windytan

I attached what appear to be LEDs (photodiodes?) to a pair of headphones and now I can hear lights that blink in the hearing range of frequencies 🤔 No power source needed

I’m not claiming that it’s ear-safe, and the sound is headache-inducing albeit quiet, but it’s pretty interesting.

For example, dimmable LED lighting flickers at around 1000 Hz. All my lamps make a different sound. Moving the “light microphone” through sunlight makes a wind-like sound.

Mar 7, 2024 at 7:19pmWeb
Show threadNicdMar 7, 2024
@windytan Do I understand right that the LEDs capture light and cause current to the headphones? Or are those infrared receivers or something?
Show threadwindytanMar 7, 2024
@nicd I don't think they're ordinary LEDs. Photodiodes?
Show threadDag Ågren ↙︎↙︎↙︎Mar 7, 2024
@windytan @nicd Actually even completely ordinary LEDs will turn light into current. They're not great at it, but they will.
Show threadranjitMar 7, 2024

@WAHa_06x36 @windytan @nicd we did a performance a few weeks ago using this trick, and a bunch of homemade LED candles with different musical chords encoded in the flickering lights!

https://www.instagram.com/fuzbal/reel/C3ZGRyhgnUc/

Show threadwindytanMar 7, 2024
@ranjit @WAHa_06x36 @nicd Wow, synchrony of thoughts :) I love it!!
Show threadNicdMar 8, 2024
@ranjit @WAHa_06x36 @windytan That's cool! I've only done an audio thing like this once, when I turned a hard drive read head into a speaker. There's a crappy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuxgMXV-gxk

It actually worked surprisingly well once I attached a larger "element" (a cardboard mug) to the read head.
Kiintolevykaiutin

YouTube
Show threadanfractuosityMar 7, 2024

@windytan I really like that idea :)

I thought you could try transmitting audio to it via PDM through a Caps Lock LED (not sure what the maximum frequency you can achieve through a keyboard LED is though).

Also HDD/Ethernet LEDs could maybe make interesting sounds too.

Show threadwindytanMar 7, 2024
@anfractuosity Caps lock LED transmissions, now there's an idea :)
Show threadanfractuosityMar 7, 2024
@windytan One more idea, you mentioned about sunlight, maybe you'd get cool sounds from the twinkling of distant stars too, using a telescope.
Show threadDudula the DudMar 7, 2024
@windytan Now you can make a Crystal Diode radio receiver!
Show threadfelixmüdeMar 7, 2024
@windytan
That reminds me of a device that transforms bat calls into the human Acoustic range, that thing gives some interesting sound effects when pointed at a switch mode power converter.
Show threadPrimoMar 8, 2024
@windytan that's very cool :O
Show threadrecursive 🏳️‍🌈Mar 9, 2024
@windytan Here's a fancy approach https://rarewaves.net/products/lite2sound-px/
Lite2Sound PX | Rare Waves

Show threadKevin Karhan Mar 13, 2024
@windytan yes, the Sun makes noises...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGPKTtt05wc
This Is What the Sun's Wind Sounds Like! (Very Creepy) - Six Real Sound Recordings (4K)

YouTube
Show threadAdvanced Persistent TeapotMar 17, 2024
@windytan technological synaesthesia! Next task: smells to colours 😜
Show threadPhil Thane ✅Mar 17, 2024
@windytan I didn't need to go to the trouble. I have an FM radio and some cheap led lights with poor shielding on my boat. Each light causes a different pitch sound through the radio.
Show threadbabydolly krystiMar 17, 2024
@windytan oooooh, fascinating idea!
Show threadnotorisch interessiertMar 17, 2024
@windytan many years ago I had the pleasure of walking through a city with headphones on, which make electromagnetic waves audible. Stunning experience. You can listen to examples on the artist’s page: https://electricalwalks.org/about/ Best impressions in the last video on this page: https://electricalwalks.org/video/
christina kubisch - electrical walks

virtual electrical walks oslo

Show threadwindytanMar 18, 2024
@RS Ooh sounds like an awesome experience!
Show threadCartyBostonMar 18, 2024
@windytan Is it like using a speaker as a microphone?