Skip to main content
Glitchduino is a shield for the Arduino Mega that enables controlling of circuitbent devices via MIDI.

Circuit bending is a process where contacts on the pcb of audio or video devices are connected, resulting in interesting effects. Usually, the contacts are isolated with switches and potentiometers to control the effects. However, this often results in quite unergonomic interfaces that usually do not fit into the original housing of the circuitbend device. Also the results are not really repeatable, there is no way to store the user’s inputs. When using several devices, aquisition of nice switches and potentiometers gets a little pricey.
 
My approach to controlling circuitbend electronics is connecting a midi-compatible controller to the circuits using compact and cheap RCA plugs. I can use Ableton Live, any other DAW or MIDI controllers of my choice directly to operate the devices. The session can be recorded and repeated later in the studio. Interesting results can be stored in macros to be used live in a VJ session or live electronics set.

A signal from a semi-randomly selected solder point within the shown video text generator is led through the Glitchduino using RCA cables. The signal runs through a photoresistor with a high electrical resistance when it is not exposed to light. No effect is visible. If a certain MIDI signal is recieved by the Arduino, a LED under the resistor is switched on or dimmed accordingly. The electrical resistance is lowered and an effect on the video output gets visible.
Following are several stills of glitch videos I created using mostly Vivanco video enhancers and mixers created between 1985 and 1995, which I really like to use.

Glitchduino has been surpassed by the more advanced ARCHER and finally the PHOSPHOR video distortion unit.