamins, Steve Parker, Sandy Ewen, Damon Smith 11:15pm Kid Millions / Jim Sauter duo Midnight – Mongoose (Austin version of Zorn Cobra game)

New Media Art and Sound Summit 2015

The post NMASS 2015 teaser video featuring sound design by Richard Devine, visuals by Dr. Bleep 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.

I stumbled across a fantastic video on YouTube of circuit bent/tape loop/noise artist AMULETS aka Randall Taylor of Austin, TX.  He is another example of someone performing some great compositions with lofi/minimalist gear.

Micro Tour info:

Thursday (tonight), 4/2/15
Espresso Gallery
529 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, Texas 78212
https://www.facebook.com/events/1597613817143092/

Friday, 4/3/15
Houston, TX
TBD

Saturday, 4/4/15
Bisbano’s Cellar Bar
Lafayette, Louisiana 70506
https://www.facebook.com/events/969181106425214/

The AMULETS FaceBook page.

Here is the video I mentioned above.

The post Circuit Bending/Noise artist AMULETS plays tonight in San Antonio. Houston, Lafayette this weekend appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

The post Synthesis & Samples Hackathon in NYC this Saturday ft. burnkit2600 and littleBits Korg Synth Kit Workshop appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

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 meet will include:

• Modular, Old & New
• Hardware/Software
• Analog/Digital
• Do It Yourself
• Controllers
• Guitar Pedals
• Manufacturers 
• Demos

The post Reminder: Denver Synth Meet is this weekend! appeared first on Bent-Tronics.

From the event websites:

“MAGFest Presents the PAX East Jamspace 2015! As always, this year will be a mix of open jam time aka your typical Jamspace awesomeness (starting around 10am all three days!) + some fantastic scheduled shows from all around the VGM, chiptune, and nerdcore communities!”

“Boston 8bit is proud to announce our triumphant return to the Pax East Jamspace! We will be providing the chiptune acts for the Jamspace, both local and national. No longer contained to a 3 hour block, the Jamspace will include chiptune acts throughout the day! Only at Pax will you be able to see The Unicorn Princess open for RekcahDam, or MC face palm open for Mega Ran! We also have Diamond Machine, T-T)b, Ded Boyz and radioscottvoid representing our scene! Not only will we feature Boston acts, but we invited our friends Crunk Witch, Invisible Robot Hands and Danimal Cannon!”

For those not able to attend, there will be live streaming via geekbeatradio.com

Scheduled Acts
Friday:
1:30pm – 2:00pm: The Unicorn Princess
2:15pm – 2:45pm: BR1GHT PR1MATE
3:00pm – 3:30pm: RekcahDam
3:45pm – 4:05pm: Ded Boyz
5:15pm – 5:45pm: Amanda Lepre
6:05pm – 6:45pm: The World is Square
7:00pm – 7:20pm: MC facepalm Official
7:30 pm – 8:00pm: Sammus
8:15pm – 9:00pm: Mega Ran
10:00pm – 10:55pm: ABSRDST
11:00pm – 12:00am: Grimecraft & Kevin Villecco

Saturday:
11:30am – 11:50am: Invisible Robot Hands
12:00pm – 12:20pm: Spaceman Fantastiques
12:30pm – 1:00pm: Kyle Landry
1:15pm – 1:45pm: Diamond Machine
2:45pm – 3:05pm: T-T)b
3:15pm – 4:00pm: Professor Shyguy
4:10pm – 4:50pm: Danimal Cannon
5:00pm – 5:30pm: Crunk Witch
5:55pm – 6:40pm: brentalfloss
7:00pm – 7:45pm: FamilyJules7x
8:05pm – 8:45pm: Robbie Benson of Super Soul Bros.
9:15pm – 10:00pm: radioscottvoid
10:05pm – 11:00pm: James Landino
11:05pm – 12:05am: Grimecraft + Special Guest

Sunday:
11:00am – 11:45am: Natewantstobattle
???? – ???? (Maybe surprises?)

March 6 – March 8
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
415 Summer St, Boston, Massachusetts 02210

Links:
Facebook Event Page
magfest.org
east.paxsite.com
geekbeatradio.com
boston8bit.com

The post PAX East Jamspace ’15, Huge 8-bit/chiptune lineup this weekend! appeared first on Bent-Tronics.