Laser Harp - Does it really work??

[BasariStudios]

Ahahahahaha...this was fun, cute kids.

[c4r50n1]

I would have been cool with you saying "Yes, it works" but, no, you had to let Jared waste my precious time I could have been watching videos of animals making noises that sound like they're talking. I thank you for making waste that time.

[c4r50n1]

You could have just yes "Yes, it really works."

[rackonesbrains]

how much for that all equipment ... i mean how much does it cost ?

[Debatist]

You are a wizard.

[JelLoSnArK]

Lol, that kid has listening issues. Reminds me of me...

[PipoTachyonYAY]

if i were to help my dad build one i was just wondering- can you make the laser blue? not that it matters that much.

[shobley]

@PipoTachyonYAY You need to purchase a blue laser for that - but yes it will work with any colo[u]r

[TheCheshireCat86]

Seems to have a slight (like 0.2 sec) delay between the moment they hit the "strings" and the moment the sound gets generated.

[ZeroHostel]

Damnit Jared!

[TeeJF]

Our harp works the same way that yours does - floor sensor. What power laser have you used? Ours is 600-700 mWatts but with that power we cannot scan out to more than 8 beams reliably due to the fact that the pickup becomes insensitive for any more beams than that. I have played with the pickup housing and fine tuned it to gain sensitivity and I have also added extra reflective material to the under side of the beam aperture "lid" which helps.

So what's your secret!!!??? :-)

[BelBel06]

cute kids!

[Kelo60]

Looks like it works how a laser alarm works. When you brake the beams connection to the sensor it plays a sound.

[conversationband2010]

Pity you don't make these for a living, electronic music is currently back again and there's probably a far few bands would love to have one of these in their stage shows.

[stevenscottoddballz]

How much electricity does the ENTIRE system use? Would it DRIVE my electric bill through the ceiling?

[joegt123]

I'm curious as to how the sensor differentiates between each different note. As far as it would know, it's just detecting a laser, right? How does it know which laser is being blocked?

[shobley]

@joegt123 Each beam is the same laser, just being moved very fast. So blocking each beam gives a pulse, by working out the offset of the pulse you can tell which beam(s) are being blocked.

[joegt123]

Ah, I see. That's feckin brilliant. Anyone make one with more than 10 'strings'?

[MaxxFordham]

That's pretty cool that it's not just a ruse. Well, if it's not controlling that keyboard, then what's generating the tones?

If the laser beams are just hitting the ceiling, then what are the mirrors there to do, and when and how do you use them?

So I guess the sensor looks up at the dots the beams are making on the ceiling, and when it sees one missing, makes the note?

[shobley]

@MaxxFordham : There is a computer running Kontakt (sampler) generating the sounds.

The sensor sees the light bouncing off the player's hand. The mirrors are actually there to redirect the beam termination point well away from the sensor on the floor, so that the light hitting the ceiling does not trigger the sensor.

[MaxxFordham]

@shobley

Hey, that's a quick response! I didn't know you were just right here already (I just barely got the e-mail.)

Oh, heheh, silly me... I just asked a question that someone else has already asked.

Well, how are those overhead mirrors working to steer the light away from the sensor if the laser beams are hitting the ceiling instead?

How does the light spreader work?

How much does the whole system (except for the computer) cost, and where can you buy that?

[MaxxFordham]

@shobley

Oh, I just found your video where you show us about the parts and building the system, etc. :)

[Arthur60]

@shobley Sorry, I don't get the point why you have to put mirrors then. If it's just a matter of the sensor not seeing the laser spots on the ceiling, why just have a black curtain of some tens of centimeters falling from the ceiling just in front of the laser spots, or even easier, have a blinding piece just in top front of the sensor box to avoid it to see the ceiling. You just need to lower it until it doesn't see the laser reflections and high enough to let the musician's hands.

Nice work!

[shobley]

@Arthur60 The mirrors are there for visual effect only. A laser beam travelling towards the observer has a much higher perceived brightness than one travelling in a perpendicular direction. But they are not essential for harp operation.

[Arthur60]

@shobley Yes, I was stupid, I realized that when I saw another video in which beams were reflected horizontally above the audience.

Thank you very much for answering me. I went to your website, you build very interesting machines!

Thanks for sharing.

[michaelyc1616]

@shobley Hey, love the vids. Im currently reading a book called Lasers, The Light Fantastic as well as a book on electronics...any recommendations?

[therealKINDLE]

I can't believe my eyes. How? This is HISTORY. Do u know that? AMAZING.

[bverstee]

Nice video, and I must be honest I was doubting at first if you had only one sensor.

What kind of laser do you use? I expect you are using something like a 200mW diode-module inside the black case, because there is no large external laser.

I'm also working on a 'flexible' laserharp like you (many build a harp with seperate sensors on the ceiling), so I will post a video soon, including a performance of e.g. Rendez Vous 3 with animation of lasers while switching to other octaves.

[Laura041974]

Inspiring! Not only to have worked so hard to achieve this but to be willing to share your findings with others...

[Laura041974]

When was this invented? I remember Maggie Philben playing one on BBC Tomorrow's World, and I wanted to try it! Your kids are so lucky! Take it on Britain's Got Talent, no one's done that yet.

[courageouszombie]

is there a delay? or is it just the camera?

[HearSeeLearn]

lol so cute & such a cool instrument

[DJGahann]

I've seen Jarre swiping across his in an angry manner when his messed up (again).

What I'm unsure about, how are the laser interruptions detected?

[vondeliusc]

With you distinguished panel of scientists corraborating your invention, how could there be any doubt that the harp functions as you say? Truly awesome device, and since I am into lasers and music, I will surely build one. Thanks for sharing your wii remote findings. And your freebird (even partial) is quite amazing too.

-Christian

[CBamProductions]

"Jared's doing some free-form jazz for us" XD

[frostgothic]

what a cool dad..awsomeeee

[4stringswing]

Can't believe people are denying that it works. A friend from university has built one himself. They're awesome little toys

[intigfx]

You are the coolest dad ever.

[jusali11]

Shobley - I'm really happy that you proofed it is real, but i would like to know, how did you build this, or did you bought it? Thanks!

[wado1942]

That's incredible!  What's generating the sound?

[shobley]

It's a sampler playing the same sound that Jarre uses for his harp.

[munster2012]

Anybody who says this is fake needs to die. Incredible machine, dude!

[anthwhite91]

Die?

You sound like a barrel of laughs.

[Cavauro]

Hm. Yase. This is fake because I am extremely stupid. I don't understand it, meaning it isn't real. I can tell by some of the obvious edits in the video. It would improve humanity a hell of a lot if I never reproduce and that's awesome because it will never happen anyway. Bye friends.

[marprochazka]

hehe - great work stephen - actualy i think it is wasting time descibing this to "infidels"

[aaronfromhastings]

Dude you must have a lot of spare time

[whytelight102648]

This technology goes back to the earliest of technology that the Russians came up with for easedropping. It didn't use laser technology, but it is very similar to the Therer machine from the 1930's or 1920's.

[JayKeaton]

This video is so fake, if you look very closely at 2:13 you can see where the editor of this video made a mistake.

[erikvdhil]

possible to be fake, but i must say if it is fake, they edited the sound verry well until 2:13

[Nex3d]

This isn't fake lol... If you had paid more attention in science class you might understand how this is possible....learn something!!!

[girrrrrrr2]

no you cant

[solomonXR1]

its not fake, i built it my self for the science fair

[ReiKumar]

Non-believer huh?

This is very real. This guy is featured on many DIY websites and has all the instructions on his website.

Take a look.

[Thunderstrucker]

At 2:13 they are turning it off, that's why there is no sound at that moment.

Listen to what they are saying next time.

[curzmg]

This is not fake, unless somehow he is a professional actor and has hired two professional child actors to construct a useless and profitless lie. At 2:13, it's called echo or sustain, even reverb - it's used quite a bit in electronic music. This is not the most complex engineering in the world, it's similar to questioning someone's ability to make guitars, why would anyone lie? xXx

[ideegeniali]

come on boy, audio is lagged everywhere, also at 2:13. It's the way midi works, that lags.

[TheBlueThread]

I made one, TRANCE LIVE PERFORMANCE with this :D

Really gucking awsome-

[kaosruin]

you made a laser harp O.o, damn thats cool.

[sakkurae]

fish oil helps for adhd =D=D=DD=go jared go

[TheBlueThread]

yes it does :D

[namttam1992]

laughed at the free form jazz part.

[l0opis]

who had better fun?kids or father?

[moonsician]

Isn't it dangerous to the eyes? =x

[TheBlueThread]

if you're so stupid to actually stand over the wiimote and look down,. yes

[peeringthrough]

Amazing, simply amazing.

Free form jazz, that was funny :)

[coomjac]

very well behaved and calm children

[speedyy231]

lol laser harp.. sounds like something trhat would be in animusic

[ming57]

naughty jared...

[dirby11]

cool vid

[neilhaveaniceday]

freeform jazz lol

oh and thats really cool

[stoneangel2003]

Hahaha

Jared Just Try Do Hit One

Well Jared Is Flailing His Hands Around Aimlessly

[DocHammerFan]

Great setup. The kids are too cute AND helpful. Mine would have spilled juice on it by now.

[Kane040]

The laser harp is really cool and amazing, maybe one day it could be cheaper and easy to setup so it could be a cool new instrument.

[wsmith68]

Combine with some kind of Theremin...

[rongpockle]

I would love to see a theremin with laser frets. Maybe one that zeros to the pitch of the broken beam when your hand is still. The horror of poor intonation is what scares me away from the theremin.

[theau61]

can't believe this... BRAVO to the testers !

[TapOutSnap]

that is about as cool a new style instrument i've seen in a while, good luck on the invention, and good luck on getting your son to listen to you lol worst part of the vid

obey must be a new word for him

[naingtunwin]

cool man... thats really cool.. you rock!!

[kezoomer]

impressive setup :)

[a213368]

Amazingly well done. As an experimenter myself, I'm totally in awe.

[cincopuntouno]

Hi man!!! Awesome vids :D... very playful with your family! That's great!! um... I have one question. I didnt get what the sensor that was standing in front of the laser harp was doing... I didnt get that...

Cheers!! Contratulations for your harp... I've been looking for one for the past years!

See ya!

[shobley]

They're the neighbours kids :)

The sensor is 'seeing' the light bouncing off your hand and triggering the notes.

[cincopuntouno]

Oops!!! SOrry!! :D thankx for the answer... for making your laser harp you mencioned that it costed you 1500 dls... was the fog machine, lasser and sensors? cool vid!

[SwedeWithAnAccent]

Thats too expensive for me considering that i'm only 13 and since i'm so young i would need electricians, and that would cost extra. i know, i'm an optimist! but i'll do this when i turn 30. or i can buy JMJ's harp maybe.

[shobley]

I was 15 when I first saw JMJ perform. I'm 38 now - it's taken me a long time.

Maybe you'll create something even better?

Don't give up!

[SwedeWithAnAccent]

how much money did it cost to make a harp like this?

[shobley]

I probably spent close to $5000 over the last few years researching it (lots of failed prototypes). The cost of lasers has gone up for US residents due to the weak dollar, but one could be built for about $1500.

[NinoAuricchio]

Fantastic, I can see a duet on the cards soon. Loving the videos.  Have you even considered hiring out the laser harp for gigs? I think you could charge £300 a day.

[tankertuff2002]

Freeform Jazz. lol. Great job on this thing. so many movies come to mind, like the 5th element, or blade runner, lol.

[shobley]

I sound like Derren Brown