Creative Coding -
Electronic Spectulations and Perpetual Prototypes

These machines use 'generative' coding to produce unexpected results, controlling sound outputs and algorithmic functions.

The morse-code devices speculate on what computer systems would be like if the morsecode key, designed for producing fast rhythmic oscillations and beats, had been developed rather than the mouse: a device focused on X-Y coordinates and finger-clicking selection. Morse code is made up of 3 parts: short, long and empty. After reading the visual language of the DiY devices below, speculations are made on the possible 'trinary' future of computers over the current 'binary' paradigm.

Media archaeology

Speculative devices using redundant technologies to re-imagine possible futures.

Small collection of recent Improbable Machines - electronic devices used to generate light effects, displays and manipulate sound

Process

My electronic practice is very process driven, I use it as a hands-on way to learn, and also a way to illustrate complicated ideas such as postdisciplinary knowledge. On this page I want to show some of the entangled processes of a DiY maker: so you may not see many images of a 'finished' product with its shiney plastic "black-box" to obscure the workings, I like to leave stuff 'open' to the continuous process - "the perpetual prototype" - Sometimes when you see the workings and the marks of improvised making you can get a glimpse into the the way our technologies are connected with its users, designers and makers. We become entangled with the process, caught-up with thye materials and, ultimately, its difficult to see where materials end and the human begins... who makes who? follow the links to discover the intra-meshing of practice with theory...materials and human.

The DiY (Do-it-Yourself) ethos behind my machine-making process

The ethos of inclusion and open participation is a highly visible aspect of DiY maker-culture. When we look at the image of an object which has been handmade by an amature maker, we can read the participatory ethos in the remnants of multiple faults, errors and adaptations which have occurred during its construction. Looking at a series of images of prototypes, the DiY artefact is unique as an image which speaks of the material agency involved in its creative and constructive process.

In DiY electronics, for example, the evidence lies in the often haphazard processes visible in improvised and contingent making; a rewired circuit board revealing changes in functionality; the use of recycled or re-functioned objects which operate outside of their familiar contexts;

An example of this can be seen in the haphazard wiring which signals a process of development which has not followed a logical and pre-planned route, but has instead been driven by contingency and exploration of material rather than strictly logical qualities.

In DiY maker-culture the process is highly visible in the artefact and acts as a signifier to encourage active participation in the viewer: demonstrating to the viewer the origin and material qualities of the artefact they have in front of them.

This haphazard form of construction also indicates a process which embodies an experimental,
inclusive approach to material agency:

"When I start to make a machine, I'm never quite sure what it's going to be in the end..
the first job is to collect some material. . And that usually involves some kind of scavenging.. or at other times
materials just turn up by themselves - as if they were looking for someone to complete the process.

What we imagine a machine will do and what they actually end up doing...
is often two completely different things.. we seem to exist in a universe of imagined machines.."
We imagine that machines will do all kinds of things for us in the future...
that machines that will help us survive the future... or provide us with sweet dreams if they fail.

It seems that whatever it is we beleive a machine or object to be, there is another force,
coming from within the object itself, which says otherwise -often surprising us with its conviction"

Re-functioning

".. It's almost like the process of making is an automatic process, a stream of consciousness which never pauses long enough to ask the questions that most people like to hear..like why, what or for whom I am making these machines.."

" There is a real ambiguity between the stated function of a machine and the thing that it actually performs.. when we buy into some kind of new gadget or machinery we never quite sure what's going to happen.. what it is going to really do.."

Emit Snake-Beings 2018

BrainStorming Process

Machines set up in "BrainStawm Studios" (Port Chalmers 2018) during recording process.

Morse Code Sequencer 2018

Code download

The morse code seqencer uses stm32 ARM processors and Arduinos to sequence approximations of morse-code inspired sounds and rhythms. Sound recording live set-up -with morse code key used to 'cut-up' sound from the dictorphone.

Earlier layout of the larger device:

Making of the morse code keys:

Bingodizicator 2017 'Alive on the infinite play' festival as part of Hull, Uk city of culture July 2017.

Code download

Sketchbook archives

- notebook plan of wiring. Finished Bingo-selctor device:

- The bingodizicator generates rhythms based on 1-9 beats (circular row of switches) -this feeds into a switcher box with max 7 inputs rotating at 1-7 steps, creating polyrhythmic patterns which produce bursts of sound from 7 radios, walkman, dictorphone devices which connect in.

Watch the video on the home page or

listen here to the raw sounds produced.

Early sketches of the suitcase design:

Close-ups of control layouts on finished device:

Seven outputs (below)

More messy process/workshop scribbles:

Axoloti Analogue Synthersizer 2016

Made using the Axoloti programable circuit board and the patchable programming language to develop a wide range of possibilities. I made this one as a prototype, but also I found it interesting to not put any lables onto the dials and controls.

Kledon Machine 418 - images of the device under construction (see below).

Kledon is a form of divination using overheard conversations - On the insertion of a coin, the Kledon Machine selects short snippets from 7 different spoken word folders, comprising 418 x 4 second files. 3 selections are made and repeated twice

A Dictionary of the Ancient Greek World -By David Sacks, Oswyn Murray

a type also represented by the god HERMES, the hero ... Still other forms of divination sought to find messages in dreams, in random ... listen for the god's answer delivered in the chance conversations of passersby.

Oscillator 2010
(listen here)
Multi- variable oscillator built around the
image of the last supper.

Features:
Three oscillator circuits. Switchable Light Dependant Resistor (LDR) used to control pitch of oscillator two. Built-in radio transmitter with a common AM radio used as an amplifier device. Also able to mix in radio sounds with those produced by oscillator (karaoke feature)

Volume control, modulation level, switchable on/off for each oscillator.
Change-over switch to allow two pitches to be set on different potentiometers

Built-in speaker and jack plug for amplification.

Other photos of later modifications (2015):

osc

Suitcase Sequencer - five channel -early example of the Bingodizicator featured above

(listen here)

Functions: An internal oscillator controls the tempo of the electronic selector switch which selects and outputs sound from one of five 1/4" jack sockets inputs. As the sequencer operates each input channel is selected one at a time in a looping fashion.

The sequencer is built into a vintage super 8mm camera case

The five inputs can be any conventional electric instrument - guitars etc, or tape recorders, dictorfones or radios tuned to spoken-word channels

A red L.E.D. light shows which channel is currently selected

As you can imagine the sequencer produces a 5 beat rhythm rather than a 4/4 - this is one of its signitures

Creative Coding - Electronic Spectulations and Perpetual Prototypes