LEGO sequencer builds sound in 3D

posted Mar 9th 2010 1:35pm by Mike Szczys
filed under: digital audio hacks

[Yoshi Akai] built a sequencer that is part steampunk, part injection molded plastic. The LEGO sequencer MR II has eight steps in a loop that is manipulated by adding the colorful blocks to a green base plate. Each color corresponds to one particular sound which can be modified by building skyward. On the other side of things he’s added a beautifully crafted control area for knobs and switches. We didn’t see much info about what is inside the device so, watch the clip after the break and then feel free to start the speculation in the comments.

This is a similar concept to the coin sequencer. From the picture above it seems the blocks have been altered and perhaps use light to identify the different blocks.

[Thanks Fuzzthed via Westword]

Comments [14]

tagged: lego, sequencer

Reader Comments

the sounds are absolutely horrible! i could not hear the full length of the movie, skipping though it was ok.
the idea is nice, i think is was more fun to do i project like this than listen to the result.

Posted at 1:51 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by bitflusher

The 2*4 blocks appear to have a resistor going between the centre pins of the two 2*2 that make up the block. There also looks to be 2 metal pins boing up through the blocks. I think the tone is most likely to be modulated by the resistors that are stacked up in parralel when the blocks are stacked.

Posted at 1:53 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by mattbed

what’s with the gloves?

Posted at 1:59 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by walt

i’ve heard better sounds from circuit benders…….

Posted at 2:37 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by The Hatchet

the possibilities of lego are indeed endless

Posted at 2:53 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by mrgoogfan

I agree with @mattbed, it looks like it’s using components in the legos rather than some sort of light detection. I think the blinking led is just a user indication mechanism.

Posted at 3:18 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by Michael Jensen

It sounds like something trent reznor would have fun with lol.

Posted at 3:54 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by lulzdude

if trent reznor is a stoner then i agree..
get stoned and play with this for hours :)

Posted at 8:01 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by jeditalian

i had to look up who trent reznor was. of course he is a stoner.

Posted at 8:02 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by jeditalian

Bunch of NIN noobs.

Posted at 11:05 pm on Mar 9th, 2010 by Sigh

@mattbed is correct as far as I can see. Metal pins can be seen here:
http://www.yoshiakai.com/2008/img/Lego_SequencerD01.jpg
I think you could take a few samples from it and modulate them further to sound different but for the most part the video isn’t to musical. Maybe the previously featured Evolution Control Committee could use this as a base modulation for some of his mashups?

Posted at 2:32 am on Mar 10th, 2010 by ketin

If you enlarge the image at the top of this you an actually see the resistor inside the block

Posted at 6:40 am on Mar 10th, 2010 by mattbed

the idea is great but whats with the orrible noises?

Posted at 8:49 am on Mar 10th, 2010 by DeFex

here you can see interesting videos with lego. The best is Factory http://lego2.ru/legomania/you-have-to-see-these-lego.html

Posted at 9:08 am on Apr 6th, 2010 by Viola