What is circuit bending?

Circuit bending is the practice of creatively short-circuiting electronic devices to produce new sounds or visuals. For glitch art, practitioners modify video equipment, game consoles, and display hardware to generate analog distortions impossible to achieve through software alone.

The technique involves opening electronic devices and experimentally connecting circuit points that weren’t meant to be connected. Video mixers, old camcorders, and game consoles are popular targets. A simple connection might cause color inversions; more complex modifications create rolling distortions, feedback loops, and complete signal breakdown.

Safety considerations matter -circuit benders work with low-voltage battery-powered devices when possible and avoid mains-powered equipment. Starting with inexpensive thrift store electronics reduces risk while learning.

The results differ fundamentally from digital glitching. Analog circuits produce organic, flowing distortions with characteristics tied to physical components -capacitor values, signal timing, and electrical interference all influence the output. This unpredictability and physical connection to the medium attracts artists seeking alternatives to purely digital workflows. Explore hardware approaches in our circuit bending guide.