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BeatBearing uncovered
These three pictures show how the BeatBearing is set up, including how the wires pass through the channels in the perspex base.
January 31, 2008 -
BeatBearing
The first full-size BeatBearing body has been machined in the Engineering Workshop (Many thanks to Jim Knox and David Magill). Now just need to wire it up to an Arduino.The photo above…
November 2, 2007 -
beatbearing CAD design
Have finished the CAD design for the new beatbearing prototype.
October 22, 2007 -
horizontal display
Have tried out the prototype beatbearing software on the horizontal flat-screen CRT monitor. The transparent block will be placed on top of this allowing the visuals to show through.
October 19, 2007 -
beatbearing software
Have started working on the BeatBearing software while waiting for the hardware to be produced. Currently I’m using Processing, as it allows quick prototypes to be made. The program will run full…
October 18, 2007 -
BeatBearing polymorph prototype
A prototype has been made using polymorph plastic (a material that melts at 62 deg, allowing you to mold the plastic by hand), to test the use of a split washer as…
September 25, 2007 -
BeatBearing 3D model
Have created a simple 3D model of a possible prototype. The aim is to be able to create a model in cinema4D and then export it to solidworks so that it can…
September 25, 2007 -
BeatBearing mkII video
This video shows the prototype Beatbearing in action. Sounds are triggered by placing the ball bearings in the recesses. Unfortunately due to handling the steel ball bearings have become slightly rusty so…
September 17, 2007 -
BeatBearing mkII
The BeatBearing mkII is now functional. It now has a sturdier construction, and uses a grid of 3×3 ball-bearings. A more developed software interface has been made (shown in the screenshot at…
September 4, 2007 -
Beat-Bearing
Have finished a very simple prototype of the “beat-bearing” interface. Ball-bearings are used to complete a circuit by being placed in the indentations. The aim is to create a tangible sequencer that…
August 29, 2007

Totally going to steal this “swivel reverse instrument swap” for next time I’m playing out. I think Ada’s picking up her new drums I brought back from New Orleans quicker than I’m getting the hang of the pocket trumpet 😅
#swivelreverse #spin #longwayround #drumsolo #drums #glockenspiel #somewhereroundthere

AMBIENT CAFE
Saturday 3pm-6pm (tomorrow!)
@friendlyrecords on North St
Join us for an afternoon of eclectic ambient from Muzak Concrète DJs (@noodsradio) interwoven with tabletop experiments from guest local ambient artists including @looseforms and Nick Janaway. A tapestry of cascading synths, bleeps & celestial vibrations, field recordings, intricate wallpaper muzak, earthy drones, textural trips, ambient & ambience. We make a space for indirect listening and background enjoyment. Bring your knitting, a book or chess set, pull up a chair and immerse yourself in the music.
#ambientcafe #muzakconcrete #tabletopgig #bristollivemusic #friendlyrecords #animation
#madeinlooom #popbyforacoffee #gentlejetlaggedvibes






Had the afternoon free after the CHI’22 conference wrapped up so did the obvious thing and shlepped across town to New Orlean’s brass specialist @neworleanstrumpets to buy a pocket trumpet. Turns out New Orlean’s oldest tree was round the corner so ended up having a first play sat on it’s trunk (with new mute firmly in place) hoping to invoke some kind of jazz skills transfer magic but instead mildly disturbing a dog walker who strayed too close. Did get an album promo shot though 😅
#neworleans #oldesttree #newinstrument #seriousjazzface #trumpet #pockettrumpet






Happy Birthday Ada – one today!
Bonus fist bump superhero pose photo from when she was a few days old this time last year and looked more like a potato. The efforts to recreate the pose more accurately this year were futile 😅
💛 🌸 ✊ 🥳
#happybirthday #cherryblossom



AMBIENT CAFE
@friendlyrecords
Saturday 7th May
3pm-6pm
Come and join us for an afternoon of eclectic ambient from Muzak Concrète DJs (Noods Radio), interwoven with tabletop sets from guest local ambient artists. Undulating synths, cosmic vibrations, field recordings, intricate wallpaper muzak, deep drones, astral jazz, ambient and ambience. We make a space for indirect listening and background enjoyment… Bring your knitting, a book or chess set, pull up a chair and immerse yourself in the music.
@friendlyrecords @noodsradio #ambientcafe #bristolmusic #livemusicbristol #ambientmusic #ambient #muzakconcrete










Triple bill Easter Sunday art crawl. Audio-visual installations and sculpture at the @h.eadless group show in @theislandbristol … a working trebuchet art-flinger at @spikeisland … and piles of salt (sand?) and fresh oil painting at @arnolfiniarts … rounded off with an ice cream in the park while Ada critiques the shows via the medium of stick twirling.
#art #artsunday #audiovisual #sculpture #galleryshow #artcrawl #bristol #sticktwirling







Day trip to Cwmdu to hike in the Black Mountains for @carrie_brassley_yoga’s birthday. Decided to go off piste and take a shortcut up what felt close to a 45° burnt bracken slope. Ada didn’t seem too phased by this 😅
#cwmdu #blackmountains #hiking




Freshwater West 1986 & 2022
Rather satisfying hunting down the same rocks I had a sandwich on 36 years prior age 4. Props to my dad for digging out the old photo and sparking off the rock hunt!
#freshwaterwest #rocks #beach #erosion #oldphoto #thenandnow










Made the most of being on strike last week by heading to Pembrokeshire for a few days. Got lucky with some great sunset surf on Tuesday too!