Music meets technology

**Mark** · 11-25-2009, 03:47 PM

Imp sent this too me. Very Cool video.

This incredible machine was built as a collaborative effort between the Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory and the Sharon Wick School of Engineering at the University of Iowa. Amazingly, 97% of the machines components came from John Deere Industries and Irrigation Equipment of Bancroft , Iowa ....
Yes, farm equipment!
It took the team a combined 13,029 hours of set-up, alignment, calibration, and tuning before filming this video but as you can see it was
WELL worth the effort. It is now on display in the Matthew Gerhard Alumni Hall at the University and is already slated to be donated to the Smithsonian.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htMdl2-xA-M[/media]

**Locutus** · 11-25-2009, 05:10 PM

That's amazing.

Maybe one day people will pay to attend a concert performed just by machine. :huh:

**karrie** · 11-25-2009, 05:21 PM

Yeah... that looks pretty computer generated. I call BS on it being a real thing.

**karrie** · 11-25-2009, 05:23 PM

http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/musicmachine.asp

**Mark** · 11-25-2009, 08:14 PM

Damn you snopes. Daaaaaaaaaamnnnnnnnnnnnnnn you.

**karrie** · 11-25-2009, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Mark

Damn you snopes. Daaaaaaaaaamnnnnnnnnnnnnnn you.

You can blame my eyes... it looked too fake. Snopes just confirmed my suspicion so we didn't have to sit and argue about it all night.

Well, I suppose, that does ruin some of the fun of this site doesn't it? lol.

**Mark** · 11-25-2009, 08:39 PM

I actually suspected too, (sure you did Mark:laugh:) but the computer generation is kind of cool too.

How's that for a recovery

:laugh:

**Muz** · 11-26-2009, 08:33 AM

I've seen it before and knew it couldn't be done.
They forgot one element of physics (of the many) that would make this near-impossible to pull off in real life.

All those surfaces the balls bounce off are still in motion from the previous ball hitting them, thus the reflective angle of the ball will be different each time depending upon the point in the vibration where the next ball hits.

Thus the angle of reflection will be different for each ball and they could not possibly get it all to repeat.

Plus the video is pure CGI to even my non-gamer eyes...:laugh:

Muz

**Muz** · 11-26-2009, 08:45 AM

My hitherto unbuilt drum robot (yes, I have sketches) involves a MIDI sequencer and actuator modules which are basically electrical solenoids rigged to attach to the side of each drum and cymbal stand in the kit and each have a drum stick attached.

The MIDI sequencer sends note information (which drum/cymbal, when and how hard to hit) to the actuator modules which are converted to voltage which is applied to the solenoid which drives the stick against the drum.

I thought of this in the 80's when I was recording and wishing I had a real drummer who would play the damn parts as written, with perfect timing and without running off with the chicks or farting up the studio.

Muz