Hydrocrystallophone

[gfish]

The project I was working on -- and mostly finished -- for Steamcon last weekend. I'm really quite proud of it. :)

So far the response has been very positive. I'm curious to see how far this one gets shared...

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Love it. That is just superb, from idea, through implementation, to use.

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

It seems to have a limited range -- about a fifth? I wonder what you could do to increase that.

Super neat idea. Well done.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

I was wondering about that. I need to try it with a tall, thin champagne flute maybe. The pipe isn't adjusted to be as close to the bottom of the glass as possible (since I broke a few and they're just random selections from goodwill), so I could get a bit more on the high end. A thin flute would also help there, since an unexpected problem with the water being centrifugally thrown outwards as the glass spun, lowering the level where the pipe inlet it.

The really big problem I see is that it can't change tones faster. I need to replace the pipe with 1/4", though I'm not looking forward to how that looks. Also maybe add a secondary lever for operating the pump cylinder, to give you more force. I just couldn't figure out a way to make that collapsing and portable in time.

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

The other idea is to use multiple glasses. You wouldn't need multiple turntables, I don't think -- you could just belt-drive a second glass off of the first one, it's not like you don't have torque to spare. With a second glass, you could probably jump the range to over an octave, which is enough for most melodies. Or you could do a simpler melody over a drone note.

[maribou]

As I listened to it, I couldn't help picturing the hydrocrystallophone equivalent of a gamelan orchestra. 30 or 40 folks all with their own particular glasses... some doing melodies, but most acting percussively.

[maribou]

Dronily, would I suppose be the right analogy. Cause, you know, percussion on moving wine glasses doesn't seem like the best plan ever.

[neuro42.livejournal.com]

Use mercury instead of water...

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thanks. :)

[lumiere.livejournal.com]

Neat!

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

I now kinda want something with multiple glasses and tiny metal arms that come down to play by pinging off the glass when keyed, rather than rim-rubbing...

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

I was thinking this too, though if the glass/pipe combination can be altered sufficiently perhaps multiple glasses wouldn't be necessary unless you wanted to play chords?

[hpapillon.livejournal.com]

I had the impression that even with some adjustment, the pipe structure wouldn't work well for very fast note changes, so it would be useful to have, say, three individual glasses. Which gives you the option of chords and also means you can ting one while adjusting another.

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

Benjamin Franklin would be proud. A tunable harmonica!

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I missed seeing this live at SteamCon. It looks awesome!

[arjache.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's brilliant. Nicely done!

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

This is marvelous - thx for sharing! I do like the ideas in comments above 'bout working on increasing range, too.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Sounds good!

[ionan.livejournal.com]

I won't be impressed until I see you play the Star Trek theme song on it.

Ok, not true. I'm fairly impressed right now. But I still want the Trek theme.

[encapsulate.livejournal.com]

Nice! Reminds me of a glass armonica!

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

neat!