Moppy Player
Floppy drives, once the cornerstone of personal computing storage, have long been eclipsed by vastly superior technologies. Yet, their mechanical components, particularly the stepper motors that controlled the read/write head, possess an uncanny ability to produce a wide range of sounds when precisely controlled. This seemingly obsolete technology has found a new lease on life in the realm of musical performance, where the precise control of these stepper motors can be harnessed to create intricate and engaging musical arrangements.
At the heart of the Moppy Player project lies a clever use of software and hardware. This software, a Java application, translates MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files into a stream of pitch and channel signals, these signals are sent to the Arduino through a USB connection. The Arduino, in turn, uses these signals to precisely control the movement of the stepper motors with each drive requiring 3 connections, 1 for the stepper advance signal, one for ground, and one for the stepper reverse signal, dictating the pitch and duration of each note. This results in a captivating performance that marries the digital precision of coding with the analog charm of mechanical sounds, creating a symphony that feels both futuristic and deeply nostalgic.
I ventured beyond the Moppy Player's initial design, aiming to harness the unique sounds of hard drives in addition to floppy drives. Hard drives, with their actuator arms, are capable of producing a distinct timbre and a broader pitch range compared to floppy drives, adding rich layers to the music. I Modified the Arduino's C code to only use the stepper advance signal then connected that to the hard drive actuator. Through meticulous tuning and experimentation, my final design emerged as a diverse electronic orchestra, composed of 5 floppy drives and 3 hard drives, each contributing its unique voice to the ensemble.
The culmination of this project transcended its original scope, weaving together the distinct sounds of floppy and hard drives into a harmonious and innovative performance. Below is a video of my setup performing a piece from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, a testament to the creativity and technical prowess that turned an idea into an auditory experience. Enjoy this blend of technology and artistry that bridges the gap between past and present, inviting listeners into a world where digital meets analog in a musical dance.