Circuit bending: Hacking a Furby in the name of music

Circuit bending consists of dismantling toys, household objects and synths in order to rebuild them as new instruments. To most people, old toys like a Furby are just toys, but for musicians who circuit bend, these are instruments waiting to happen. In this episode of The Future of Music, Dani Deahl visited Sam Battle, also known as Look Mum No Computer. He is at the forefront of the circuit bending scene and creates the top circuit bent instruments out of things like bikes, flamethrowers and yes, Furbies.
Subscribe: goo.gl/G5RXGs
Like The Verge on Facebook: goo.gl/2P1aGc
Follow on Twitter: goo.gl/XTWX61
Follow on Instagram: goo.gl/7ZeLvX
Read More: www.theverge.com
Community guidelines: bit.ly/2D0hlAv
Subscribe to Verge Science on KZbin, a new home base for our explorations into the future of science: bit.ly/2FqJZMl

[@TheVerge]

What toy or household object would you like to circuit bend?

[@lettersandnumbersuc]

Any vintage sound that we grew up with will be extremely rewarding to here again. Love the bike!!

[@lettersandnumbersuc]

Michael knight kit car...sounds of the car...buttons

[@petergreek8482]

Gameboy dmg

[@not3oF]

some Finnish toys or an 3DS XL

[@jonasj.1028]

Moms rubber toys...

[@XiXora]

Look mum no computer is getting around a lot recently…

[@alnoose6494]

“Kill me” - Furby 2018

[@Coconut7403]

He is the Hannibal lecter of Furbys

[@geokramer1711]

Wow what's up with the like-dislike ratio?

[@agbhargihad7325]

she kept her top on..

[@You-tv5io]

You need a Swiss Army knife with a phillips screwdriver installed and “tweezers” to watch this video!

[@melo7572]

@@You-tv5io Don't forget the table! And you can never have too much thermalpaste, either!

[@CASHXRAT]

I once bought a naturally circuit-bent Furby from a rummage sale. It spoke in tongues like a demon, it was terrifying.

[@Schnort]

Iirc, Furbys that were produced in a certain factory tended to have this problem, even in fresh batteries. I think it's more common on the halloween themed one with the hat? Also, eventually, they just wear out. Somethings probably corroded in there.

[@Schnort]

Yes, I did a bit of research, and JT factory Furbys tend to be of worse quality than those that came out of other factories. The issue I mentioned with the halloween edition Furby is unrelated, actually. It's a problem with many RL factory holiday editions.

[@youfube-]

Can't wait you to publish a video, where you attempt to correctly assemble an ordinary kid's puzzle.

[@Cynnabuns]

Am I the only one who feels bad for the lil guys?

[@annosayu]

As a furby collector, It Hurts me How he ripped the fur without cutting the ears threads and broke one of his ears💔

[@ItsaDaPope-a]

If you love hearing the words "circuit bending" every 10 seconds, you're gonna love this!

[@guys-in9vd]

i found a broken 1999 furby inside a bush, washed it and FIXED IT WITH A PIPE SOLDERING IRON

[@BimBurger]

What's up with the dislike to like ratio. What's wrong with the video?

[@im_kamil]

Wow, they've been deleting comments telling them how they should address their bad computer building video...

[@MrGamelover23]

Because this isn't the place for it. Wait, but then again no place is if this isn't, um... But Twitter seems like a better way to get in touch I guess.

[@nithinravi4401]

What's with the dislikes ?? Are everyone so narrow minded ?? This video is well produced.

[@icednightcores]

I staarted crying when it went ‘Dada me scared’ 😂😭

[@marcf7044]

Long ago, Furbys lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the circuit nation attacked

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Thanks for coming round!!! 😃😃😃😃😃😃 it was well fun 😃

[@ozule1782]

Hi Sam 😀

[@lunazet721]

Marry me Sam! Love your music and videos even tho I dont know much about electronics.

[@komjungin7174]

First i saw his hair, I knew what his capable of

[@Captain_Pizza]

He's like the Colin Furze of music!

[@inactiveinactive3380]

Accurate

[@tanmaywho]

When I saw circuit bending I knew I was about to watch a video with look mum no computer.

[@jan_harald]

too bad modern toys are not very bendable...if at all... everything except the power circuits is in one tiny blob chip, which is specifically engineered to only do that one single thing it was meant to do, no more are there lots of parts you could tweak and short and modify, it's all in one place...

[@voicedrifter]

Love this guy. Thanks for looking in on his project!

[@pspdeepti]

This looks so cool man and it is sad to know that it is dimiishing in the future!!

[@alexsabber]

Breaking News: He's actually got a computer.

[@zeromax695]

3:13 "You get that and you have a fiddle, there's no right or wrong" - yep, words to live by

[@Digalog]

Nowadays modular synthesis is the closest we get from circuit bending I guess

[@poorkidd]

He is still my favorite KZbinr. LMNC you da man!

[@temptor7585]

"with all of the advancements made in electronics, something that could be done on a laptop, why put all of the effort and time into curcuit bending" Why put any effort into anything these days, everything is already done for you! that question kinda pissed me off

[@starcubey]

Usually, when composing, you are more worried about how a song sounds than anything else. If you were chasing after a specific sound, learning how to do circuit bending would be ridiculous, but this is less about making music and more about doing something cool.

[@rea8585]

I haven't seen something so "The Internet" in a while! It's fascinating how this guy's passion and creativity are without borders. As long as Look mum no computer will be alive, circuit bending won't be dead!

[@anthonybessete2336]

Wait what does look mom no computer mean anyway?

[@blackcat4589]

"the future of music"-----> doing a 40 yeas old activity like Circuit Bending?

[@jakenelson1366]

does anyone know why it has 1.4k dislikes or did someone bot it?

[@natecw4164]

Good content but the video was fluffy as all fluff.

[@turtleh]

Your outlet is so out of touch with reality.

[@DraggyBDragon]

Really great video. Learned stuff, saw crazier stuff. All round good job!

[@anthonybessete2336]

No my childhood

[@Panda16575]

It looks like taking a shower removes your circuit bending capabilities

[@jonathanpalmquist4894]

Water and circuit bending don't mesh well

[@Panda16575]

@@jonathanpalmquist4894 no I meant the guy in the video looks like he doesnt remember the last time he showered

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

Sid Phillips meets Ludwig Von Beethoven meets Daft Punk

[@grefsteel3989]

I'm sure this goth chick slays vampires

[@Wydad_forza]

In the wait for the furby time machine

[@gregburdine4373]

Sam is an absolute genius!!

[@JogsMovies]

In Germany there is a band called GeekOrchester, which plays sometimes in a Latenight-show called "NeoMagazin Royale". They used also old tech like printer and other machines for the sounds. I don't know which old tech in details, because I'm too young 😉

[@hein_mcleod]

I wonder where they got the idea from... Might Car Mods did this almost a year ago...

[@qislegit.donttrustthemedia6232]

This has been around for decades. Anyone with an interest in electronics but not the knowledge to understand how they work....this is what they do. Stimulants help.

[@ragamjagoan5862]

i think he is high during this interview

[@olive7831]

Nope, he’s always like that. Look at his channel

[@meultoitau7683]

Or he is just alway high on his videos.

[@jonathanpalmquist4894]

i think Dani wasn't high enough during this interview

[@trulyinfamous]

Why so many dislikes?

[@RogerPodacter]

will it short-circuit if it touches the system?

[@19.DK.91]

shoutout for my boy david

[@TMWYTM]

This is so cool! I can see how they're appreciated by some folks only

[@kushsingh3307]

MKG after kilshot

[@Povilaz]

Circuit bending old toys (especially that make sound) is the best way to produce amazing sound. Really interesting.

[@patinaries1]

Can someone please open the stopwatch in his pocket? That's Doctor who trapped in a human body XD

[@LemonEyed_Stand]

the last circuit bender

[@mee_is_sus]

You didn't realise the furby was a furbling! So that was sus

[@Aditya19971000]

How can i get a synth bike?

[@ciro_costa]

build one

[@tbrowntracyj]

Don't be divided by politics we are the light of liberty and all are a piece of the pi

[@badoorenc6598]

🙂

[@blewyd]

Nice like to dislike ratio. Seems like s good video hub

[@LongclawGG]

This is rad as hell.

[@aleknitka]

Guy is a genius

[@shadowrylander]

He looks and sounds like a combination of Arthur Darvill, Tom Holland, and James McAvoy!

[@awesomedude9576]

OH, like the TV show Avatar the last Air Bender.

[@keirebuuishi4353]

In before Robots have human rights

[@nickdelavega5450]

I love this series!

[@DrINTJ]

Lots of empty talk and not enough bending.

[@zer0b0t]

Made it to 1:24 something is wrong with my video 😑

[@leftspeaker2000]

I thought this was really interesting. Dude is crazy, though.

[@asianboi.mp5922]

Wow furby piano

[@justinpietro5853]

i think sam is less of a circuit bender and more just an electronics creative the interview kinda seemed posed in the wrong direction for what sam is really into

[@theonlywj]

Five nights of Freddy vibes

[@microknife19]

That was really cool

[@bearshield7138]

thank you this gives me ideas

[@DisBuilder]

sam sounds like dantdm

[@wuzihuzi]

Look mum no computer!!!

[@coolduder1001]

Ay it mum

[@mechalooneybird9768]

Even when I had on as a baby

[@NloboLobo]

Smashhh

[@mechalooneybird9768]

I have furbys from every year

[@personalsugardadda1353]

Best hack ever

[@birgithagn5227]

The first mechanical demon

[@spartafxrs5]

Cyberpunk 2077

[@jjjjulian]

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

[@TomyIneXtriCable]

WOW,dude! omg...

[@Andre-bi3gq]

PLAY WITH ME aaaaHHh....

[@mechalooneybird9768]

The furby organ

[@ananasjuice7059]

Hey

[@darnitimstuckstudios]

Lmao you’re so late to the Look Mum no Computer Ferbie popularity

[@Zen_Power]

Reminds me of mugwai

[@MuhammadLutfiTamim]

Burfy

[@EpicFurbynerd76YO]

Cool!

[@thwaitesglacier]

LOL!

[@babubapbapbabuAKAjeffyandfrenz]

E

[@qislegit.donttrustthemedia6232]

Meth

[@sharkang0243]

N O F U R B Y H A R M E D I N T H I S V I D E O

[@spong667]

YAY LOOK MUM IS ON HERE!!!!

[@oleg3250]

Жалко игрушки

[@babubapbapbabuAKAjeffyandfrenz]

63ß

[@devpal3288]

Very good

[@-peridys8346]

Nice

[@saulgoodman2018]

So the future of music sucks?

[@TheCloudek]

Amazing. Keep going and seek God, only He can fill the internal voids and give us true happiness and peace. He loves you. God bless you all and your families. Read, please: 2 Corinthians 5:17. Romans 10:8-13.

[@serenameep8565]

Oh a video by the Verge, quickly skipping by!

[@superblitz2274]

Epic!!👍👍

[@Zero-ed8gd]

He attac He protecc But most of all He circuit bent

[@canadiansplootdoggo9333]

It's like gordan Ramsay but for Furbies

[@MrFlexNC]

Fascinating guy, but that hair tho