Image scanning sequencer excites our ears, leaves blank looks on our faces
Be warned: what you're about to see, hear and experience should you venture down beyond the break is exceptionally odd. Like, bordering on creepy. It's not so much the machine that's eerie -- after all, it's just a home built image scanning sequencer that uses LDRs to measure grey-scales and trigger MIDI notes from a selected threshold -- it's the audio we're concerned about. We're talking funeral tunes at their finest, which is honestly a bit heavy at this point in the morning. Those who can take it know where to head.
[Via MAKE]
[Via MAKE]



















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Joe @ Aug 5th 2008 8:17AM
Oh wow. I'm not exactly sure on how to respond to this.
theNONjay @ Aug 5th 2008 8:20AM
then don't....
cool device, creepy music...
Bill Jobs @ Aug 5th 2008 9:25AM
I'm scared!
Jack C @ Aug 5th 2008 10:50AM
Isn't this Transylvania's music? I think it is!
wodheila @ Aug 5th 2008 8:20AM
I wonder what the sounds would be if he ran scanned images of the presidential candidates theough it?
neofolklore @ Aug 5th 2008 8:22AM
i almost thought that, but I was thinking Transylvania music for Bush
neofolklore @ Aug 5th 2008 8:21AM
There really IS a hidden message woven into the fiber!
adam.plante @ Aug 5th 2008 11:17AM
no there isent. That movie was aweful.
Tony @ Aug 5th 2008 10:45AM
I've read the post, seen the video... i still don't get it.
WHY WOULD YOU MAKE THAT THING?
Metkis @ Aug 5th 2008 8:24AM
Is that the boss music from a Castlevania game? :3
nak @ Aug 5th 2008 3:33PM
That's the first thing I thought
fredbblakemore @ Aug 5th 2008 8:25AM
Castlevania 17: Tone-Deaf Tards
idiM @ Aug 6th 2008 2:00PM
That's what you get from sequencing toilet paper...
Mikey @ Aug 5th 2008 8:27AM
I want one.
Cassini @ Aug 5th 2008 8:28AM
Those are some weird random tunes, but it's not *that* bad. I suppose it might be fitting for some creepy, short movie scene or something, but I wouldn't let it get to you too much.
The tech is what's cool here, as simple as it might seem. There's a lot that could be done with this musically, especially if the instrument sound could be modified (and why couldn't it?).
M @ Aug 5th 2008 1:04PM
I agree. Overall it was worth a watch
Wwhat @ Aug 6th 2008 2:26AM
Someone could just write a script to scan a jpg and output the rgb to sound easily, seems like a quicker way to do this.
In fact someone could write it in PHP and put it on a website, if they didn't already.
霽月瀛台 @ Aug 6th 2008 1:05AM
Wow!
mechanized electric guitar player
Allister @ Aug 5th 2008 8:38AM
Sooo....
He no-doubt used a custom digital program/script to make the music sheet, then converted it to an analogue print job, then used a light sensors and a muxer to turn that back into a digital signal, then converted that digital signal into analogue music?
It's the new CD!
SQLGuru @ Aug 11th 2008 7:17AM
Next, they'll be talking about Analog Rights Management and how to keep people from photocopying music......
avester @ Aug 5th 2008 8:39AM
Listening to music tracks backwards is so 70's, putting the record covers into an image scanning sequencer is [i]so[/i] in.
Elora HRanma @ Aug 5th 2008 8:41AM
When he uses his fingers to cast 'music' it sounds great. Like, Rick Dangerous great!
The other part, well, he could have gone for something nicer, like the Solstice's soundtrack. And I hope he uses the back of all that paper for something more productive.
rhyoung3 @ Mar 19th 2009 3:52PM
ROFLMAO! It's amazing that someone would spend so much time to make such stupid, creepy music.
G Johnson @ Aug 5th 2008 9:09AM
Player piano. Aurora.
The selection of the pipe organ timbre could have been a drum kit or other instruments. What is this deep association of any organ sounds with creepiness? Didn't you people go roller skating fifty years ago? Don't you ever watch Lawrence Welk? Waitaminute. Uh, right, creepy.
minjae Cho @ Aug 5th 2008 9:17AM
omg I want one of those!
James @ Aug 5th 2008 9:36AM
I preferred the happy finger-music.
Layne @ Aug 5th 2008 9:28AM
Next thing you know, they'll be talking about Analog Rights Management to keep people from photocopying music.....
Alex @ Aug 5th 2008 9:36AM
It's useful to know how to compose music before making one of these.
giuliop @ Aug 5th 2008 10:02AM
A perfect instrument for Dalis Car's Cornwall Stone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ2TQc-wwbw
vonbroner @ Aug 5th 2008 10:15AM
All I could think of was the end scene in Revenge of the Nerds when they're on stage playing their instruments. Mood-wise it sounded like the computer from WarGames crashing.
egloskerry @ Aug 5th 2008 10:27AM
But can it do the ultimate song? Boston's "More Than A Feeling?"
Steven @ Aug 5th 2008 10:35AM
Well that was quite odd.
qwert @ Aug 5th 2008 10:50AM
these arent funeral tunes. much much to fast and happy for that.
If you want slow and "uncofortable" music, try looking for drone, drone doom or funeral doom on lastfm.
Thats creepy stuff.
But i really like that "instrument". Very cool thing.
I totally want to have that (and the skills to make music).
qwert
Eddy Alvarez @ Aug 5th 2008 11:20AM
MAN!
these beats are so FRESH!
SNAP!
PuBeLeSs @ Aug 5th 2008 11:33AM
must see more
Walt_Mink @ Aug 5th 2008 11:34AM
Whoa! Did anyone else expect Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas to come skating out in their storm trooper costumes?
nosaj @ Aug 5th 2008 11:37AM
Reminds me of Close Encounters of the Third Kind...
Yevon @ Aug 5th 2008 12:20PM
At the present stage, it's a bit dull.
Needs more cowbell.
SilentDude56k @ Aug 5th 2008 12:34PM
Indeed, it does need more cowbell.
Very good idea. Might actually build one of these and put random pictures under it, heh.
Cassini @ Aug 5th 2008 3:22PM
Guess what? I got a feevuh! And the only prescription, is more... I mean, yeah, I agree with you.
Demikura @ Aug 5th 2008 12:27PM
It was an ordinary day for the engadget frequenters. Everything seemed to be in order except for one topic, one story. For those brave enough to 'read more', they were about to take a creepy and surreal trip into... the Twilight Zone.
Demikura @ Aug 5th 2008 12:28PM
It was an ordinary day for the engadget frequenters. Everything seemed to be in order except for one topic, one story. For those brave enough to 'read more', they were about to take a creepy and surreal trip into... the Twilight Zone
HeHaw @ Aug 5th 2008 12:46PM
When playing with his fingers, it was clear he had an arppegiator hooked up. I'm not sure about when he was scanning the images, but I'm guessing it was still running the arpp. Would be interesting if he made it so the notes sustained with constant images and poly pressure for light and darkness of those constant images and individual notes.
Steve @ Aug 5th 2008 1:34PM
I was half expecting to be Rickrolled
Cassini @ Aug 5th 2008 3:02PM
Why on earth would you think anyone would do that?
Oh, btw, have you seen the second video of this Image Scan Sequencer? Talk about it putting out weird music! Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU
rlc:tk @ Aug 5th 2008 8:33PM
OH SNAP!
Gervin @ Aug 5th 2008 5:38PM
This was stupid. Utterly.
Sylvain @ Aug 5th 2008 2:59PM
For some reason I want to drink beer and play hockey in an insane asylum.
granny down east @ Aug 5th 2008 3:02PM
Listening to what you see?
Synesthesia at its finest.
egloskerry @ Aug 5th 2008 4:25PM
But can it do the ultimate song? Boston's "More Than A Feeling?"