ADDAC System Introduces Michel Waiswisz's Cracklebox ADDAC708 Eurorack Module

Pics and details below via ADDAC System

[The video of an original Cracklebox box on ADDACs site was previously posted here back in 2009. You can find additional posts including demos of other designs of the Crackle Box here.]

Introducing a limited edition re-release of this iconic electronic instrument in a modular format.

This limited edition of 75 units is a tribute to the pioneering work of Dutch musician and instrument maker Michel Waiswisz (1949 - 2008), who first invented the Cracklebox with Geert Hamelberg in the late 1960s.

The Cracklebox was a small, handheld device designed as a way to explore new sonic territories. It was one of the first electronic musical instruments to use circuit bending techniques in the creation of electronic music. It allowed musicians to manipulate and control electronic circuits in real-time, creating a wide range of unique and experimental sounds. He used a circuit from a toy piano as the basis for the instrument, and then added a series of touch-sensitive pads that were connected to the circuit. When a player touched one of the pads, the circuit would be completed, producing a crackling sound.

The Cracklebox was probably the first commercialy available portable selfpowered alternative 'keyboard' analog electronic instrument with inbuilt loudspeaker.
In the 1970s about 4000 Crackleboxes were built and sold by STEIM in Amsterdam.

Nowadays many people refer to the The Cracklebox as the archetype of 'glitch' or 'circuit bending'.

In the decades since its invention, the Cracklebox has continued to be an important and influential instrument in the world of electronic music. It is still in use today, and is considered a classic example of the potential of electronic music to create unique and innovative sounds.

This Eurorack recreation includes a 9v battery, swappable through the frontpanel, this allows to isolate the current flowing through the user's fingers from the Eurorack frame PSU, protecting the user from undesired electrical shocks. We also removed the internal speaker and used a transformer instead to isolate the output signal.

The output generated can be used as an audio, as a gate or a cv signal, when using it as a cv source, due to the specific qualities of the signal, users may want to send it through other modules as slews, sample and holds, quantizers to tame/control it's peculiar cv output.

Controls:
- The module features an on/off switch to turn off the 9v battery (remember to turn it off when you turn off your Eurorack system).
- A Power Starve knob, reduces the 9v voltage feeding the circuitry changing it's overall timbre/pitch
- An Output Gain knob to control the output volume.
- A Boost switch to add more presence to the signal.

Tech Specs:
12HP
5.5 cm deep
20mA +12V
20mA -12V
9v battery required

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Chorus of Glitch (Cracklebox, Sound Scaper, Jarmaggeddon, Mini-KP, Alchemy & guitar)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"This was just a random idea I had but it came out pretty well. I used the Sound Scaper from Error Instruments along with the Moffenzeef Jarmaggeddon and the Rackit Disintegrated Cracklebox. I used the KORG Mini-KP to process the Cracklebox and then overlayed drums (from the DAW) and soft synth (via Alchemy). Finally, I topped it off with some bitcrushed guitar."

Rakit Disintegrated Cracklebox: Build & Demo

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I recently built this Disintegrated Cracklebox kit from Rakit in the UK. This device makes all kinds of fun glitchy sounds. The kit was very well laid out and easy to assemble.

Intro - 0:00
Build & Overview - 0:22
Sounds (Dry) - 2:27
Sounds (with FX) - 3:37
Final Thoughts - 4:59

You can purchase one here: https://www.rakits.co.uk/product/disi...

See more of my DIY Projects here:"

STEIM Crackle Box 242 of 500

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Michel Waisvisz designed and built the very first Crackle circuit in the late 60ties together with Geert Hamelberg. This was simply a wooden frame with some print boards mounted rear-side up to be touched by the fingers. The circuits were ‘malformed’ oscillators that were very unstable and highly sensitive for finger connections. The Crackle circuit, as well as the powered speaker box, were battery powered to avoid hum and repeated exposure to dangerous electrical shocks. In 1973 Michel Waisvisz joined STEIM and started working on more touchable electronic instruments together with Peter Beyls, Nico Bes and Johan den Biggelaar, and by the mid-seventies they had created both the ‘Crackle Synth’ and the ‘Crackle Box’.

The Magnetic Fields recently used one in their album Love at the Bottom of the Sea. Swedish percussionist Sven-Åke Johansson carries one often and uses it frequently in recordings and improvisation. Mazen Kerbaj tours with one of the original Crackle synthesizers.

I used this once and it's been in the box since 2012. I have the pin that keeps the box closed in a baggie in the box. Get it, it's a cool little device."

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tiny synths overview

Published on Jul 10, 2019 Todd Barton

"some brief and very rough demos of these fun little synths from the early 2000s. Most are now unavailable though here are a few links of historical interest or updated versions of some of these:

Tristan Perich: https://tristanperich.bandcamp.com

Crackle Box: http://www.crackle.org/CrackleBox.htm

Rarebeast: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rarebeasts"

Crackle-canvas v12.0 (2017)

Published on Jan 24, 2018 tovett

Crackle-canvas v12.0 (2017)
Tom Verbruggen

Crackle-canvas WH 0.7 (2017)

Published on Nov 28, 2017 tovett

"Crackle-canvas WH 0.7 (2017)
By Tom Verbruggen"

Rakit Disintigrated Cracklebox

Published on Nov 2, 2017 Rakit

"A fun little noisemaker kit based on the famous cracklebox synth."

via Rakit

"Our disintegrated cracklebox kit is inspired by Michel Waisvisz’s Cracklebox and his use (and abuse) of one of the earliest examples of an integrated operational amplifier. The original used the LM709, an old (and obsolete) chip by today’s standards. So in our kit we have effectively taken the integrated circuit of the operational amplifier and dis-integrated it, allowing it to live on forever in kit form.

What Is A Cracklebox?

The disintegrated cracklebox is a noise maker type instrument where the player becomes part of the circuit by interacting with the touchpads. Experimentation really is key to getting the most out of it, using fingers spread over multiple touchpads to get new, interesting sounds."

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STEIM Cracklebox | 2005 edition #287 of 500

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"From the STEIM Website, by way of introduction:

'Welcome to the world of Crackle.

Michel Waisvisz designed and built the very first Crackle circuit in the late 60ties together with Geert Hamelberg. This was simply a wooden frame with some print boards mounted rear-side up to be touched by the fingers. The circuits were ‘malformed’ oscillators that were very unstable and highly sensitive for finger connections. The Crackle circuit, as well as the powered speaker box, were battery powered to avoid hum and repeated exposure to dangerous electrical shocks. In 1973 Michel Waisvisz joined STEIM and started working on more touchable electronic instruments together with Peter Beyls, Nico Bes and Johan den Biggelaar, and by the mid-seventies they had created both the ‘Crackle Synth’ and the ‘Crackle Box’...'

I bought this item from STEIM in 2005 when I was in a band, doing this kind of stuff. I'm not anymore but I do need cash to pay the rent, so I'm going to let this delightful and crazy machine go to someone who'll use it for what it's meant for, which is making weird electronic music.

The cracklebox is a beautiful thing. The wooden case feels amazing in the hand, and this example, mine, is in perfect nick. I treasured it and kept it safe from knocks or scratches. The playing surface is so tactical. Anyone who sees it, has to touch it. And anyone who touches it, smiles when they do as it responds to every nuance of movement. Now, I used to mic this up and run it through an ableton channel - I've seen folks add an audio out for a 100% wet line, I always meant to do that but never did, it worked just fine in the air - this cracklebox is 100% original and unmodded. It's lovely the way it's meant to be.

It's also 100% functional. It takes a little learning what that means; the cracklebox is a strange beast, but she'll reward your investment and give you back more than you give.

If you're looking for a way to set yourself apart, then this box will turn heads wherever and however you play it."

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FM Spasmoharmodium

Uploaded on Feb 15, 2007 ashford daisyak

"A late night mini-spazz on the spasmoharmodium around the harmonic series.

It is beneficial to one's harmonic awareness to observe the harmonic series at least once a week, but problematically, this magic series of notes is rarely seen or paid any heed.

The device is a homemade MIDI cracklebox which interfaces with a MaxMSP patch which creates FM tones in harmonicity's thrall. Well... I hope the colours improve things."

Crackle-canvas

Published on May 11, 2016 tovett

Crackle-canvas
by Tom Verbruggen

The Crackle Canvas

C C 2015 2 Published on Aug 19, 2015 tovett

"Crackle-canvas v2015_1. Short test preview test video"

the cracklebox and a noisy setup

Published on Nov 5, 2013 pianoloft·221 videos

"the first crackle box was used in the 60th of the last century. fingercontacts influence and create unstable sounds. info: http://steim.org/product/cracklebox/
the MASF SCM and two effects generate some destructive soundfields, the MASF pedal consits of an enclosure with a contact mic in it, There is a small hole under the mounted spring so the box acts as an acoustic resonator (http://masf.figity.com/pedals/scm). the sound is run through the Dod Fx 69B and the subdecay noise box. joyful noise !"

This is the first MASF post.

STEIM Cracklebox: VLOG #4 - Kraakdoos and Modern Ruins - Rene Splinter

Published on Oct 3, 2013

"New video blog, again featuring another unusual electronic musical instrument. This time it's the 'Kraakdoos', or 'Cracklebox'. Designed by late Michel Waisvisz from STEIM Foundation Amsterdam, generating sounds by disturbing the electronic circuitry of the device with the skin of your fingers.

More info:
Michel Waisvisc:
http://www.crackle.org

STEIM Foundation:
http://www.steim.org

The track "Modern Ruins" features on my album 'Modern Ruins' (2013). It's available at Groove Unlimited by following this link:
http://www.groove.nl/jump2.php?artnum=gr-199

Please subscribe to my channel if you like.
Also, please check out Facebook for updates:
http://facebook.com/renesplinter

You can find my regular website here:
http://www.renesplinter.com"

cracklebox

YouTube Uploaded by jenamu6 on Dec 12, 2011

"Live improv on STEIM "kraakdoos" or cracklebox."

My Ethiopian Dream

YouTube Uploaded by taskent99 on Dec 7, 2011

"Electronic improvisation with Crackle Box,Board Weevil,Monotribe and Audio Damage´s Axon&Dubstation.Recorded live at my hotelroom in Bangkok."

The Orange-Crackletube (a cracklbox)

YouTube Uploaded by elohess2 on Nov 1, 2011

"A very simple crackle box I build into a smal tube. A recycling project for some mylar speakers removed from circuit bended childres toys. The build from waste and one new LM386 chip.

Based on the "Clit Rubber" cracklebox: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOTaTzc1gU"

[ZiLaiHong] Cacophonator I built

YouTube Uploaded by anotherbbs on Oct 28, 2011

"Circuit By Arthur Harrison
PCB By ZiLaiHong (Meng Qi)

Also I've got permisson from Arthur Harrison to sell my builds.
A Cacophonator like this in the video will be 65$.

Cacophonator is a truly great and versatile sounding circuit, so I am also planning to build with different user control interface like photo cells or arcade buttons. Different controls will yield different ways of expression."

[ZiLaiHong] "Momomo" (Crackle Box) I built

Uploaded by anotherbbs on Oct 28, 2011

"Circuit By Michel Waisvisz
PCB By ZiLaiHong (Meng Qi)

Or rather "Crackle Board" I should call it!
Very versatile, because it is so sensitive to any changes: battery, body situation and so on. The same gesture can result in totally different sound in different time.

So it might be a nightmare when you want to tap out some noisy beats during live, but it is so fun to take it around with you and play it in free time, all because it changes all the time."

自来红-Caco

flickr By Meng Qi

"Circuit By Arthur Harrison
PCB By ZiLaiHong (Meng Qi)"

Update via Meng Qi in the comments: "Here is the DIY Crackle Box"

flatpack 709 cracklebox w/ flickering candle led sequencer + mic aka how to get mono

YouTube Uploaded by horchacha on Aug 13, 2011

"ancient flatpack 709 opamp following the kraakdoos schematics. uses a flickering candle LED as an extra contact as sequencer. voltage starve knob also is a pull on/off power switch. followed the peasant's idea of electret mic input but don't hear it so much except for feedback in the vid. but you can blow and bark into it to keep it moving."