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Start in science. Laser harp - what is it? How is the interactive on playing the laser harp

laser harp- high-tech musical instrument. Many may remember the laser harp in the performances of the world famous Jean Michel Jarre. Through the use of this harp in his performances, Jean Michel made the light show even more futuristic. As part of this show, he played some tracks on a laser harp, covering the laser beams and thereby forcing it to extract sounds from it.
Many years have passed, but the laser harp is still the most unusual and mysterious musical instrument. And thanks to technological progress, almost every inhabitant has the opportunity to order a laser harp for rent.

Are you a musician or DJ?
Add some uniqueness and magic to your performance. After all, now it is more and more difficult to surprise the sophisticated viewer.

You are the organizer of the event.
Add interactivity to your event. Laser harp rental will make your event extraordinary. Invite your guests to play the most unusual instrument.

A laser harp is a hardware-software complex consisting of a laser, which can be green or color. Special sensor equipment with which laser beams begin to make sounds. Fog generator for favorable perception of laser beams.

In some cases, to give the scale of the event and enhance the visual effect, you can install two more laser projectors, which, by the way, can, for example, draw a company logo.

Options for using the laser harp:

Musical arrangement Events
Meeting with guests
Support for stage numbers
Stage light and music show
club party

Laser New Tec offers a laser harp. This specialized midi interface will allow you to use the laser projector as an unusual musical instrument. You can become a performer musical works on an impressively sized virtual light harp that uses laser beams instead of strings. By blocking the beams of the laser harp from reaching the sensor, you send a MIDI signal from the controller to the computer's sound card, synthesizer or sampler, which is responsible for playing the desired sound.

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The main features of the proposed laser harps

The laser harps we offer are distinguished by:

Versatility.

The indisputable advantage of the equipment is its versatility and ease of use. It can be used to trigger any type of audio or video information, any visual content, sound or music, special effect or pyrotechnics. In combination with Pangolin QuickShow, Beyond or Live PRO software, the Laser Harp controller can be used to play selected laser effects and shows. You can use the equipment during a variety of events (from presentations to city holidays).

functionality.

You can choose between 8, 9, 10 or 12 laser beams, depending on how many tone the melody you are playing requires. Connects to any laser projector with a standard ILDA input. You can connect a laser machine of the required power

Reliability.

Each laser harp controller is manufactured and configured by experienced professionals and tested many times. The proposed models cope with all the tasks.

Note! Any laser harp can be not only bought, but also rented by you. We provide high-quality equipment from well-known manufacturers at the most favorable conditions. The company has also developed a flexible system of discounts. Thanks to this, you can use modern solutions even with a limited budget.

The laser harp is an electronic musical instrument that consists of several laser beams that need to be blocked, similar to the plucking of the strings of a conventional harp. It is famous for being used in the concerts of Jean Michel Jarre.

The laser harp, which got its name from its resemblance to a regular harp, was first used by JMJ during concerts in China in 1981. The Chinese public was amazed and delighted with this instrument. The strings in this harp are laser beams. The prototype of the laser harp was developed by the Frenchman Bernard Szajner in 1979. In 1981, when the instrument was first shown to the public, it was still under development. Since then, the laser harp has undergone many changes.

The French engineer Philippe Guerre, who was interested in music, made radical changes to the instrument and its software. His laser harp was constructed from a laser and a rotating mirror that reflected beams in different directions. Photoelectric sensors determined exactly where an obstacle stood in the path of the laser beam.

A laser harp with a similar design was used by Jarre at the Houston concert and subsequent performances. The intellectual part of the instrument is a microcomputer that uses the Laserharp program developed by Guerre. Every beam can play different notes when Jarre touches the light "strings". When Jarre moves his hands up or down, the tone of the note changes. As soon as Jarre removes his hand from the beam, the note will stop playing.

The laser harp used by Jean-Michel in Paris was an aluminum structure four meters high and two and a half meters wide with twelve transparent artificial glass tubes for twelve laser beams.

Jean-Michel has often been criticized for wearing huge clumsy gloves while playing the laser harp in concert. However, this is not part of the scenery, as some people think, but a means of security. Gloves are made of a special material and protect the performer from laser beams. Otherwise, the performer's hands would simply burn out. In addition, special sunglasses protect eyes from laser radiation.

Also, laser harps are made by Jen Levine.

Architect Jen Lewin has an unusual hobby - she makes laser harps. What it is? These are both musical instruments and art installations. Their main element is laser beams, which are "responsible" for sound effect. Amazing, isn't it?

In fact, everything is simple and clear. But that's the specifics. contemporary art: the author must certainly explain everything, be sure to flavor his explanations with vague and mysterious concepts. And, of course, call it all a concept.

So, the concept of laser harps as interpreted by Jen: "Using light instead of real strings changes our perception of space and matter.

What does not physically exist (virtual string) acts as if it were there. "Directly poetry!.

Having adopted this - or some other - "twisted" formulation, or even without it at all, Jen took up laser harps back in 1997 and since then managed to make 8 of them. Such is the hobby.
She argues that all harps are different: some are made in the form of elegant wooden sculptures, others are not so elegant, but are water and weather resistant.
Jen Levine made one of these harps with a grant from the Black Rock Art Foundation, presented it to the general public last year at the Burning Man festival, and now she is showing her instrument at Wired NextFest. Therefore, according to the artist, the harp had to be protected not only from winds, rains and dirt, but also from "the physical impact of visitors."

In order to better demonstrate the harp's capabilities and grab the audience's attention, Jen decided to make it a composite. The installation consists of three harps, which can be arranged in any way (each is powered by an independent source of electric current). By the way, Jen rearranged her creations all the days of the exhibition. That is, every morning the installation turned out to be as if new.
However, in the morning, as in the afternoon, there is nothing special to look at - ordinary steel frames. But something magical happened that night. Vertical rays, starting at the very ground and abruptly "cutting off" at a height of up to three meters in open space, in an open field, so to speak, is a truly enchanting sight. But visitors did not forget about the musical component of the structures. And for good reason - she also turned out to be extremely unusual.
After all, strings are rays that can not only be "pulled", but also pass through. You can even play a whole song - running (or passing, depending on musical preferences) through different harps: of course, if the configuration allows.
According to estimates, the rays-strings are enough for five octaves: you can depict (to what extent the right word!) something very symphonic, especially since several people can play at once. But the laser harp was not made to be used as an ordinary one. Therefore, Jen decided to add some "chips" to it, which the composers who composed parts for harps never dreamed of.

For example, crossing with one beam can give two dozen different sampled sounds, the amplitude of which, moreover, varies depending on the speed of movement: the faster, the louder. Jen says that you can play a variety of melodies this way - mostly meditative and atmospheric.
Jen's website has laser harp videos from 2001 and 2004 - plenty to watch and listen to.
Finishing the story about the concept of laser harps, Jen suddenly recalls that her installation is "equipped with lasers of a class recognized as safe for use in direct impact". After such an interesting explanation of the concept, the words about the class of equipment sound like a banality.
But Jen can be understood: after all, these harps are perhaps one of the few interactive sculptures for which there is a place in music industry- and not even virtual.

So, the laser harp has also received its distribution in Russia.

Russian musicians decided not to follow the Western experience and tried to build a laser harp from scratch. As a result, the designers creative association Deftaudio from Nizhny Novgorod it also turned out to be a body laser harp, but from eight beams. As the developers told Infox.ru correspondent, the design of the Nizhny Novgorod harp uses one industrial laser with a power of up to 100 mW, as well as eight reflectors and the same number of sensors, which are mounted on a frame about two and a half meters high.

A single laser is copied in the same way as in the Guerra instrument, but each resulting beam is received by an individual sensor. The position of the hand in height relative to the beam in domestic development can be controlled by an infrared sensor that is attached to the arm.

Like its counterparts, the Deftaudio harp is connected to synthesizer equipment, which allows you to model its sound at the discretion of the performer.

The power of the Nizhny Novgorod laser harp is low, and it is not necessary to use asbestos gloves for it. Therefore, it looks best in small darkened rooms where a smoke machine works. This is what allows it to be used in clubs and concert halls.

And this is how the instrument sounds in the video.

The text of the work is placed without images and formulas.
Full version work is available in the "Files of work" tab in PDF format

Introduction

Modern digital technologies have changed literally everything - from our everyday life to art, in any of its manifestations. wooden frame, strings, bow sound- the first association that arises at the mention of the word harp. But what if you imagine in front of you not one of the most ancient plucked instruments, and a tool that works on modern technologies and makes music when you move your hand in the air? Everything seems incomprehensible and intriguing. The idea of creating such a tool prompted us light show French composer Jean Michel Jarre. It should be said that electronic musical instruments appeared in the late 70s of the 20th century, such as electronic guitars, synthesizers, drum kits. The first technologies for using a laser beam to create musical instruments appeared in the last decade. Unfortunately, to date they have not yet received wide distribution. The reasons for this are the high cost of this device and the lack of Russian production.

Object of study: the process of designing and creating electronic musical instruments;

Subject of study: the use of a laser as a technological basis for the operation of electronic musical instruments;

The purpose of the project: creation of a musical instrument - a harp, the principle of which is based on the use of laser beam technology;

Research objectives:

To study and summarize information sources on the research topic;

Analyze the market for such devices;

Develop a prototype and specification of laser harp electronic components;

Model and design this device;

To assemble, complete, program and test the device;

Perform a feasibility study of the project and develop recommendations for its application.

Research methods: study and systematization of information, design, computer modeling, coding (programming), testing

Historical aspect of the project

The harp is one of the oldest musical instruments of mankind (Fig. 1). It is descended from the onion stretched string, which sounded melodious when fired. Later, the sound of the bowstring was used as a signal. The man who first drew three or four bowstrings on a bow, which, due to their unequal length, made sounds different heights, and became the creator of the first harp. Even in the Egyptian frescoes of the 15th century BC, harps still resemble a bow. And these harps are not the most ancient: archaeologists found the oldest harp during excavations of the Sumerian city of Ur in Mesopotamia - it was made four and a half thousand years ago, in the 26th century BC.

In ancient times, in the East, in Greece and Rome, the harp remained one of the most common and beloved instruments. It was often used to accompany singing or playing other instruments. The harp appeared early and in medieval Europe: Here special art playing on it was famous for Ireland, where folk singers- bards - sang their sagas to her accompaniment.

In the 20th century, with the advent of digital technology, the laser harp was invented. The laser harp was used for the first time at JMJ's Chinese concert back in 1981 and made a big impression on the audience. More complex - a two-color laser harp - was invented and made in 2008 by Maurizio Carelli. An Italian software and electronics engineer has created a portable two-tone laser harp called the KromaLASER KL-250. It was based on weak (only 80-100 mW) laser beams, because it was just a prototype of the currently existing Laser Harp. After that, Carelli developed the final and more powerful version of the Laser Harp called "KromaLASER KL-450". characteristic feature this instrument was a configured full octave with green beams for any diatonic notes and red beams for any chromatic notes. In the second half of 2010, Maurizio Carelli also developed a full color laser device independent of daylight a stand-alone model with a 1W laser called "KromaLASER KL-PRO", as well as another version of the laser harp, capable of controlling ILDA laser scanners, using blue / cyan color to implement the first multi-color laser controller: "KL-Control" (KL-Kontrol), the prototype of which was "KL-ILDA".

As part of our study, an analysis of the market for musical instruments of this kind was carried out, as a result of which it was found that existing tools can be classified according to the technology of functioning:

frameless,

frame,

by scope:

cabinet,

concert.

A frameless (open) laser harp is usually an unenclosed laser "fan" emanating from a laser projector of one design or another. That is why it is called “open” because neither from the sides nor from above, it is not closed by anything. When used indoors, the beams simply reach the ceiling, while in open areas they can freely go into the sky. (Fig. 2)

The first laser framed (closed) harps were single-color - usually with green beams. This is due to the peculiarity of human vision: with the same power of the laser projector, the green light of the laser is much better visible to us than the red one. But then two-color and multi-color laser harps began to appear. (Fig. 3)

The principle of operation of laser harps

From the point of view of physical processes, the operation of a laser harp is based on the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect - i.e. the ability of a substance to emit a stream of electrons under the influence of light - the photovoltaic effect (Fig. 4). It was first observed in 1839 by the French physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel. In 1888, Alexander Stoletov created the world's first photoelectric cell, and in 1905, Albert Einstein explained the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect in his work, for which he was awarded Nobel Prize in physics in 1921.

The principle of operation of open laser harps is quite complicated, and the main role here is played by special sensors located below, at the feet of the performer. These sensors register light flashes from the hands of the performer: when the musician covers one or another beam with his palm, his palm flashes with bright light. According to the principle of operation of these sensors, an open laser harp is divided into hardware and software-hardware.

In the first, signals from photosensitive elements are processed by devices based on microcontrollers, in the second, high-speed video cameras (from 60 frames per second and higher) usually act as sensors, the image from which is processed special programs on computers in real time (Fig. 5).

As part of our project, we chose the frame version of the technology. The harp in this case is a closed structure, in which vertical laser beams fall on photocells, as in laser signaling systems or subway turnstiles. Photocells, in turn, depending on the brightness of the light flux, generate electrical signals of a certain level, which are then converted into sounds (Fig. 6).

Economic justification for the relevance of the project

As part of this study we analyzed the market of musical instruments in order to find out the cost of modern laser harps. Based on the results of the analysis, the following data were obtained:

the minimum price for a closed harp is $270 (18,500 rubles) on the Chinese website (Aliexpress).

the highest price for a tool is 490 thousand rubles.

After analyzing the market for such musical devices, we conclude that laser harps are very rare in musical instrument stores, and they are completely absent in Russia. Below are the details of the different models of laser harps (Table 1):

Table 1

Characteristics of laser harps

Harp photography	Price, manufacturer	Name and characteristics
	150,000 rubles, China	Vintage laser harp. - Lasers: semiconductor, 100, 150, 200 mW; - Strings: number of laser strings of your choice; - Dimensions: box ~ 30x40x45 mm, frame ~ 120x90 mm, weight ~ 7 kg; Power: U=3V, A=5A, powered by 220V; Interface: USB (Virtual midi) Connectors: USB.
	700000 rub., China	Classic laser harp (computer device). equipment: Computer; Sound card; Specialized software; Powerful laser; Midi, ILDA and other switching; Octave pedal.
	550,000 rubles, China	Hi-tech laser harp, equipment: Computer; Sound card; Specialized software; Powerful laser; Mirrors; collapsible design; Midi, ILDA and other switching

Closed circuit harp is relatively small in comparison with the open type. The country of origin of both types is China. There are no analogues of this device manufactured in Russia. In the absence of such devices in our country and the high cost abroad determines the relevance of our work.

Enclosed laser harp design

For the functional organization of the device, we needed the following set of electronic components:

Arduino UNO microcontroller - the controller is built on ATmega328. The platform has 14 digital inputs/outputs, 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connector, a power connector, an ICSP connector, and a reset button. To work, you need to connect the platform to a computer via a USB cable, or supply power using an AC / DC adapter or a battery. (Fig. 7)

Semiconductor lasers are lasers with an amplifying medium based on semiconductors, where generation occurs, as a rule, due to stimulated emission of photons during interband electron transitions under conditions of high carrier concentration in the conduction band (Fig. 8).

Resistors and photoresistors. The main functional element in our device is a photoresistor - a sensor whose electrical resistance varies depending on the intensity of the light falling on it. The more intense the light, the greater the flow of electrons and the lower the resistance of the element becomes (Fig. 9 and 10).

Buzzer (piezoelectric element) - a signaling device, electro-mechanical, electronic or piezoelectric. (Fig. 11)

Laboratory power supply. (Fig. 12)

From the photocells, an electrical signal is removed and fed to a piezoelectric element, which makes a sound.

As for the design of the future device, having considered all the options, ranging from classical style before high - tech, we decided to develop our own. The shape of the harp frame will resemble the well-known sheet of the SIBUR company. Using the capabilities of the Fusion 360 3D modeling environment, we have developed a model of the frame of the future musical instrument, which will be created as a result of the project (Fig. 15)

Based on the large size of the harp, we decided not to print it on a 3D printer, but to use a laser machine for cutting plywood. To do this, we used the Sliser program for Fusion 360. (Fig. 16).

Laser harp programming

This system is controlled by a programmable microcontroller. Arduino UNO, we chose the IDE as the programming environment. The IDE is the only program in which all development takes place. It contains many functions for creating, modifying, compiling, deploying and debugging software. A fragment of the control program is presented below.

What is the first association at the mention of the word harp? Wooden frame, strings, her sound. But what if we imagine a dark room, smoke, laser and electronic music? Everything seems incomprehensible and intriguing.

Now several laser beams appear wrapped around the frame. But if you go beyond this thought, you can imagine a harp with an unlimited frame and made on only one laser beam.

What is an illusion?

This idea was inspired by a light show by the French composer Jean-Michel Jarre. This show inspired me so much that I wanted to repeat it at home.

The laser harp was first used at a concert in China. The prototype laser harp was developed by the Frenchman Bernard Scheiner in 1979. In 1981, when the instrument was first presented to the public, it was still under development. Since then, the harp has undergone many changes.

The French engineer Philippe Guerre made radical changes to the instrument and its software. His laser harp was constructed from a laser and a rotating mirror that reflected beams in different directions. Photoelectric sensors determined exactly where an obstacle stood in the path of the laser beam.

A laser harp of a similar design was also used by Jarre. The intellectual part of the instrument is a microcomputer that uses the Laserharp program developed by Guerre. Each beam can play different notes when Jarre touches the "light" strings. As he moves his hands up and down, the tone of the note changes. As soon as Jarre removes his hand from the beam, the note will stop playing.

On this moment the idea has even gone as far as a colored harp, which, we must admit, looks impressive. Guys, if you want to check out a lot more interesting things, I advise you to google Greig Stewart. The guy does really interesting things.

Justification of the circuit elements

As you can see from the title of the article, the project uses an Arduino Uno. Also needed:
– a sensor for reading the intensity of the reflected string. An ordinary photoresistor can do, what else can he do;
- an element for setting up the system (convenient regulation of the illumination threshold). The first thing that comes to mind is a potentiometer;
- a motor with a mirror for parallelizing the strings. Well, here you already need to think and approach the issue sensibly, because a lot will depend on this choice;
- a laser that will provide the necessary functionality of the harp strings;
– MIDI signal processor that accepts string frequencies.

If we talk about the last point, then there are two options: either to implement everything physically or virtually. I settled on the second option.

The Hairless-midiserial application was chosen to convert the signals, and loopMIDI to create a virtual MIDI port. Next, the signal will be transmitted to FL Studio, which receives the signal for the selected musical instrument.

Now as for the engine. If you don’t have the slightest idea where to move in this topic, like me, in principle, earlier, and want to rummage around in this topic, then there is an excellent article by Ridiko Leonid Ivanovich “Stepper Motors”. This is the best you can find on the internet.

Looking specifically this question it was tempting to use the Nema 17 engine in the project. Who wouldn't want to play around with that? Believe me, understanding how such “kids” work for an unprepared viewer can take more than one evening. At least that's how it was for me. However, a PM55L-048 unipolar motor plus a ULN2003 driver was chosen. How to connect it, how this combination works can be easily found, so I will not repeat everything ten times. But! Do not attempt to run this design on a 28BYJ-48 engine. You will never get it up to desired speed. And the problem will not be in your hands, but in the fact that it is simply not suitable for this purpose.

I will only say for a complete understanding of all of the above that on the breadboard it all looked like this:

Perhaps someone noticed that there is a transistor on the circuits, which was not mentioned. Well, it's introduced because of turning the laser on and off.

Assembly

If we consider the principle of work in slow motion, then it all looks like this:

the stepper motor makes a turn to the corresponding angle value, at this moment the laser turns on for a fraction of a second and the photoresistor is polled. If the value from the photoresistor is greater than the string response threshold, then we can assume that the string is interrupted and we know which string by the position of the motor. It remains to send the signal to the virtual midi-port for sound processing. If the photoresistor value has not exceeded the threshold, then there are two possibilities: either the string has not been broken, or the threshold value is too high. To change the threshold, you can turn the potentiometer knob, and the next time the photoresistor is polled, its value will already be compared with another threshold value.

Then the laser turns off and the motor moves again one step. The laser turns on again, a poll takes place, a decision is made, the laser is turned off and the motor turns. When the motor takes one less step than the number of strings, which can be set programmatically, the steps will start at reverse side at high speed without turning on the laser. Visually, we will not notice this, and it still seems to us that we see several strings at the same time.

Ah yes, the laser. Our Chinese friends are great at marketing. After all, it is convenient to write not the actual laser power itself, but something like the maximum output power does not exceed such and such a number. As a result, sellers, not really reading given fact, confidently claim that you will have an excellent powerful laser. It's fun to watch.

Since nothing more or less powerful could not be found, what is available went to waste. And there is really somewhere around 5 mW, which cannot even light a match. As a result, the result is not quite what we wanted. However, somehow I didn’t want to take the installation for a few W, if, of course, it’s possible to just buy it. Beautiful, but somehow dangerous.

Yes, yes, looking at the photo above, you might think about etching the board. It seems like the second project already. Well, I will say that I thought about it, but have not yet decided on this feat.

Next, you can see in what a beautiful wrapper everything was wrapped. In order not to bother in what place to place one small photoresistor, and so that it always works, you can make a cascade of elements. But the system also works with one photocell conveniently located near the mirror. Everything will depend only on the threshold that will be selected. On a note, the laser shines better from something white. I used white gloves. Complements the whole image.

And, of course, the final result:
in the photo, the rays are clearly distinguishable thanks to the air humidifier (the noise of the Soviet unit is heard in the video): the more particles there are in the air, the better the laser is visible. Unfortunately, the video does not convey the full effect. And during the day the rays are not visible at all.