Circuit-Bent Cellular Automata Video Synth Toy with Patch Bay
You may have seen the Video Critter video synth hardware kit generating visuals using cellular automata algorithms. (Think cell-based models a la the Game of Life.) But you haven’t seen it quite like this.
Univac has combined the Critter kit with a VTECH LessonOne educational toy (boring toy, beautiful case), quite a lot of circuit bending, light snakes with optical sensors, a bending patch bay, plus a 7″ LCD screen for viewing it all. Result: self-contained, patchable, performable cellular automata video synth!
CellularRecombomat: patch-bay circuit bent cellular automata video synth [Techdweeb.com, Univac's site]
It’s really quite lovely — and another reminder why we need hardware video mixers, so we can easily manage the output of goodies like this.
Univac has many other wonders of bent sound and visual devices on his site. For more cellular automata, check out the free Nintendo DS music sequencer glitchDS, which just happened to land in my inbox at about the same time.
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Create Digital Music » glitchDS: Free Cellular Automaton Music Sequencer
[...] Circuit-Bent Cellular Automata Video Synth Toy with Patch Bay Mac OS X 10.5.3 Released; Addresses USB Audio Issues [...]
May 28, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
Comments
univac
Thanks for putting it up, Peter!
A correction: the light snakes actually contain optical resistors (I pulled out the LEDs) and these are to control the 3 parameters.
And, yes, after I build a couple more of these, I’ll be searching for a hardware video mixer to mix the signals (and to bend!)
May 28, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Rozling
Amazing. Univac’s site is a wonderland! I just read an article the other day on John von Neumann who apparently invented Cellular Automata and, well, everything. It’s a good read (it’s written from a programmer’s perspective), and I’m looking forward to learning more about this genius.
http://steve.yegge.googlepages.com/math-every-day
May 29, 2008 @ 3:04 am
Jordan Hochenbaum
looks like i need to build one being that i picked up that vtech lesson one in a thrift store a while back… I also have a good housing idea for the boss dr-110 i modified… thanks peter and uni!
May 29, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
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