de/Rastra
Image by Duran Blakeley
The de/Rastra oscillographic synthesizer is a real-time audio/video instrument and computer-interfacing device that allows a performer to generate visualizations intrinsic to cathode ray tube technology while simultaneously creating the acoustic analog of the displayed imagery. By way of building, bending and mutilating, de/Rastra shows the effects of altering the anatomical makeup of a CRT television, revealing the hidden potentials of the technology through the repurposing and restructuring of its own ability. Through hacking and exploiting the capabilities intrinsic to all CRT devices, the technology becomes repurposed as a performative interface, breaking down the device’s ‘consumption only’ nature. The performer is given control over the technology by removing it from the intended application and forcing it into an active state through a combination of physical and mental effort.
The de/Rastra oscillographic synthesizer is an open source project. An oscillographic TV hacking tutorial can be found at: http://yaktronix.com/osctv and related tutorials can be found at: http://www.crackedraytube.com/textstutorials.html
- Video
- de/Rastra Full Text
Technical details:
-Oscillographic TV Hacking Tutorial-
-Electromagnet TV Hacking Info-
-Original Concept Sketch-
-System Schematic-


