Nominated for Prix Ars Electronica 2010

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

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

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

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

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....