You won’t find all that many props or homemade replica builds here at Hackaday, but [Harrison Krix’s] work is second to none, and his Futurama Holophonor replica is worth drooling over. [Harrison] sourced an old (and apparently grimy) clarinet from a local thrift store, which he strips clean of its keys and attachments. The body itself receives some subtle modifications from the lathe and epoxy to plug some holes. Custom-spun plastic pieces complete the rest of the body, including the meticulously crafted bell which houses 54 LEDs.
[Harrison] also whips up a breakout board for a mini Arduino Pro with 4 fading and 4 blinking channels, and some custom power supply options for the Holophonor’s base: a scratch-built fiberglass AAA battery holder and optional AC adapter jack. As an added bonus, he’s fitted the Holophonor’s stand with a set of Robot Devil hands that hold it in place. The only video is an illumination test, but it sure is pretty. You can see it below! It looks perfect, but alas is unplayable which actually makes it even more authentic.
The Holophonor is the latest in a slew of work from Volpin Props. You probably remember [Harrison’s] first Daft Punk helmet from a few years back, or the second one that followed shortly after.
Beautiful work, well done!
Awesome. I love Futurama. Too bad its the final season.
First BTW
Damn, not first I guess. lol
Indeed, not first. You’re only accomplishment in life ended up being a failure.
Good Sir, if you are to correct another individual, you may want to use the proper form of “your”.
Final Season for the second time
yep, but i hope it isn’t actually the last season
I actually suspect Netflix will pick it up. They’re in the business of snapping up and continuing shows that people (used-to?) love.
Either way, I will be enjoying it for many years to come.
Also, this prop is AMAZING. It’s unbelievable. It’s magnificent! S HUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
I hope you are right. I suspect that if House of Cards wins the boatload of Emmys its nominated for, Netflix will be more widely considered as a legitimate alternative (as it should be).
On the contrary, the holophonor should sound splendid when played with those robot hands.
Should also sound great when one has a fortunate worm infestation from a truck stop sandwich. I believe those are the only two ways to get good at the holophonor.
Somehow I think a replica of the worm infestation would not be as attractive.
Beautiful piece of work. That stand is ‘devilishly’ nice touch! Sorry, couldn’t help it :)
It is indeed excellent. The power of the Internet is that maybe this guy can hook up with someone who can replicate the visual effects.
I have seen a device that looks vaguely like a holophonor, and it produces similar visual effects, but the effects are only visible to the user of the device.
Because he’s playing it by inhaling and not exhaling.
Holding an endmill in a drill chuck! EEK!
This is some beautiful work, shame it’s unplayable, I’ll mail you a warm egg salad sandwich. (See worms comment above.)
Outstanding craftsmanship!
Real shame Futurama is on its last season :( Love that show.
Incredible — I love how the stand is a model of the Devil’s hands.
The only thing missing now is a small mobile phone projector that sources YouTube videos and projects them.
Maybe something involving this;
http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/worlds-thinnest-display-uses-soap-bubble-and-ultrasound.html
…and this? Or something;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qun47AKFbk (mikeselectricstuff)
Terrific craftsmanship, and a great choice of Futurama prop to make, as there are so many memorable items in that show. Even more impressive is that there’s hardly a straight line on that object. Very nicely done..
lol WTF is with you hackaday ? A lot of your article with ‘we don’t always feautre X but when we do it’s because X is awesome
*….articles start with
Though I can’t recall any similar posts in recent memory–nor could I assume to know why someone else started their article that way–I can provide a concrete reason for mine. I do so not to be defensive but to provide clarification.
I felt it necessary to draw attention to how exceptional this project is, first to confirm that the greater content (props/replicas) is typically outside the intended reach of “hacks” at Hackaday. Second, I want to insinuate (without directly and condescendingly forbidding) that posting this very cool replica prop should not indicate a shift in the standard for that content (props in general), and cause an influx of suggestions to feature polished brass whatsahoosit steampunk goggles that do nothing.
I actually didn’t consider it might evoke the voice of the most interesting responsible drinker in the world. Whoops. He’s a pretty great guy, though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67s0OZ3xkJg
Beautiful work. I think this also deserves a mention…
http://www.volpinprops.com/portfolio/physics-cannon-half-life-2/
Further to that, definitely check his portfolio out. Every item I have checked out in there has a link to it’s own (just as) detailed build log. The attention to detail is amazing! I remember seeing his Portal gun a while back. http://www.volpinprops.com/portfolio/
Did anyone else see the Easter egg in one of the photos? He is also building their delivery space ship. I can’t wait to see that too. Awesome work, and well documented.
Joe
Would be totally insanely awesome to cram a pico projector in there with some sort of small media playback module, and buttons under the keys, such that you could play back media loops, simulating playing the instrument. And with a wall to project onto, it would be almost like the ‘real’ instrument.
Man, this is beautiful! I love Futurama and the Episodes with the Holophonor. I wish I can craft this awesome replica, too!i