musical tesla coil

Arc Attack has released on online virtual Tesla Coil instrument – the Arc Attack Tesla Coil Emulator.

According to Arc Attack, a VST version is coming soon.

Excerpt from Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in Dm

I’ve been getting some criticism lately for calling things stupidtacular.

Some things, like programming Chuck E Cheese robots to sing Miss New Booty, or a $1,000 iPod dock, are just awesomely stupid.

Tesla coil music may fall into the same category.

Joe DiPrima and Oliver Greaves of ArcAttack use “a unique DJ set up of their own creation (an HVDJ set up) to generate an ‘electrifying’ audio visual performance. The HVDJ pumps music through a PA System while two specially designed DRSSTC’s (Dual-Resonant Solid State Tesla Coils) act as separate synchronized instruments.”

These high tech machines produce an electrical arc similar to a continuous lightning bolt which puts out a crisply distorted square wave sound reminiscent of the early days of synthesizers.

Singing Tesla Coil – Bach’s Invention No. 6

Spectacular? Stupid? Or stupidtacular?

Let me know what you think!

 

 Tesla Coil Music: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The guys at Haken Audio, the creators of the Continuum Keyboard, have published a video that showcases the awesome power of MIDI-controlled Tesla coils.

Here’s the story behind it:

Mark Smart performs live in Urbana, Illinois on March 7, 2008.

This outdoor concert was part of a student-run open house for the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. Tesla coils were used to create musical pitches via a control system designed by university student Steve Ward. Two coils were used. The right coil is playing a prerecorded Midi track, acting as the bass, and the left one is performed live as a lead sound via the Continuum fingerboard. The Midi track as well as additional audio backing tracks were played via Cubase running on a Open Labs Neko workstation.

In spite of the frigid temperatures (4 degrees Fahrenheit, 26 mph winds), the concert was well attended and was voted the most popular event of the open house.

Based on the video, it’s clear that this would have been a tough act to compete with.

Mark Smart is an very talented multi-instrumentalist and a geek in the best sense. I always try to stop by and see him and Dr. Lippold Haken at the annual Winter NAMM Show, because they’re both really nice guys, and it’s amazing to see Mark play walking bass with one hand he solos on Continuum with the other.

More about Mark at his site.

via Livepa