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PIC-controlled Harmonica — Parallax Forums

PIC-controlled Harmonica

ercoerco Posts: 20,260
edited 2011-03-21 06:05 in General Discussion
This painful rendition of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" puts the "harm" in "harmonica". Nonetheless, an interesting mechatronic project by enthusiastic, if tone-deaf, college students.


http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid55856463001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAETaO0s~,cVbOypIs9tFcOAZoFlzeb0zbMI3tFXqn&bctid=822945482001

More info at http://www.designnews.com/article/517345-Gadget_Freak_Case_182_Automation_Comes_to_the_Harmonica.php


older link (less direct) http://www.designnews.com/video/Gadget_Freak/4625-GF182_Automated_Harmonica.php

Comments

  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-03-14 18:57
    How about a Prop controlled bagpipe!? ...the thing could just play forever <shudder>
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-14 19:23
    HollyMinkowski wrote: »
    How about a Prop controlled bagpipe!? ...the thing could just play forever <shudder>

    Hey, come on Holly....some bagpipe music is pretty good. Better than 99% of the rap out there.
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-03-14 19:30
    kwinn wrote: »
    Hey, come on Holly....some bagpipe music is pretty good. Better than 99% of the rap out there.

    A Scotsman left his bagpipe in his unlocked car, when he returned
    later there were three more of them.... lol

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT2HCOTzCzZhZjUP6Q-3lNlManMizt-8csX-HlQ0czhKRP0hjVQ
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2011-03-14 20:13
    First prize: a ticket to the bagpipes concert.
    Second prize: two tickets to the bagpipes concert...
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-03-14 20:34
    I'm okay with the hauntingly penetrating strains of a bagpipe transported o'er the moors thro' the fog ... as long as it's not playing "Amazing freaking Grace" !

    -Phil
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-14 21:19
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    I'm okay with the hauntingly penetrating strains of a bagpipe transported o'er the moors thro' the fog ... as long as it's not playing "Amazing freaking Grace" !

    -Phil

    Thanks Phil, glad someone agrees with me. I will admit bagpipes are not suited for a lot of music, but for the ones they are suited to they are great.
    Holly and Erco, those are just mean comments, but I forgive you.
  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2011-03-14 21:24
    I allmost took up the bagpipes . I picked the trombone insread ... darnit . I stil want to make a full MIDI out " eletrick bone " some how .


    pressure sensor for blow and a encoder for the slide .

    It must be done some how ..

    Peter
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-03-14 22:08
    Some instruments just strike me as funny :-)

    Accordions
    Harmonicas
    Bagpipes
    Tubas
    Banjos

    There's no such thing as a topless accordion player.

    What's loud and has 7 teeth...ans: 3 banjo players.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR2jm9OsPef-Ji0uww9n0QgJyKkxbJmVjem2PFm2jb-Ln6uSfMX

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFDckBoXja2JW2FRWlj-EefDs8utTi80PfvVaCZ5f2bV1ZxYzGOA


    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3NE5JHyacyu-yT1KL1I5X5FJXooiOCQ8HiU6nS8IF57oYuJzQUg

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgdgTD1BZgDu6HS1c2OwnSSbb92yfDHJM8aqTpDSzSXCWgh1xc

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTC2LMwb00iLVzBVuNqtx1imxmnrZi5G1c0_RGpAV_pEgAUiJxSfQ
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2011-03-14 22:26
    Funny stuff, Holly! Thanks for not "bagging" on my high school musical instrument of choice, the Bassoon. AKA, the "burping bedpost".

    Just for you, my favorite motivational poster attached.
    reality[1].jpg
    566 x 463 - 37K
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-03-14 22:30
    erco, that's great!

    I'm going to print that out and pin it on the wall in the conference room :-)
  • Ding-BattyDing-Batty Posts: 302
    edited 2011-03-15 11:42
    Holly, here is the original picture:
    http://introduxium-grafic.deviantart.com/art/Windows-50774757
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-16 00:34
    Holly, I think you have led a sheltered life as far as music and musical instruments are concerned. Every day I give thanks that it is not limited to guitar and drums like most music is today. How boring music would be if that were the case. I am eternally grateful grateful for the entire families of brass, woodwind, string, and percussion instruments. What would classical, jazz, folk, country, western, and all the other genre's of music be without them?
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-03-16 02:53
    kwinn, my favorite instrument is the violin...followed closely by
    the piano and guitar. I also love the sounds made by the mandolin
    but they look funny.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1BN9yYTaSlkCH1aWAHaKRXBU5PeHz4tg5IKhy2vUPSILfOomTOg
  • icepuckicepuck Posts: 466
    edited 2011-03-16 17:10
    Don't forget the keytar...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keytar
    -dan
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-16 19:08
    HollyMinkowski wrote: »
    kwinn, my favorite instrument is the violin...followed closely by
    the piano and guitar. I also love the sounds made by the mandolin
    but they look funny.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1BN9yYTaSlkCH1aWAHaKRXBU5PeHz4tg5IKhy2vUPSILfOomTOg

    Good to hear Holly. It would be a shame to limit our choices in music or instruments to what is popular at the moment. The one thing I miss in rock and pop music is the saxophone. Might be a big hit if a group added it. Most pop/rock is getting pretty boring.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-03-16 20:42
    I find it interesting that most of the acoustic instrument types in use today were already being played in the eighteenth century. But that's also when the great symphonic pieces were written, and the parts simply don't exist for anything newer. What with all the new design and manufacturing techniques, we're definitely due for a renaissance in music-making apparati, if only enough wealthy patrons could be found to fund the effort.

    -Phil
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-17 08:00
    Phil, nothing against coming up with new instruments, but I don't think using new materials, designs, or manufacturing techniques would improve the music produced by much. We already have electronic synthesizers that can reproduce the sound of any instrument in existence today. It can also produce any waveform and attack, sustain, decay envelope desired, so I don't see how that can be improved on.
  • KaosKiddKaosKidd Posts: 296
    edited 2011-03-17 10:47
    My love for the Tenor Saxophone is utmost. Followed closely by the 12 string guitar (which I struggle to play), lastly, the 88 ivory key's of a true piano. All three of which can sing to a soul, bark to a teenager or traverse the years and bring one back to days of early childhood.

    Ok, poetry lesson over.

    KK
  • b.p.m.b.p.m. Posts: 59
    edited 2011-03-17 12:33
    personally i am partial to bagpipes being of scottish descent and an ex reservist. i agree that most of today's music shouldn't be so narrow in scope. i also believe that new instruments should be incorporated in serious works of music. as for the 'harmonica', i play blues harp that can sound pretty romantic when played roght. i do love all the jokes here though; us bagpipe lovers have developed thick skins over the years.

    @erco great 'motivational' poster. as a game reality does suck.

    @holly even i can't warm up to banjos; they use them in hell to torment the lost souls.

    blake
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-03-17 12:53
    Based on the comments I've read so far, I think the following has something for everyone to love (or hate):

    (The first two-thirds are a bit tedious, yes.)

    -Phil
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-03-17 13:00
    Yes, I can see this could be done with roadkill 'posum for the bag and an extra long corn cob pipe for the chanter.

    Happy St. Patricks Day!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2011-03-17 16:13
    OK, but ain't NOBODY who doesn't like Animusic. Wouldn't it be coooooool to do this kind of stuff for real with Stamps & Props:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ahoqR6OGdM&feature=related


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyCIpKAIFyo&feature=relmfu
  • KaosKiddKaosKidd Posts: 296
    edited 2011-03-21 06:05
    b.p.m. wrote: »
    {...} us bagpipe lovers have developed thick skins over the years.

    Ummm, pun intended?

    :)
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