Roth Mobot

ORD Camp 2012

2012-01-25T02:36:00.012-06:00

This past weekend Roth Mobot was invited back for our third year to Google's and Inventables' annual technology / education / invention / creativity think tank, ORD Camp, at the University of Illinois' Innovation Center. This event, attended by hundreds, brainstorms in a supportive "unconference" style on how to improve the world with new tools for productivity, new attitudes towards information, and new approaches to education. Roth Mobot gave three presentations:

Circuit Bending 2.0 So you've hacked a toy... what's next? Blamps!

Tommy Stephenson and the Circuit Bending & Blamps Installation

Roth Mobot has been hacking toys for over thirteen years. We have been teaching the craft since 1999. What we've discovered during that time is that "hacking" and "bending" usually involves opening a device and modifying its native behavior into something completely new. We have moved on to "combining" objects in a method we refer to as "blamping," named after our first experiments of creating novel lamps out of discarded lamps and blenders. Blamping expands the hacker universe and opens new doors for invention and education.

Xiang Qi - Chess's Grandmother An interactive exploration of a critical moment in gaming history

Dan Meyer and Marcin Wichary playing Xiang Qi

If you like Chess, you will love Xiang Qi. It is the ancient Chinese game that was one of a few games that was amalgamated into the modern game of Chess. The game is an engaging way of discussing history, exploring gaming theory, and teaching typical western minds to confidently embrace learning bits of eastern language and symbologies - in this case, Chinese characters.

Musical Cookware What happens when an electronics hacker is let loose in the kitchen?

Patrick McCarthy demonstrating his Musical Cookware

There was an email thread on the ORD Camp site about how to create music from the actions of a typical kitchen. Most responses centered around digitally "sampling" sounds from a kitchen and sequencing them on a laptop. Other approaches included organizing and orchestrating the cooking process itself -- i.e., synchronized chopping, choreographed scraping, and coordinated frying/sizzling. Roth Mobot's approach was to create musical instruments out of the cooking utensils themselves. We created an electronic percussion device by amplifying a cutting board, and an analog synthesizer by electrifying a knife and fork. We passed these signals through a multi-effects unit, an sk-1, and finally to an amplifier.

In addition, Tommy found himself the center of a spontaneous conversation about craft beers and the modern techniques of hops use; and Patrick found himself suddenly teaching a quick class on plastic encasements for homemade circuitry.

Patrick McCarthy demonstrating a method of homemade circuit encasement

Other presentations we attended included a Tequila Sunrise Bot (a device that autonomously mixes cocktails); an Arduino-based robot that plays Angry Birds on an iPad; an advance mathematical discussion on the concept of multiple infinities; a talk on the nature of happiness; a roundtable on how to improve/revolutionize the education system; the current state of 3-D printing; lock picking and security methodology; a Q&A on how to cook anything; the history of text-based games (surprisingly complex and interesting); digital print vs. analog print; appropriate visualization of data; how to tie a bow tie; the decline of certain aspects of human health due to agricultural decisions made thousands of years ago; the perils of digital information addiction; the PTDS underground (Personified Teeth Dental Signs); and, of course, how to play the psych-out game, Werewolf.

Patrick opened Saturday night's Ignite Talks with a demonstration of hacking a crowd of people into a Human Theremin.

Roth Mobot's Patrick McCarthy conducting the Human Theremin

Theatre Intangible's Experimental Garage Sale Report & Interviews

2011-12-16T12:35:00.000-06:00

Theatre Intangible's Tony Youngblood visited the Midwestern Circuit Benders at their 4th annual Experimental Garage Sale in Chicago. He recorded interviews with ROTH MOBOT, TIM KAISER, ALEX DEEBA, CMKT4, THEJUNKYARD CATALYST, LOW-GAIN, and a number of other makers.

The page has an extensive gallery of photos by Katherine Guza, and if you scroll down the page near the bottom is a thin gray audio control bar for the interviews.

Roth Mobot's 3-D Animation at MEECAS 2011

2011-10-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

Premiered at #MEECAS 2011. Get your 3-D glasses!

MEECAS 2011

2011-10-20T19:13:00.003-05:00

Saturday, October 22
12 Noon - 12 Midnight

Lizard's Liquid Lounge

3058 W Irving Park Rd. (map)

"... a mecca for data hackers, and video performers and artists."

~TimeOut Chicago

The annual Midwestern Experimental Electronics Conference and Showcase (www.MEECAS.com) is a free, day-long, inventors' networking symposium highlighting the past year's innovations in the areas of Musical Instrument Design, Performance, Circuit Bending, Data Hacking, and Video Art.

There are lectures, demonstrations, interactive installations, a daytime circuit bent open mic, and an evening's showcase of the Midwest's most innovative artists and inventors. Children welcome from Noon - 4:00 PM if accompanied by a parent.

Inventors, Artists, and Musicians are encouraged to bring their latest experiments, instruments, videos, etc. to demonstrate during the circuit bent open mic or to place on the "work table" as part of the interactive installations section of the event. Audio-based installations should include headphones.

EVENING SHOWCASE: 6:00 PM - Midnight, CST
This year's Evening Showcase features the work of:
- TOYDEATH, Sydney, Australia
- Tim Kaiser, Duluth, MN
- Talking Computron, Minneapolis, MN
- Space Gun Bunny, Fort Wayne, IN
- ROTH MOBOT, Chicago, IL
- The Ring Toss Twins, Minneapolis, MN
- Mother Daughter Crime Team, Chicago, IL
- Dustin E., St. Louis, MO
- CMKT4, DeKalb, IL
- Alex Inglizian, Chicago, IL
- adamon, Lawrence, KS

VIDEO PROJECTS: Noon - Midnight, CST
Various Artists (Experimental electronic video projects welcomed!)

INTERACTIVE INSTALLATIONS: Noon - Midnight, CST
Various Artists. (Experimental electronic projects welcomed!)

WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS, DEMOS: Noon - 6:00 PM, CST
Noon - 1:00 PM, Vactrol Fever with Patrick McCarthy
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Build a Bending Buddy and/or Build a Contact Mic with CMKT4
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM, What is Circuit Bending? with Various Artists
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM, The Audio of the Aurora Borealis with Sam Piro

MEECAS STORE: Noon - Midnight, CST
Exhibiting and performing artists will be selling recorded works, experimental musical instruments, electronics kits, apparel, etc. to offset their costs.

LIVE WEBCAST: 5:30 PM - Midnight, CST
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/meecas-2011

CALL FOR DEAD BATTERIES: Noon - Midnight, CST
Bring your dead batteries to the MEECAS and we will send them to a proper eWaste recycling center. Last year the MEECAS audience brought enough batteries to fill a bucket!

Phish Playing one of Tommy's Devices

2011-09-26T19:29:00.004-05:00

Photo by gilbertlow

A brief video snippet of Mike Gordon from Phish playing the Orange Mercury Box, a circuit bent device that Tommy Stephenson built in 1999.

Phish was in Chicago and Tommy stopped in to say hello, check out the show, and deliver yet another one of his unique circuit bent devices personally. Over the past few year's Mr. Gordon has acquired quite a collection of Tommy's custom devices.

Time Lapse Video of Roth Mobot Circuit Bending Workshop at Museum of Science and Industry's Fab Lab

2011-08-09T15:54:00.000-05:00

Students from the IIT Boeing Scholars Academy attended a day-long Introduction to Circuit Bending Workshop hosted by Roth Mobot's Patrick McCarthy at the MSI's Fab Lab. The students learned basic circuit hacking techniques, how to solder correctly, and how to use CAD software to design cases for their new experimental electronic musical instruments and cut them out of plastic with robot-controlled lasers! Unatronics' Michael Una was our special guest that day, and offered invaluable assistance.

Roth Mobot's Circuit Bending Workshop at Museum of Science and Industry

2011-08-05T14:18:00.000-05:00

We taught the students how to hack simple 555-based circuits (that were mass produced right in the museum's Fab Lab), how to design casings using CAD software, then how to manufacture their custom designs with robot-controlled laser cutters! Special thanks to Michael Una, Dan Meyer, and the Fab Lab interns for their invaluable assistance.

Lighting Young Brains On Fire

2011-07-13T20:23:00.000-05:00

Northwestern University's Office of STEM Education Patnerships has recently hired Roth Mobot's Patrick McCarthy as their Designer of YouSTEM Alternative Learning Environments. Patrick will be instrumental in designing, developing, and implementing after school self-running interactive "drop in" labs for teens to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math.

"Chicago has excellent after school facilities for sports, the arts, and digital media." Says Patrick. "Soon students will have spaces where they can hang out and explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math on their own terms and at their own pace. These new YouSTEM environments will encourage independence of thought, demystify technology, make mathematics a natural language, and foster an intuitive approach to invention. I also want to show teens, and... well, everyone, that social networks can be used as powerful developmental and educational tools. And it's going to be fun!"

Amplify Your Slinky

2011-07-01T22:12:00.000-05:00

As Seen On Page 4 Of 6/30 Chicago Reader

Patrick McCarthy of the duo Roth Mobot teaches a class on how to build a contact microphone, which picks up vibrations through solid objects rather than through the air. It’s part of Getting Bent, a series of first-Sunday workshops in circuit bending: “the creative recycling of discarded consumer electronics to create unique experimental electronic art by adding wires, knobs, and switches to control new connections within the device’s pre-existing circuitry.” Participants are encouraged to bring objects to amplify, like sheet metal, cardboard, acoustic instruments, Slinkies, and coat hangers.

Roth Mobot Lecture/Demo/Performance at Chicago Public Library

2011-06-25T10:07:00.000-05:00

Saturday, June 25, 2011
11:00 AM - 12:0 PM
Chicago Public Library
1150 W Fullerton ~FREE~

As part of Chicago's summer Music Series, Roth Mobot will lecture about Circuit Bending technique, demonstrate a few devices, discuss various experimental music principles, and perform on their home made circuit bent instruments.

For more information visit http://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/64945/

Roth Mobot's Circuit Bending Workshop Series Mentioned in Reader's "Best of Chicago" Poll

2011-06-24T20:54:00.005-05:00

The Chicago Reader named the Experimental Sound Studio "Best Experimental Music Resource" in its recent "Best of Chicago" poll.

As a pilot program for the ESS's expansion into academia - Roth Mobot has been commissioned to conduct a series of advanced Circuit Bending Workshops at the studio.

In addition to their studio and gallery work, the ESS hosts the annual Experimental Garage Sale, brainchild of GetLoFi.com.

Museum of Science and Industry's "Roth Mobot Technology Workshops" Series

2011-06-17T04:14:00.007-05:00

CAD design and final printed circuit board

We will be conducting a series of workshops in the Museum of Science and Industry's Fab Lab this summer.

Inspired by a recent visit to the museum and the consistency of one of the museum's workshops (sheep's eyeball dissection) we struck upon how to simplify circuit bending workshops with the use of a common, eminently hackable circuit used as a text book example. Just think of it -- no surface mounted components, no crystal clocks, no unanticipated IC encapsulated components -- to name a few of the many benefits of this ambitious approach.

We designed a simple 555-based oscillator circuit with easily accessible and hackable components. The MSI's Fab Lab made quick work out of autonomously milling duplicate boards on their in-house equipment.

Roth Mobot to Speak at s.t.e.a.m. Conference

2011-05-21T01:01:00.001-05:00

The Upward Bound Math and Science Program, in collaboration and sponsorship from the Chicago Teachers’ Center and Northeastern Illinois University, are hosting the 1st annual s.t.e.a.m student conference Saturday, May 21st, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, at Northeastern University.

The s.t.e.a.m (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Agriculture/Architecture,Mathematics) student conference is for middle and high school students who attend schools in the greater Chicago land area to foster science, technology, engineering, art/agriculture and mathematics learning through project-based and career-oriented workshop sessions.

Patrick McCarthy, half of the circuit bent duo Roth Mobot, has been invited to speak at this year's conference. His lecture / hands-on demonstration will focus on the intuitive accessibility of technology, focusing on reclaiming discarded electronics and converting them into unique audio and video instruments.

New Workshop Series at Chicago's ESS

2011-05-21T00:33:00.000-05:00

Chicago's Experimental Sound Studio has enlisted Patrick McCarthy — one half of the circuit-bent duo Roth Mobot, to teach a series of five affordable workshops over the course of the summer. Whether you want to drop in once to learn how to construct a contact microphone, or if you’d rather immerse yourself in a comprehensive curriculum of soldering and hardware hacking, we invite you to tailor your experience by enrolling in any combination of these classes.

TRANSISTOR Performance

2011-04-27T00:45:00.002-05:00

Photo by Bob

Roth Mobot was asked to perform a few of their strategically improvised recursive jazz pieces at TRANSISTOR in Chicago as the opening act for Tim Kaiser's "Numbers Station Test Pressing Tour." A huge "thank you" to audience member, Bob, for recording the performance with his iPhone. The piece is broken up into three main sections.

Cedar Rapids Eco Arts Festival 2011

2011-04-26T21:07:00.004-05:00

Photo by BG

Roth Mobot was invited to conduct one of their circuit bending workshops in Cedar Rapids for the annual Eco Arts Festival.

The festival centers around the theme of reclaiming and re-using materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill somewhere. We represented the "electronics" contingency.

We arrived at the Cherry Building (a warehouse-sized space undergoing a creative renaissance) and were guided by our hosts to a room full of electronic toys donated by Stuff Etc. - an excellent local resale shop.

After five hours we had taught a bunch of adults and children how to "bend" toys, and were interviewed by the local news station.

Roth Mobot on TV!

2011-04-26T20:47:00.002-05:00

Crowdsourced 1.0 @ The Empty Bottle

2011-04-04T23:41:00.002-05:00

Sunday, April 10, 2011, 7:00 - 10:00 PM
The Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave., Chicago, $3

Photo by Scott Rettberg

To the unfamiliar, "crowdsourced" means that the content that is the most popular "rises to the top" via votes--as in, the crowd chooses what's the most relevant. Threadless is a good example: only the designs that are voted hottest actually make it to production.

Electronic music fans and supporters were asked to vote on a number of submissions from Chicago artists to determine the lineup for a night of entertainment at the Empty Bottle. Approximately 600 online-votes later, the results were in, and the top four acts were picked, and will perform in order of the number of votes received.

Crowdsourced 1.0 Lineup:
dreamlogicc 9:15pm
Protman 8:30pm
Roth Mobot 7:45pm
Polyfuse 7:00pm

Tim Kaiser & Roth Mobot, Live @ TRANSISTOR

2011-04-04T22:43:00.003-05:00

Photo by Tom Young

Friday, April 22, 8 PM
TRANSISTOR
5045 N. Clark St., Chicago
$5 suggested donationBYOB

TRANSISTOR presents experimental circuit bent performers Tim Kaiser and Roth Mobot. According to Art Tape, "Tim Kaiser not only creates compelling musical soundscapes, but he does it all with instruments he has built -- truly hand-made music for the atmospheric aficionado." Says Kaiser, “My music is atmospheric; I’m not as concerned with melody or rhythm as I am with texture and feeling… …perhaps I’m creating a kind of folk music from the future.” (Source: Theatre Intangible interview with Tim Kaiser). More of Tim's work at www.TimKaiser.org.

Photo by Tom Young

Roth Mobot's Patrick McCarthy and Tommy Stephenson have been transforming music composition from an activity of composition and "correct duplication" to exploration and "sonic discovery" with their strategically improvised "recursive jazz" performed on home made experimental and circuit bent devices since 2005. More at www.RothMobot.com.

The Boys & Girls Club of America

2011-03-08T16:08:00.003-06:00

Photo by Michael T. Kennedy, Ph.D.

Recently Roth Mobot was invited by Northwestern University to give one of their lecture/demonstrations of experimental musical instrument construction to a the local Science Club chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Patrick explained the principles of constructive failure, acoustic exploration, and rudimentary experimental electronics hacking to a group of approximately twenty students and their teachers.

The students have been studying how science is used in the creation and control of music and have been constructing their own instruments for the past few weeks. Their session will end in a week with a talent show of their instruments. They invited Patrick to be one of the "judges" at the show.

Read the Science Club's blog entry for more details and photos.

Roth Mobot Written up in DuPage Courier

2011-03-06T08:40:00.004-06:00

The College of DuPage's student newspaper, the Courier, recently published an interview with Tommy and Patrick in their Arts section.

It's a nice write up, focusing on our approach to music, our re-purposing of discarded technology, and our academic focus on community building & academics.

If you have a moment give it a read and tell us what you think (you can leave comments on www.RothMobot.com).

New Monthly Lecture Series at eSymposium

2011-02-28T21:51:00.003-06:00

photo by T Young

Saturday, 3/5/11, 12-3 PM
Lizard's Liquid Lounge
3058 W Irving Park Rd.

For almost two years now various hackers, circuit benders, engineers, inventors, sculptors, and musicians have been meeting every Saturday at the weekly eSymposium, a lateral teaching/learning fab lab that focuses on experimental electronics and other DIY approaches to the "acquired technology arts."

Starting this Saturday, we will focus the first eSymposium of each month on a particular guest speaker to give an informal lecture about some technique, discovery, or passion that they have been pursuing.

This Saturday, our first speaker will be Tomer Gal (of Welcome Tomerica). He will be speaking about, and showing concrete examples of, using control voltage to synchronize various devices, different sources of control voltage, and using home made midi-to-control voltage conversion hardware to control multiple hacked and bent devices.

An excellent example of Tomer's technique in action can be heard in the audio archive of his stellar performance from this year's MEECAS.

We are currently booking lectures for this series. If you would like to be a guest speaker at the eSymposium please send a message via our Contact page.

TOYDEATH's 1st U.S. Tour Comes to Chicago!

2011-02-10T15:16:00.009-06:00

Saturday, February 19, 10:00 PM, $7.00, 21+
The Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N Western Ave., Chicago

"...unique stage show... a deluge of circuit-bent sounds..."
~ The Chicago Reader

TOYDEATH, the cartoonish Australian-based band, bring their unique stage show to the U.S. for the first time. They exclusively use a collection of modified toys to create their music and perform fully decked in far-out costumes.

LORD OF THE YUM YUM,
(aka Paul Velat) provides more smiles per gallon of free water than any other comedic, experimental performer who scat/throat-sings classical and popular melodies, in the greater Midwestern area. We are very lucky to have The Lord as our Host and our Master of Ceremonies for the evening!

CMKT4, from DeKalb, IL, use guitar, bass, drums, synthesizers and circuit-bent toys to create textured anthems and crunchy, bluesy numbers bleeding into electronic, semi-improvised Kraut rock.

ROTH MOBOT use a unique strategically improvised “recursive jazz” to control common discarded electronics and the misplaced humorous language of toys, to create symphonic soundscapes.

New Experimental Electronics Workshops

2011-01-18T23:25:00.000-06:00

Workshops offered at
The Old Town School
Of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Register at 773-728-6000

More information on our Workshops page

Introduction to Circuit Bending Workshop
Sunday, February 6th, 2011, 1:00 - 4:50 PM
Take apart your old toys and make a brand new musical instrument

How to Build a Simple Contact Microphone Workshop
Sunday February 20th, 2011, 1:00- 2:50 PM
Contact mics are inexpensive, easy to build, and can be a source of new sounds for recording, art installations or live performances.

Intermediate Circuit Bending Workshop NEW!
Sunday, March 6th, 2011, 1:00 - 4:50 PM
This class will focus on the next level of electronics hacking. How to read and write electronics schematics, how to assemble and use home made oscillators to get more out of your devices.

Build Your Own Portable Amplifier Workshop
Sunday, March 13th, 2011, 1:00 - 4:50 PM
This workshop will guide you step by step through the process of building your own standard, battery-powered, portable amplifier.

2010 - The Year In Review

2010-12-30T15:47:00.010-06:00

2010 was a pretty good year for Roth Mobot.
Below is a list of some of the year's highlights.

None of it would be possible without your support.
From both of us - Thank you.

We were well received in Paris
Landed our first Chicago Elementary School gig
Were called to audition for a program on the History channel
Auditioned for America's Got Talent
Conducted over seventy workshops and have added new advanced classes
Doubled our weekly eSymposium membership
Added to our mailing list
Received new commissions for bent devices including Marco Benevento, and New York's School of Rock
Mixed our first studio recording ("Stations" -- soon to be on iTunes, etc.)
Quadrupled our followers on SoundCloud, YouTube, and Twitter
Increased our number of live performances including our first EarthDay Virtual Concert
Presented to a sold out crowd at TEDx Windy City
Won the Best Presentation Award at google's ORD Camp 2010
Were nominated for a Prix Ars Electronica Award in Austria
Had our five year anniversary
We were included in, and designed graphics for, a new "net label" compilation, Delete Function Vol. 1
Conducted multiple lectures, including Columbia College and the Chicago Rotary Club
Were involved in a University of Chicago Master's Thesis on Sociology (it received an 'A')
We made tons of new friends
Successfully increased the level of interactivity at the annual MEECAS
And finally had some much-needed dental work done

LIVE at the ESS

2010-12-09T11:24:00.000-06:00

Chicago's Experimental Sound Studio invited Roth Mobot to one of their fundraisers to demonstrate their approach to music composition on home made experimental electronic devices and circuit bent toys.

The evening began with a set by Dan Mohr on keyboards, looper, and vocals, and Adam Vida on drums. (google them, they have multiple sites each).

After Intermission, Tommy and Patrick rolled out a 20 minute improvisation on some of the themes used in Smile, SReach Out (Disconnect), and Hamburger Drive Thru.

Alex Inglizian recorded the set. He did a stunning job of capturing our sound. Nothing has been altered from the original recording.

New Workshops

2010-11-24T01:13:00.000-06:00

Introduction to Circuit Bending
Sunday, Nov. 28, 1:00 - 4:50
The Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Register at 773-728-6000

Take apart your old toys and make a brand new musical instrument! Circuit bending is the art of modifying existing battery-powered electronics (like children's toys, guitar effects units, inexpensive battery-powered instruments, etc.) to create unique musical instruments by adding wires, knobs, and switches to control new connections within the device's pre-existing circuitry. Enjoy bizarre sounds, electronic loops, sampling, distortion, and other easy to create effects. At the end of this workshop you'll be able to identify and explore the basic components of a typical circuit board, install an output jack, switches, body contacts (and more!), and control a world of new sounds. No previous electronics experience is required! Tools and components will be provided. Students are required to bring one or two battery powered devices to the class.

How to Build A Simple Contact Microphone
Sunday Dec. 5, 1:00 - 2:50
The Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Register at 773-728-6000

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 we will show you how to make a simple, effective contact microphone from surplus and discarded materials. Students are encouraged to bring random objects to amplify - sheet metal, cardboard boxes, acoustic instruments, slinkies, coat hangers, textured plastic objects, etc.
No previous electronics experience is required!

Experimental Sound Studio Fundraiser

2010-11-19T14:53:00.000-06:00

Sunday, November 21, 2010
3:00 - 6:00 PM

Roth Mobot has been asked to play a fundraiser for the ESS. It's an "invitation only" event. So, maybe you can call them and get an invitation.

We'll tweat the afterparty.

Patrick McCarthy to Address the Rotary Club

2010-11-17T19:56:00.000-06:00

Patrick has been invited to speak at the Rotary Club's weekly luncheon. Patrick has been striving for years towards a teaching career that focuses on eliminating technophobia in his students via Circuit Bending workshops and performances. He will be giving a brief impromptu performance, a short lecture on the Acquired Technology Arts, and its use in preparing students for high tech careers.

MEECAS 2010

2010-10-27T18:23:00.005-05:00

". . . for electronics junkies it's like being in a candy store."

- The Onion

Saturday, November 13 :
Lizard's Liquid Lounge, 3058 W Irving Park Rd. (map)
The 3rd annual Midwestern Experimental Electronics Conference and Showcase (MEECAS) is a free, day-long symposium highlighting the past year's accomplishments in the areas of Musical Instrument Design, Performance, Circuit Bending, Data Hacking, and Video Art.

CONFERENCE : Noon - 3:00 PM
The MEECAS begins with a three-hour circuit bent open mic, and an open “horizontal lecture series” structured around a free hardware hacking workshop wherein all participants are both teacher and student. The conversation will focus on networking, hacking techniques, project demonstrations, and setting goals for the next year.

DINNER - 3:00 PM
Order some carry out, and continue the conversation and networking into the evening.

SHOWCASE : 8:00 PM - Midnight
The MEECAS continues into the evening with live performances featuring:

Tim Kaiser, Duluth, MN
Roth Mobot, Chicago, IL
Welcome Tomerica, Chicago, IL
Alex Inglizian, Chicago, IL
Will Soderberg, Chicago, IL
CMKT4, DeKalb, IL

VIDEO : 8:00 PM - Midnight
In addition to the live video mix work of The Machinist, the evening portion of the MEECAS will include pieces from some of the Midwest's (and Europe's) premier Glitch artists, featuring:

(steven) Buck, Chicago, IL
Spright Light Theater, Minneapolis, MN
Hugo Paquete, Portugal

INTERACTIVE INSTALLATIONS : 7:00 PM - 1:00 AM
The MEECAS audience is encouraged to explore interactive electronic installations created by:

Michel Una, Chicago, IL - LIFE Synth
Sam Piro, Evanston, IL - Circle Machine, Jr.
Kim Alpert, Chicago, IL - Stolen
Patrick McCarthy, Chicago, IL - Graphite Synth
Telekinetica, Chicago, IL - Plasma Ball Boom Box

MEECAS STORE : 7:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Exhibiting and performing artists will be selling recorded works, experimental musical instruments, electronics kits, and apparel to offset the cost of the show.

CALL FOR DEAD BATTERIES
	Please bring your dead batteries to the MEECAS and we will send them to a proper eWaste recycling center.

MEECAS 2010 LIVE WEBCAST : 8:00 PM - Midnight CST

SPECIAL THANKS :

Créme Dementia, MEECAS 2010 Video Documentation
Tom Young, MEECAS 2010 Photo Documentation
(steven) Buck, MEECAS 2010 Audio Documentation
Patrick McCarthy & (steven) Buck, MEECAS 2010 Staging and Lighting
Carl Broman, MEECAS 2010 Webcast Documentation
Ruth & Johnny, MEECAS 2010 Bartenders
Lizard's Liquid Lounge, the Room
Cody's on Albany, for their Convenient Location
You, the MEECAS 2010 Audience

New Devices - August 2010

2010-09-10T18:43:00.000-05:00

Hybrid Hacked Vocaid Incantor

Both Tommy and Patrick contributed custom circuitry to this device. There are two loop switches and three glitch switches, as well as pitch control. Tommy finished the exterior.

Untitled Dark Keyboard

Presented with a found keyboard, we installed a classic clock bend with three pitch electrodes.

Roth Mobot Back from OFFF Paris 2010

2010-07-02T17:15:00.014-05:00

Roth Mobot was invited to conduct a presentation about, and performance of, their DIY approach to soundscape production using their homemade electronic devices and circuit bent toys at the 10th annual OFFF Design Conference. The festival was huge, taking up multiple floors of Paris' La Grande Halle de La Villette. We have tons of photos and videos, not only from the festival itself, but from our brief stay in the City of Lights.
OFFF Paris 2010 Opening Titles
Created by the Academy Award winning design team, The Mill

Roth Mobot's Presentation & Performance at OFFF

Roth Mobot at OFFF Festival in Paris!

2010-06-09T15:14:00.008-05:00

Roth Mobot is performing opening night at the OFFF Festival in Paris, France.

The three-day OFFF Festival is more than a design conference, it's a digital multimedia festival. OFFF is spreading the work of a generation of makers, inventors, and artists that are setting new limits by growing with recent technology and receiving inspiration from a whole new tool set.

This is such an unusual and excellent gig for us that it requires a little extra attention. Although the festival is paying for our flight and our hotel accommodations, we still have to pay for our food, and to ship our equipment across the Atlantic (twice).

We have set up a Donate button on our web site. It's a secure connection to PayPal where any small donation would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you send us your postal address we will send you a post card from Paris! We leave this Tuesday and our goal is $500. Thank you.

Third Annual Experimental Garage Sale

2010-05-31T13:39:00.011-05:00

Experimental Garage Sale 2010, June 5th. Noon-5PM

At the Experimental Sound Studio
5925 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60660 (map) 773-769-1069

Circuit Bent Instruments, Un-Bent Gear, Parts, Vintage Components, Guitar Pedals, Custom Lamps, GetLoFi Kits, and More! WITH SPECIAL DRAWING AT 3:00 PM!! Prizes include custom devices and electronics kits from the Midwest's premier experimental electronics artists including Roth Mobot, Talking Computron, Reed Ghazala, and MORE!

10 Sellers!
Tommy S. rothmobot.com
Patrick M. rothmobot.com
Mike aa9il.com
Steve site.properboy.com
thejunkyard catalist myspace.com/ThriftsoreBoratorium
Creme Dementia myspace.com/CremeDeMentia
GetLoFi.com getlofi.com
Low-Gain lowgain-audio.com
Tim Kaiser htimkaiser.org
Buck stevenbuck.us/

More Info:
http://www.gelofi.com
http://www.experimentalsoundstudio.org/

Arduino / Hacked Toy Internet Alert Circuit

2010-05-12T19:00:00.144-05:00

Overview
Zach Kaplan recently invited Roth Mobot to the Chicago offices of Inventables to lead their monthly Lab session wherein guests speak about the various recent crossovers of technology and creativity. At first we were asked to conduct a hands-on toy hacking session with Inventables' employees, but about a week before our arrival we were given the circuit bending challenge of creating an "interface between the Internet and a common circuit bent toy."

Basic Data Flow

We decided to create a circuit that would activate a toy whenever someone logged into Roth Mobot's web site. We designed a simple and elegant solution using an Arduino, a homemade Vactrol, a common electronic toy, and three simple scripts written in different programming languages. We'd like to thank William Swyter for lending us his Arduino, and Factory Smoke for his Vactrol suggestion, which stopped us from creating overly-complicated custom circuitry with transistors and diodes, and made the programming a piece of cake. The result was an elegant circuit that electrically insulates the toy from the Arduino (and the computer) by "optically coupling" them with light.

Vactrol Construction
We've included a diagram of how to build a Vactrol. All you need is a bright LED, and a Cadmium Sulfide photo resistor. We used black epoxy for our casing.

Arduino / Vactrol Hook Up
We plugged the Vactrol's LED's ground lead into the Arduino's ground socket, and it's positive lead into the Arduino's number 13 socket. We used socket number 13 because it has a built in resistor.

Vactrol / Hacked Toy Hook Up
We then connected the two leads from the Vactrol's photo resistor to two leads coming out of a hacked police truck toy. The beauty of this approach is that it doesn't matter what the voltage of the toy is or whether it's "voltage triggered" or "ground triggered."

Video of Circuit in Action
Now when someone logs into our web site the circuit bent police truck toy lights up and says, "Slow down, pull over!" in a demonic voice.

Sample PHP Code
We embedded this common basic hit counter in our home page

<?php $count_my_page = ("hitcounter.txt");
$hits = file($count_my_page);
$hit = trim($hits[0]);
$hit++;
$fp = fopen($count_my_page , "w");
fputs($fp , "$hit");
fclose($fp);
echo $hit;
?>;

Sample Python Code
This is the Python script that runs on the computer attached to the Arduino and the hacked toy. It requires the PySerial library extension to be installed. The only part of the code we had to change was the Arduio's serial port and the location of the TXT file being generated by the PHP script on our server. (highlighted below).

# fetch txt file

import time
import urllib
import serial

# USB serial connection to Arduino

ser = serial.Serial(
'com4', 115200)
myUrl = 'http://www.YOURWEBSITE.COM/hitcounter.txt'

last_counter = urllib.urlopen(myUrl).read()
while (True):
counter = urllib.urlopen(myUrl).read()
delta = int(counter) - int(last_counter)
print "counter: %s, delta: %s" % (counter, delta)
ser.write(chr(ord(chr(delta))))
last_counter = counter
time.sleep(10)

Sample Arduino Code
This code was originally used to activate a servo motor. We Frankensteined it with some other code to light the Vactrol's LED.

int ledPin = 13;
int minPulse = 0;
int maxPulse = 10;
int pulse = 0;
int rings = 0;
long nextMillis = 0;
long lastPulse = 0;
int refreshTime = 200;
int state = 0;

void setup() {
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
pulse = minPulse;
Serial.begin(115200);
}

#define PULSE_ON       0
#define WAIT_PULSE_ON 1
#define PULSE_OFF      2
#define WAIT_PULSE_OFF 3

void loop() {

if (Serial.available() > 0) {
    rings += Serial.read();
    Serial.println(rings);
}

if (rings > 0) {
      digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // LED on
      delay(200);                  // wait
      digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);   // LED off
}
if (rings = 0) {
      digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);   // LED off
}
}

Midwest Inventors Earth Day Virtual Concert

2010-04-21T12:42:00.022-05:00

Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7:00 PM
In an effort to reduce their collective Carbon footprint, Midwest Experimental Electronic Musicians explore webcasting as a means of production and performance. Artists include Tim Kaiser, Pelzwik, Roth Mobot, Welcome Tomerica, and Michael Una.

Experimental Electronics News

2010-03-12T13:58:00.009-06:00

1. RMPC's Electronics Dept. Assigned to Roth Mobot

The Rubber Monkey Puppet Company has officially delegated its Experimental Electronics Department to Roth Mobot. From here on out, all associated responsibilities, workshops, lectures, and performances will be handled by the circuit bent duo. In turn, Roth Mobot has become the first official subsidiary of The RMPC.

2. Upcoming Electronics Workshops

How To Build a Portable Amplifier

Sunday, April 11, 1:00 - 4:50 PM
Old Town School of Folk Music

This class shows how simple electronics construction can be while emphasizing the basics of soldering, following an electronics diagram, custom circuit design, circuit construction, and finishing techniques. No previous electronics experience is required! More information can be found on our 'Workshops' page.

Introduction to Circuit Bending

Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 - 10:00 PM
T R A N S IS T O R

This crash course in Circuit Bending teaches basic soldering skills, how to explore a pre-existing circuit, and how to hack a common toy into a unique instrument. No previous electronics experience is required! More information can be found on our 'Workshops' page.

3. Awards

Best Presentation, ORD Camp 2010

Roth Mobot was invited to ORD Camp 2010, a lateral conference of the Midwest's leading technological thinkers (sponsored by google and Inventables, and hosted at UIC's Innovation Center). Patrick McCarthy's presentation "Introduction to Circuit Bending" featuring live toy hacking and a demo of video modding, won the Best Presentation, ORD Camp 2010 Award.

Prix Ars Electronics 2010, Digital Communities

Roth Mobot has been nominated for this year’s Prix Ars Electronica award in the category "Digital Communities," which focuses on political, social and cultural projects, initiatives, groups and scenes from all over the world that display commitment to smart, successful ways of deploying digital technologies to solve social problems with an emphasis on the degree of community innovation, sustainability and use of technology. Results will be announced in May.

4. OFFF Festival in Paris

OFFF International Festival for the Post-Digital Creation Culture
June 24, 25, 26, 2010 Roth Mobot is being flown to Paris to perform on the frontline of digital arts events at La Grande Halle de La Villette for the OFFF Festival. OFFF has become a synonym for modernity, both aesthetic and technological. OFFF is spreading the work of a generation of creators that are breaking all kinds of limits - focusing on those separating the commercial arena from the worlds of art and design. Wish us luck on getting our suitcases full of hacked electronics onto the plane. Any advice would be appreciated.

5. The Weekly eSymposium

EVERY Saturday, 12:00 noon - 3:00 PM
Lizard's Liquid Lounge, 3058 W Irving Park Rd, (773) 463-7599
To nurture the Midwest experimental electronics community, we host a free weekly "eSymposium," an interactive lecture series where participants are both teachers and students. There's soldering, tinkering, Q&A, show-&-tell, bending circuits, hacking toys, recycling discarded electronics and batteries, and Chicago's only weekly Circuit Bent Open Mic. Stop by, join the eSymposium's Google Group, or check out our work at youtube.com/eSymposiumChicago and soundcloud.com/eSymposiumChicago.

Nominated for Prix Ars Electronica 2010

2010-02-25T19:20:00.009-06:00

Roth Mobot has been nominated for this year’s Prix Ars Electronica award in the category "Digital Communities."

The Digital Communities category focuses on political, social and cultural projects, initiatives, groups and scenes from all over the world that display commitment to smart, successful ways of deploying digital technologies to solve social problems.

Particular emphasis is placed on a project’s degree of community innovation, its sustainability and its use of technology in a way that makes good sense and is attuned to the needs of the people meant to benefit from it.

Hopefully, Roth Mobot's commitment to the demystification of technology, the creative enablement of future experimental electronics artists, the creative recycling of e-waste, and the ongoing nurturing of the Midwest Acquired Technology Arts community will set us apart. This would be an awesome award we could all be proud of, as we all had a hand in it. It is an honor to even be nominated. Thank you.

Circuit Bent Police Car Toy

2010-02-19T19:47:00.000-06:00

This toy was bent for our performance at TEDx Windy City. It's a classic clock hack. Notice how the lights on the top of the toy act as a built in VCF based LFO.

"Circuit Bending" Demo at ORD Camp 2010 & Fuzzy Math's Winter Salon

2010-02-17T18:58:00.007-06:00

This year Roth Mobot was invited to ORD Camp - (according to their web site, www.ORDcamp.com) the "unconference" "...for people in the Midwest who are doing interesting work in a wide range of technology-related disciplines...." Participants are encouraged to freely sign up to speak on any subject the wish, and to attend any of said talks. Patrick gave three talks on Saturday. A brief lesson in Tuvan Throat Singing Techniques (the art of simultaneously singing with more than one voice), and Eschatology (particle physics, the relative mass equation, & dark energy - a theoretical end to the universe). But it was his Introduction to Circuit Bending demonstration that won the "Most Popular Talk Award." This same demonstration will be conducted at Fuzzy Math's Winter Salon, a small group unconference for people to meet, learn from, and spark the passion of like-minded folks. They'll provide good company and good food, it's up to you to provide great conversation!
Thursday, February 18th, 6:00 PM, 3422 N. Lincoln Ave. 2nd Floor Chicago, FREE.

Public Rehearsal at TRANSISTOR in Chicago

2010-02-08T14:10:00.006-06:00

In preparation for our performance at TED^x Windy City in February, Roth Mobot conducted a public rehearsal of their latest experimental electronic instruments. Also that evening there was a special guest performance by Chicago based circuit bender, instrument designer, musician, and good new friend, Welcome Tomerica. A brief interactive Q & A cocktail session followed the evening's performances. Thanks to Chicago Buck for the iPhone recording.

New Workshops

2010-01-25T12:35:00.006-06:00

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

2010-01-19T15:51:00.000-06:00

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

2010-01-17T14:00:00.007-06:00

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

2010-01-11T23:09:00.016-06:00

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

2010-01-04T18:33:00.006-06:00

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

2010-01-04T18:31:00.005-06:00

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

Warp Child

2009-12-29T16:14:00.002-06:00

This is an old school hack. At Marco's Bon Voyage party we played War Child by Jethro Tull on a Fisher Price turntable. This particular disk has a hole drilled in it about half an inch away from the regular center hole. When played on this "off centered" hole it gives a nice organic LFO to the whole record as it virtually speeds up and slows down with each rotation.

Monthly Circuit Bent Open Mic

2009-12-25T13:17:00.003-06:00

The last Saturday of every month we host Chicago's only regular Circuit Bent Open Mic at Lizard's Liquid Lounge, 3058 W Irving Park Rd. from noon - 3 PM. This Saturday, December 26th, 2009, will be no different - other than, perhaps, better. Each month this free event draws new people to show up and play their home made devices in a hospitable atmosphere in front of a group of supportive peers. If you have a project you are working on, and want to give it a "field test," then this is the perfect venue. In addition to the performing there will be soldering, component swapping, beer drinking, taco munching, and idea exchanging.

Introduction to Circuit Bending Workshop

2009-12-18T04:56:00.002-06:00

Monday, December 21st, 7 - 10 PM
T R A N S I S T O R
5045 N Clark St. Chicago, $45
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!

Roth Mobot at TEDx

2009-12-18T04:36:00.017-06:00

Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Flashpoint Academy
28 N Clark,Chicago
Ted^xWindyCity.com is hosting an event of professionally produced lectures and demonstrations by inventors, artists, scientists, philosophers, doctors, professors, politicians, researchers, and more. It's a great way to spend time on the web. We have been asked to be the "house band" when TED^x comes to Chicago this February!

Live at i^Hypermedia

2009-12-18T02:30:00.007-06:00

We were invited to perform at the Experimental Electronics Exposition's Midwest Micro Tour when it came to Chicago. Mike Una, recorded the performances. We've posted ours to our MP3s page, and are going to be posting our recordings via our SoundCloud.com account from now on

La La Box for TEDx Windy City

2009-12-18T01:42:00.008-06:00

This is a demo gift for the staff at Pivotal Productions, the producers of this February's TEDx event in Chicago.

The Joy of Vactrol

2009-12-17T21:43:00.006-06:00

A vactrol in series with the output from a simple oscillator and a toy's clock creates a gorgeous organic simple tremolo.

Third Coast Festival Awards

2009-09-04T18:22:00.002-05:00

We have recently been awarded the contract to construct the electronic guts for the Third Coast Festival's Documentary Awards this year. It is rare and exciting when the Circuit Benders are awarded such a prominent commission.

Roth Mobot

ORD Camp 2012

Theatre Intangible's Experimental Garage Sale Report & Interviews

Roth Mobot's 3-D Animation at MEECAS 2011

MEECAS 2011

Phish Playing one of Tommy's Devices

Time Lapse Video of Roth Mobot Circuit Bending Workshop at Museum of Science and Industry's Fab Lab

Roth Mobot's Circuit Bending Workshop at Museum of Science and Industry

Lighting Young Brains On Fire

Amplify Your Slinky

Roth Mobot Lecture/Demo/Performance at Chicago Public Library

Saturday, June 25, 201111:00 AM - 12:0 PMChicago Public Library1150 W Fullerton ~FREE~

As part of Chicago's summer Music Series, Roth Mobot will lecture about Circuit Bending technique, demonstrate a few devices, discuss various experimental music principles, and perform on their home made circuit bent instruments.

For more information visit http://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/64945/

Roth Mobot's Circuit Bending Workshop Series Mentioned in Reader's "Best of Chicago" Poll

Museum of Science and Industry's "Roth Mobot Technology Workshops" Series

Roth Mobot to Speak at s.t.e.a.m. Conference

New Workshop Series at Chicago's ESS

TRANSISTOR Performance

Cedar Rapids Eco Arts Festival 2011

Roth Mobot on TV!

Crowdsourced 1.0 @ The Empty Bottle

Tim Kaiser & Roth Mobot, Live @ TRANSISTOR

The Boys & Girls Club of America

Roth Mobot Written up in DuPage Courier

New Monthly Lecture Series at eSymposium

TOYDEATH's 1st U.S. Tour Comes to Chicago!

New Experimental Electronics Workshops

2010 - The Year In Review

LIVE at the ESS

New Workshops

Experimental Sound Studio Fundraiser

Patrick McCarthy to Address the Rotary Club

MEECAS 2010

New Devices - August 2010

Roth Mobot Back from OFFF Paris 2010

Roth Mobot at OFFF Festival in Paris!

Third Annual Experimental Garage Sale

Arduino / Hacked Toy Internet Alert Circuit

Midwest Inventors Earth Day Virtual Concert

Experimental Electronics News

Nominated for Prix Ars Electronica 2010

Circuit Bent Police Car Toy

"Circuit Bending" Demo at ORD Camp 2010 & Fuzzy Math's Winter Salon

Public Rehearsal at TRANSISTOR in Chicago

New Workshops

Nightmare Machine

Special Pre-Pre-Show Web Cast Recording Session Tonight

Roth Mobot at ORD Camp 2010

Public Rehearsal and Special Guest

Build Your Own Portable Amplifier Workshop

Warp Child

Monthly Circuit Bent Open Mic

Introduction to Circuit Bending Workshop

Roth Mobot at TEDx

Live at i^Hypermedia

La La Box for TEDx Windy City

The Joy of Vactrol

Third Coast Festival Awards

Saturday, June 25, 2011
11:00 AM - 12:0 PM
Chicago Public Library
1150 W Fullerton ~FREE~