MESS Ltd

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MESS Ltd MESS Ltd. The Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio. A not for profit organisation dedicated to electronic sound and music.

Centred on a unique collection of fully working electronic instruments, MESS is dedicated to supporting people making electronic sound and music in all its forms. An independent user-supported organisation, MESS consists of 4 streams - Studio, School, Show & Schematic.

14/10/2026

Oral Histories - Barry Conyngham

Barry is one of Australia’s most celebrated composers. A student of Peter Sculthorpe and Toru Takemitsu, his works have been commissioned and performed all over the world.

His major contribution to electronic music in Australia was the establishment in 1976, alongside Rex Harris, of the computer music research lab at Melbourne University. Barry’s journey into the field of computer music saw him brush shoulders with many of the early luminaries of the form across the globe from Jean Claude Risset (IRCAM and MIT) and Barry Vercoe (creator of the Music 360 language).

Enjoy this conversation between MESS co-founder Robin Fox and a composer who straddled the computer and acoustic divide at such a pivotal moment in the development of computer music as a form unto itself.

Find the chat and our Oral Histories series at mess.foundation/oral-histories/

06/10/2026

Oral Histories - David Chesworth

We sat down with David Chesworth, one of this country’s most interesting and eclectic composers. David’s work has been instrumental in shaping Australia’s experimental and electronic music landscape from the vibrant days of the Clifton Hill Community Music Centre to decades of pioneering sound and video art.

Watch the full oral history interview between David and MESS co-founder Robin Fox via mess.foundation/oral-histories/

MESS gratefully acknowledges the Local History Grants Program and the Public Record Office Victoria, supported by the Victorian Government.

02/10/2026

Storytelling is an essential part of being human.

Traditional archives and textbooks only tell a fraction of the story. The rest lives in the memories of the people who were actually in the room.

The MESS Oral Histories project is our new growing digital archive designed to capture and share those unwritten moments. We’re sitting down with the local pioneers who shaped electronic sound in Australia to record their journeys.

Dive into the stories over the next couple of months and explore the project (and our first conversation with David Chesworth via mess.foundation/oral-histories/

MESS gratefully acknowledges the Local History Grants Program and the Public Record Office Victoria, supported by the Victorian Government.

28/09/2026

Simple sounds, 8 speakers, infinite movement. 🎛️

Jaslyn Robertson explores the spatial limits of the rare Serge Paperface 73-75 for Sonorous XIV.
Don't miss this one-of-a-kind octophonic performance.

🎟️ Last tickets on sale now via melbournerecital.com.au/whats-on/current-productions/mess-sonorous-xiv

Got a curious young maker at home this school holidays? 🎧✨⁠⁠What happens when you build electronic instruments out of di...
16/09/2026

Got a curious young maker at home this school holidays? 🎧✨⁠
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What happens when you build electronic instruments out of discarded tech? Let’s find out! Recycled Rhythms invites kids aged 10+ into the MESS studio to look inside everyday machines, tinker with sound, and build their very own working electronic prototype instrument. 🎛️ ♻️⁠
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Guided by expert MESS educators, participants get hands-on with DIY electronics in a fun, collaborative space—and everyone goes home with the exact instructions and equipment list to keep experimenting at home! 🛠️⁠
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No prior experience needed, just a curious mind.⁠
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🎟️ $7 ⁠
📅 Sun 29 Sep, 11 am & Tue 1 Oct, 11 am + 2 pm ⁠
📍 MESS (The Atrium, Fed Square)⁠
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Spots are limited, head to mess.foundation/series/recycled-rhythms/ to book a place for your young maker and start making noise!

Time to get those ideas on the record! 🎛️⁠⁠If you’ve been wanting to capture sounds from hardware instruments like synth...
14/09/2026

Time to get those ideas on the record! 🎛️⁠
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If you’ve been wanting to capture sounds from hardware instruments like synths, drum machines, and samplers but get stuck on the technical side, our Recording Basics workshop is for you.⁠
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Designed for complete beginners, this hands-on session covers everything you need to know to connect hardware to your laptop and hit that red button with confidence.⁠
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No prior experience needed, just bring your laptop! You'll leave with the exact skills needed to come into MESS and start recording your own sounds from the collection independently.⁠
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🗓️ Sat 26 Sep, 3:30 PM⁠
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📍 MESS, The Atrium, Fed Square⁠
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🎟️ Bookings via mess.foundation/event/recording-basics-26-09-26/
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Artwork by and photography by .

What happens if we make electronic music with discarded tech? 🎛️ ♻️⁠⁠Let’s find out! Recycled Rhythms invites curious yo...
01/09/2026

What happens if we make electronic music with discarded tech? 🎛️ ♻️⁠
⁠
Let’s find out! Recycled Rhythms invites curious young makers aged 10+ to look inside the machines, tinker with sound and build their very own prototype electronic instrument.⁠
⁠
Guided by expert MESS educators, participants will get creative with e-waste by exploring the basics of DIY electronics and electronic soundmaking in a fun, collaborative environment. ⁠
⁠
Everyone goes home with step-by-step instructions and an equipment list to keep experimenting at home. 🛠️✨⁠
⁠
📅 Dates: 29 Sep, 1-3 pm & 1 Oct, 11 am-1 pm & 1-3 pm⁠
📍 Location: MESS (The Atrium, Fed Square)⁠
🎟️ Tickets: $7 ⁠
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Made possible with support from Telstra.⁠
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Head to mess.foundation/series/recycled-rhythms/ to grab your tickets and start making noise!

Meet the cheery Suzuki Omnichord! 🎶⁠⁠One of our MESS Starter Synths, this simple chord, rhythm and bassline instrument o...
19/08/2026

Meet the cheery Suzuki Omnichord! 🎶⁠
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One of our MESS Starter Synths, this simple chord, rhythm and bassline instrument opens the door to making music that can be remarkably complex and has been used by a host notable artists on award winning compositions. ⁠
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🔗 Book some time in the MESS creative space at Fed Square with the Omnichord via the https://mess.foundation/product/omnichord/

One off sessions and memberships are both available.⁠
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Photo by Kristoffer Paulsen.

Interested in electronic sound but looking for an inclusive place to start? 🎛️⁠⁠Our dedicated Synth 101 workshops offer ...
18/08/2026

Interested in electronic sound but looking for an inclusive place to start? 🎛️⁠
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Our dedicated Synth 101 workshops offer women, trans and gender diverse participants a supportive environment to explore sound shaping, ask questions and get hands-on experience on classic hardware without any assumptions or pressure.⁠
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🎟️ Limited spots available for August.⁠
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🔗 Book your place via https://mess.foundation/series/synth-101-women-trans-gender-diverse/
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Artwork by and photography by .

05/08/2026

Last call! 🚨 Applications for the Game Audio Intensive close at 6pm AEST sharp today, 5 Aug.

Take advantage of this 8-week, fully subsidised program!

Receive a $2,600 bursary and attend the MESS studios and High Score, Australia’s premier game audio conference.

This course is open to artists and sound designers from all over Australia.
⏰ Deadline: Today @ 6pm AEST.

🔗Apply via mess.foundation/game-audio-2026/ before 6pm!

Photo by Duncographic.

Music by Kate Miller from The Guardian of Nature published by Inlusio Interatactive.

Address

MESS, The Atrium, Fed Square
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1pm - 10pm
Thursday 1pm - 10pm
Friday 1pm - 5am
Saturday 1pm - 5am
Sunday 1pm - 5am

Telephone

+61393297177

Website

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