Hasta La Gadget!

It won’t bring you the success or adoration that Brian Eno’s enjoyed, but the Otomata sequencer could have you making noise like the Roxy Music alum in seconds. Way back in 1996, Eno espoused the idea of generative music, which is a non-repetitive form of music created, in this case, anyway, by a piece of software. Otomata takes that idea and puts it to use in a cellular automaton, consisting of a simple grid of cells in different states. With Otomata, each selected cell has four states: up, down, left, and right. When activated, the cells move in the direction of their given state, and when they encounter an obstacle, like a wall, a pitched sound is created. After each collision, the cells turn around and head in the opposite direction until they hit another obstacle, and the process continues indefinitely. The result is a chaotic but somehow lulling symphony of electronic sounds, a la Mr. Eno, that anyone with a mouse can muster. Head on past the break to see for yourself.

Continue reading Otomata sequencer creates generative music for the melodically challenged (video)

Otomata sequencer creates generative music for the melodically challenged (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Earslap  | Email this | Comments

It’s a natural progression, really. Way back in the heyday that was 2008, we saw a fully-functional keyboard worked into a pair of jeans. Three years later, those characters have morphed into something far more raucous. The University of Hull’s own Aseem Mishra has just nabbed an prized engineering award for his recent musical work — specifically, for integrating eight sensors into an otherwise ordinary set of trousers. For now, the wearer has to connect their legs into a speaker-filled backpack in order to be heard, but he’s working on a wireless version that’ll transmit to far larger sound systems. There’s also hope that version 2.0 will include more sensors for more sounds, and if a manufacturer decides to start shoving these into your local Hot Topic, we’re guessing they’ll be available in a rainbow’s worth of hues. Vid’s below for those who’d fancy having a listen themselves.

Continue reading Full-on electric drum kit shoved within a pair of jeans, subway musicians celebrate (video)

Full-on electric drum kit shoved within a pair of jeans, subway musicians celebrate (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Switched  |  BBC (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

Deadmau5 (also known as Joel Zimmerman) is one of the largest names in the electronic and house music scene — and he also happens to be a major tech head. Recently, the Canadian producer added some impressive new gear to his productions, in the form of a massive LED-covered cube and signature mau5head (that’s pronounced “mouse-head” in case you couldn’t guess). Read along after the break for an exclusive look at exactly what’s going on inside the mind of deadmau5 — both literally and figuratively.

Continue reading A day with deadmau5: LEDs, Super Mario, and techno

A day with deadmau5: LEDs, Super Mario, and techno originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Latest in our series of “when video games turn real,” here’s the US Army’s newest addition to the wargadget arsenal. The Individual Gunshot Detector, produced by QinetiQ, is an acoustic monitor attuned to tracking down the source of gunshots just by their sound. It has four sensors to pick up the noise of incoming fire, and its analysis of those sound waves produces a readout on a small display that lets the soldier know where the deadly projectiles originated from. The entire system weighs just under two pounds, and while it may not be much help in an actual firefight — there’s no way to distinguish between friendly and hostile fire — we imagine it’ll be a pretty handy tool to have if assaulted by well hidden enemies. 13,000 IGD units are being shipped out to Afghanistan later this month, with a view to deploying 1,500 each month going forward and an ultimate ambition of networking their data so that when one soldier’s detector picks up a gunfire source, his nearby colleagues can be informed as well.

Continue reading US Army to deploy Individual Gunshot Detector, essentially a radar for bullets

US Army to deploy Individual Gunshot Detector, essentially a radar for bullets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 05:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Gizmag  |  US Army  | Email this | Comments

It isn’t hard to picture the scenarios — banks, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. — where you need to spill out some private (and probably embarrassing) details in public, but on the other hand, it’s no good whispering in a noisy environment. The solution? Yamaha thinks adding more noise is the way forward. Announced earlier this month is the VSP-1 noise generator, which is essentially just a speaker box that masks conversations in your desired direction. With its eight specially tuned ambient noise recordings from the seaside, forest, or river, the VSP-1 managed to mask between 47 percent and 89 percent of the conversations in four Japanese pharmacies, and the customers on the other side of the sound wall even enjoyed the soothing sounds. Alas, Yamaha’s little box doesn’t come cheap — you’ll have to cough up a hefty ¥105,000 ($1,267) for one when it comes out on April 20th.

Continue reading Yamaha VSP-1 ambient noise generator shields your voice, water cooler gossips

Yamaha VSP-1 ambient noise generator shields your voice, water cooler gossips originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink OhGizmo!, Akihabara News  |  Yamaha  | Email this | Comments