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READING for May 15, 2011

  • Robot Orchestra Built From Junkyard Scrap [VIDEOS]

    Music and technology mingle in the most fascinating ways these days, and music-playing robots are certainly fascinating enough for us.

    The KarmetiK Machine Orchestra was built by students at California Institute of the Arts near Los Angeles, California. The students used junkyard salvage and traditional instruments to create the bots.

    In addition to vinyl decks and mixing boards, the ensemble also features three entirely new musical instruments, including NotomotoN, a dual-head drum with twelve beaters and a mallet orchestra.

    “Combining intriguing high-tech entertainment with practical applications of cutting-edge research, the orchestra brings together one-of-kind robotic instruments with human performers using modified instruments and unique human computer interfaces,” reads a CalArts site on the project.

    We’ve covered futuristic musical instruments in the past. How do you think the KarmetiK Machine Orchestra measures up? Does music still need a human touch?

    Check out this behind-the-scenes look at how the orchestra was conceived and built, then check out a few performance clips in the gallery below.

    Machine Lab at CalArts

    The KarmetiK Machine Orchestra lab at CalArts.

    Calif. Students Build Musical Robots, Then Jam

    Students at the California Institute of the Arts have built an orchestra of interactive musical robots. Musicians use specialized computer programs to play the robotic instruments. The AP sat in on a rehearsal for an upcoming concert. (May 13)

    Instruments from The Machine Orchestra :: Karmetik

    CalArts, graduation 2010: Two instruments were hooked up to a keyboard so visitors could try them out. www.themachineorchestra.com

    CalArts KarmetiK Machine Orchestra | Jan. 2010

    KarmetiK Machine Orchestra, directed by CalArts Director of Music Technology Ajay Kapur, preparing for their debut performance at CalArts REDCAT January 27th, 2010. Video by Scott Groller http://www.calarts.edu http://www.redcat.org

    image courtesy of Flickr, saschapohflepp

    More About: music, Orchestra, Robot, robot orchestra, robots

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