Comments on: Laser cutter motors play Super Mario theme http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 16:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468746 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468746 a good collection of this sort of silly can be heard here: http://www.metafilter.com/72325/HALs-iPod a good collection of this sort of silly can be heard here: http://www.metafilter.com/72325/HALs-iPod

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467985 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467985 This is very likely real. We have a simple robot at work with 6 motors. One of the "old ones" (Unix developers) programmed the robot to randomly end tests with "Mission Impossible", "The Peter Gunn Theme" or a song that he wrote himself. Sadly, a few younger team members don't notice these songs for songs. I will send this his way and have him add it to the mix. Cheers. This is very likely real. We have a simple robot at work with 6 motors. One of the “old ones” (Unix developers) programmed the robot to randomly end tests with “Mission Impossible”, “The Peter Gunn Theme” or a song that he wrote himself.

Sadly, a few younger team members don’t notice these songs for songs. I will send this his way and have him add it to the mix. Cheers.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468767 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468767 There is actually a practical application for this kind of stuff. As technology advances, RC model cars and planes have become more sophisticated; the electronic control systems are now "programmable" in many cases, but cost and convention prevent sophisticated user interfaces from being included. Musical tones or complete songs are sometimes played thru the vehicle's motor as confirmation of the user's programming selections. Samsam There is actually a practical application for this kind of stuff. As technology advances, RC model cars and planes have become more sophisticated; the electronic control systems are now “programmable” in many cases, but cost and convention prevent sophisticated user interfaces from being included. Musical tones or complete songs are sometimes played thru the vehicle’s motor as confirmation of the user’s programming selections.

Samsam

]]> By: Robert http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468258 Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468258 If you've ever listened to a flatbed scanner, or really anything powered by stepper motors, this is exactly what it would sound like if the speed were programmatically controlled. I have no trouble believing this to be true. If you’ve ever listened to a flatbed scanner, or really anything powered by stepper motors, this is exactly what it would sound like if the speed were programmatically controlled. I have no trouble believing this to be true.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468782 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468782 there's some confusion here. the laser is only moving in sync to the notes, not generating the sound; the original post here -- http://hacklab.to/archives/another-musical-variation/ states that pretty clearly. there’s some confusion here. the laser is only moving in sync to the notes, not generating the sound; the original post here — http://hacklab.to/archives/another-musical-variation/ states that pretty clearly.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467800 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467800 Very awesome; a few fairly noticeable timing errors make me think it's legit. Very awesome; a few fairly noticeable timing errors make me think it’s legit.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468061 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468061 The fact that there is harmony, and that the table itself doesn't seem to be moving (The second motor beinf referenced in these comments) Makes me think it may be faked, multiple passes for the contrapuntal lines.merged in audio editing, on top of the video for the main melody line. The fact that there is harmony, and that the table itself doesn’t seem to be moving (The second motor beinf referenced in these comments) Makes me think it may be faked, multiple passes for the contrapuntal lines.merged in audio editing, on top of the video for the main melody line.

]]> By: jedediah http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468829 jedediah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468829 code is here if the skeptics want to try it themselves: http://github.com/jedediah/lasermuzak/tree/master code is here if the skeptics want to try it themselves:

http://github.com/jedediah/lasermuzak/tree/master

]]> By: Trnck http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467807 Trnck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467807 There's no way I'm going to believe this is real. There’s no way I’m going to believe this is real.

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467809 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467809 Sounds and looks fake. Sounds and looks fake.

]]> By: OriGuy http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467817 OriGuy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467817 A 1960s era computer, the Control Data 3600, could have a speaker attached to a particular register so that the operator could monitor system operation. If it got hung, the tone became repetitive. Since this was a batch machine, experienced operators could recognize common programs. I was told that someone wrote a program to play "The Stars and Strips Forever", using the speaker for the melody, and various I/O devices for percussion. A 1960s era computer, the Control Data 3600, could have a speaker attached to a particular register so that the operator could monitor system operation. If it got hung, the tone became repetitive. Since this was a batch machine, experienced operators could recognize common programs.
I was told that someone wrote a program to play “The Stars and Strips Forever”, using the speaker for the melody, and various I/O devices for percussion.

]]> By: gollux http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468074 gollux Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468074 Servo/stepper motor buzz is real and can be used to make music. The machine has enough radiating material to amplify it. The skeptics while being able to hear, just never paid attention to old dot matrix printers much when they have done different feed speeds on moving the print heads. There's the impact from the pins and then there is a lower level noise from the servo motors moving the head. That's what's being used by driving them at different rates. Newer laser printers don't vary the speed so you hear just motor noise. Ink jet printers have been optomised to deaden the sound. Kind of like how most people who try to use cameras don't really see what they are trying to take photos of. Which is what separates snapshot takers from photographers. Servo/stepper motor buzz is real and can be used to make music. The machine has enough radiating material to amplify it.

The skeptics while being able to hear, just never paid attention to old dot matrix printers much when they have done different feed speeds on moving the print heads. There’s the impact from the pins and then there is a lower level noise from the servo motors moving the head. That’s what’s being used by driving them at different rates.

Newer laser printers don’t vary the speed so you hear just motor noise. Ink jet printers have been optomised to deaden the sound.

Kind of like how most people who try to use cameras don’t really see what they are trying to take photos of. Which is what separates snapshot takers from photographers.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467819 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467819 http://vimeo.com/4028427 Seems legit to me. http://vimeo.com/4028427
Seems legit to me.

]]> By: NeilFraser http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467821 NeilFraser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467821 Meh. He's got two motors, but is only using one, so it's just a monotone. Take a look at the Portal song played on a home-made CNC machine. Polyphonic! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCX1CeXIjA Meh. He’s got two motors, but is only using one, so it’s just a monotone. Take a look at the Portal song played on a home-made CNC machine. Polyphonic! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCX1CeXIjA

]]> By: cadecc http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468341 cadecc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468341 i feel like i've already seen this on offworld... i feel like i’ve already seen this on offworld…

]]> By: jojobababi http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467830 jojobababi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467830 @5, no, listen again, it's bi-tonal. The fact that he has two motors and he has two tones makes me think this is legit. @5, no, listen again, it’s bi-tonal. The fact that he has two motors and he has two tones makes me think this is legit.

]]> By: AccordionGuy http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468089 AccordionGuy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468089 I'm a new member to the Toronto Hacklab, where the laser engraver lives, and someone that Cory considers to be a trusted source. What if I shot my own corroborating video? I’m a new member to the Toronto Hacklab, where the laser engraver lives, and someone that Cory considers to be a trusted source. What if I shot my own corroborating video?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467834 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467834 Don't they hack old printers to do this ? This is not some amazing feat to fake, it's been done. Don’t they hack old printers to do this ? This is not some amazing feat to fake, it’s been done.

]]> By: maxoid http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467843 maxoid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467843 well, there's a couple wrong notes in there, so probably it's legit. i've always thought this sort of thing would be way more badass in person, although i like the videos well enough. that one version of radiohead's "nude" played by a cluster of various lo-fi electronic devices, for instance, would be killer. my fantasy is that one day, unexpectedly, someone hacks all network-attached copiers everywhere to play motor-music in this sort of style. beethoven's ninth, maybe? ride of the valkyries? there's some good ominous possiblities there. well, there’s a couple wrong notes in there, so probably it’s legit.

i’ve always thought this sort of thing would be way more badass in person, although i like the videos well enough. that one version of radiohead’s “nude” played by a cluster of various lo-fi electronic devices, for instance, would be killer.

my fantasy is that one day, unexpectedly, someone hacks all network-attached copiers everywhere to play motor-music in this sort of style. beethoven’s ninth, maybe? ride of the valkyries? there’s some good ominous possiblities there.

]]> By: bex http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467858 bex Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467858 I can't see how you can get changing tones with stepper motors. The CNC Portal one Ptsh I can’t see how you can get changing tones with stepper motors.

The CNC Portal one Ptsh

]]> By: hypatia http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-469138 hypatia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-469138 to @31 - no, it was the stepper motors making the noise. sorry if the blog post on hacklab.to wasn't very clear. i'm pretty sad to see that despite all the hacklabbers who have commented in this thread and contacted Cory directly to verify that this isn't fake, there's still any doubt about this. Jed did some great work to get this going, and it really is this awesome in person. to @31 – no, it was the stepper motors making the noise. sorry if the blog post on hacklab.to wasn’t very clear.

i’m pretty sad to see that despite all the hacklabbers who have commented in this thread and contacted Cory directly to verify that this isn’t fake, there’s still any doubt about this. Jed did some great work to get this going, and it really is this awesome in person.

]]> By: Chris Tucker http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468122 Chris Tucker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468122 Just about anything with its own CPU, RAM and controls a motor or two can do this. I've a little program for the Commodore 64 and 1541 disk drive that makes the drive play "Bicycle Built for Two", simply by messing with the RW arm servo. "1541 Music Machine" if I recall correctly. Just about anything with its own CPU, RAM and controls a motor or two can do this.

I’ve a little program for the Commodore 64 and 1541 disk drive that makes the drive play “Bicycle Built for Two”, simply by messing with the RW arm servo.

“1541 Music Machine” if I recall correctly.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467873 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467873 If they can make a F1 car sing 'god saves the queen' (do a search on you tube) then you can make a laser cutter sing this tune :) If they can make a F1 car sing ‘god saves the queen’ (do a search on you tube) then you can make a laser cutter sing this tune :)

]]> By: Daemon http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467876 Daemon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467876 #6 - the portal song is (hopefully) better known as "Still Alive", written by ubergeek mostly donation-driven musician Johnathon Coulton. And that video as so much cooler than the mario one. #6 – the portal song is (hopefully) better known as “Still Alive”, written by ubergeek mostly donation-driven musician Johnathon Coulton.

And that video as so much cooler than the mario one.

]]> By: PaulR http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467900 PaulR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467900 Rex @ 10: "I can't see how you can get changing tones with stepper motors." Um, work with stepper motors much? By driving them at different speeds, or course. The stepper motor don't really produce analog mixed waveforms like a Thorens turntable playing (or rather trying to play) "Waitress in a Donut Stop"* but rather square/rectangular waves, but their frequency is controllable. *: The first track on one of the sides of Maria Muldaur's LP Waitress in a Donut Shop was notorious for causing tonearms to skip across the platter. Rex @ 10:

“I can’t see how you can get changing tones with stepper motors.”

Um, work with stepper motors much? By driving them at different speeds, or course. The stepper motor don’t really produce analog mixed waveforms like a Thorens turntable playing (or rather trying to play) “Waitress in a Donut Stop”* but rather square/rectangular waves, but their frequency is controllable.

*: The first track on one of the sides of Maria Muldaur’s LP Waitress in a Donut Shop was notorious for causing tonearms to skip across the platter.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-523201 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-523201 This one IS real... promise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L8hY8siUMQ This one IS real… promise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L8hY8siUMQ

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467913 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467913 It's real. Chances are your very own desktop scanner has an easter egg somewhere that will make it play a tune. Look in the folder for something called "jukebox" or some such. It’s real. Chances are your very own desktop scanner has an easter egg somewhere that will make it play a tune. Look in the folder for something called “jukebox” or some such.

]]> By: Optic http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467915 Optic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467915 I was involved in the project to rebuild this machine, I've heard it play in real life, and I can assure you that it's real. There are two motors at work, the one that drives the "Y" axis, and the one that drives the table up and down for focusing. The motor for the "X" axis is not in use because it is just too quiet. This was an awesome project overall. You can find real details on what we did here: http://www.andrewkilpatrick.org/blog/?page_id=914 I was involved in the project to rebuild this machine, I’ve heard it play in real life, and I can assure you that it’s real.

There are two motors at work, the one that drives the “Y” axis, and the one that drives the table up and down for focusing. The motor for the “X” axis is not in use because it is just too quiet.

This was an awesome project overall. You can find real details on what we did here:

http://www.andrewkilpatrick.org/blog/?page_id=914

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-467925 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-467925 so you could send encoded "spoken" messages disguised as cutting programs? so you could send encoded “spoken” messages disguised as cutting programs?

]]> By: Optic http://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/laser-cutter-motors.html#comment-468186 Optic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-468186 #18, actually the music was converted to standard g-code, and run on the device using emc2. ( http://www.linuxcnc.org) The device is in regular use as a laser engraver. One of the hacklab toronto members just decided to have some fun with some custom g-code. Also you can see that the bed has moved between the beginning and the end of the video. It is on a very fine screw and takes many many revolutions of the stepper to make it move a significant amount. This allows very fine focusing! #18, actually the music was converted to standard g-code, and run on the device using emc2. (
http://www.linuxcnc.org)

The device is in regular use as a laser engraver. One of the hacklab toronto members just decided to have some fun with some custom g-code.

Also you can see that the bed has moved between the beginning and the end of the video. It is on a very fine screw and takes many many revolutions of the stepper to make it move a significant amount. This allows very fine focusing!

]]>