Electrosluch!

Not all electromagnetic fields come from the body and brain, of course. We are surrounded by them. This DIY project makes it possible to listen to them.

It is based on the “Electroluch” by LOM. They shared the source schematics, and more instructions are given in MakeZine, and in this blogplost. I followed the instructions pretty much to the point (watch out for the polarity of the 2.2uF capacitors!). You’re never sure whether it all fits, and it did necessitate some cutting, clipping and filing, but in the end it worked out very well. I was especially happy with the good quality jack connector and switch I installed. The tactile aspect is so important. I didn’t have a drill at hand, so a nice front panel might have to wait until after the Covid-19 confinement. In fact, I did buy enough components for another device, so I might try to order some drills online and give it a go again soon. That would allow a quadraphonic electromagnetic recordings!

In any case, it’s a lot of fun and the sounds you can discover nice and raw. The fact that it is stereo adds a lot to the experience as well. I made this short video of a new exploration of the apartment. It does make you think about what electromagnetic space we inhabit! I could say something poetic on how it shows how we are all connected beyond our corporeality, but I’m too tired. Enjoy the video!