Ethernet Over Synth: Wenzellabs NSA Selector Mixes Chaos with Sound

Get ready to redefine your understanding of Ethernet connections. Wenzellabs has unveiled a Eurorack module, the NSA Selector, which converts network traffic into sound waves. While this might not be music to everyone’s ears, for enthusiasts of modular synthesisers and noise music, this development is akin to discovering a new instrument.

Zooming In

Let’s unpack this marvel. The NSA Selector is equipped with two Ethernet ports and an audio output, capturing any byte of information traveling through the network and sending it straight to the sound output. This isn’t your typical audio interface converting data into MP3s or WAV files. Instead, it provides a raw, unfiltered auditory experience that encapsulates every packet of data in real-time.

The creativity doesn’t stop there. Wenzellabs has also experimented by loading and manipulating bitmaps, creating an intriguing symphony of digital noise. By utilizing the NSA Selector, users can modify bit sizes and shapes to produce different sound textures, transforming ordinary network traffic into unique soundscapes.

Why is this significant? For one, it bridges the gap between digital data and sound art, providing a new perspective for evaluating data traffic. As noted by Wenzellabs, “All traffic is forwarded from one network jack to the other unmodified. It’s just tapped, intercepted to convert it to audio.”

But is it bearable to the ears? Not exactly. Most sounds it generates are more akin to the discordant clatter of a dentist’s drill than a classical melody. Yet in the realm of experimental music, these harsh, unpredictable sounds hold a certain allure.

Wenzellabs showcased the module’s potential by browsing Google Maps and playing classic browser games like 2048. In these instances, the sounds were unmistakably linked to the network’s bandwidth activity, creating what could be described as ‘industrial noise.’ While it might not make it to Billboard’s Hot 100, the NSA Selector has carved a niche for itself in the avant-garde music scene.

Curious souls can purchase the NSA Selector from Lectronz for $97 for the DIY kit or $110 for a pre-assembled version. If nothing else, every time an ad loads and your network buzzes, consider it a reminder of how connected our lives have become.