Circuit Bent Alesis HR-16 | patch and pitch mods make this an amazing drum machine

video upload by POTAR

"Circuit Bent Alesis HR-16 drum machine by POTAR - Mods include a 28 point patch bay, switchable pitch control via knob or photocell for ultra-dives, and new battery and screen installed, too.
-
https://potardesign.com"

Casio SK-8 Sampling Keyboard + Patch Bay + Pitch Mod

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

via this Reverb listing

"Rare 1987 Casio SK-8 8-bit sampling keyboard modified with a unique raised console featuring a 20 point ROM modulation patch bay, four illuminated preset effects switches and an illuminated pitch control. This is an otherworldly instrument which will inspire any alternative electronic musician and sound designer. Reed Ghazala named his modified SK units 'Aleatrons' due to their random, unexpected nature so nothing is obvious here- when the patch matrix is in use, the keyboard itself doesn't always function as you'd expect while the modifications open up a world of experimental audio possibilities, far outreaching Casio's original intentions. The pitch controller is switchable and can drop sampled sounds to crashing, aliasing lows.

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Roland TR-626 with mods

video upload by Ground Grown Circuits

"Some extra knobs on the TR-626.
Top knob controls sound ROM clock (kinda like a bit rate control) lower knob controls the Gate array clock (pitch). Normally the gate array controls the clock on the sound ROM, so separating them allows you to keep the bit rate high while lowering the pitch and not fully bit crushing the sound (unless you want to)"

Four

video upload by Tim Kaiser

HydraPhone

video upload by Tim Kaiser

Wait for the rotary dial.

Hydra Optical Noise Synth

video upload by Tim Kaiser

Broken Reverb is Better Reverb (free IRs and samples)

video upload by Oscillator Sink

"Get the IRs and Samples here: https://oscillatorsink.gumroad.com/l/...

There's an aesthetic trend in modern effects, especially in ambience effects like reverb and delay, which points towards embracing and accentuating digital imperfection.

It turns out that the glitching, aliasing, distortion and noise that engineers traditionally worked so hard to dial out of gear actually sounds pretty amazing when used creatively and intentionally.

Many FX companies have really embraced this way of working, adding controls to their effects which allow musicians to digitally degrade the sound in wonderful ways - intentionally circuit bending their instruments by design.

Another way, though, to achieve these sounds might be to buy an old, cheap reverb from ebay and circuit bend it. This electronic abuse, forces the unit into leaning into these artifacts whether it wants to or not! The results may be more chaotic, but they might also be even more fun and potentially more affordable.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:20 The Mods
14:35 Processing Beats
21:57 Getting Weird with The Ether
24:54 Zero Input Patching
29:17 The Samples
30:29 The Impulse Responses"

Featuring a circuit bent Yamaha R100, Arturia Microfreak, Leploop Multicassa, SOMA Ether, and Elektron Digitakt.

Circuit Bent Fisher Price Toy Piano 1988

video upload by NOYSTOISE

"This is a demo of some of the sounds this keyboard can make. More details about the mods can be found at www.noystoise.com"

Yamaha RX-8 Circuit Bent Drum Machine

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Canned Sound

"1989 16-bit drum machine with custom 25-point ROM modulation patch bay and 16 preset FX switches."

00:00 - Rhythm 1
02:06 - Rhythm 2
04:11 - Rhythm 3

via this Reverb listing

"Rare 1989 16-bit drum machine with a unique 25 point ROM modulation patch bay and 16 preset effects switches. These custom modifications allow for the processing of the onboard sounds and user programmed rhythms to an extreme extent with the generation of an immense range of warped and inspiring sound design possibilities. These include distortion, bit crushing, aliasing, cross modulation, delays, digital noise, tonal sounds, reversing, flams and more indefinable effects. The five included patch cables can also be stacked for even deeper processing. The unit functions as normal when the patch bay is not implemented. Includes original manual and power supply.

2x 16 backlit LCD display.
43 tuneable and reversible sounds.
99 pattern, 100 song memory.
MIDI in, out.
1/4" outputs.
Tempo and volume controls."

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Bad Dreams (performance video) by freeform delusion

video upload by freeform delusion

"This is what the performance looked like. I left in the shouting samples.

Circuit Bent Sound lab echo mixer + Circuit Bent Yamaha PSS-30 keyboard + Homemade Sequencer
I added recordings of my wife shouting & talking in her sleep 😴 🗣️

this is my submission for the online Circuit Bending festival Bent//Broken 2026"

Talk ‘N Learn Alphabet – Unleashing Demons & Chipmunks

video upload by Manitou Productions

"Today's feature is the Talk N' Learn Alphabet by Scientific Toys: made sometime in the early 90's (I think). We test a unit that has wonky pitch, and explore how to make it even wonkier (and eventually fix it); then we'll look at a modified example. The alphabet never sounded so scary!"

Chapters:
0:00 Did I do that?
0:07 Titles
0:15 Intro
1:04 Let’s turn it on!
2:04 The alphabet through a tiny speaker
3:28 Some melodies
4:46 Let’s open it up!
6:10 Hen scratches
6:37 Not happy
7:49 Bad battery experiments
10:15 Try button
10:53 Demonstrating pitch modifications
13:53 Dodgy switch
14:49 Chipmunks
15:35 The modified version
16:22 Demonstrating the body contacts
17:34 The pitch knob
19:24 The release switch
22:06 A look at the innards
23:10 Outro
23:35 Ivy’s Corner

Synth Speak & Math Circuit Bent Chiptune Cosmic BLOOPER 8BIT MIDI MUSIC NINTENDO

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

via this eBay listing

"Heavy Circuit Bent Speak and Math from Cosmic BLOOPER and a MIDI NINTENDO Chip Maestro cart from Boy 8 bit. No battery cover for the Speak and Math."

You can find demos of a circuit bent Speak & Math in previous posts here, and a demo of the MIDI NINTENDO Chip Maestro here.

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Circuit Bent -Coleco Talking Teacher

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

via this Reverb listing

Additional NOISEBUG Listings

Modified talking teacher. Item is circuit bent to produce strange broken tones. Runs on Batteries, Batteries not included"

You can find a demo of one previously posted here.

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Yamaha VSS 200 Sampling Keyboard + Patch Bay Demo

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

via this Reverb listing

Demo in the listing previously posted here.

"Rare stereo keyboard which combines 100 2-op FM preset sounds, 10 rhythms and an 8-bit sampling function incorporating a four stage envelope generator and 9 adjustable DSP effects.

This unit has been custom modified to include a 14 point patch bay (five stackable patch cables included) which allows for the further processing of any sample recorded via the onboard microphone or phono input. The patch matrix generates an array of effects including aliasing, bit crushing, stuttering, bleeping and warped digital degradation, offering numerous unique lo-fi sound design possibilities. See the chapters in the YouTube video description for more details.

-49 half sized keys.
-Six voice polyphony (depending on the mode used)
-100 FM generated presets.
-10 rhythm patterns: 8 Beat, 16 Beat, Rock-A-Ballad, Samba, Bossa Nova, Tango, Swing, Disco, Waltz, March with fill button.
-Sample bit depth: 8 Bit.
-Sample length: 1.9 seconds, 16 kHz- with the option for double tracking.
-Sampling modes: Microphone/Sample Input, Internal voice bank, Overdub.
-9 DSP effects: Loop, U-Turn, Reverse, Echo, Fuzz, FM, AM, Level, Pitch with adjustable levels. Can be tweaked in real time.
-ADSR for amplitude.
-Power source: 9VDC by six "C" size batteries or external power supply.
-Output Ports: 6.35mm Headphone/Aux socket.
-Input Port: Sample In (RCA)."

Adventures in Audio - Yamaha PSS-130 - Bending? - Or Unbendable?

video upload by Manitou Productions

Follow-up to this post.

"We pick up where we left off with the Yamaha PSS-130 and see if we can find any meaningful circuit-bends. Let's go!

Chapters:
0:00 A big no-no
0:16 Titles
0:24 Intro
1:39 I set myself some precautions
2:57 Investigating the large IC
5:08 Crossing the streams
7:10 Have we found something?
8:23 Mapping the bends
9:17 Outro
10:31 Ivy's Corner"

Yamaha DD-8 circuit bent by X1L3

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

via this Reverb listing

This one is in via a reader of the site who prefers PayPal.

Per Reverb:

"When you purchase from a seller who processes payments through PayPal: your order is protected by PayPal Protection rather than Reverb Buyer Protection. If there’s a problem with your order, we’re happy to walk you through the PayPal dispute process. Learn more in our Help Center."

Circuit Bent Casio -Sk-1

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by NOISEBUG

"A quick demo showcasing some of the fun intentionally broken sounds coming from the Bent Instruments - Casio SK1

Available now on now on Noisebug’s reverb shop"

via this Reverb listing

Additional NOISEBUG Listings

"Modded with several circuit bending switches, controllable internal LFO, a light-dependent resistor for pitch control, two touch-sensitive pads for modulation, RCA patchbay for even more tweaking"

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Yamaha RX 17 + Patch Bay, Pitch Control and Joystick Mods

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

via this Reverb listing

Video in the listing for another mod previously posted here. "One-of-a-kind modified Yamaha RX 17 1987 12-bit programmable drum machine featuring two ROM modulation patch bays, a joystick for performance control of four pre-set effects (which may also be combined on the diagonal axes) and pitch control. These modifications generate an array of bit crushed, flanging, glitching, distorted, delayed, tonal effects, flams and digital noise. Five patch cables included- these can be 'stacked' for even deeper audio manipulation. The unit functions as normal when the patch bay is not in use. Only one available.

13 pads: tom 1/conga 1, tom 2/ conga 2, hi hat open/bongo high, ride/agogo high, cowbell/whistle, timbale high/ cuica high, bass drum/ tambourine, snare/rim shot, tom 3/conga low, hi hat closed/ bongo low, crash/agogo low, clap/shaker, timbale low/cuica low.

Accent, level, pan for each sound.
User Patterns: 999.
User Songs: 10.
Tempo Range: 40 - 240 BPM.
MIDI in/ out.
ROM Size: 26 PCM waveforms at 12-bit resolution.
Screen: 16x2 character display.
Weight: 1.5 kg."

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Alesis - HR-16 [Circuit Bent]

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

via this Reverb listing

Additional NOISEBUG Listings

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Circuit Bent Coleco Talking Teacher

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

via this Reverb listing

Additional NOISEBUG Listings

"Modified talking teacher. Item is circuit bent to produce strange broken tones. Runs on Batteries, Batteries not included"

You can find demos of circuit bent Talking Teachers in previous posts here.

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