floppotron

New cover: The Final Countdown 3.0

I've just finished recording and editing the next cover - The Final Countdown by Europe. I've already done this with an old setup in 2016 as 8th clip at the beginning of the project - here's the link for comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-X-p0C0Uas . The initial version leaves a lot to be desired, so it's time for a revisit.

I've also brought some props to the cave, like an old IBM desktop (wi...

Request: #41: Through the Fire and Flames

Posting the older cover on request.

New Cover: Metallica - Master of Puppets

I have finally completed another cover after a break due to personal issues. This one has been waiting for a long time in my queue. It's a good fit for a new 3.0 setup, as there are 2 guitars which can be allocated on 2 4-stack blocks of FDDs. There's also a couple of drum rolls to show what the new setup can do. This is also the longest track so far which took mi around 2 weeks to prepare and make it sound good (and accurate) enough in a couple of iterations. I think it's the best sounding t...

New cover: You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC

Another 80s title. I think those rock song are the best fit for this device.

There were some comments after the last video saying that scanners took over the orchestra, which is correct as FDD can't mimic synth sounds well. This time the balance is back. That's also the first arrangement which takes real advantage of the FDD quantity. For the most part, 25-50% of floppy stacks are playing and when it needs to get loud, the whole wall gets engaged. You can hear (and see) it  in the ...

New Cover: Walk of Life

Still in the rock classics area - a popular song from 1985 by Dire Straits.

The video is coming tomorrow (technically today, as it's after 12AM CET) at 5:30PM. There will also be the first sponsored content since the beginning of the channel, but don't worry, it's won't be intrusive and it will fit the channel topic well. It's an hobby-related event, not a junky product or another "CrapVPN which gives you false sense of safety! Buy now!". That was a first offer I haven't refused or igno...

You Know My Name (Casino Royale Theme)

I'm back after being sick for almost 3 weeks. This is the first arrangement I have prepared for Floppotron 3.0. Have anyone seen that James Bond movie from 2006?

It's not that bad but I think it didn't went as good as the previous covers. Maybe it's because of the original's complexity which cannot be reproduced precisely enough, or maybe it's just me. What do you think? Here's the original for comparison:  2022-07-31 21:32:32 +0000 UTC View Post

New cover: I Want to Break Free

I couldn't miss a Queen track on the machine. I'm still experimenting with arrangement methods on the new hardware.

Video coming later today.

Star Wars Theme 3.0

Hello to all new patrons!

Here comes the second track - Star Wars Main Theme mixed with Imperial march re-arranged for the new machine.  Previous rendition for comparison - https://youtu.be/Oym7B7YidKs?t=15 . The new video will show up tomorrow at 5PM (CET) on YT.

By the way, I'm thinking of re-doing a couple of best tracks in future which has already been played on the old Floppotron and post them alon...

The Floppotron 3.0 - It's finally here!

I have just finished the editing of audio/video showing the new Floppotron and now I can show it to you. Here's the first edited audio track and the video is coming soon on YT (in ~15 minutes). I have also written an article which explains how it all works - It will be available here - http://silent.org.pl/home/ - right after publishing the video on YT.

Thank you all for the support. Now it's time to make some music cove...

The last "old" Floppotron cover

Floppotron 3.0 is finally ready. I already have some recorded some materials waiting to be edited, but in the meantime I made the last cover - "Con te partirò" (or "Time to Say Goodbye" in english version), by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto, performed by Andrea Bocelli. The video will show up after the weekend.

I recently had some bumps in my private life and put the project aside for a quarter, hence the larger delay, but it's finally ready to show. I have two titles ready - ...

Getting close...

Hello in the new year.

I finally have all the electronics and hardware in place. 512 floppy drives, 16 hard disks and 4 scanners.

I have recently set up 4 old and large HP scanners - like the large one from previous Floppotron. They now have their own lights and the new controller is ready. The "central" controller which connects all of the "instruments" to the computer now have a nice 3D-printed case with labels. There are still some small software fixes to do. It works OK in gen...

HDD head controller (almost) ready.

In the last days, I have been working on a controller for hard disk heads. The previous one has some problems and I had to redesign the circuit board and have it manufactured. Global chip shortage also caused some complications here, but I could finally assemble a couple of new boards.

I have also added a feature which was not planned for the initial machine - lights on every instrument. When there is more than 2 scanners making noise at the same time, sometimes it's hard to know what's...

Build status update

...and again, personal issues and another delay, but things are going forward.

Floppy disk stacks are working fine. Of course, there are still some small technical issues to fix in future, but it's not critical and it's pretty much enough to start making videos with it.. 

The protection circuits turned out to be working very well. A small fraction of the (quite old, 20  to 35-year old) drives fail within first hours of use after spending years in storage. About 10 of the...

Power supply modules ready

512 drives, over 2 watts per drive... That's a lot of power. I have finally completed the build of power supply modules. There will be two 5V modules for floppy drives (720W output power for each one) and a third, 12V for the rest of the system - controllers, scanners, floppy drives and possibly other instruments in the future. The face plates were 3D-printed on a textured base plate - I think it went extremely good, considering that it's a part you can make at home.

I did some more wor...

New Cover: Elton John - I'm Still Standing

It's been a while since the last cover, so I decided to take a short break from design works and record something. As usual, video is coming soon.

I'm still having some issues with the new machine. I had to redesign the power supply and power cabling. While the prototype seems to work, It still not stable and not completely safe and may potentially cause fire in certain conditions. I'll be re-assembling the improved design after the weekend and will try to show some progress at the end ...

Work in progress...

I have just returned from my vacation and I'm back to work.

Things didn't go so smoothly as I thought and the device is still not fully assembled. The amount of manual work turned out to be overwhelming. Large underestimation. I was hoping to get it running in July, but unfortunately that's not going to happen. Late September or October sounds more realistic for now.

In the meantime, here's a first picture of FDD cabling. It's a third revision which seems to finally work fine. Eve...

Request: Video Killed the Radio Star

Here's an older MP3 requested recently.
Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

The next chapter starts here.

I have finally rented the new place. It's a small room in the basement which used to be a storage. Not the cheapest one, but it's close to my apartment which was the priority. It's a 24/7 monitored office building, somewhat noisy during working hours and almost empty in the evenings/weekends when I do the recordings - it's angry-neighbor-safe. I have just bought two large desks and moved some stuff. I'm thinking of sticking an acoustic foam on at least 2 walls and maybe I'll put something on ...

Moving forward!

While work new Floppotron is progressing, I am finally planning to rent a dedicated space in the near future and move the machine out of my overcrowded flat. There will be enough room to expand the noisy device... and neighbors will be happy too. I have already found some candidates for a new location and if everything goes well, then I'll sign a lease agreement within a week and I'll be able to move in around mid-May.

I am planning the assembly of the new Floppotron from scratch in a n...

Flopptron 3.0 build update

A little update.

Everything is getting back to normal and I have found some time to move forward with the project. The next Floppotron will be MIDI-compatible and will work with any MIDI software or even with MIDI keyboards/controllers. The MIDI controller software module is almost ready - here's some prototype video, exclusive for Patrons.  Do you recognize this title?

New cover: Michael Jackon - Billie Jean

Here it is - one of the classics, again.

It took me a little longer than usual due to a lack of time recently. I will probably make less videos in near future ane use more free time to finish the new build... which was supposed to be finished long time ago.  Home lockdown was supposed to give me more time on tinkering and other after-hours stuff, but it went completely opposite in my case. A strange year it was...

All the best and see you in 2021!

New cover: The Animals - The House of the Rising Sun

Well, It's been a while since the previous video (again). I had a lot of things going on in the past (quite busy) two months, like a job change (my previous company went out of business, but it was actually a good thing, because I didn't like it anyway and found much better one... but I digress, so let's get to the point), etc. Everything is getting back to normal, and I finally found some time to make another cover without having to force myself and stay up late in the evenings.

This t...

New Cover: Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence

MP3 Requests: Doom Theme / Never Gonna Give You Up

An older recordings requested by Patrons - without extra charge, of course.

By the way, Doom Theme was one of the last covers recorded with directional microphone mounted on the camera (Panasonic G7) in late 2017. Switching to the external recorder with XY stereo microphone made a difference, didn't it? ;-)

New Cover: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son

Back after another break with late 60's classic.

As usual, video will come a little later on the YT channel, when the editing is done.

New cover: Styx - Mr Roboto

I recently had an unplanned break. I have spent last month vegetating and being sick at home. It probably wasn't a "famous" virus as symptoms were different, but also, a pretty nasty shit which took me over 3 weeks to get rid of.

Anyway, it's time for another cover - one of the titles requested since the beginning of the channel which "had to be done". I think it quite fits this instrument ;-).

By the way, it's the longest cover I have recorded so far.

Video on YT...

New cover: System of a Down - Lonely Day

It's one of my favourite bands, so it had to show up here sooner or later.

I have started the arrangement at the beginning of February. It was put on hold the next day do to my spontaneous business trip. During this time, the song (unfortunately) started to match current situation in EU (and not only EU). Life looks kinda like on SOAD's music video while everyone is staying at home during quarantine ;-).

MAR10 day medley

It's been over a month since last post. I have spend a half of February on a business trip in US and the second half catching up after a 2-week absence ;-).

Something little different this time - a short medley with Mario (Nintendo game) themes for MAR10 day. Haven't heard of it? Neither did I. It's some kind of Mario game series virtual event originated by Nintendo that I heard about by accident.  I thought it's a nice theme for the next video. Maybe because of nostalgia and dozen...

New cover: Supertramp - The Logical Song

One of the classics, again. Who still remembers this one?

...aaand no, the original author of this song is not Scooter ;-).

New Cover: Metallica - Whiskey in the Jar

How many of you guys knew that it's a Irish folk from before 19th century (possibly 17th, according to some sources)? I have picked the Metallica's version which fits this electric-guitar-imitating-storage-devices very well.

By the way, it's the longest Floppotron cover so far.
And, as usual, the video will show up on YouTube channel after editing.