A Very Strange Music Machine From The 90's Wired Into The Toilet

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

What you think to this machine? For all interested. It complies with wet room regulation as there are no mains devices fitted in the room itself. Hence mounting the main bulk of it on the outside. The gesture device is low voltage running on 8 volts. They are a good distance from the toilet itself And the speaker is also just the impedance of a normal bookshelf speaker so it poses no safety concerns. 👍

[@suburbanindie]

I'm a musician (guitar/drums) but admittedly not a "tech-head". I love that there's so much more to learn out there... I typically have no idea what you're talking about (although I did study MIDI in school) and that's fine because you're entertaining and I love the end results!

[@illustriouschin]

Maybe cover up the schematics with some plastic panels.

[@LightBranches]

Cool! It makes the perfect soundtrack for a slightly psychedelic 70’s Polish animation.

[@Fast-fingers]

Job well done

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

@@illustriouschin they were sold about 30 of them for 5 quid. Tbh if they did get poop on em it would be a lot less messy to just scrunch em up and get rid of em 😂

[@stufinnis]

We visited the museum yesterday and had a fantastic time. Seeing everyone of all ages just having fun interacting with the exhibits was great, and it was so nice that you take the time to chat with visitors and answer questions. Thanks for all the work and time you put in. As long as these amazing things can be shared they will never be obsolete!

[@binface9]

I love the fact that the amp which is part of the hands-free toilet musicking device is made by Nobsound.

[@LPx007]

🤣🤣🤣

[@benji.B-side]

Haha Great spot.

[@richardneale246]

I remember seeing Kraftwerk live in the 70's. Wolfgang Flur built a frame with infra red cells, connected to the outputs of a drum machine. When he cut them with his arms , he look like a robot policeman directing traffic. Really, really cool. Radioactivity was the best track to play this device. @Chalk Farm Roundhouse.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

Yea! I was there!

[@richardneale246]

@@geoffreypiltz271 10th October 197? with National Health and The Penguin Cafe Orchestra. £1.50p 😂😂😂😂

[@allwaysareup]

@@richardneale246 I'd go to that show any day

[@Galm1Cipher0]

Man I love Kraftwerk R.I.P Florian Schneider

[@richardneale246]

@@Galm1Cipher0 Florian R.I.P. 1 year ago 06/05/2021. Have met Wolfgang Flur and spoke to him, a really great guy.

[@labstan]

"and put the wire back through with a pencil, yeah" I felt that

[@markv1006]

now we need a urinal with a midi keyboard, so i can make sick riffs with my stream :)

[@ynnebbenny]

Yeah and the challenge is to complete all of the song, 'Yellow River" in one stream session.

[@tcpnetworks]

@@ynnebbenny Bladder control of a musician... Bladder volume of an Olympian.

[@bcubed72]

@@tcpnetworks Hell, bladder volume of Mr. Ed!

[@tcpnetworks]

@@bcubed72 Neigh!

[@thebiggerbyte5991]

Streaming audio ;)

[@CausticCatastrophe]

man, DAW-less setups are getting crazy nowadays.

[@lightdark00]

Label the cord holes "Not a peephole" Label everything! like "Not a reverse mirror", "Not a transparent wall", "Not an actual toilet", "Not aupplied by sewage water", etc.

[@OneSwitch]

Ooo. We used to have that exact kit at a day centre for Disabled adults in Essex. Nice thing. Not seen one in yonks.

[@benyarlett7878]

The theme tune absolutely cracked me up. It was reminiscent of something Matt and Trey might do.

[@danielleohallisey4218]

Can’t wait to come to the UK later this year and have a wee!!!

[@replicated]

I freakin' love this channel. You're a nostalgia master who makes badass jams.

[@theidealcopy_]

This is essentially a different take on the EMS Soundbeam. The Soundbeam came out in 1989 and they still make a version of it today. It was also designed with sensory/accessibility applications in mind but was also used musically by Laurie Anderson and Jean-Michel Jarre, IIRC.

[@sorryguys1090]

Jingle is brilliant as usual! And the project itself as well

[@gmirwin]

There's a restaurant chain in Oklahoma, USA that has one way glass on the bathrooms so you can watch the people outside while you're doing your business. For some reason this reminds me of that. (It's called City Bites if you want to look it up.)

[@jochenstacker7448]

I will play this DIY song on an endless loop for every project I'm working on henceforth. In the 80's every song was this awesome!

[@PuhuTube]

It should be branded as 'Maniac Theremin' arpeggio generator :D Fantastic!

[@mr_sneakybeat]

Brings new meaning to the expression "going for a tinkle"...

[@johnruschulte2593]

Ice water bidet! you could get some great spontaneous vocals.

[@Ranger_Kevin]

I love that even the bathroom has an interactive exhibit in it ^^

[@NicStage]

I eagerly await the release of the full album of tracks that were made to narrate builds. Just having those on an album with no context would be hilarious.

[@andythedishwasher1117]

Dude I jammed tf out to your theme tune. Got my whole day going. No apologies, mate.

[@Spikeypup]

This machine demonstrates a few wonderful things: Accessibility doesn't mean you have to lose/degrade anything in the end result. Humans are thoughtful and wish for all to be able to be expressive and share in similar expressive experiences All praise MIDI for all time! And for mankind and our wisdom, intelligence, and compassion which leads to creations such as this. And of course...people like Sam who have the passion and fervor to share all of this with everyone. Thank you Sam. We love ya bud!

[@SV-cg3sk]

Hey man in Japan almost every toilet I've come across (especially in public places airport et c) has a music button and more or less a whole control panel to operate the toilet

[@skittlesryan7862]

I love the ingenuity, but I imagine some people might feel bad at having their bathroom time interrupted by people outside playing an instrument. I wouldn't care myself, but I have known people who would use their pants before going in a bathroom with people messing with you from outside, no matter how actually secure it is. It's always good to remember that sometimes emotions aren't rational.

[@kschleic9053]

The only person who could mess with you is the person waiting in line.. so you mess with them after you come out and they go in!

[@MythMakerMusik]

I can't believe you got Phil Collins to soundtrack your build scene! Nice!

[@andrewfaraday8918]

Strangely, this reminds me that the Theramin was initially designed to be a security device. It was supposed to activate when people came near the antenna.

[@weasel2htm]

Crazy idea, I like it. Now if it were me.... I'd have a speaker on both sides of the wall, so the toilet speaker would not have to be so loud. For some reason, I think intercom style speakers would look cool for that, but it's your museum, you do you!

[@DJPhantomRage]

I need to find a way to come from the states and visit the Museum.

[@SerbanCMusca-ut8ny]

This is both amzing and hilarious! Mate, your chan is pure gold, thank you for what you show us!

[@mastercylinder1939]

Get a sensor under the seat, every time some one squeezes out a log, the sound of a bomb drop rings out, got the squits, no problem, machine gun fire! Form an orderly queue!

[@2760ade]

Ok, you are officially insane!! I would never think of installing this in the toilet. Let's hope no-one ever pops in there for a quick 'Barclays'..... that would be interesting🤣🤣

[@jason3898]

In addition to mentioning it's not a camera, you might want to include that it's not a microphone. That'd be creepy too.

[@youbecha64]

Well now I can go to the megadrone and twist my knob, then take a musical wee. :D

[@ROBOTSonCRACK]

"..then put the WIRE back through with a PENCIL yeah..." - the music is leaking out of your head again Sam!

[@mumiemonstret]

Why don't all museums have themed bathrooms?!

[@MarkBokowiec]

I used 2 midi creators for a live stage show back in 1995 - I had a couple of memory cards programmed to enable custom cv-midi conversations inc. midi controller data to control synth timbre and digital effects for the performers voice. We also built an interactive musical sculpture for a local art gallery. These devices were fantastic back in the day

[@exoticices]

You've done it now - there'll be a queue a mile long to use the toilet! (p.s. Put the phone in the coffin like in The Munsters.)

[@EdwardGordington]

if you could somehow attatch it inside the toilet people could make musical poops, might frighten a few people when they hear a musical plop, could fit a small glass sheet infrount of it for protection hahahaha.

[@unsoundmethodology]

I had one of those little ultrasonic rangefinders (the cheap sort with the two little cans on a PCB) hooked to an Arduino and a midi out, that I had set up as either a quantized theremin, a mod wheel/general CC, or a pitch bend; I should revive it and add this kind of arpeggiator mode. Thanks for linking the article. Edit: Whoops, except you didn't. Oh well.

[@Flojer0]

A random book of sayings I have states "the more inefficient the business, the more decadent the bathroom" Sounds to me like a boring piss is the right way to go.

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

To make the toilet itself musical, you could use the ripples in the toilet water to generate control voltages.

[@ddawsonwilsondawg7967]

To be able tp wake up and play the Gameboy Machine ANYTIME must be a dream and a nightmare all in one! 😱

[@cunt5000]

If Phil Collins ever wrote a song about installing a midi sensor in a toilet that would be it.

[@buidelrat132]

Modulating nature sounds could be cool as a privacy / comfort feature.

[@apu_apustaja]

"Musical toilets" sounds like it should somehow already be a thing.

[@eternalvoid2678]

You can do lots of cool things with these sort of sensors. One of my favourite applications is to have them select which sequence gets played. With some logic you can also make sure that the transitions happen at specific moments, like always at the start of a bar. Immediate transitions are also great fun though. If you pick the patterns correctly, you can control the beat with your dancing :)

[@paulussantosociwidjaja4781]

Love that Scottish Reel just by you move fron and back.

[@Projacked1]

Maybe use a sensor in the toilet, and track the poop falling down ? lol

[@XTremeCaffeine]

In Japan they call it "Princess Mode" and it saved tons of water by giving women especially a way to hide their noises without constantly flushing

[@spykillergames8402]

that appears to function similar to a device known as a "soundbeam" that used ultrasound heads that mounted in a mic stand along with foot pedals to control a MIDI port (which could obviously make noise)

[@alexhohe]

We came to visit from the states last weekend on honeymoon and this bathroom installation was a funny little highlight! You made a beautiful space and It's so nice of you to make it available to the rest of us 🙌🔥

[@suboptical2732]

I love it, your'e mad genius but you should get even more ridiculous and put a contact mic on the toilet flush and a thermistor in the faucet. temperature of the water could control a filter on the arpeggiator and the flush mic could add some distortion/delay etc!

[@Veptis]

I have a Leap Motion controller... Which can be used to translate hand gestures and position into MIDI as well. But I have only played on online demo. It's fun to use tho. Wish I more software to use it. Haven't seen it in a while, but there are like a handful of KZbin videos that demo the ideas.

[@PeterPeer]

Another good reason to come visit the museum. 🙂

[@some_haqr]

Lol south park style song at the end made my day

[@hans_normal]

I'm glad you found the original lyrics of Phil C. It's much more inspiring! Thanks and Drill on!!!

[@angst_]

Contactless? interactive? It belongs in a museum!

[@gannas42]

I'm going to be singing that song now in my head for days. :D "...put the wire back through the wall with the penciiiil..."

[@lionelfrenchface]

The singing what your doing as your doing it montage was my favourite.. I'll have one album of that please. Hah

[@kevinbissinger]

As someone with a shy bladder the last thing I want is to announce I'm going to the bathroom musically hahaha

[@jamesh5460]

We are making travel plans to the UK and will have to visit the museum

[@CullenCraft]

3:25 great, now gimme gimme gimme is stuck in my head for the next week

[@MonsieurFluffyPants]

I feel like I could achieve the same effect with a motion sensor that plays "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"

[@Dudleymiddleton]

2:53 that finger click! :)

[@morganbebell9003]

A whole bunch of these hooked up to various synths would be so cool for the museum. What a powerful tool. Awesome!

[@themightymathematician3881]

That jacket with the orange liner is dope

[@buidelrat132]

I'm terrified of a wiring fault fire. What a wonderful integration, can't wait to visit!

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

Damn....I want one! This is like an Omnchord mated with a Theremin.

[@mooremusic69]

Interesting and Entertaining, as always, Sam. Love the Accessability features of these sensors, (bit close to the Fire Alarm, though!)...

[@davidpiper3652]

It's getting weird Sam!

[@quipsta]

I have that on my desk. Someone here at York Uni where I work was involved - have some more stuff by then I will send the pics - including an audio to MIDI mic?

[@CarfDarko]

Reminds me of Rolands D-Beam controller I have on my good ol MC505 Groovebox

[@binface9]

Nice! I didn't know about this and I'm from Warrington, home of the 01925 dialing code, and formerly of Dawsons music shop.

[@zizimugen4470]

3:45 it actually sounds kind of divine.

[@klassisch9093]

Nice video! Hey i'm just getting into modular synthesizers and I wanted to know if you have any suggestions for diy modular synth books? Thanks

[@tingstrap]

Definitely your best track yet Sam. I especially love the pencil bit ✏️

[@calvinthomas1642]

The first test of the capacitance sensors brought back unexpected memories of that one Madonna song from 2005... "Hung Up"

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Sample of ABBA ent it :D

[@calvinthomas1642]

@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER Oh wow, yeah! I never realized that's where she got the sample from. Just looked up the ABBA video and apparently they were blasting it out the old fashioned way on the keyboard. Classic!

[@chookstarrocket6]

Super entertaining mate, well done!, Ty

[@Jimmy_Sandwiches]

Dangling the pencil through with the wire for the speakeerrrrrr! (SAMPLED)

[@geoffreypiltz271]

I hope the wiring complies with wet room regulations. Turns a natural function into performance art!

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

There are no mains voltages in the room itself. Hence it being mounted outside of the room 👍👍

[@curtishoffmann6956]

Dawson - A theremin your whole body can enjoy! Social distancing strikes a note.

[@Desertwalker45]

This is great. It just keeps getting better.

[@TwashMan]

I'd love it if you could try to sync the distance to the owls so you could point at an owl and that owl you're pointing at would activate

[@KeritechElectronics]

Cool! Kinda like a theremin, but using ultrasounds rather than RF detuning.

[@cosmowerksmusic]

really cool! the first bit sounds like an omnichord.

[@dynamicfreqz1112]

You should put a sign up that points at the sensor, and have it say 'THIS IS NOT A CAMERA, I PROMISE'. Never mind, I guess you already did it... haha

[@digitaldobbie]

Lots of fun to be had by oneself in the bog

[@crunchyfrog555]

Set this up with a theremin and you could stack some neat chords or make a kind of weird unison type thing.

[@wideyxyz2271]

A new twist on tinkling on the old ivories!

[@russellwaite5874]

discovered the one where you got the organ , still catching up with all your vlogs. I thought I was eccentric till I found you. lovin it . ps: ever played with a theramin?

[@camman1056]

3:20 is giving me early Crystal castles/ Crystal fighters vibe

[@Smashmilk]

Wouldn't it be better if it was angled so that you change the sound while on the toilet . Of course some one may stay in there longer of course

[@autecheee]

Would urine stream trigger it? I thought you were going to actually interface it to the physical toilet? Yet would make it obnoxious and disturbing to use.

[@RothmanHarv]

Somewhere between an Omnichord and a Theremin, very nice! A bit pricey though, but I suppose that's the niche performance artist/therapist demographic.

[@dingalarm]

The perfect tool and location to play the brown note 😋 Your song lyrics are also hilarious! 😂😂

[@railinly610]

Hilarious mate. When they laugh, they gonna sprinkle when they tinkle !

[@TC_here]

These are great creations.. looks like great fun messing with all these ..

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

_knock knock knock_ "Quit playing with the MIDI Creator in there! I gotta go!"

[@ynnebbenny]

Pretty sure I already make my own music in the toilet without needing electronic gadgets. ;)

[@pgtmr2713]

Slidewhistle and or French horn.