What is a dirty video mixer?

Karl Klomp is an audiovisual designer who has desi in gned a number of cool gadgets for live performance visuals. One of these is dubbed the “dirty video mixer”. This simple-to-build device takes in two composite video inputs and mixes them together to create glitchy effects. Unlike a traditional video mixer, a dirty video mixer cannot “sync” two video signals so that they can stably blend. Instead, it blends the two video inputs in a “dirty”, unsynced fashion, resulting in severe glitching, signal scrolling and color distortion. Dirty video mixers are analog and work best when outputting to a CRT TV. Generally, a dirty mixer consists of a single potentiometer (ie. knob) or slider that mixes the two signals together, along with two switches that each turn a video input on-or-off, and three composite jacks. That’s it! Some dirty mixers have additional features such as built-in buttons that affect the glitching, or audio reactivity. While there are usually some cheap dirty video mixers to buy on Etsy ( and Freedom Enterprise sells the “ Honk Klomp ”, a hypercheap, keychain-sized dirty video mixe r), you can also easily and cheaply build your own dirty video mixer, so long as you are able to do some basic soldering and can source a handful of components. Eva Landry has a great two-part tutorial on YouTube on how to build one. Diva posted another great tutorial. Example component list of a basic dirty video mixer: 1 enclosure box - aluminum, ABS plastic, etc. Some people use hollowed-out VHS tapes. 2 toggle switches (DPDT / On-On) 1k ohm linear potentiometer (can experiment with different ohm values) 3 RCA video sockets with nuts 28 AWG flexible silicone electric wire