Monthly Archives: May 2008

Laden Bomb Bag

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Today I went to Akihabara during my lunch break in order to buy some Darlington transistors for my Arse Elektronika project and I wanted to see if I could find something like a paintball gun for a cheap price to use tomorrow during the live at Super Deluxe. I found the transistors but no paintball. Instead I was very happy to find a gas mask that is almost exactly the same as the one I’m using for my live shows (for example tomorrow !) and for only 210yens. It will allow me to build another one for backup especially that I’m now thinking of doing some dates in the US when I’ll be there for Arse Elektronika in September (I wonder how things will be at the customs there with some strange sex devices and weird homemade instruments).

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Anyway, the other thing I found are very small plastic bags called bomb bag that swell when squeezed and then explode (neither of the two bomb bags I bought has exploded, they just swelled). I noticed that part of the image on the bags has been censored with a black marker pen. I removed the marker pen and discovered a picture of Osama Bin Laden and Chinese characters that I learned mean “Laden”. The other inscriptions are quite funny too: “counter-strike” (mirrored), “terror” and “what else?”.
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LCDD @ Super Deluxe: Thursday 29 May

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The last chance to see LCDD in Tokyo if you didn’t see them already at Highti or Flying Teapot or if you want to see them again is next Thursday at Super Deluxe !
Don’t miss them especially that you will have the chance to see Applehead, Pico Pico, Pika Pika and No Fork Droise + Petite Pisseuse (costume design for me and ongoing exhibition during the event).

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Mayutan of Applehead did a great job to promote the event on mixi, so I’m using pictures she made (thank you !):

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Advance ticket are 500yens cheaper and you still have two days to get one ! Please reserve directly on the website of Super Deluxe (it’s very easy).

Arse Elektronika 2008

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It’s not a bad joke because I was not accepted for Ars Electronica, this conference does really exists! Of course, it is a kind of joke especially when you know that it is organized by the people of monochrom from Austria.
This year will be the second edition of Arse Elektronika (entitled “Do Androids Sleep with Electric Sheep?”) that will take place at San Francisco. The conference is about sex, pornography, technology and this year most specifically: Critical Perspectives on Sexuality and Pornography in Science and Social Fiction.
The new thing of this 2008 edition is that there is a Prixxx Arse Elektronika (winners will be honored with the “Golden Kleene”) that is more exactly an unobjectionable award for sex machines, orgasmotrons and teledildonics.
Of course I was already interested by the conference itself and with more time and English proficiency I would have liked to write a paper. So, I went for the Prixxx and submitted two proposals that have been accepted.
I have now to build them before eventually going to San Francisco to present them in September (I hope I can make it !).
I will explain the proposals once I’m more advanced in the fabrication of these devices. I’ve already started but things don’t go as fast as I expected mostly because I’m learning new things with PHP, Processing and the Arduino board. Anyway, one or two trips to Akihabara should solve my problems (even if time is the main problem !).
Nothing to do with all that but don’t forget that LCDD is now in Japan for a tour starting Saturday at Highti then Flying Teapot on Sunday and then Thursday at Super Deluxe (that’s for Tokyo only). No Fork Droise will be playing at Flying Teapot and at Super Deluxe. I’m organizing so please come (advance tickets are cheaper)!

DL711

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This is my new sound device. It is based on a Kenwood Multimeter that I foundin the garbage of the university of Tokyo. I inserted a SN76477 chip inside and kept part of the original electronic. As the SN76477 generates sound that depends on the value of capacitors and resistors, keeping the original electronic has an influence on the generated sound. Three pots and some buttons on the front panel are used to change the value of resistors and capacitors. Some other buttons are used to set the mode of the mixer. The two switches on the top are used to power the device and to determine if the light sensor is used or not. When the light sensor is used (a photoresistor), light that enters the optical fiber bundle (the metallic tube on the side of the multimeter) will change a resistor value and thus modify the generated sound.

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I’m planning to use this device in combination with a TV set (that I already used at Fourth Floor recently). The TV set is plugged to an audio source that creates images on the screen. The optical fiber bundle is placed in front of the screen and depending on the image displayed, sound is modified. Another possibility is to use an oscilloscope instead of  a TV set.

You can see more pictures on Flickr. I’ll try to upload a video on YouTube soon.

Todai Garbage

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No news from Ars Electronica so I guess my work hasn’t been selected. Of course I’m a bit disappointed but there are other festivals or conferences where I can submit it. I think I’ll try Siggraph Asia. Being selected for Ars Electronica would have given me a good reason to go in Europe and to do some gigs in Austria, Swiss and Germany. I was looking forword to some harsh noise shows in Germany with Kakawaka !

I’m preparing my next live events with No Fork Droise (for the LCDD Japan tour) and decided to have a look to the garbage of my former lab at the university of Tokyo (Todai). It’s incredible what you can find there: oscilloscopes, computers, various electronic devices, TV, monitors, electronic components and parts, … I like to take some parts and to transform them into audio devices.

I’ll have a new device for the show at Flying Teapot (25 May) in addition to the gas mask and Petite Pisseuse is making me a costume to which I will add some electronic and connect it to my gas mask. I’m planning to use it for the show at Super Deluxe (29 May).

And I’m learning Max/MSP as I have several projects that could make use of it. I’ve only one month to learn it as I’m not sure I’ll buy it given the high price tag…