flute
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Gaming classic Snake gets charmed by geeks with flutes and Arduino (video)
Nerds. Where would we be without their idle tinkering? Still pushing stones, we gather. But were it not for those breakthroughs, both high and low, us common folk would never know the charm of seeing the classic game Snake played with the use of ordinary recorders. No, not a tape or video recorder -- we're talking flutes here and, naturally, Arduino. With the aid of a hacked-to-bits Nokia 6110i, mobile engineering collective Kitchen Budapest was able to program directional controls for the retro title in Max/MSP (music software) via pitch detection, paving the way for one-note recreational fun. Eager for a peek of this flautastic feat in action? Then jump past the break to gaze at a slickly produced video tour of this novel, nostalgic hack.
3D printed concert flute rapidly prototypes sound (video)
The world's first store for 3D printed goods just opened in Brussels, and while we imagine they've already got a fair selection of prototyped merchandise to choose, might we suggest they invest in a few production runs of this fabulous new flute? Amit Zoran of the MIT Media Lab -- yes, the same soul who helped dream up a 3D food printer early this year -- has now printed a fully-functional concert flute with a minimum of human intervention. Directing an Objet Connex500 3D printer (which can handle multiple materials at the same time) to spit out his CAD design, dollop by tiny dollop, in a single 15-hour run, he merely had to wash off support material, add springs, and assemble four printed pieces to finish the instrument up. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, of course, so how does it sound? Find out for yourself in the video below.
Funcom releases Godslayer soundtrack package
To go along with their recently released making-of music trailer, Funcom has made the soundtrack to Rise of Godslayer available for purchase in both MP3 and disc format. The deluxe DVD packaging contains 23 tracks composed by Knut Avenstroup Haugen and performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. It also features trial clients for Age of Conan, game art, and an in-game flute exclusive to the soundtrack package. The music itself needs no introduction, and features a diverse selection of instruments and artists including a taiko-drum ensemble and world-class ethnic solo masters. Currently both the retail package and the MP3 downloads are only available in Europe via CDON.com, but Massively will keep you updated when the music becomes available in the States.
Rock Band played with a flute, awesome redefined (video)
Maybe we're just overreacting to a rhythm video game played with real musical skill, but this one's not to be missed. What we have on hand here is a flute, a rather quirky girl, and a microphone-equipped copy of Rock Band, which accepts aural tones as well as button mashes for input. The result of this eclectic combination is a 98% accuracy score, but how she gets there is the truly awesome part. Video's after the break, and be patient -- action doesn't pick up until a minute into it, but once it starts you'll be glued till the end.
Bang & Olufsen's multifunctional BeoTime gets carefully handled
It's rare that we get to see magic wand-shaped remote controls, and rarer still for them to have integrated alarm clocks. The Bang & Olufsen BeoTime is just that sort of exotic specimen, and its $375 touch-sensitive aluminum body has now been tested for our amusement. Being able to turn on your other B&O products by simply grabbing the remote or setting an alarm for the desired time struck positive notes, and those bite-sized displays earned praise too. With automatic backlighting, built-in accelerometer, and full channel readouts, they ensured the minimum of strain for the user (which is probably still pretty high considering they're tiny!). There wasn't much to complain about, but at that price point you wouldn't expect it either. Full hands-on gallery can be found at the read link.
Bang & Olufsen's BeoTime alarm clock / remote favors a flute
Bang & Olufsen -- the Danish boutique retailer famous for engineering gorgeous AV products that only a sliver of humanity can afford -- has just introduced its newest product, and it's a far cry from the gargantuan HDTVs and superfluous sound systems that it's used to shipping. Designed by Steffen Schmelling and inspired by Mozart's The Magic Flute, this elongated wireless alarm clock actually serves another purpose. Once it has awoken you from your slumber just in time to catch The Price Is Right in high-def, you can take it with you in order to control some of your other B&O components. The cubes you see are actually displays, and the built-in motion sensor enables display backlights to activate with a simple touch. We're told that the device should hit showrooms this August for $375, though you should probably budget for an anger management course to keep from smashing this thing to bits the first time it buzzes at 5:30AM.[Via PRNewswire]
Wii Music: A dancing robot plays the flute
The latest in Nintendo's "Today's Instrument" series of Wii Music demonstration videos features an e-flautist playing the game's virtual flute. Like every other non-made-up instrument in Wii Music, if you know what someone looks like playing the real thing, you have a good idea of what it looks like in the game. To play the flute, you pretty much hold the thing out and jam on the 1 and 2 buttons.As it turns out, holding your hands out in front of you like that and occasionally bending a little at the waist bears an uncanny resemblance to the average attempt at the Robot. She's a dance-dance dance-dance dancin' machine, inadvertently!%Gallery-27713%
Modular recorder concept gets down with homegrown sounds
Now here's an instrument you wouldn't have minded practicing as a tot. Alle Meine Klänge's AMK is a modular recorder (you know, those plastic flute wannabes) that pack an array of individual blocks which can hold any sound you like. Simply transfer homegrown beats / notes / tunes / etc. over to each block, connect 'em up and you've got yourself a instrument of cacophonic delight. 'Tis a shame it's still a concept -- Fisher-Price, you seeing this?[Via BoingBoing]
Forum Post of the Day: What type of music do Azerothians make?
Acerba of Cenarion Circle started a pretty fun discussion the other day on her server boards: What type of music would typify various races and cultures of Azeroth? Sure, we all have our soundtracks for when we get tired of the in-game music, and the in-game music itself often has various themes that show again and again music to represent various concepts, but thinking about what music your character would listen to or what sounds you might here around a bonfire at Razor Hill (Well, besides L70ETC) or in a fine mansion in Silvermoon City is a really fun exercise. I'm one who often creates soundtracks for my PnP and MMORPG characters alike in order to understand this, so I find it a useful exercise for us roleplayers, as well.
