Harddrive Speakers 226
paranoidia writes "Ever get annoyed by the loud noise your harddrive makes? I bet you never thought of actually using that to your advantage. A friend here at CMU actually took 3 broken hard drives and got them to spin at certain frequencies outputed by his computer. So in the end, three harddrives are actually now speakers! There are videos and a few pictures with explanations onto how he did this wonderous thing."
My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:5, Interesting)
Too bad it caused serious head misalignment after a while.
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:4, Funny)
WHIRRRR... CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK.
It used to get confused about where the head was positioned, so it would move it a long distance until it physically collided with the edge of the platter to re-align itself. Fruits of reading "Commodore DOS" back to back
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:2)
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:2, Informative)
Didn't those disk drives contain their own processors? I recall hearing they were often programmed to format disks very quickly, so I guess they could be used to play those tunes while the C64 works on something else.
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:3, Informative)
Oh, and copying a disk was lots of fun, considering that the memory could only hold 64K chunks at a time, and the disk held about 180K per side, I think (it was measured in blocks rather than KB back then). You had to keep switching the disks back and forth to make a copy of a full disk.
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:2, Informative)
Yes, they had an on-board CPU and RAM so it was possible to run custom programs on the disk drive. I had one disk-copy program that worked this way; it would automatically copy disks from one drive to another, without involving the main computer (the drives were connected by a daisy-chained serial bus, so you could even unplug the computer from the drive chain once you'd uploaded the program).
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:2)
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:1)
These tunes got so popular at least in swedish computer mags that they gave *huge* program listings in the mag with literally tons of DATA statements, like
110 DATA 201, 34, 129, 123,
etc. Of course since it was the only way to program in machine code from BASIC... *shudder*
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:1)
Uhhuh. I still can remember typing in page after page of that kind of code from magazines. Imagine. The code and graphics like sprites and character sets were loaded in from DATA statements.
But wasn't all in vain. I can still outtype the younger hackers both in speed and accuracy. ;-)
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:2, Interesting)
That would be the "1541 Music Machine".
Taking advantage of the onboard 6502 processor and 2k of RAM, it made the venerable Commodore 1541 floppy disk drive play a crude, yet recognizable version of "Bicycle built for two", which was the first piece of music ever sung by a digital computer. [csounds.com]
Nope, it was the Aussies. (Score:2)
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:2)
If you have a close look at the label (see here [zimmers.net] or here [zimmers.net]: sorry, couldn't find larger pictures), the last character is slightly different from the first (it does not have the oblique little dash like the first, so it is not a ``1'' digit).
OTOH, all the Commodore user documentation reported it as 1541...
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:1, Funny)
Computer stuff is for work. What Ive got in my pants is for fun.
Now, the most important rule is: never mix fun and work. If youre working, dont let the pretty women screw with your head. Women don't deserve any better advice on technical matters than the worst male PHB or slob of a co-worker. On the other hand, if youre having fun out with the ladies, don't talk shop. You're a "technical consultant", not an engineer or a scientist.
Re:My 1541 drive was a speaker too! (Score:1)
Yes, if you insert the right stuff into the job queue.
[Filler text to get through lameness filter. Yeah, that filter sure makes Slashdot less lame. Yadda yadda yadda yadda yadda yadda. I don't see how this is anything close to being only 6 characters per line.]
dunno, most of my drives are pretty quiet (Score:2)
That said, most of my other drives in my Windows and Linux PCs are fairly modern 7200 RPM drives. My two newest Maxtor and Western Digital drives are so quiet that I sometimes forget they are spun up. Almost cool to the touch, too.
Now if only 7200 RPM drives would come with 7ms seek times. Heck, the drive in my O2, a 7200 RPM SCSI Seagate Barracuda ST318416 from almost 2 years ago has an average seek of 6.0ms with a max full seek of 10.5ms... a good 3ms faster than the fastest 7200 RPM IDE drives of today.
Blessed silence (Score:1, Interesting)
I cant stand computer noise anymore. Maxtor and WD drives are almost quiet enough, but as you point out they are seriously lacking in latency. IDE isn't that great bus either (no disconnect ability). Desktop computers also have a problem with noisy power sources as well.
Anyway, I finally . A totally silent laptop is the way to go. [slashdot.org]
Re:dunno, most of my drives are pretty quiet (Score:1)
When I'm doing a DB query it sounds like it's cookin' popcorn.
I think its' time to build a noise reducing cabinet for my louder systems (or move my databases onto a computer in another room).
Re:dunno, most of my drives are pretty quiet (Score:4, Interesting)
Plain crazy ... (Score:1)
IMHO, some people have got too much free time.
Re:Plain crazy ... (Score:3, Funny)
*laugh*
No seriously, the sounds recognizable and its a pretty impressive technical feat. Honestly though, I'd like to see a vibrator speaker system as well. Maybe it would turn on some women to new types of music.. omg.. stop me now.
Re:Plain crazy ... (Score:1)
Hehe.
Hrm (Score:2)
Musical Vibrators? (Score:3, Funny)
Damnit, now I'll never get laid again.
"But baby, YOURS doesnt play soothing music!"
Re:Musical Vibrators? (Score:1)
Is this really for real? I for one have had an opportunity to use a vibrator, and while I did notice that the pitch changed depending on how much resistance was applied to.. well, while I could change the pitch, I can't imagine that I would ever get a chord. Ever. Or emulate a french horn or a 120-piece orchestra.
So how the hell is he getting "Star Wars" out of those things? Is it really possible that vibrator, used by the most skillful hands imaginable, could be made to play "Invasion of the Gabber Robots" during foreplay, funny robot voices and all?
Three pitches, I could easily buy - some kind of cheap MIDI substitute. Human voice? Someone has to explain this better. If my girlfriend's vibrator starts talking to me, I'm ending it. Well - I guess that would depend on what it said.
Erm. (Score:1, Redundant)
Re:Erm. (Score:1)
No (Score:2)
Re:Musical Vibrators? (Score:2)
uhm, just a second...you have a girlfriend(a), she has a vibrator(b). And when you use a and b together you want to play music by using the exact right pressure...
Is it just me, or is that a very wrong time to play with geeky toys?
Just curious, what would one reply after finally succeding at the Star Wars theme and she asks what you're giggling at? Commit suicide by proxy by telling the truth? Just run? hmm
Re:Musical Vibrators? (Score:2)
Oh sure, I'm just not sure that's the time to be a full out geek is all... Maybe it's just cause my GF is a body piercer and has access to sharp needles needles should I be too distracted by shiny objects...
/. already (Score:1)
If neither work - bookmark this page and come back in a week. It is well worth the check out. Its amazing.
A new call to the Police.. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:A new call to the Police.. (Score:2, Funny)
Police: Sorry sir, we can ask him to close Windows. Other than that we can't do anything.
Very fsck'ed up.
Fast Download! (Score:2)
4 evar ;) (Score:1)
Re:Fast Download! (Score:1)
Pretty damn well :) (Score:2)
Old news (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Old news (Score:1, Informative)
Here's the discussion you wanted anyway: Symphony for Dot Matrix Printers [slashdot.org]. If I remember correctly, there was a second Slashdot story posted about this site - either a duplicate or a Slashback article. Finding that is left as an exorcism for the reader.
Printer calling contests (Score:5, Funny)
This was back when computer geeks were very rare, so we were just one more group that shoved a few tables together in the corner, ordered beer, made funny noises, laughed, ordered more beer, rinse, lather, repeat.
-- MarkusQ
Re:Old news (Score:2)
In the near term though, try site:slashdot.org in google, to narrow the search. You can also try the linux search on google, www.google.com/linux.
On the same site... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:On the same site... (Score:5, Funny)
DJ HD (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Hard drive noises (Score:1)
I thought that the harddisk came with speakers, but later on realised that those "beeping" sounds were caused by the coils!
Re:Hard drive noises (Score:3, Interesting)
We also had a cisco hub at work that does the same thing on it's rated voltage. That one also got really hot though.
Re:Hard drive noises (Score:2)
Vibration (Score:1)
Girls can try even making music come out of their vibr... *cough*...
Yeah, makes them sing... sort of.
Your comment has too few characters per line (currently 9.0)... the hell it does, it's called being concise, if anyone has heard of it.
lives in my dorm (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:lives in my dorm (Score:1)
Simpsons (Score:1)
What drive noise? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:What drive noise? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:What drive noise? (Score:1)
Hard drives are `disks'.
CDs are Compact Discs.
Actually, I would say that, in general, magnetic media arranged on a disk-like platter is a `disk' where as optical media on disk-like platter is a `disc'. Though, who really cares, call them HDDs or CDs or DVDs and be done with it
Since when has having a large penis made you a technology leader?
Re:What drive noise? (Score:2)
Re:What drive noise? (Score:1)
Re:What drive noise? (Score:2)
Original poster: http://www.maxtor.com/products/bigdrive/whitepape
I can't stand my Maxtor (Score:2)
hda: Maxtor 90840D6
(more output snipped to appease the lame lameness filter)
It's pretty old I admit, but it's the loudest hard drive I've ever heard and it drives me crazy. Even when the drive is idle the spinning platters sound like a jet engine.
Can you imagine ... (Score:1)
Seriously though, we could be talkin 6.1 surround here with enough of these babies!
Re:Can you imagine ... (Score:1)
Would that by a computer symphony?
Not beowulf and more (Score:1)
I don't know...a Dolby Digital EX or a DTS sound played through 6 sets of these could be cool (and über geeky)...don't know about the ".1" though. I think you'd have a hard time finding a hard drive head driver that could produce that low of a frequency!
eek, my network! (Score:1)
Heh, the web request stats will be interesting to look at. I bet the porn movies get lots of downloads.
ok i hHAVE to say it... (Score:2)
heh this guy should consider going into business... if he can get things at the right price break he might be able to make a few bucks selling geek specialty items... just put them in a nice case (and if he can demonstrate the sound live, i'd consider buying a pair...
Why not make your monitor into a fish tank? (Score:1)
Re:Why not make your monitor into a fish tank? (Score:2)
A lot better than clicks (Score:1)
Hmm... (Score:2)
These videos prove once again... (Score:5, Funny)
UW-Madison (Score:2)
Among other things. Here at the U of Wisconsin - Madison we use use them as sleds.
Lots of fun trying to stop at the bottem of Bascom Hill before you hit the trees...
No frequency filters? (Score:2, Informative)
Neato! (Score:2)
Got a real kicker out of this one. Check http://www.afrotechmods.com/ for one hell of a site design.
Re:Neato! (Score:2, Funny)
http://www.afrotechmods.com/groovy/takeover/afr
loz
Cool Stuff (Score:1)
Floppy drives (Score:1, Interesting)
You realize that was a hoax right? (Score:1)
Tom
Differnt Spin on an Old Concept...... (Score:1)
His other Hack (Score:3, Interesting)
Having a mad scientist for a parent does have some benefits sometimes.
Useless but Priceless PC Mods (Score:1)
Read the article, then post it. (Score:2)
The sound being produced is not the related to the noise some hard drives make. He's not spinning them at particular rates to get different sounds (which would only allow him to produce one frequency per platter anyway). He's vibrating them, just like regular drivers. Still a cool waste of time, but not the least bit what the posting indicated.
Reminds me of an old C=64 program... (Score:1)
But surely... (Score:1)
Don't ask me, I was too skint to have an Amiga with a hard drive, or even an amiga with a floppy for that matter, I had to stick to the spectrum (and the tops-20 machine at college - only 3 people allowed to use emacs at once otherwise it'd kill the machine!), but maybe this is a typo or this is a little bogus.
So: how big WAS the amiga hard drive?
Re:But surely... (Score:1)
The Amiga 1200 used a 2.5" (laptop-style) drive. I assume that's what this guy had.
AFAIK all of the other Amiga models used normal 3.5" hard drives (if they had one at all).
This guys page is great allover !! (Score:1)
wow (Score:1)
wow, this is cool (Score:2)
I bet this technology could be used to move a cone of paper or other stiff material, which would move a large air mass and create clear sound vibrations, thus reproducing sound...
Nah, too crazy...
Seriously this is very cool and reminds me of the folks who put an AM radio next their Altairs (or whatever it was) and ran different instructions to create different frequency interference, thus creating music.
What I'd REALLY like to see is the microwave interference from a GHz PC fucking with a cordless phone or something, making it ring....could it be done?
Fun, but an ancient idea (Score:2)
"Pr0n software for the Apple ]["??? (Score:3, Funny)
*monochrome green naked woman, or possibly a tree sloth, it's hard to tell, moves across the screen at 4 fps*
"GRONK GRONK GRONK"
I'm getting all tingly just thinking about it.
Re:"Pr0n software for the Apple ]["??? (Score:2)
The "GRONK GRONK GRONK" part was spot on, though.
Nice little Slashdot parody (Score:1)
Floppies can do this too... (Score:2)
Anyway, he was charged with a program that would make sure the floppy drive was operating before doing other things, so to put it thru its paces, he had it access tracks in the correct order (and therefore musical pitches based on spin) to play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" - hear the tune - everything's OK!
That - um *feature* didn't make it to 1.0 though.
And for my next trick (Score:2)
this one might take a while. hmmmm...
I've done that AGES ago... (Score:2)
I once accidentially connected the internal PC speaker to the HDD led pin on the mobo... well it was some kind of "Harddrive Speaker"... more or less
--
Not exactly an original idea (Score:2)
Heh... Although, back then, things that didn't have a practical purpose WERE NOT news
The stepping motor can make noise too (Score:2)
Try it! It makes a really nice analog whirrrrrrring sound.
HP used to do something similar on their scanner (Score:2)
Old hat (Score:2, Interesting)
Learn to read (Score:2)
Re:Wow, I'm glad I got up this morning... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Of course... (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, naturally, that's what they say is the reason. After all, if everyone in the world knew that deadly chemicals were contained in hard drive platters, no one would ever touch a computer again! Don't tell me you actually believe them?!?