[microsound] "No Input Mixing Board"

[Justin Glenn Smith]

It was much fun. I destroyed almost all my recordings from the '90s in a fit of pique, so someone may have recordings of the device (I even played it live on radio a few times), but I don't.

Brendan Landis wrote:
> Justin, did any cool recordings come out of those experiments? Sounds fun!
> 
> 
> cheers,
> Brendan
> heyexit.com
> 
> 
> On Dec 14, 2010, at 2:18 PM, Justin Glenn Smith wrote:
> 
>> Regarding patch cords: the signal will be so hot, that you don't need
>> a good cord. Or a real cord even. I had great performance from an old
>> radioshack brand mixer where I used cut up and bent pieces of
>> coathanger, one end shoved into the hole of one of the RCA style
>> inputs, the other end shoved into the hole of one of the RCA outputs.
>>
>> Michal Seta wrote:
>>> You could probably get a Behringer 8 channel mixer for less than a
>>> 100$ at your local music equipment store.  Those are totally useless
>>> for pro-audio but they should fit your needs.  Of course you also need
>>> a lot of patch cords.  You may want to check your nearest electronics
>>> surplus store, they may have good deals on cables (maybe even some
>>> amateur mixing boards!).  Just make sure that when you are buying a
>>> mixer to use as a musical instrument, there are more outputs than just
>>> Main Out (hopefully Aux and/or Fx and maybe even direct out) for
>>> increased flexibility of routing signals.
>>>
>>> Here's one good deal for a Behringer:
>>> http://bit.ly/f4JPqy
>>>
>>> You could also check some local classifieds listings but I would
>>> advise that when you buy this kind of stuff (especially online or
>>> through an ad) you do it with an adult, hopefully someone who
>>> understands your needs and what you are buying to some extent.
>>>
>>> Cheers.
>>>
>>> ./MiS
>>>
>>> On Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 8:12 AM, Nic Freed
>>> <beatthefinalboss at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Thank you very much for replying so fast! I do like Larseneurs, but
>>>> I do not
>>>> speak french, so I do not know how much I can use their site :(
>>>> You explained that very well, and now that I understand, I am very
>>>> anxious
>>>> to try ;)
>>>> If you don't mind my asking, where might I get a cheap mixing board
>>>> with an
>>>> input and output? Maybe somewhere on ebay or something?
>>>> Thanks again!
>>>> --Nic
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 11:49 PM, Michal Seta <mis at artengine.ca> wrote:
>>>>> Hi Nic,
>>>>>
>>>>> The base idea behind the no input mixing board is that a mixing board
>>>>> is never perfectly silent.  It is then expected that when you plug its
>>>>> output to its input, the inherent noise (or hum) that is within the
>>>>> system will quickly start adding itself up and you will be able to
>>>>> build a feedback loop.  Most mixers have pre-amps built in which can
>>>>> greatly help you build the sound faster (and they will add a little
>>>>> bit of noise to the signal as well).  You can then use the EQ knobs to
>>>>> shape the resulting signal.
>>>>>
>>>>> Some mixing boards come with built-in effects so you could very easily
>>>>> start sculpting very intricate soundscapes but if you want to be true
>>>>> to Nakamura you should use a plain mixing board with only controls
>>>>> being volume, gain and some EQ (usually just 3 knobs on simple boards:
>>>>> treble, mid and bass).  Note that having multiple mixing strips and
>>>>> ways of cross-connecting them gives you an advantage (most mixers will
>>>>> have auxiliary inputs and outputs which you can exploit to make cross
>>>>> connections between different strips).
>>>>>
>>>>> Getting a cheap mixing board will bring you quick instant
>>>>> gratification because those will usually have higher signal to noise
>>>>> ratio.  You will be feeding back in no time.
>>>>>
>>>>> If such minimal meas of noise making interest you, you may also be
>>>>> interested in Larseneurs (http://www.larseneur.net/NewsENG.php).  The
>>>>> idea being that you simply use a computer and let the sound pass
>>>>> directly from your microphone input straight to the output.  Your only
>>>>> control is input volume.  Your sounds will greatly depend on the
>>>>> ambient noise.
>>>>>
>>>>> Happy feedback!
>>>>>
>>>>> ./MiS
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 11:14 PM, Nic Freed
>>>>> <beatthefinalboss at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> Hello :)
>>>>>> I have become very interested in the works of Toshimaru Nakamura
>>>>>> recently,
>>>>>> with his self-named "No-Input Mixing Board", and I would like to
>>>>>> learn
>>>>>> more
>>>>>> about it. From what I understand, the output of the board is
>>>>>> connected
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> the input... but if so, where does the initial sound causing the
>>>>>> feedback
>>>>>> come from? I would like to try this myself, once I understand it
>>>>>> better,
>>>>>> so
>>>>>> I was also wondering about what I would need to purchase to create
>>>>>> something
>>>>>> with this method.
>>>>>> I am 15 years old and without a job, so maybe a cheap mixer and
>>>>>> something to
>>>>>> create sound, like a function generator? I would probably try and
>>>>>> get it
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> my birthday, so it can't be too expensive :x
>>>>>> Thank you very much, in advance!
>>>>>> --Nic
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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