Returning to the Dreamachine

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When I was younger and a little more carefree, I was an avid student of Wikipedia. I still am, of course, but back then I had a deep fascination with obscure, novel technologies and human consciousness. In my research, I came across an obscure entry about a spinning stroboscopic device know as the Dreamachine.

I found it fascinating. A dream machine is meant to be viewed with closed eyes, and purportedly induces increasingly complex patterns behind the eyelids. Due to the 78 rpm rotation and stroboscopic effect, it stimulated the brainwaves present during sleep and relaxation.

There were only 5-6 worthwhile articles or blog posts on the topic online at the time. I studied them, then got to work.

All you need to build a dream machine is a 78rpm turntable, a cylinder with patterns, and a light suspended in the center.

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I spent an afternoon, and presto: dreamachine genesis.​

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At the time I didn't have access to a 78rpm turntable. I utilized the 45rpm version, which can stimulate similar effects, but with less accuracy and intensity as the 78rpm version. It quickly became a hit among my college social circles and a fun pastime for myself.

When viewing it with eyes closed, it did indeed stimulate a relaxed state of mind. There were also morphing, increasingly intense patterns behind the eyes - though the colors or kaleidoscope effects weren't present. It became easy to enter into a clear but dreamlike state. The affect was almost a form of meditation.

Ever since discovering and testing the dream machine, I wondered if there were ways to improve it. Decades ago, upon it's invention, there were many iterations with different pattern designs. Could I improve the design? Different colors? Different pattern shapes? Music?

For me, the the dream machine will always be associated with music by DJ Mark Farina. Namely, his Mushroom Jazz serious. I'd be remissed if I didn't mention his track Dream Machine, which I discovered in my research of the device by the same name.

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I experimented with different color bulbs, with a preference for orange and blue. Eventually, I followed a dream machine guide I found and turned my original stock paper cutout version into a metal cylinder using tin snips. The result was a much more professional looking device.

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That was a long time ago.

A few years ago I packed my bags, sold most of my possessions, and moved across the country to Phoenix, Arizona. I left my original dream machine behind, bringing only the metal cylinder.

The dream machine enhanced and encouraged a creative ambiance and inspirational mindset. Playing the dream machine, even if not 'viewing' it, created an environment in which it was difficult to not be carefree. I didn't consciously realize the degree of the effect of the dreamachine until I rebuilt my Dream Machine a few days ago.

I've been wanting to restore and improve upon the dream machine for some time. This May I'll be attending a regional burning man event, and I just had to bring it with me. So I got to work, restoring and improving upon my old machine.

I purchased a working 78rpm turntable of Craigslist (for only $5!) and used the old metal cylinder, plus $50 for attachment support and bulbs at a hardware store. In just a few hours, the dreamachine had been reborn.

My dreamachine in action:

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With this iteration, I'm experimenting with color-changing smart bulbs. I have yet to find one that is bright enough when in color modes, but I'm still searching. I also like the idea of color-changing to the music, so long as it remains within a certain color temperature range (oranges or blues).



Dream Machine test with music-syncing color smart bulb (still a WIP):

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The 78rpm speed makes all the difference. Not only do I see vibrant stroboscopic patterns, but I see vibrant, changing colors when observing the dream machine. Reds, oranges, dark colors, light colors. It produces circular, horizontal, morphing, and transitional patterns which change on their own, with some influence based on exactly how I'm viewing the machine. I close my eyes and I see a hundred rainbow circles spiraling in orbital patterns, composed of pink, orange, red, and blue hues. The music also seems to have an affect when you let your mind go.

or me, this iteration's go-to dreamachine listening experience is Air Farina, by - you guessed it - legendary DJ Mark Farina.

Air Farina: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lY1-2WPvfAQm6gEJmdm9PM0ySihiLbLEw(I

I'm blessed in that I also get to see Mr. Farina live soon.

All-in-all, I wanted to share my experience and development for of the dream machine. It's been a great source of creative stimulation for me, and I also felt the need to contribute to the knowledge on the subject, as many of the online resources that existed a decade ago no longer exist.

Is the dream machine the sober high where you can see intense visuals that even morph into symbols, animals, or people? Further experimentation is required. I can say, however, that the 78 rpm version is a level of magnitude more intense and engaging than the 45 rpm versions.

While observing the effects over a single song, I felt myself swaying forward towards the machine in a dreamlike state with relatively intense visuals that prompted me to open my eyes. Happy to have the dreamachine back in my life.

Further Dream Machine Resources & Reading:

Noah.org dreamachine guide

RexResearch dreamachine guide

Original dream machine excerpt PDF

UltraCulture dreamachine guide

CultTVGirl dreamachine (blogspot)

Dmangus blogpost, scored dope custom dreamachine on eBay (blogpsot)

10111.org

Mindspace Apocolypse blogpost