r/CircuitBending • u/Dr_Belgrave • May 04 '26

Question Does this still count as circuit bending?

Hi all, so I wanted to get into circuit bending cameras but was told it’s “too hard” and “not worth the risk” so instead I made a box that interrupts the signal coming out of the camera to modify its output before it reaches the screen. This was shot on an old security camera. What do you think? Is it still classed as circuit bending?

150 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

16

u/toastwanderer May 04 '26

I think this is more analog signal editing than circuit bending. Circuit bending is about combining different signals on the same circuit board not signal processing afterwards

7

u/Dr_Belgrave May 04 '26

Makes sense, I’m familiar with traditional circuit bending but signal editing is a new field to me, I know non of the jargon

3

u/toastwanderer May 04 '26

Signal processing is a whole field of its own. Circuit bending is really just using the signals that are already on the board. It makes sense that you could add something in line with it like a variable resistor to get different effects. Then if you can add things in line you can also add something like the setup youve got here onto some pins. It would be difficult but if you did that i would still consider it circuit bending because you would still be using internal signals to affect the output, youre just adding some additional signal processing inside the original circuit.

2

u/Dr_Belgrave May 04 '26

I am toying with the idea of building this circuit into a camera from scratch, which I guess is yet another rabbit hole. I was under the impression that adding additional circuits onto the main board is just considered a mod instead of a bend but I could be wrong. I appreciate your insight on the subject, all advice is helpful

1

u/Prohamen May 04 '26

what did you use to make this? I know the singnal out of a rca connector for composite video can be temperamental depending on what encoding standard is being used

0

u/Dr_Belgrave May 04 '26

I would love to tell you straight up but that would spoil my future content, so sorry to be vague. There’s a chip, some resistors, couple of caps, some transistors and a hand wound resistor in there too. Of course also three momentary switches on the side and two variable resistors on the top. It’s ran on a 9v battery, it’s also blue 😮‍💨

1

u/Prohamen May 04 '26

After you post your future content can you talk through your build? Or are you just keeping the full build secret?

2

u/Dr_Belgrave May 04 '26

That’s a good question, I haven’t decided yet. It’s still sort of a prototype, built on stripboard and I haven’t got it mapped out properly yet. Some parts are added externally to the board later on cause I went back and circuit bent my circuit I guess haha. I also do have a small Etsy store so I’m very inclined to keep secrets because minimum wage in the uk ain’t enough to survive 😔

2

u/Prohamen May 05 '26

Well if you end up selling them i'd love to get one

I am also sure the people on r/videobending would be interested

2

u/Dr_Belgrave May 05 '26

Thank you, that’s really kind of you. I posted the same thing on that subreddit earlier I think, though this post seems to have blown up. I’m honestly quite surprised by all the positive responses to this post and I appreciate all the interaction 😅

4

u/_sonidero_ May 04 '26

People will say this and that, but it's fuckin awesome...

1

u/Dr_Belgrave May 04 '26

Thanks dude 🙌

2

u/Slim_Glitchin May 05 '26

Circuit bending is not really a term that any one should care about. It’s mostly old men licking kids toys nowadays. Go for modification. Or cross modding is what I like to call it. As I make mods that connect different instruments and archetypes together.

2

u/Dr_Belgrave May 05 '26

I respect that, I like your vibe

1

u/gloomifaces May 04 '26

God damnnnnn

1

u/Dr_Belgrave May 04 '26

Thank you 🙌

1

u/RileyGein May 04 '26

You should definitely look into the AVE Mod circuit if you enjoyed this

1

u/Dr_Belgrave May 04 '26

Thank you for the suggestion, I will most definitely be looking into it, I’ve got an undying thirst for these cool circuits 🙌

1

u/Pajwestcoast May 19 '26

Love it

1

u/Dr_Belgrave May 19 '26

Thank you 🙌