In this episode of the New Weird Australia podcast series, we delve into modular synthesis, off the back of a two-day Sydney festival that both celebrates and explores the concept, titled Moduluxxx.

The organisers described the event as somewhere between "a museum, a lan party and a petting zoo". To get the full meaning behind the analogies, we hear from artist and festival co-director, Pia Van Gelder, who also discusses the ideas and activities behind modular synthesis in more detail - and in particular, why it has undergone something of a renaissance in recent times.

The podcast also features an example of the artform in action with a 20 minute set from Nadir - a collaboration between Sydney artist Alex White and Melbourne’s Ben Byrne - and acting as something of a warm-up for their Moduluxxx experience.

The interview and live set was originally broadcast on 26th April 2012.

In this week's podcast, we feature the first of our irregular new series, NWA Profiles - new stories, interviews and recordings from around the country; filed by contributors from New Weird Australia's volunteer network. In this episode, Matthew O'Shannessy and Michael Prior from Tape Projects talk to Melbourne-based improvisor, installation artist and instrument builder, DALE GORFINKEL.

Dale has previously curated the Now Now Festival in Sydney, and currently coordinates the Out Hear Festival, a Melbourne festival focused on outdoor performances and soundwalks. In this report, we hear about Dale's study of ping pong balls, kinetics and the problem of invisible speakers. We also hear a live performance by Dale for prepared vibraphone recorded at Bouverie Studios in Melbourne.

Originally broadcast on 22nd March 2012.