![4xhands](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/4xhands.jpg)
A kraakdoos or cracklebox is a
custom-made instrument
An experimental musical instrument (or custom-made instrument) is a musical instrument that modifies or extends an existing instrument or class of instruments, or defines or creates a new class of instrument. Some are created through simple modi ...
, in the form of a
noise
Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arise ...
-making
electronic device
The field of electronics is a branch of physics and electrical engineering that deals with the emission, behaviour and effects of electrons using electronic devices. Electronics uses active devices to control electron flow by amplification ...
. It is a small box with six metal contacts on top, which generate various unusual sounds and tones when pressed by the performer's fingers. The
human body
The human body is the structure of a Human, human being. It is composed of many different types of Cell (biology), cells that together create Tissue (biology), tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the life, viabi ...
becomes a part of the circuit and determines the range of sounds possible, thus different people–or the same person at different times–shall generate different results.
While there are certain configurations of one's digits that result in more or less recallable results the preferred way of playing it is led by listening to how the instrument responds to manipulation and then maintaining and modifying one's contact points. The player thus enters into a tactile and sonic dialogue with the instrument.
The concept was first conceived by
Michel Waisvisz
Michel Waisvisz ( ; 8 July 1949, Leiden – 18 June 2008, Amsterdam) was a Dutch composer, performer and inventor of experimental electronic musical instruments. He was the artistic director of STEIM in Amsterdam from 1981, where he collaborated ...
and Geert Hamelberg in the 1960s, and developed further in the 1970s when Waisvisz joined the
STEIM STEIM (STudio for Electro Instrumental Music) was a center for research and development of new musical instruments in the electronic performing arts, located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Beginning in the 1970's, STEIM became known as a pioneering cen ...
foundation in
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
,
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
. The kraakdoos is a simple device, based on a single
operational amplifier
An operational amplifier (often op amp or opamp) is a DC-coupled high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a single-ended output. In this configuration, an op amp produces an output potential (relative to c ...
(one of the earliest models to be produced) and a few transistors, and can be constructed with only a basic understanding of electronics.
The musician Andrew Levine plays the Cracklebox regularly as part of his setup, in which it is the only instrument not dependent on external amplification, and has also experimented with
four-Cracklebox-configuration
See also
*
Atari Punk Console
Forrest M. Mims III is an American amateur scientist,['Country Scientist' starting co ...](_blank)
*
Circuit bending
External links
Archived Cracklebox page at STEIMOriginal shematics and DIY page— includes a history
*
The Cracklebox in various configurations
Experimental musical instruments
Electronic musical instruments
DIY culture
Dutch inventions
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