Handmade Music Austin #3

Sunday, December 20 ‘09

4PM – 5:30 – Beginner’s Workshop
6PM – 8 -Upper Division instrument building class
8:30 – ? Jam and featured performance

Salvage Vanguard Theatre
2803 Manor Road
Austin, Texas 78722

Snare is synthesized with Andromeda Mk-1 damped sine wave + Mk-2 filtered noise burst. The damped sine waves simulate the top head of the snare, and the Mk-2 simulates the bottom drum head and snare wires. The sharp percussion sound is from an experimental all-transistor circuit, on the left. Its triggered by a prototype 2-button loop sequencer using PIC 16F684, code by Wooster Audio.

Church of the Friendly Ghost presents Handmade Music Austin.An exciting series of DIY electronic music workshops, with expert instructors from Bleep Labs, 4MS Pedals, and Eric Archer.SYNTHS AND DRUM MACHINES?

In a friendly workshop setting, we’ll present a newly-designed series of miniature electronic instruments, called Andromeda Space Rockers.  No bigger than a credit card, these projects are designed for DIY’ers like you. They can be built in a couple of hours to make a working drum machine, bass generator, or micro-synthesizer. These fun little instruments love to jam together, and they do it by forming a wireless network to keep the rhythm! They react to the environment as well… for example, the drum machines‘ filter, pitch, and envelope are controlled with light-reactive photocells.

Each workshop will feature a different instrument.
The full series of kits will be available online as well (to be announced soon).

BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME TOO

Basic classes are offered for beginners free of charge, where you can learn to solder by building mini space rockers.

Or you can skip straight to the ‘Upper Division’ and build one of the Andromeda Space Rockers instruments. Soldering equipment will be provided. To participate in the Upper Division classes you should be familiar with assembling printed circuit boards. An understanding of electronics theory is not required; just patience, hand-eye coordination, and enthusiasm for DIY music.

OPEN JAM AT EVERY WORKSHOP

Of course, there will be an open jam / performance once the instruments are built.  We encourage you to bring some pedals and a small amp to plug in your new synth or drum machine and participate in an exciting musical experiment. Huh? Since the Andromeda Space Rockers communicate with each other using infrared wireless, they keep the rhythm automatically - the space will be filled with synchronized sound as you tweak the tones and control the arrangement.

Performances are free to attend.

CLASS SCHEDULE

All workshops are on Sundays.

4PM - 5:30 Beginner’s Workshop
6PM - 8 Upper Division instrument building class
8:30 - ? Open Jam and featured performance

CLASS DATES

2009

October 18
November 15 (coincides with East Austin Studio Tour)
December 20

2010

January 17
February 28
March 14
April 18

LOCATION

Salvage Vanguard Theatre
2803 Manor Rd
Austin, TX

HOW TO REGISTER

Beginner’s Workshop is free.  Upper Division registration is $45 and includes materials.  We’re accepting workshop preregistration for Oct 18th and Nov 15th.   The first 2 workshops are filling up quickly!

REGISTER VIA EMAIL :  churchofthefriendlyghost (@) gmail (.) com