The IBM 1401 makes "music"

A typical day at the IBM 140 Restoration Lab.
Some explanation: When computers perform operations, they emit different electromagnetic frequencies at each operation. This caused RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) which means that the signals can interfere with radio transmissions. If you set a radio to white noise (between stations), you can hear this interference if the radio is close to the computer. Since the frequencies are specific to the operatino that the computer is performing, you can write a "program" which is effectively an nonsense program in terms of getting the computer to do anything, but which will generate the frequencies in the order - and of the duration - that you want to hear. That's what's going on here. The 1401 is running a looped program that generates the "music" that you hear.
The IBM 1401 Restoration Project operates at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA on most Wednesdays and is made up of retired IBM CEs - and me. Stop by and visit. More information at http://ibm-1401.info/.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• IBM
• 1401
• CHM

[kendallae]

i don't understand what's going on but I'm enjoying it!

[ideahunter]

@kendallae At first glance, its like oh woop - computerized music, whats so new about that. I think the intrigue was that someone discovered that a section of the computer caused AM radio interference and then discovered that it could be manipluated programatically - thus one of the first instances of computer controlled music.

[psthorp]

@raymangold22 totally agree, this black blob stuff is a real turn off ...

[raymangold22]

@psthorp In all honesty, computers today are goin' backwards. Software is unbelievably inefficient. Take a look at Wirth's law.

As far as I'm concerned, a nice 5150 or Personal System 2 is infinitely more interesting and "complex" than your typical netbook rolled out from china.

[superspit]

lovin' the SNR!

[psthorp]

This brings back memories ... After working as a CE on punch card machines I cut my system teeth on the last 1411 in Australia. It was amazing what it could do at that time yet now we look back and see just how far we have come.

[NiloCrespi]

A typical day in a pokemon lab...

[jzpatelut]

@ideahunter Thaks for enjoying Mr.1401....please give my regards to Mr.1402 and Mr.1403.......My dear.....jzpatelut.....

[jbush21]

First cell phone ringtones,

[EpsilonsReviews]

Ohh this is String a longs" wheels!" wery good, even for it's time

[markzilla6969]

it's a giant zxspectrum!