Robotic guitars are cool, but you know what you really want: a
propane-powered flame organ. Yes, as it turns out, enormous plumes of
fire can produce pitched and unpitched sound. (Hint: it's loud.) This
is a digital music site, mind you, so of course I've selected Eric Singer's
Pyrophone, which can be MIDI controlled; Max/MSP is the app of choice
and was adapted into a musical game of Simon, on a large, pyrotechnic
scale. Sure, the instrument isn't exactly "street legal" and I believe
the Madagascar Institute
(motto: 'fear is never boring') got in a bit of trouble with the NYPD
— but then, the term "fire hazard" would be a bit of an
understatement, huh? [ Watch the Video ]

By the way, I hope you enjoy the fun we're having. Next week is Pro Tools LE week. Really. Pro Tools LE, all week long.

10 responses to “Pyrophone: Flaming Sound Organ Powered by Propane”

  1. triage says:

    Digitallistic hairiness. What a video. In addition to I's and 0's this site is about the music of the flaming spheres, it would seem. Lol.

  2. Guest says:

    I was first drawn to this Propane Organ by the caption that read "Not Coming Soon from M-Audio", and upon watching the video, WOW! How intriguing! Now if only there was a way to make it bigger, louder, and even more combustible!!! 😉

    Jess Macintyre
    Product Development
    M-Audio

  3. Joseph says:

    What? Only two comments in three years? Fantastic machine. How about some text on how it works?

  4. Benjamin says:

    weeeell, as far as the physics goes, it seems to work by vibrations of the flame itself, at the pitch of the natural resonance of the tube the flame is in.

  5. Graham says:

    what is flame? its actually just oxygen and propane burning. Its the oxygen and the propane gas that is resonating. That is on fire is just a very cool result of lighting it on fire. You notice that it works just as well lit as unlit.

  6. […] to solve, like “How do I get my Guitar Hero controller to play real music?” or “How can I create propane-powered flame organ?” Instead, I had a solution in search of a […]

  7. […] to solve, like “How do I get my Guitar Hero controller to play real music?” or “How can I create propane-powered flame organ?” Instead, I had a solution in search of a […]

  8. […] to solve, like “How do I get my Guitar Hero controller to play real music?” or “How can I create propane-powered flame organ?” Instead, I had a solution in search of a […]

  9. […] to solve, like “How do I get my Guitar Hero controller to play real music?” or “How can I create propane-powered flame organ?” Instead, I had a solution in search of a […]

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