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Generating music via radio interference goes way, way back. The IBM 1401 (1960's era) could do this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPk8MVEmiTI https://www.yout

by kens 11y ago

Generating music via radio interference goes way, way back. The IBM 1401 (1960's era) could do this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPk8MVEmiTI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPk8MVEmiTI It could also play music on the line printer by banging out the right sequence of characters. http://mail.computerhistory.org/pipermail/1401_software/2009-February/000289.html http://mail.computerhistory.org/pipermail/1401_software/2009... Strangely, the 1401 radio music was later set to orchestra and released as a CD by an Icelandic composer: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7408766 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7408766

RachelF 11y ago
Back in the early 1980's this was the standard way to produce sound on the (Timex) Sinclair ZX80.
semi-extrinsic 11y ago
Old HP scanners used to have a music-making easter egg: http://youtu.be/8JwU5mcIwDw http://youtu.be/8JwU5mcIwDw
alanh 11y ago
In the vein of old hardware playing music, you should absolutely check out this cover of Radiohead’s “Nude,” if this sort of thing interests you. I find it strangely moving. http://alanhogan.com/big-ideas-dont-get-any http://alanhogan.com/big-ideas-dont-get-any (direct link http://www.vimeo.com/1109226?pg=embed&sec=1109226 http://www.vimeo.com/1109226?pg=embed&sec=1109226)