So I was having a little chat with the Circuit Master over at www.getlofi.com about how and why we both got into circuit bending.

The number one reason, for me at least: tons of bend-able toys and devices can be found very cheaply at secondhand and thrift stores.

Which brings us to this:

The premise is simple:

1. Wait until October 28th with growing anticipation.

5. Document the process and end result, then upload it to the internet in some fashion- Youtube, Flickr, etc, all with the tag “circuitchallenge.” (and createdigitalmusic, of course)

6. The Circuit Master and myself will gather the results and feature them here and at www.getlofi.com.

The winner will receive, um, a token prize of low value, to be decided later. Something though. And we’ll publish your picture on the internet for the universe to see.

Of course, it’s not about winning, oh no. It’s about getting off your keister and bending some circuits!

Never bent a circuit before but always wanted to? Now’s your chance!

So mark your calendars now, and hit up the forums here at createdigitalmusic.com with any questions.

*EDIT: Rodney from Tiger Claw Records has agreed to donate a few Circuit Bending Compilation CDs as a prize, and I’ve got a stack of CDs from FutureKomp to give away as well. If that isn’t enough incentive to get out there and bend on the 28th, you’re in it for the wrong reasons!

**DOUBLE EDIT: The Squarewave Parade has agreed to donate a parasite for the contest! Totally awesome.

***TRIPLE EDIT: HighlyLiquid has donated one of their MIDI kits for the contest! So cool!

Stompboxes are back! Yes, software is great, but the gigging musician still loves something you can plug in and step on. The Messe show saw some traditionally rack-mounted gear reborn in stomp form.

Sure to be a huge hit, Roland’s BOSS RE-20 takes the beloved RE-201 Roland Space Echo and recreates it as a stompbox. It emulates all the major features of the RE-201, down to placement presets and tape flutter and magnetic head sound saturation, and adds a longer delay time — plus the ability to tap in delays with your foot. No pricing or availability yet that I’ve seen.

BOSS RE-20 Space Echo Product Page
Music thing weighs in with some thoughts.

At the other end of the spectrum, vocal processor maker TC-Helicon is best known for making big, do-everything racks. They’ve now taken the most popular features there, and repackaged as stomp boxes called VOICE|TONE. The idea is to perform all of the sweetening you’d normally apply in the studio onstage.

TC Electronic is rapidly becoming a household name for audio gear and not just a high-end plug-in maker. The lead item in their newest lineup is a drool-worthy new audio interface loaded with some of their best built-in effects, plus PowerCore for PCI express and some treats for guitarists and hardware effects lovers. Here’s a quick preview.

We’re all for interface innovation and TC Electronic does fantastic audio processors. But their new “MINT” interface technology not only wins for silliest meaningless acronym since synth maker Kurzweil’s “V.A.S.T.”, it also looks like the interface panels from a Klingon warship in Star Trek III. What’s going on here? (Hint: it might actually be cool and, unlike Klingon user interfaces, usable.)

TC Electronic has loads of new hardware at Musikmesse (see their roundup of announcements), but the biggest news is for guitarists:

The G-System
is a new high-end floor based guitar system. Think TC Electronic's
high-quality effects, but for guitarists, plus analog loops, amp
switching, floor control, and 9VDC power for your pedals. Effects don't
skimp, either: filter, compression, noise gate, modulation, pitch,
delay, reverb, tuner, tap tempo / MIDI clock. And it's simply gorgeous.
This is the Rolls Royce of guitar processors, EUR 1395 retail, shipping
in June.

More in the range of mere mortals: the EUR 275 Analog Vintage Pre Drive Pedal
also ships in June, an all-analog drive pedal. Not analog emulation:
this is the real deal. (Appearing soon on our sister site,
createanalogmusic — oh, wait, April Fool's is over.)

But wait, there's more (not just for guitar):

• PowerCore News: PowerCore PCI mkII updates their PCI audio DSP host, and there's the new NonLin2 Stereo Effects Reverb for PowerCore
• Saucy Speakers: Dynaudio's new passive nearfields are compact, high-end monitors
• Voice powerhouse: Vocalists get the intense new VoicePro from TC-Helicon, with rack-mounted pitch shifting, voice modeling, harmony, mic emulation, effects, EQ/dynamic processors.

All great, of course . . . but just look at those gorgeous controls
on the G System. A guitar box that's drool-worthy? Whodathunkit.