The MadNoodle Blog

Found a Drummer

2012-02-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

Found a drummer. It's my photography friend Andy Joseph. He takes better pictures than me. I may try to put together a trio with him and ??? Rock and Roll and fun musical times. Also working on a new bent keyboard, and working and working and recording when I can.

Animal Keyboard Frenzy

2012-02-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

Even the boss man, clean rocker that he is, is after one of my Madnoodled Keyboards. The Animal keyboard is selling and is ever popular. It does have it's attractions. 3 sold this week. 2 in NYC and one in Switzerland. Rock and roll! Totally able to handle your animal keyboard needs

I'd like to be doing more vactrol circuits because they often throw these keyboards into another realm? Who knew that was so much going on inside of these chips? It seems that the right pulses of light and a photo sensitive resistors can trigger things in keyboards that the manufacturing people didn't intend. One time I had a red keyboard. My 555 timer chip made it play all sorts of melodies like ole Susannah? So I look at chips like a safe that I could crack or there's more to everything than meets the eye. 555 timer in astable mode makes cool sounds on it's own but you can make them trick out a keyboard as well. Old circuit tester is now a 556 beast. Fun stuff!

2012-01-26T14:52:00.000-08:00

He likes to play.

Back in the city and back at the bench.

2012-01-10T03:25:00.000-08:00

Farewell 2011. You weren't the best or worst year. 2012 starts with lots of outside work. But I am putting an Amazing Band Animal Keyboard up for sale each week. I have also been writing music. I record my songs and am hoping to put out some digital publications or maybe get one in a film or two. It may be a challenge finding a place for my music because I am somewhat committed to making music that is fun and or funny to listen to. I think life is too short for songs that don't entertain. People say there's a lot of crap music going on but there is always crap. From time to time we all take a musical dump, but if you bouce it off a friend and they support it you may have just dusted off a new sub genre. I am working on three songs that I started on acoustic guitar in the blue ridge mountains. I didn't foul them up with lyrics yet. As soon as I could I put fender bass guitar on 2 of them. Then the drums were laid down at my friend Jeff's house. I also did some Rhodes piano on the 54. I have done tons of music over the years and have the latest gizmos that emulate things ect, but there is nothing like live instruments. It feels like you are making music instead of being made to make music with pre-fabricated units. Me personally I am shying away from anything but the real thing.

Last Call For Animals!

2011-11-30T04:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel like this guy but with no guitar synth? Just putting out the word that the animal keyboard auctions ending in 2 days are the last ones that will make it before Christmas. Any Amazing Band Animal Keyboards past this auction I cannot safely say will arrive before the big day. I'm trying to work with people and make sure they get their products in a timely manner. With lots to juggle and a hurdle or two I will strive to find more Animal Keyboards and continue bending them after Christmas, but my prediction is that I'll get too busy at work to really crank out an army of toy synths. Maybe one day, and I'll get a Roland GR-500.

Animal Keyboard Craziness

2011-11-29T07:33:00.001-08:00

Here's the keyboard that has made number 1 seller at Noodle Corp. I personally have been studying this keyboard for about 3 years now. There is an older IC version. I bend the new ones with tiny surface mount components. It's tricky but I know the ins and outs. Seems that most of my sales have been in USA lately but this keyboard is popular world wide. Versions of it, bent by other benders, have been used by the Flaming Lips at the Royal Albert Hall. I have sold many through out Europe and North America. I take pride in each piece and make sure that the electronic modifications are done professionally.

2011-11-15T05:18:00.000-08:00

Amazing Band Animal Keyboards for sale. Many examples on my you tube page! Rock Nasty
Madnoodler

Brooklyn is my favorite city.

2011-07-07T14:42:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I see things that surprise and delight! Especially tucked away in some corner of Brooklyn. I heard a person describing their piece to the passer by, as just a public art piece." All of a sudden my hopes of time travel and or matter transformation were dashed. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow.

2011-06-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Farewell Baby Walkman. You must leave the Noodle Zone and relocate yourself in Canada. Our time together is over because your training and modifications are complete. Rock and Roll!

Synth Going Down Under!

2011-06-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

One of Noodle Corps newest modified products is the Circuit Bent Madnoodle Mini Piano. They feature a 555 timer circuit for creating spacey sounds. The timer blinks a LED that is effecting a light sensitive resistor. It also has an over all pitch control. One of the coolest parts about integrating a 555 timer circuit into a key board is that you can control the speed of pitch variation pulses. One finds a speed that they like and then while adjusting the pitch cool space sounds happen! :)
This particular keyboard is going to Western Australia. When I found out I got really excited and put on the Kink's song Australia. "Opportunities are available in all walks of life in Australia / So if you're young and if you're healthy / Why not get a boat and come to Australia...?"
If it were only that simple? I'd probably get bitten by something poisonous, and I'm super busy running this Noodle conglomerate from wicked and wonderful NYC.

What's a Jugger Noodler?

2011-06-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

The Jugger Noodler, is a circuit bent Yamaha CP-11. This wasn't a very versatile electronic keyboard to begin with, but through applied variable resistance, desirable frequency modulation is attained. Some of these sonic by-products being somewhat random, others are completely controllable. I still have plans to further modify these keys. Next I plan to install an output bank that separates the arpeggio, melody, rhythm and bass line signals to 4 discreet outputs. Once I have done this I will add some effects and then re-mix the outputs through two guitar amps!?!? The other ideas are to use the rhythm parts to trigger a beefier drum machine. If I am going to summon the self transforming demon machine elf from the 7th dimension, everyone knows he only awakens to 808 drum sounds.

555 timer synths

2011-06-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

What going on here? The 555 timer is a monolithic integrated circuit...blah blah blah. The 555 timer allows me to control the speed of a flashing LED. This LED is sandwiched...mmmm sandwich. Sandwiched with a LDR, or Light Dependent Resistor, or photo-resistor. The LDR is connected to the clock of a bent toy or a tone generator. Then one places these two components in light sterile environment like in some black heat shrink or electrical tape. I like using old magic marker pen tops and then wrapping them in E tape so that no light gets in. Some people call this a Vactrol. The 555 timer can also generate tones as well as blink LED's. I've begun making my own tone generators and they are becoming more interesting to me than toy bending. I've also been thinking of how I would mass produce something but then again I'd rather not get tied down to one formula! Working with random and different enclosures is sure to make my tone generators unique and fun for me to work on.

Tracking Animals 001

2011-02-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

The Amazing Band Animal Keyboard is back and I'm bending and selling as much as possible! Recently Cody, of Psychological Moddification purchased one and is having a blast down in TN. Hopefully he's modifying some folks there! Remember Upgrading is compulsory!

These folks have some fun tracks and I can't wait to hear the Noodle influence in their new work!!!Check em out. Rock and Roll!

http://www.myspace.com/artsyiestbandnameever

Noodle Corp!

2011-02-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all. I been selling funky keyboards bent pedals and circuit bent toys again and having a great time prototyping my own Atari punk console! The cottage industry is almost thriving and looking for new venues to perform and modify/fix things. We will accept offers to modify your device! also if there is device we have previously sold Noodle corp will try and find a similar item and custom bend it for you. rock and roll

Madnoodler

Latest Yog Sothothery!

2011-01-05T06:59:00.001-08:00

Here is my latest modification of the classic DS-1 by Boss. The ultimate version is still in the works and I am devising a marketable foot control design. Selling this pedal will help me fund the R&D for this and future pedal mods. Stay rocking.

Moving in February.

2011-01-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen the noodle man is on the move once again. Be on the look out for deals on rad bent stuff. I'm shedding possessions to make for a stress free move. Ha!

2010-08-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

Language Learner toy for sale on ebay. This was used by the Procrastinauts when we played around NYC. It has been fully tested and is super solid Bendery!

2010-08-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Madnoodler has been hard at work on several projects. Be on the look out for stop animated madness. Coming soon! Also bent gear for sale via ebay :

http://myworld.ebay.com/madnoodler

2010-06-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

DS-1 for Mark

2010-04-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

Circuit Bent Boss DS-1's for sale. $120 plus shipping.

The Fruits of Bushwick!

2010-04-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Here's the Circuit Bent Pink Drum Toy! Nickolo D and I scored this one in the quaint interior of Bushwick, Brooklyn. Brimming with 99 cent stores, Bushwick is one of my favorite places to hunt down weird stuff! It's been a while since our last bending adventure. Here's the fruits of Noodle Corps efforts a kooky beat machine that can go to space land pitch bent heaven! Hours of fun times! This one is up for sale on the ebay.

http://myworld.ebay.com/madnoodler

Noodle Corp. Lives!

2010-04-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

After a brief and awful visit to D. fricken C. and the temporary re-location of Noodle Corp, Madnoodler, man behind the sonic and visual wildness of these pages is rewarding himself with a few days of mad bendery. Later today I am visiting a friend Nickolo D. we are going to bend it up. We gettin our science on. The fruits of the bend session will get posted here and the usual channels. Here's an item that has been sold on ebay. I can make more of these if you are interested.

The Madnoodle Illusion Box

2010-03-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

Live set Up For Dixon Place Lounge Circuit Bent Improv with Sir Matt Choplick

2010-03-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Madnoodler's live set up for an improv meet up with Matt Choplick. I wish I had snapped a pic of his gear. Def cool stuff. I look forward to creating music with this like minded local. Turn out was bad on St. Patrick's day? Dunno why?

Modified FX-60

2010-03-08T07:03:00.000-08:00

Addicted to Stomp Boxes?

2010-03-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

I am!

Madnoodle Bear 3

2010-02-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

2010-02-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here's an example of the types of keys I have been bending while tracking down more animal band keyboards. Seems I may have hunted them into extinction until late August. That's the word from the import export co., that brings them from China to Brooklyn. These pink Starring Me toy keyboards are cool but I have seen three different versions of ICs for this keyboard. I hope to get a few more of these because they all bend pretty well!

RoyGBiv Synth

2009-12-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

555 Timers, Bent Projects, Vactrols and More.

2009-12-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

Here's an example of using a timer IC in a bent project. This Butterfly has a couple of light sensors. I found that this bug re-acted to a circuit I had been building that was acting pissy with the wall wart I usually use. Too much amperage. Lately I have been using these timers to run an LED that is sandwiched with a photo-resistor in a sterile light environment. Also I have been using lots of 7 color changing LEDs. 7 colors are better than one.

The timing clock was easy to find. There was also a point right next to it that created some distortion effect. I was trying to give it a photo-active interface but settled on a 100k linear potentiometer that I busted out of it's casing so it can spin all the way around. This makes it sorta act like a switch and a potentiometer. This butterfly will probably stay in my collection because of it's weirdness and I'm working on a version for production.
Before I started introducing Vactrols and Timer IC's into my bent projects this was the most boring synth in the scrap heap. Now it's become the project that won't stop mutating.

2009-11-24T07:39:00.000-08:00

Every now and again I see someone do something that's so inspirational and cool I have to put it on the blog. This guy who I had little time to talk to said I could photograph him. I saw that the backside of this axe is full of beat busting electronics. I think it's also a guitar. Madnoodle Props!

Web Page on the Way Noodle Fans

2009-10-30T13:52:00.001-07:00

So this week Noodle Corp has obtained web hosting for it's new sales portal and everything Madnoodler!

Mooh Ha Ha Ha!

2009-10-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Amazing Band Animal Keyboard deluxe 2

2009-10-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest Amazing Band animal Keyboard fresh off the bench. I'm doing a sequence of these keys and they are available for $75. Seems we made the top 13 of most bizarre bent kids devices on Synthtopia.com

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/06/22/13-bizarre-circuit-bent-childrens-toys/#idc-container

MadnoodleMelodyMaker

2009-07-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here's my new synth toy. I'll be making more like this soon. If you want one contact me or leave a comment. I'll get one to you asap. Noodler out

Circuit Bent Lady Bug Toy Photos

2009-07-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a light sensitive Lady Bug Toy. Bug Sounds City.

Yellow Smile Trumpet

2009-06-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

Yellow Smile Trumpet Makes Space Alien Melodies.

Circuit Bending with the Madnoodler 7

2009-06-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

For wire up info check out the Butterfly vid on Photo-resistors and Potentiometers. I did the same thing here. Clock resistor to the middle terminal and V+ and V- to either side depending how you want the knob to work. Most times adding extra resistance can make this bend more stable. I also use Photo-resistors to buffer the potentiometer and that can be fun.

Circuit bending with the Madnoodler 6

2009-06-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Start with Circuit Bending with the Madnoodler 1

Circuit Bending with the Madnoodler 5

2009-06-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

Circuit Bending with the Madnoodler 4

2009-06-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Circuit Bending with the Madnoodler 3

2009-06-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

Circuit Bending with The Madnoodler 2

2009-06-19T07:11:00.000-07:00

Circuit Bending with the Madnoodler 1

2009-06-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

Sale!

2009-06-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hey we sold an item on ebay! I love selling my work to people out there interested in circuit bending, or what I do with it. I have pieces all over the world and that makes me feel like I have a responsibility to continue. I'm also very addicted to circuit bending. I love seeing something new or something that I've bent. Tomorrow I'm planning on doing some short vids for the blog. Also a new web site will be in the works. It's been a long time coming but I am going to finally do it and make a web page for my work. The other items I was selling at the time are also for sale still. I have a kids cute drum and a
killer butterfly toy still up for grabs.

Blogger is not able to handle my Circuit Funk.

2009-06-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

I have made quite a few videos recently and blogger just can't handle them. They are on my youtube that you should be able to reach from the video bar. Also my Ebay address is

http://myworld.ebay.com/madnoodler

Check out what we have for sale.

Trying to find a way to do a tutorial vid that doesn't look like crud stick.

DC Circuit Bent Caterpillar

2009-06-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

This Circuit Bent Caterpillar runs on 4.5 v DC. The
sound sample is heavily effected.

Circuit Bent Butterfly Music

2009-06-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

Circuit Bent Butterfly $35.

Using Photoresistors and Potentiometers.

2009-05-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a video to help explain one way photo-resistors and potentiometers can be used for circuit bending!

2009-04-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

2009-02-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

See them in person!

2009-02-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a first. My modified circuit bent beasties in a store in Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY. People have been telling me to do this for years. Well, I finally found the place and it's 58 north 6th Media Labs. I brought out a grey noodle phone, the worm box, the pink keys, and the Mr. T Mutant. They are available for sale at the prices we have at the store. Contact me for further info. We'll be posting stuff on the web for sale as well. I had a chuckle to myself today when Josh, the studio proprietor, and electronics networking guru, Spencer tried out the devices I set before them. Today I did what i love to do, and something I've been trying to do for over half a decade.

DemonBaby000

2009-01-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

2008-12-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

Still getting over neck stiffness. I did do some animation, but I still feel tweaked.I have completed a few animations since the last you tube post but perfection and a few mistakes have got the best of me. I'm working on what could be my best video yet. My body keeps mal-functioning. It does not help that I have started incorporating clay-animation into my videos, but it wouldn't be my vision without a story and some extra fun on the side. Stay tuned.

2008-12-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

Noodle Man interrupted. I got a crick in my neck! This means I cannot go to work. This also means I cannot circuit bend or stop animate. I'm trying to get new animations online. My 2GB memory card pooping out on me and my body having a systems failure is preventing me from keeping the work shop functioning. Noodle Corp North American Outpost status update : in-operational!

2008-11-30T09:54:00.000-08:00

Well there's a better quality video of this on youtube. Got to keep the blog alive, or it won't blog things up.

2008-11-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

Announcing the arrival of the Madnoodle Phone! Fresh and new for the holiday season of 2008. Available in three different colors. This is the re-design of the ever popular "Grand Dad" phone which was run through demanding random test scenarios in the basements and backyards of Brooklyn, NY. The modification of this device has been been re-designed with versatility in mind. It runs on two AAA batteries, which are easily found in any gas station. A single pull, single throw switch engages a CdS photo-resistor, causing a short circuit, that makes the phone have variable pitch. Depending on how much, and what type of light hits the sensor, the phone pitch will change. An 1/8th" mono output takes this phone to the realm of recording and amplification. Very interesting things can happen. These NSG devices are intended to help you and or a loved one not take the holidays too seriously. There's so much information whizzing around today. Why not try a phone that can't receive or make calls for a change?...Watch this video or you will self destruct. To place an order contact : brett.cliff@gmail.com.

2008-11-03T03:50:00.000-08:00

Igor Amokian has done some real cool stuff with these mini synth explorers. A video is on the myspace page. This design should come back into production, if they're available.?!?

2008-11-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

This is a prototype of a circuit bent toy cell phone I want to sell. All though this isn't exactly what I have in mind for production, it was very difficult to finish. Now dubbed the "Grand Dad," I am going to come up with a design/mod that does not have a 50k potentiometer. One reason is because I ran out of them after extracting as many as I could from an old mixer that was to be thrown away from a theater where I sometime break things. The other reason is that the potentiometer is really difficult to fit inside the phone with extra wiring ect. I have no schedule for when these circuit bent phones will be available for purchase, but rest assured I want to see people using less and less serious gadgets as their serious counterparts begin to demand so much of our time. In fact I'd like to coin a term NSG (Not Serious Gadget). Try it out!

Toy Red Synth Keys

2008-11-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

I stumbled onto how to make these keys bend out quite nicely. Unfortunately it plays this weird melody when you switch sounds. It has a 50k potentiometer buffered with a CdS photo-resistor for accented control/chaos!

Blues Clues Bent Keyboard Sold!

2008-11-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

These Keys play songs. I bent it so I couldn't recognize the melodies from staples like Marry Had a Little Lamb. This set of keys has been shipped to Joakim Ahlund of Sweden!

Tape Deck Sold!

2008-11-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

I recently parted ways with my newest tape deck. It was bent very well and had some super space sounds. Especially after some delay from Garage band was slapped on the track.

2007-10-17T06:29:00.001-07:00

2007-10-17T06:26:00.001-07:00

2007-10-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

2007-10-13T10:20:00.001-07:00

Madnoodler DIY Enthusiast.