A short demonstration of the MLGI (Multi- Laser Gestural Interface) designed by Meason Wiley at California Institute of the Arts.

Strap it on a dolphin, and you’d have a lethal weapon.

The Multi- Laser Gestural Interface is an open source and modular “free-gesture” controller that uses beams of laser light along with photo resistors to create a physical, fluid musical instrument.

With the MLGI, Wiley is attempting to bring a physical interactivity to electronic music performance. By removing the performer from behind the laptop, the audience becomes aware of the performer’s interaction with the controller, which creates an instant visual connection between the sound and the performer.

The MLGI was created using Dan Overholt’s multi I/O CREATEUSB or CUI interface, which, along with the programming language ChucK, can be made to send MIDI or OSC via USB port.

For more information about this open-source + modular controller,  visit www.cyclespersecond.net.

Jean Michel Jarre playing his laser harp on Second Rendez-Vous.

via richiology

Jean Michel Jarre’s laser harp breakdown during Rendez-Vous 2 at the InDoors concert in Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium.

via ProjectZ2

Here’ something to be thankful for – laser harps!

Nortec Collective is building a laser harp, from a design made by Stephen Hobley:

Luis Vargas our technician guru is in charge of making this instrument work, the plan is to use it on our live presentations for controlling our synthesizer, Here is a preview, coming soon in our Bostich+Fussible 2009 tour. 

Check the list of articles:

• Bend It Like Bach by Karen K. Hansen in Maker - Tim Kaiser’s fabulously weird world of music. 
• Solar-Powered Studio by Charles Platt in Maker
• VoIPing the iPod Touch by Erica Sadun in Maker
• Juke Box Zero by Jay Laney - The Guitar Zeros ?turn plastic and ?programming into ?real hard rock. 
• 21st-Century Keytars by Owen Grace - Make your own ?music with ?Guitar Hero ?controllers.? 
• Drumbot Activate! by Michael Una - This MIDI kit just wants to bang on the drum all day.? Page 60
• Laser Harp by Stephen Hobley - Play strings of light, using laser pointers, rangefinders, photocells, and Arduino. 
• The MoofTronic Mini Synth by Brian McNamara - New sounds? from a truly tiny ?instrument. 
• Stomp Box Basics: Tremolo and Fuzz by Charles Platt - Simple guitar effects circuits you can build. 
• Music at Maker Faire - Just a few of the wild and wonderful music acts at our Bay Area event. 
• Electronic Drum Kit by Tom Zimmerman - Velocity-sensitive impact sensors in PVC pipes interface to a micro drum machine. 

Some interesting footage of Stephen Hobley testing out his DIY laser harp. 

Says Stephen:

The visuals look great, but the sound is out of sync (we’re not film-makers!). In retrospect we should have had more people working on the different parts of the shoot.

How tired was I when we shot this? We’d been setting up since 8:30pm – it was about midnight before we started filming – I can barely remember my lines…

I wanted to post it as the visuals look really good.

Laser harps are pretty limited, as MIDI controllers go, but you have to admit – they look insanely cool. 

Here’s a video of the laser harp in action:

How to Build a Laser Harp

Hobley’s site has code samples and more.