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Hamster-controlled MIDI

Posted by michael on from the better-than-most-composers dept.

haeger writes "I found this wonderful page on the net. The project was initially fueled by the desire to explore the MIDI protocol. It was decided that this would be accomplished by building a MIDI device, and an intelligent hamster controlled MIDI sequencer was designed. Each voice was controlled by two hamsters: one that was responsible for adjusting the rhythmic qualities of the melody and another that modified the note sequence. With all of these elements in combination, an output was produced with very musical qualities. This is like Fritz & His Performing Hamsters with a geek twist. Video and music is provided on the webpage."

4 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Mirror by markclong · · Score: 5, Informative

    Never thought I'd have to mirror Cornell but here she is!

    http://slushdot.org/mirror/hamster/

    It's a work in progress...give it some time.

  2. Hearing Threshold by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    A hamster's hearing covers only a fraction of ours (http://www.utoledo.edu/psychology/animalhearing/h amster.html), I wonder if the researchers considered using other rodents like mice (SpiceMice) or groundhogs for that Barry White sound.

  3. Our poor server! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't think our server was designed to handle much load. (I work for the Neurobiology and Behavior department at Cornell University.) I can't remember what kind of computer it is, but I don't remember it being anything fancy.

    Levy worked on my audio project this summer, and he brought his hamsters into the lab for a couple of days. They smelled horrible! I can't imagine anyone keeping them as pets, but, to each his own, right?

  4. One word: by sofakingl · · Score: 3, Informative

    False.