The Parker Steam Synthesizer runs on steam, sounds like a theramin, Bjork wants

If synth rock was meant to go hand-in-hand with fantastic steampunk universes (and we really can't see why it wasn't), instruments would look something like the thing you see here. This is the Parker Steam Synthesizer, a steam-powered music synth that runs on water and some coal. Designer Lorin Edwin Parker controls steam pressure with a ball valve which activates a dynamo. The dynamo is a magnet motor attached to a flywheel that creates an alternating magnetic field which is then turned into electricity by an inductive pickup. That pickup is finally plugged into an amp and you have some trippy electro from a device that could have been around years ago. He says it will run for about 20 minutes on one tank of water, which, in our estimation, is just long enough for Bjork to hear it and add to her band's already-insane inventory. By the way, the Read link includes a .mov file so you can see this thing in action.

[Via MusicRadar]

[misha @ Jul 18th 2008 2:27PM]

where is the valve ?

[iHoppipolla @ Jul 18th 2008 2:32PM]

All right. Which one of your jerks crashed the site... The link's down.

Or maybe...

"The Web Server is down..."
;)

[Johnny @ Jul 18th 2008 2:44PM]

I don't get it. It sounds horrid. Anyone could come up with all sorts of more suitable ways to make noise. I don't hear anything that sounds like 'synth rock'.

[Jeff @ Jul 18th 2008 4:41PM]

word.

[gt2378b @ Jul 18th 2008 7:49PM]

Yes.

I wouldn't try to piss in his cereal normally, but "putting a pickup next to a generator" is not very awesome in my book.

Cool steam engine though.

[SugarDaddy @ Jul 18th 2008 2:46PM]

Somebody should tell these guys about a little site called youtube. They could save a lot of bandwidth if they just uploaded their video there. 16MB video... crazy m f'ers.

[aardWolf @ Jul 18th 2008 2:49PM]

So it's coal-burning. How "green" of them. :-P

[NHAnimator @ Jul 18th 2008 3:03PM]

A little bit of global warming to keep Bjork in business. We all win. And by 'win', I mean 'lose'.

[brunosilva @ Jul 18th 2008 3:02PM]

Microsoft Portugal the best in the World

http://livebetas.net/2008/07/18/microsoft-portugal-em-pole-no-grupo-microsoft/

[John H. @ Jul 18th 2008 3:01PM]

the dude in the video has a cool 'stache

[Scott K. @ Jul 18th 2008 3:12PM]

Yay! 70 minutes and the site's already out of bandwidth!

[snluc13 @ Jul 18th 2008 3:23PM]

That's a pretty cool contraption, i personally don't have the skills to make such a thing but cool nonetheless

[digiboi @ Jul 18th 2008 3:47PM]

Sounds like my tea kettle.

[ddub @ Jul 18th 2008 3:53PM]

I'll have to pass, I only use music synthesizers that run on clean renewable energy sources such as my smugness.

[snarky_commentor @ Jul 18th 2008 4:22PM]

Is that called an organ?

[- @ Jul 18th 2008 4:23PM]

Cool contraption, but I want to know what kind of camera they used to shoot the video with That's a really clear freeze frame and good depth of field.

[Axl @ Jul 18th 2008 4:38PM]

Doesn't something have to be able to play a melody or a rhythm to be considered a musical instrument? I respect the knowledge, skill, and effort that went into making this contraption, but a musical instrument it isn't.

BTW Engadget, it is theremin, not theramin.

[Jeff @ Jul 18th 2008 4:44PM]

My thoughts exactly.

By these standards, my rice-cooker is a steampunk flute. ...and i bet i could make it make more interesting noises too.

[tb @ Jul 18th 2008 4:48PM]

it's a TherEmin, named after the inventor, leon ThErEmin

[Rainier @ Jul 18th 2008 5:01PM]

I look at that picture, and I think "Vroom vroom!!"


Or should it be "Vreem vreem!!"

[Rob @ Jul 18th 2008 8:41PM]

Wow, color me disappointed... Nice idea, but nothing I heard sounded impressive or theremin-ish (and I have a theremin).

[namire @ Jul 18th 2008 10:41PM]

lol wut? google video > youtube (yes, I know google owned both):
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1667125979175320784

[Eh @ Jul 18th 2008 11:49PM]

your interlacing is showing