EricArcher.net

September 2, 2010 8:28 PM

Eric Archer has created some really great electronic devices, using primarily 1970's technology. His audio work includes a sort of retro synth studio in a box, a generative sequencer based on LFSRs (more commonly used in cryptography), and and several infrared synced devices like this analog drum machine. He's also made an analog computer and oscillography art generators.
posted by phrontist (9 comments total)

From the third link, the studio in a box that Archer calls BBot:

t has no memory or storage, so each performance is a live improvisation.

That's impressive, as the third sound snippet on that page was good enough to save. Bird Box and Big Box of Techno was good too, as a background beat.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:50 PM on September 2, 2010

I love his stuff. I've been meaning to build a fistful of mini space rockers for ages.
posted by lekvar at 8:53 PM on September 2, 2010

YES! I always was fascinated by bucephalus bouncing ball mix by aphex twin. I was always wondering about the math/physics behind it.

Wonder how aphex did it...

I also used to hear that bouncing ball sound in our steam heat pipes in the old apartment. So annoying...
posted by symbioid at 9:15 PM on September 2, 2010

I thought I might visit Metafilter to get a break from obsessing on my first modular build. That, and looking at and ordering kits from Paia (I ordered the ring mod kit yesterday).

No such luck. Two posts in a row have defeated my resolve.

Thanks for the post.
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 9:55 PM on September 2, 2010

This is a great post, thanks.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:50 PM on September 2, 2010

Eric Archer was my organic chemistry lab TA and he was pretty cool then. Small world.
posted by grouse at 11:54 PM on September 2, 2010

I thought I might visit Metafilter to get a break from obsessing on my first modular build. That, and looking at and ordering kits from Paia (I ordered the ring mod kit yesterday).

Welcome to the dark side, not_that_epiphanius. While I was gracefully failing 1st year engineering in 1976 (yes there was electricity back then), I consoled myself with building the PAiA Gnome kit. An onslaught of kit and home-brew noisemakers ensued, accompanied by various and sundry mixers,analog tape recorders and reverbs. And some very bad tapes that I'm too embarrassed to share.

This summer, I started thinking that the stuff is just languishing in boxes; maybe it's time to ebay the lot... but this post has made me think about maybe waiting a year. I'm so weak...
posted by Artful Codger at 7:13 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is a person who really deserves my money.
posted by Theta States at 9:35 PM on September 3, 2010

Whoa - what the hell. I was really confused to see Eric's name on Metafilter, although I shouldn't be surprised. Great guy who has a geniune love for sound. He's heavily involved with the ongoing Handmade Music Austin series of events, along with Dr Bleep of Bleep Labs (makers of the Thingamagoop) and Dan Greene of 4MS Pedals.
posted by melt away at 8:53 PM on September 14, 2010