[sdiy] Laser Harp in action

[Theo]

Wow, nice.
But with that much laser power on the loose???
Maybe this qualifies as the most intelligent entry for the Darwin awards
ever....
Wouldn't it work with less power as well?
Optics may be used to get a larger beam diameter, don't need a heavy laser
for that.
Or would wider beams alone not give enough visibility

Still werry nice going indeed!
Please stay save when you use it!

Cheers,
Theo


----- Original Message -----
From: Oakley Sound <oakley at techrepairs.freeserve.co.uk>
To: synth-diy <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 6:54 PM
Subject: [sdiy] Laser Harp in action


> Synth-DIY's very own Mark Smith and I, along with Martin Frankcom have
> managed to build a successful laser harp of staggering proportions.
> Modelled on the later harps as used by Jean Michel Jarre it uses back
> scattering and not top sensors to indicate when a beam is broken. Its
> built into a single 4U SKB case and the harp appears in a big fan rising
> skywards from the top of the unit.
>
> Making the harp was an interesting experience and a dangerous one too.
> This harp's laser is hot enough to blind instantly and it even managed
> to burn a small hole in my power supply by accident!
>
> Mark and I did the electronics for it, and Martin built the optical
> hardware and casing.
>
> Its first public performance will be this weekend in Preston, NW England
> at the Guild Hall. It will be played by the Martin Frankcom who as part
> of the UK's Jean Michel Jarre tribute group, Jarrelook, will be putting
> it through its paces on several songs.
>
> Tickets for the show at the Charter Theatre in the Guild Hall complex
> are available from www.ariettamusic.co.uk or by telephoning 01706 229457
> after 3 PM any day except Sunday. They are also available from the
> GuildHall box office on 01772 258858.
>
> You can see a short video clip of the harp in action on the Jarrelook
> website:
>
> http://freespace.virgin.net/m.tj/LaserHarp/LaserHarp.html
>
> Though be aware that for BW reasons the video is very low quality.
> The harp appears much, much brighter to the naked eye. It is also
> unfortunate that the camera makes the harp appear to strobe, something
> again which is not visible to the human eye. We are actually scanning at
> 30Hz or so.
>
> But... it should at least give you an idea of what it is all about. The
> harp is fully polyphonic with 8 beams asssignable to any synth on any of
> the 16 MIDI channels with any sound patch you wish to select from within
> the first bank of 128 patches on the instrument you have directed it's
> output to. On the video clip you can hear it playing the classic Elka
> Synthex laser harp timbre, though again be aware that the sound quality
> is far from sparkling!!!
>
> Regards,
>
> Tony Allgood                         www.oakleysound.co.uk
>
> Oakley Modular Synthesisers      Penrith, Cumbria, England
>
>