5th Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

"In celebration of the creative curiosity that fueled a young Bob Moog and all of those that follow in his footsteps, Moog is sponsoring its 5th Annual Circuit Bending Contest.

This year, Moog’s circuit bending challenge is to take a battery powered device and circuit bend it into an instrument capable of creating new and unique sounds. We want others to be inspired by your device, and share in the experience of creating something new and exciting. Your project has to be completed in a manner that can be replicated by others. You’ll need to create a step by step list of instructions so that anyone else can replicate the process and create the same instrument. Just to make things a bit more interesting, you’ll need to complete the entire project for $70 or less."

The following is a playlist of last year's finalists.


Playlist:

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - Hing Hon EK-001 Squarewave Upright Synth
Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - Step 1 of 3
Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - Step 2 of 3
Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - Step 3 of 3
Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014
Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - 'Haxxor Amstrad Synthesizer' (by Dave Bradbury) PART 1
Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - PART 3 for 'Haxxor Amstrad Synthesizer' (Feb 2014)
Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014. - Cataritone Modular - The Circuit Surgeon

1st Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

"Enter the First Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

Moog Music was born when a young Bob Moog, who considered himself a geeky, socially awkward kid with a passion for electronics and music started tinkering with electronic circuitry. As a boy, Moog built small radios, amps and three note organs in his basement workshop with his father & the rest is history. In celebration of this creative curiosity, Moog and Moogfest 2010 are sponsoring a circuit bending challenge, to honor all those that lick and stick, modify signals and jump traces.

How to Enter:
1. Procure a battery-powered sound-making device
2. Bend it by any means necessary.
3. Document the bend process and outcome with video with audio (required). The better you document, the better we can judge. All videos must be uploaded by midnight eastern time on Monday October 18th, 2010.
4. Upload the video to YouTube and tag with “moog circuit bending competition 2010” and “Moogfest 2010”.
5. Send an email with the subject Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2010 to info@moogmusic.com with the YouTube links to your entry.

Finals:
The top 3 contestants will be chosen as finalists on Friday, October 22, 2010 and win weekend passes to Moogfest 2010 as well as a Moog merch package. At Moogfest the 3 finalists will be given a workstation in the Moogaplex, the same toy and the same bag of tools (which includes a soldering iron, wire, switches, potentiometers of varying degrees, resistors, capacitors, heat shrink, bread boards, diodes, plus more surprises). Each finalist will have from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 30 & Sunday, October 31 to bend the toy at their workstations. Grand prize winner will be chosen by a Moog Music Engineer at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 31.

Grand Prize:
Grand Prize winner receives a Moog Pedal Board which includes one of each Moogerfooger (MF-101 Low Pass Filter, MF-102 Ring Mod, MF-103 Phaser, MF-104Z Analog Delay, MF-105M Midi MuRF, MF-107 ) and a Multi-Pedal (MP-201). [and a Slim Phatty]

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING.

All winners must be 18 years of age or older, unless otherwise stated and/or posted.

1. Entering Contest and Choosing and Contacting Winners:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moogfest 2014 & Moog Music Announce 4th Annual Circuit Bending Challenge

"Moog Music was born when a young Bob Moog started tinkering with electronic circuitry. As a boy, Moog built small radios, amps, and Theremins in his basement workshop with his father and the rest is history. This experimentation with the inner workings of electronic devices to create new sounds and effects has been developed into an art form known as circuit bending.

Circuit bending is a creative medium that combines technology, sonic artistry and creativity. By altering the internal circuitry of electronic devices such as keyboards, drum machines, and children's toys, circuit benders are able to produce new sounds not intended in the original design.

In celebration of this creative curiosity that fueled a young Bob Moog and all of those that follow in his footsteps, Moog is sponsoring its 4th Annual Circuit Bending Contest.

This year, Moog’s circuit bending contest is challenging entrants to take a battery powered device and circuit bend it into an instrument capable of creating new and unique sounds for a total budget of $70 or less.

Moog will select three finalists and invite them to showcase their creations at Moogfest in April of 2014 where Moog’s judges and the general public will decide a winner of the contest.

Grand Prize: Moog Sub Phatty & 2 Passes to Moogfest 2014

2nd Place: Moog Slim Phatty & 2 Passes to Moogfest 2014

3rd Place: Moog Minitaur & 2 Passes to Moogfest 2014

*Actually, soldering isn’t required. You can use any medium you wish in order to bend your device including (but not limited to) bubble gum, bottle caps, foreign currency, used chopsticks, unicorn hair, or a really cool hat.

Learn more at MOOGFEST.COM"

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017 - Vola the Tape Four

Published on Apr 1, 2017 Vola Noisy Stuff

"This is the first part of my video for the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017. This video is explains what the Tape Four is and shows what it can do.

The second part will focus on the concept and build and it will have the schematics and bill of material at the end of the video.

The Tape Four is inspired by the Beatles track Tomorrow Never Knows and the way it uses tape loops. The design takes inspiration from the old mixing consoles that the Beatles used at Abbey Road studios."

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017 - Vola the Tape Four Part 2

Published on Apr 1, 2017

"This is the Second part of my video for the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017. This video will focus on the concept and build and it will have the schematics and bill of material at the end of the video."

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - 'Haxxor Amstrad Synthesizer' (by Dave Bradbury)

Published on Jan 6, 2014 HAXXOR AUDIO·39 videos

"This is the first of three vids documenting my Haxxed & Circuit Bent AMSTRAD CKX100 - My entry to the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014...

Part 1 shows the machine in all it's glory as a sinister 8-bit Chord Organ, a LO-FI Vintage style Arpeggiator & a complex, deeply fascinating Glitch noise generator.

It loves to make dark, lucid psychedelic tones, Ultra-harmonic drones, de-tuned spectral chords and 8-bit granular noise (it can also still function as a cheesy 1988 pop synth if required).
Sounds from ethereal to sublime, and can disturb as easily as they entrance.

Beats are coming from the Monotribe, which is synced to the Amstrad via it's Step-Sequencer / Arpeggiator clock.

It's not been easy, but the parts list is now down to less than $70 :)
The machine is powered by a 9volt DC adapter.

Part 2 - Coming Soon..."

Update:

+ Haxxor HR-16 - An evening of Glitch, Damage & Distortion for Sampling (Jan 2014)


Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - PART 3 for 'Haxxor Amstrad Synthesizer' (Feb 2014)

Moog's 6th Annual Circuit Bending Challenge

via Moog Music

"In celebration of the curiosity that fueled a young Bob Moog and all those who follow in his footsteps, we are proud to announce the 6th Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge.

What can you do with 9 volts of power and a $70 budget? This year, 3 finalists in the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge will hack, bend, and solder their way to Moogfest 2017 in Durham, NC, to exhibit their instruments and compete for top honors.

See last year's winning entry and find out how to enter here."

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2019

Published on Mar 22, 2019 SMMP

via SMMP:

"Hello everyone, this is my entry for the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2019: the "MiniPeanut". I bent a Yamaha PSS-30 introducing also a filter, lfo, pitch tracker and a sequencer. If you check my video you will be able to find the schematics, in case you want to modify and build your own. Hope you enjoy!"

Video description with links:

"This is my entry for this year Moog Circuit Bending Challenge: the Mini-Peanut, a messed up Yamaha Pss-30, with distortions, filter and a funky sequencer I designed.

Sorry for the mess in the video, all the captions are messed up, since it was a last minute thing and I am sleep deprived (you can tell)!

00:00 - Intro
01:42 - Introducing the Minipeanut

The Making of...

04:37 - Testing the Filter
06:28 - Pitch Tracker
09:25 - The bends
12:37 - The Sequencer

15:54 - Schematics
19:03 - Jam&Pics

Hope you enjoy it anyway!

Schematics Link
Pictures Link
BOM Link"

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 - PART 3 for 'Haxxor Amstrad Synthesizer' (Feb 2014)

Published on Feb 20, 2014 Haxxor Soniq·41 videos

"This is Circuit Bending, otherwise known as the Art of Glitch....

Part 3 of my entry to the Moog Circuit Bending Competition 2014."

All parts here.

Absolute Extremes MCBC-01 Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2012 Video

Published on Sep 21, 2012 by deathstarchris
Video of the MCBC-01 featured in this post.

"Josh Felice and I (Chris Blarsky) are proud to enter out MCBC-01 into the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge. We spent a considerable amount of time working out the best bends available from the Akai S01 and believe this to be the best of the best as far as bent samplers. We are not alone in this opinion as www.Circuitbenders.co.uk were the first to attempt bending this particular model sampler and have found it to be superior in flexibility and reliability. We have built upon their ideas and tried to push the limit even further. Along with the ability to midi trigger from an iPad or QuNeo, we have added a couple of square clocks that feed directly into the ram causing all sorts of mayhem. I enjoyed designing this piece in hardwood. I can see after working with wood why Bob Moog liked to build with it. It feels natural and strong. I will work in wood more now that I have had a chance to do so. I have more information available about this unique piece of kit on my audio page located here:
http://www.absolutextremes.com/blarsky/?page_id=15"

iTunes:
Animoog - Moog Music Inc.
iPads on eBay

7th Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

via Moog Music where you'll find details on how to enter.

"Wake up, Benders, Modders, and Hardware Hackers; it's time for the 7th Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge.

Moog Music was born when a young Bob Moog started tinkering with electronic circuitry. As a boy, Moog built small radios, amplifiers, and Theremins in his basement workshop with his father. The rest, as you know, is history.

Click here for the details of this year’s challenge. Enter by April 13th for a chance to win a pair of passes to Moogfest 2018, where the top 3 entries will compete for top honors and Moog Synthesizers."

You can find a ton of posts featuring previous years entries in the archives here.

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2012 by defzeppardica

Published on Sep 22, 2012 by defzeppardica

"This is my entry in the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge! I built a floor sampler that is capable of recording individual samples with a maximum length of 8 seconds each. The unit is powered via USB 5V. The unit is made out of redwood with a steel control plate top. Audio is plugged in via the input 1/4" jack. When in record mode, pressing any of the 8 buttons results in recording of the input. When switched to play mode, that audio is played back. There is also an expression pedal input so sample rate can be changed by foot. The whole unit is completely foot controllable. Besides the circuit bend challenge, I plan on using the sampler for jams so I can launch clips and fun effects.
I have to admit, the whole bend was frustrating. I began working on it when Moog announced the challenge and went through 3 variations before starting this one less than a week before the challenge ended. Everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong: my camera lost the videos I recorded during the build, my computer kept crashing when editing the video, I fried an IC when I wasn't paying attention, ect. I lost a fair amount of sleep working on this and I know I am a contender for the top 3 in the challenge. I hope to place so I can bring my sampler to Asheville and show it off to all the people at Moogfest. It is built like a tank so it is fairly indestructible.

Thanks for watching my video!"

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017 - Mike Sisk

Published on Apr 3, 2017

"This is my entry to the 'Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017.' In this video I will show the steps I took to circuit bend and modify my Casio casiotone MT-100.

I call my modified version the AccompuTone."

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2014 Entry by George Gleixner

Published on Feb 22, 2014 George Gleixner·104 videos

"Here's my Circuit Bent Hing Hon EK-001 squarewave keyboard, built into an upright style synth, which runs on four AA batteries (6V). Three months of semi-constant work for the Moog circuit bending challenge of 2014 :] I hope you enjoy. In this demo I try to run over some of the more pertinent mod combinations while keeping the demo time to a minimum. All sounds in this video are raw.

NOTE: At 19:22 Youtube REMOVED THE AUDIO. It was a song by Squarepusher to demonstrate visual feedback from an external source. For a demonstration of this mod, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du6Ve...

Highlights:

0:35 - Distortion modulation on rhythm
2:00 - Engage drum glitch switches
4:30 - All LFOs in use with keys
6:20 - Short demo of hex keyboard (and optic theremin)
8:30 - Rhythm skip/LED based optic theremin mod, then LFOs added
12:41 - Optic theremin for dist. modulation controlled by hand movements
13:30 - Vibrato touch contact
14:05 - Crude CV input (TR-626 playing rhythm, x0xb0x as CV source)
17:13 - Black and white visualization output demo (keyboard sounds)
18:20 - Audio input distorted (x0xb0x as audio source)
19:18 - B&W visualization output (from external audio input)
20:25 - Video input distortion
22:23 - Link opens a treasure chest! (hex keyboard)

Detailed photo album of progress, build instructions, and schematics located here: http://imgur.com/a/qOT5Y

A full Bill of Materials spreadsheet is available if you'd like it, just send a message.

CLICK FOR MORE »

6th Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge: Finalists & Honorable Mentions

via Moog Music

"From a sequencer controlled by a Nintendo Zapper to a tape loop device inspired by The Beatles's "Tomorrow Never Knows," this year's entries to the 6th Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge dazzled us with their thought, creativity, and resourcefulness. It was difficult to pare them down, but only three could go on to present their creations at Moogfest 2017 and compete for the grand prize. See the three finalists, as well as the videos for all of the magnificently mutated devices submitted, here."

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2018

Published on Apr 14, 2018 Mike Sisk

"This is my entry to the 2018 Moog Circuit Bending Challenge. I circuit bent a Barbie Karaoke by adding multiple feedback distortions, pitch adjustments, and delay length. I also added an "Atari Punk Console" built with a 556 IC as a sound source and a low pass filter that is controlled by a small joystick from an old Playstation controller. Also added an old telephone handset as a microphone input.

I call this device the "Atari Punk Barbie."

Build pictures can be found at the following link.
https://imgur.com/a/CGPfW

This is the link to the LPF that I built for this project. http://www.ericarcher.net/wp-content/...

Link to the APC PCB on synthrotek
http://store.synthrotek.com/Atari_Pun...

I built this for a total of $65.28"

Absolute Extremes MCBC-01 Moog Circuit Bending Akai S01

From the creators of the Ninstrument & SYNTHBOY+, Absolute Extremes brings us the MCBC-01 custom bent Akai S01 with Keith McMillen QuNeo & iPad dock (click through for more pics).

"Josh Felice and I saw the next Moog Circuit Bending Challenge and Josh suggested we enter in a custom version of the bent Akai S01 that I had done before. (Scroll down to see the original) Credit goes to Circuitbenders.co.uk for first inventing this bend. We took the original bent design and disseminated the best bends and added a few more cool and crazy features. First we have introduced a couple of square clocks that actually feed directly into the ram causing all sorts of mayhem and the other feature was to include a dock feature that would allow midi control from an iPad or QuNeo. You can also sample Animoog straight from the iPad too! I chose to design in hardwood to pay tribute to Moog and their designs. It was a lot of fun working in wood for a change. Video coming soon!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moog Music 3rd Anual Circuit Benting Contest

via Moog Music Inc. on Facebook

"Wake up, Benders, Modders, and Hardware Hackers; it's time for the third annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge! This year, we were so inspired by Google's amazing tribute to Bob Moog with the groundbreaking Moog Doodle, we've decided to incorporate it into the festivities.

Here's what you need to know: This year's contest is to create a circuit bent sampler. Film your bend process and a musical performance with your final creation. The device you bend does not have to originally be a sampler, it just needs to be able to sample external sounds after the bends and mods have been put in place & it must be able to take samples on the fly with no computer interface needed. Also, the sampler must be solely populated with sounds from Google's amazing Moog Doodle.

Full Contest Rules Here: http://bit.ly/SIHTLb"

moog circuit bending challenge 2014 by greightbit - Casio SK-1

Published on Feb 23, 2014 greightbit·40 videos

moog circuit bending challenge 2014 Part 2 of 2

ZAPPOTRON Super Sequencer - Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017

Published on Mar 14, 2017 Russell Kramer

You can find details on the 2017 Moog Circuit Bending Challenge posted here.

At the Moogaplex and the 2nd annual Moog circuit bending challange

YouTube Uploaded by BaumDerProllige on Oct 30, 2011

"It was Awesome!!!"

2nd annual Moog circuit bending challange FINALS 2011

Uploaded by BaumDerProllige on Oct 30, 2011

"Congrats to the winner Doc Moonstien"