STEREOFIELD
skin-reactive feedback synthesizer, chaotic audio processor, and controller
Stereo Field is one instrument with three separate or simultaneous uses: 1. stereo/quad modular touch plate feedback atonal synthesizer, 2. stereo/quad audio processor, and 3. pressure sensitive chaotic CV "controller." Use Stereo Field to manipulate and patch two analog stereo preamp circuits via touch plates. Skin conductivity creates new paths for current to flow. You create “new circuits” and feedback paths in relation to where your fingers are patching.
$445
Download Manual (coming soon) | Ships in 2-3 weeks
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Create atonal analog feedback
Create atonal chaotic textures in stereo and quad
Touch process incoming stereo audio and quad sources, resulting in distortion, filtering, panning, and rhythmic feedback
Act as a controlled chaos source for modular synthesizers
Send and receive CV modulation simultaneously
Use finger/skin patching to change and alter the incoming and outgoing CV while also processing incoming audio
Create large chaotic shifts through small gestures
Foster responsive collaboration, as you’ll simultaneously be reacting to Stereo Field and attempting to control and shape its results
Results can be similar to distortion, filtering, resonance, high-pass, lo-pass, feedback, sine waves, square waves, pulse width modulation, formants, white noise, pink noise, metallic noise, stereo rhythms, wave-folding, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, spacial shifts, panning, sub octaves, pitch following — but most of the time these results are very lo-fi approximations, or falll "between effects" or in combinations of multiple effects that can be shifting, feeding back or pulsing in sync with incoming audio during processing.
Respond to breath or Theremin-esque hovering
Create feedback ranging from very high-frequencies (inaudible to humans) down to sub-audio saw waveforms, sometimes simultaneously.
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POWER: Use the included power supply to connect to the DC jack in the center of the back panel. An LED will light beneath the center of the interface.
STEREO (¼”) OUTPUTS/INPUTS: Two stereo outputs are located on the left of the back panel - one from each circuit of Stereo Field, as visualized by the overlapping circular touchplates. Two stereo inputs are located on the right side of the back panel.
QUAD (3.5mm) OUTPUTS/INPUTS: On the interface, the top row of four jacks are quad audio or CV outputs. The two left channels output the left stereo circuit (L/R), and the two right channels output the right stereo circuit (R/L). Use Stereo Field’s unstable organic qualities as a controlled chaos source for modular synthesizers. The bottom row of four jacks are quad audio or CV inputs. The left channels input left stereo circuit (L/R), and the right channels input right stereo circuit (R/L). Input CV or audio to process through the Stereo Field.
TOUCH PLATES: With the Stereo Field, you’ll be making circuits with your body that are not generally "supposed" to be made. You can think of it as circuit-bending with your skin. Keep the volume low to begin, as high frequencies and loud volumes are possible. Start with two hands (or feet, or multiple fingers—one finger on its own will not create sound!) on the gold touch plates, which are left/right mirrored analog stereo circuits. You should hear sound! If you don’t, increase the volume & gain, and make sure you’re using multiple fingers. Every individual has their own personal skin conductivity, which will affect results. Incoming audio can also be "touched" or directly interacted with, which is to say audio will be traveling through your skin to other parts of the circuit. Touch patching with one hand offers less attenuation than patching between two hands (or feet). Experiment with positions, as these parallel mirrored circuits can be skin-patched separately or together yielding vastly different chaotic results in regards to texture, timbre and stereo imaging.
VOLUME & GAIN: There are two volumes, left and right (outer two knobs). The two stereo input gain knobs (two center knobs) shape and affect distortion, drive amounts, internal feedback pitch, and modulation rates, depending on how your fingers are patching. Due to the nature of the overlapping circuits, there is interplay across all four knobs.
IO (3.5mm) TOUCHPLATES: The quad inputs and outputs via the 3.5mm jacks have small touch plates leading to and from. These eight rectangular touch plates provide direct touch access to each input/output.
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Use at your own risk. We are not responsible for damage to persons or goods. Landscape shall not be held accountable for injury or worse when not using common sense with electricity.
Do not use anything besides the included power supply or a 9v battery adaptor to power the Stereo Field.
We recommend plugging into a mixer or modular synthesizer. Do not plug directly into a PA system or power amp.
The Stereo Field should only be played utilizing skin contact. Avoid introducing other metal objects or liquid to the surface as you may damage the surface finish and/or the circuits.
The resulting feedback can go beyond the abilities of human hearing. Take caution! Consider using a compressor/limitor for ear safety.
To clean the surface, wipe with a clean, dry cloth. If deeper cleaning is required, use a small amount of rubbing alcohol.
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Dimensions: 25.4 x 14.6 x 3.8cm / 10" x 5.75" x 1.5"
Weight: 0.77kg / 1lb 11oz
Materials: Aluminum and Maple enclosure + Gold plated PCB (2mm) + plastic knobs
Power: 9v Regulated tip (+) power supply (100-240V AC)
Stereo inputs/outputs: 4 x ¼” jacks (unbalanced)
Quad inputs/outputs: 8 x 3.5mm jacks (unbalanced)
CV “control”: it will output approximately 4.2v to -2.8v depending on hand placement and input/output volume settings
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Drum machines
Guitar & bass
Modular synthesizers
Poly synths
Voice
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MINIMIZING LOSS: With Stereo Field there are certain sounds which can be loosely recreated. However, due to variables such as user interaction, individual skin conductivity, skin contact amounts per finger, control knob positions, capacitors charging and discharging, incoming audio, and incoming CV, there is a certainty of uncertainty. In other words, you won’t be able to fully re-create some results. We recommend you record your interactions.
NOISE: Noise is a common issue with touch plate instruments. There is a possibility of ground hum and radio frequency interference given the open nature of the device. To help reduce noise, power the Stereo Field with a 9v battery adaptor (to 2.1mm tip (+) DC connector). Consider running the Stereo Field through a stereo DI box that can "float ground" before going into your mixer, or grounding the chassis of the Stereo Field to the chassis of your mixer if you have ground loops in your environment. Plugging the power supply into the same power strip as your mixer can sometimes help a bit.
INCOMING AUDIO: If multiple audio signals are traveling into the Stereo Field, these audio sources can be intermingled and can modulate or interrupt one another, depending upon where your fingers are patching.
THERAMIN-ESQUE: Stereo Field has shown theremin-esque properties in certain knob settings due to the large surface area of the gold plates. Turn down your speakers and hover your hands (etc) over the surface while turning the gain up to find sweet spots.
BREATH: Feedback can be activated by breathing onto the plates. Use the moisture content of breath to partially control and sculpt the audio. After breathing on the plates, you will hear the sound decay as your breath moisture evaporates from the surface.
OTHER ORGANIC MATTER: Use flowers (face down) or flower petals to create feedback paths. While you might experiment with other organic materials, do not ever use metal, water or other liquids.
MULTIPLAYER PATCHING: Touch fingers of one hand to the surface. Have your friend (or chain of friends) touch their fingers to the surface. Touch or clap your hands to each other, closing the circuit and resulting in sound.
Audio Samples
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