Hackpacts


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1-bit music: TI-83+ calculator experiments

I came across an open-source project that makes it possible to 'hack' old Texas Instruments calculators and turn them into 1-bit music composing tool (instrument). The program ([Houston Tracker)] is still not being used so much and remains quite obscure. HT2 converts the binary output of the TI-calculator to generate 1-bit sound. What I think is really interesting is that 1-bit sound represents the on/off binary basics of computing. The 1-bit sound is therefore close to the inner process.

https://youtu.be/sZSq1MqnVIw

Key points

1-bit music programming and playback (using Houston Tracker II by UTZ)
materializing binary data + sound of the CPU (on/off)
recording on cassette tape: analog processing of digital information
the benefits of working with limitations
'Zombie media': reappropriation of obsolete tech and explore it's potential instead of discarding it: what does it mean?
implement it in today's workflow (audio/visual, programming, etc)

playful ideas & potentials to further explore:

1-bit sound publication
implementing graphics: bitmaps
How to embed this in a modern context? What's the use?
BASIC programming language

1-bit sound publication

To spread this project and both music, I thought about making a publication/release/demo in one.

write a 4 track album for it and release it on a TI-83.

People that buy it would receive a TI with the tracks on it (collected from thrift store / Marktplaats)

mail it to people

way to get started 'hands-on

See how tracks were produced might get people started

enlarge interest, spread the word & expand community?

This way, the public can not only listen but also directly engage and get their hands dirty if preferred. What I also think is interesting that in contrary to making music with the sound chip of obsolete gaming consoles is that it's much further detached from retro aesthetics. So it focuses much more on the tech part and thinking how to use this device otherwise.

links & Resources

TILP: open source program for memory flashing on TI

Houston Tracker 2: https://www.irrlichtproject.de/houston/houston1/index.html

DOORS GUI: https://dcs.cemetech.net/index.php/Doors_CS_7_Scratchwork

graphics: https://www.ticalc.org/pub/win/graphics/

1-bit synthesis paper: https://www.gwern.net/docs/cs/2020-troise.pdf

1-bit synthesis techniques: https://phd.protodome.com/#anchor-pulse-width-sweep\

Graphlink cablefor converting binary data to sound: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Instruments-94327-Graphlink-USB/dp/B00006BXBS

SSTV (Slow Scan Television) experiments

SSTV or Slow scan Television – originally invented as an analog method in the late '60s but accessible to the public in the early 90s when the custom radio equipment was replaced by PC software – is a protocol for sending images over audio frequencies. The sound holds the information of what color where to place, line by line. This way, the image is slowly generated when decoding the audio in real-time. This method is still used today by the HAM amateur radio community for sending and collecting images. Next to that, the International Space station (ISS) still sends images to planet earth this way. The way SSTV generates images is closely related to the material process of digital printing on paper.

SSTV Workflow experiments

Python workflow in Jupyter Lab
Signal published on website:
https://hub.xpub.nl/sandbox/~markvandenheuvel/

Key points

modulation: protocol/standard to send images over radio
workflows and experiments using Python3 and bash in Jupyter Notebook
exploring the materiality of data via sound
'slow' data transmission (in contrast with invisible processes and speed)
encoding /decoding: deconstruction of data
both interests combined: lo-tech graphics & sound!

SSTV Workflow in use: Image to SSTV signal received by phone

SSTV workflow and decoding via app

LISTEN

Sound file of Mars image(mode: MartinM1: File:Sstv mars.mp3
Sound file of Mars ascii image (mode: MartinM1) File:Sstv ascii mars.mp3

Instagram to SSTV: Instagrain Broadcasting

screengrab and input image
SSTV out
signal picked up by phone

Listen to this image: https://hub.xpub.nl/sandbox/~markvandenheuvel/results/t.wav

playful ideas & potentials to further explore:

broadcasting images over Spotify (or 'invade' existing platforms with hidden content?)
music & SSTV data combined? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ2X6HmW49E

links & resources:

boadcasting software: https://www.qsl.net/kd6cji/downloads.html

Python scripts to convert images to audio: https://pypi.org/project/PySSTV/

general resources: http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/sat-info.htm

RXSSTV: http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/rxsstv.htm

SSTV tools (encoding/decoding) http://www.dxatlas.com/sstvtools/

recent SSTV project: https://hsbp.org/rpi-sstv

Pictures On Cassette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c38dLDQoRtM

KCS: digital data standard explorations

KCS or Kansas City Standard was developed to convert code (in the form of ASCII text) into sound so it could be stored on media such as magnetic tape but became also suitable to broadcast over radio. This way, its data became more easily interchangeable. KSC is still being used today to restore large quantities of archival material that was stored on magnetic tape. There are other standards that are closely related to this standard. KCS was an attempt to standardize (For instance, the Commodore 64 had its own method however this was very much prone to errors.)

Key Points

KCS workflow setup in Python (Jupyter Notebook) (text input > generated text > KSC audio > HTML)
slow data transmission / image arise line by line
materiality of data via sound (physical connection, embodiment of a process)
deconstruction: encoding/decoding
storage and playback (on audio cassette)

playful ideas & potentials to further explore:

bot that outputs encoded texts via audio
bot that outputs encoded ASCII art (ASCII IMAGES) via audio
printing out text receipt printer
creating a modern Flexi Fisc Floppy Rom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_standard#/media/File:FloppyRom_Magazine.jpg

resources

KCS standard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_standard
Storing https://www.instructables.com/Storing-files-on-an-audio-cassette/
future of data storage: https://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/why-the-future-of-data-storage-is-still-magnetic-tape
Data Files on Tape (A Modern Attempt) https://youtu.be/muJDUonIOz8

Interactive Fiction/'Text-based' adventure

[[1]]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text-based_game https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergodic_literature

Tutorial with David Moroto: https://www.davidmaroto.info/

"I think we met before... You find yourself in an empty space. Look to the right… What do you see? If you look to the left, there is a window that allows you to look at the past. Behind you is a door to future"

Inspiration & resources

SanctuaryRPG - (Classic Text Adventure Game)

Inspiration: Solarpunk: The map is the territory

Inspiration regarding tone of voice: Shadow Wolf Zine (ASCCI zine by Legowelt about various topics)

PI: Selfhosting IRC + bot

https://pythonspot.com/building-an-irc-bot/

Urzaloid Franklin

Sandbox as a publication

showing where it is! (this is where you are!)
what happens when you visit (exposing a process with the emphasis on materiality)

resources:

shell: showing processes! https://github.com/jupyter/terminado

Tape + analog sound/recording experiments

Deconstruction workshop: materializing data over sound

recording sound of a deconstruction process: transfer to the physical carrier (analog tape)
recording data of images: broadcast SSTV signal
material combined in audio-visual performance

- the delay and reverb on binairy sounds - tapeloops: KCS code loops that generate textual / ascii output? - 1-bit drone

> https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/A)PART_to_de(PART