Gallery: This One-Man Metal Band Makes Music Using Mechanized Masks
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While on tour, Shone's core setup consists of four core gizmos he calls "dub machines." The latest additions to the group are these three voice-modulating masks seen here in his San Diego workshop.
Photos by John Francis Peters/WIRED02tshone-04
This custom built controller can trigger specific effects on Shone's Mute and Dither Masks. One of the knobs controls the servo motor on the Dither Mask while the other alters the open/close pulse rate of the Mute Mask.
Photos by John Francis Peters/WIRED03JohnFPeters-WIRED-TSHONE08
In addition to its aluminum frame, the Gate Mask is made of a steel reinforced, industrial rubber tube that Shone stretches and manipulates during performances. "The rubber itself is very thick and I put a simple little lapel mic at the end of it," Shone says. It's the perfect drone machine.
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The Dither Mask is a close mechanical cousin to the Mute. But rather then using compressed air to rapidly open and close a plastic disk, this mask relies on a servo motor to gradually lift and lower an aluminum cover.
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In addition to his three masks, Shone whipped up a custom trachea mic that he wears during portions of his 45-minute sets. After strapping the four piezo (contact) mics tightly to his voice box, he can turn individual ones on and off to create drawn out bass tones.
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The Mute Mask uses a piece of clear Lexan plastic that seals tightly with an O-ring. These are attached to a bracket on both sides of the mask with two air pistons that have a quarter inch throw. When Shone turns a knob on a separate controller two solenoid valves open and close sending highly-compressed air through the two tubes.
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During performances, Shone bends, slides, pulls, turns, and presses a series of custom-built, Arduino-powered machines to produce a variety of (usually terrifying) sounds.
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Shone uses a Korg NanoPAD to call up specific drum samples while performing. He can also use it to mute and un-mute the four individual piezo trachea mics he wears.
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Screaming into the Mute Mask can be harrowing experience. "The lexan plastic seal is so strong that when it closes it really kind of shocks you," says Shone. "It's not just like a mute; it's like suffocating." Sounds fun.
