New Workshops

Circuit Bending
We bring the tools and components, you bring the battery powered toys. This crash course in circuit bending and toy hacking covers the basics of electronics, the tools of circuit exploration, and the techniques of finishing a project. No previous electronics experienced required! 

How to Build a Simple Contact Microphone
Contact mics are inexpensive, easy to build, and can be a source for fun and experimental ways of creating new sounds for recording, art installations or various live performances. In just two hours Patrick McCarthy will show you how to make a simple, effective contact microphone from surplus and discarded materials.

How to Build a Simple Battery Powered Amplifier
This workshop guides you step by step through the process of building your own standard, battery-powered, portable amplifier. Patrick will show how simple electronics construction can be while emphasizing the basics of soldering, interpreting an electronics diagram, custom circuit design, circuit construction, and finishing techniques.

Nightmare Machine

Classic clock bend with "interuptable" parallel sound effects circuit. The motor noise is inaudible through the 1/4" balanced output. An example of this device in action is http://soundcloud.com/rothmobot/07-the-sleep-of-antiquity-breeds-predators

Special Pre-Pre-Show Web Cast Recording Session Tonight

Sunday, January 17, 6:30 PM, ~ FREE ~ BYOB
T R A N S I S T O R, 5045 N Clark St. Chicago, 312-863-1375
These weekly recording sessions are open to the public. Come mingle with some north side gear heads.
Tonight's weekly web cast from T R A N S I S T O R includes:

• Roth Mobot's Tommy Stephenson & Patrick McCarthy, promoting their upcoming workshops, events, and the state of the quickly growing Midwest experimental electronics community.
  
• Welcome Tomerica's Tomer Gal, demoing some circuit bent devices, and discussing upcoming events.
  
• Shawn Campbell of CHIRP, the Chicago Independent Radio Project, discussing the launch of their newest project (see this week's Chicago Reader, page 39).
• Chicago artist, Mike Una, describing his upcoming performance at the MCA, and his recent work with "drumbots."
• And others....

Roth Mobot at ORD Camp 2010

Fri-Sat, January 29, 30
ORD Camp
UIC Innovation Center, Chicago

ORD Camp, sponsored by Google and Inventables, hand-picked around 200 interesting people from around the Midwest and is bringing them together to cross-fertilize ideas, meet kindred spirits and explore topics that transcend traditional boundaries. The people they're inviting are doing interesting work in a wide range of technology-related disciplines, plus a handful of influential people in related areas. The one thing that all invitees have in common is that they are exceptionally passionate about what they do.

Public Rehearsal and Special Guest

Friday, January 22nd, 8:00 PM
T R A N S I S T O R
5045 N Clark St. Chicago
~FREE~ BYOB

In preparation for their performance at TEDx Windy City in February, Roth Mobot will conduct a public rehearsal of their latest experimental electronic instruments.

Also that evening there will be a special guest performance by Chicago based circuit bender, instrument designer, and musician, Welcome Tomerica.

A brief interactive Q & A cocktail session will follow the evening's performances.

Build Your Own Portable Amplifier Workshop

Monday,  January 25, 7 - 10 PM
T R A N S I S T O R
5045 N Clark St. Chicago, $45 (includes materials)

This three-hour workshop, hosted by Roth Mobot's Patrick McCarthy, will guide you step by step through the process of building your own standard, battery-powered, portable amplifier. No previous electronics experience is needed.
This course will show how simple electronics construction can be while emphasizing the basics of soldering, following an electronics diagram, custom circuit design, circuit construction, and finishing techniques. Though students may bring their favorite tools, all that is required is a 'box' to house your completed amplifier circuit (good candidates include cigar boxes, coffee cans, Tupperware, broken radios, small pre-existing speaker cabinets, etc. -- anything that can can be easily manipulated with a hand drill). Pre-register by calling 312-863-1375 or emailing rani@transistorchicago.com