Singing tesla coil
Encyclopedia
The singing Tesla coil is a form of plasma speaker
. It is a variation of a solid state Tesla coil
that has been modified to produce musical tones by modulating its spark output. The resulting pitch is a low fidelity square wave like sound reminiscent of an analog synthesizer.
The term, "singing Tesla coil" was coined by David Nunez, the coordinator of the Austin, Texas
chapter of Dorkbot
, while describing a musical Tesla coil presentation by Joe DiPrima and Oliver Greaves during DorkBot's 2007 SXSW event. The term was then made popular by a CNET article describing the event.
Though they had been been doing public performances with the technology since March 2006. Shortly after that, DiPrima named their performance group "ArcAttack
" and became the first musical group to ever use this technology in live performance.
While early versions of musical Tesla coils generally used Zero crossing threshold detector
as a method of producing music through their spark output, Scott Coppersmith was the first person to design a complete MIDI based Tesla coil system.
Now, MIDI is the most common method of music production. It works by means of a microcontroller
that is programmed to interpret MIDI data, and output a corresponding Pulse-width modulation
(PWM) signal. This PWM signal is coupled to the Tesla coil through a fiber optic cable, and controls when the Tesla coil turns on and off.
Steve Ward demonstrated a singing Tesla coil at the DucKon
16, science fiction
convention on June 9, 2007, at which time it was suggested to him to nickname the device, the "Zeusaphone
". It is a play on the name of the Sousaphone
, giving homage instead to Zeus
, Greek god of lightning.
Singing Tesla coils were featured in Walt Disney's movie The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
A singing Tesla coil was used in Björk
's 2011 performance piece Biophilia
, during a song called "Thunderbolt".
Plasma speaker
Plasma speakers are a form of loudspeaker which varies air pressure via a high-energy electrical plasma instead of a solid diaphram. Connected to the output of an audio amplifier, plasma speakers vary the size of a plasma glow discharge, corona discharge or electric arc which then acts as a...
. It is a variation of a solid state Tesla coil
Tesla coil
A Tesla coil is a type of resonant transformer circuit invented by Nikola Tesla around 1891. It is used to produce high voltage, low current, high frequency alternating current electricity. Tesla coils produce higher current than the other source of high voltage discharges, electrostatic machines...
that has been modified to produce musical tones by modulating its spark output. The resulting pitch is a low fidelity square wave like sound reminiscent of an analog synthesizer.
The term, "singing Tesla coil" was coined by David Nunez, the coordinator of the Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
chapter of Dorkbot
Dorkbot
Dorkbot is a group of affiliated organizations worldwide that sponsor grassroots meetings of artists, engineers, designers, scientists, inventors, and anyone else working under the very broad umbrella of electronic art...
, while describing a musical Tesla coil presentation by Joe DiPrima and Oliver Greaves during DorkBot's 2007 SXSW event. The term was then made popular by a CNET article describing the event.
Though they had been been doing public performances with the technology since March 2006. Shortly after that, DiPrima named their performance group "ArcAttack
ArcAttack
ArcAttack is a performance art group that specializes in playing music through a combination of home made, high tech instruments, and more traditional instruments suchas guitar and bass.-Background:...
" and became the first musical group to ever use this technology in live performance.
While early versions of musical Tesla coils generally used Zero crossing threshold detector
Zero crossing threshold detector
200px|thumb|right|Circuit DiagramA zero crossing detector is used for detecting the zero crossings of AC signals. A typical AC signal is the sine wave which goes up and down the zero level. Many electronic systems need to know 'when' the signal crossed the zero level...
as a method of producing music through their spark output, Scott Coppersmith was the first person to design a complete MIDI based Tesla coil system.
Now, MIDI is the most common method of music production. It works by means of a microcontroller
Microcontroller
A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Program memory in the form of NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM...
that is programmed to interpret MIDI data, and output a corresponding Pulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation , or pulse-duration modulation , is a commonly used technique for controlling power to inertial electrical devices, made practical by modern electronic power switches....
(PWM) signal. This PWM signal is coupled to the Tesla coil through a fiber optic cable, and controls when the Tesla coil turns on and off.
Steve Ward demonstrated a singing Tesla coil at the DucKon
DucKon
DucKon is an annual science fiction convention held every June in the Chicago area. The name is a shortening of DUpage County KONvention....
16, science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
convention on June 9, 2007, at which time it was suggested to him to nickname the device, the "Zeusaphone
Zeusaphone
Zeusaphone is a trademarked term for singing Tesla coils, high-frequency, solid state Tesla coil, whose spark discharge is digitally modulated so as to produce musical tones. The high-frequency signal acts in effect as a carrier wave; its frequency is significantly above human-audible sound...
". It is a play on the name of the Sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
, giving homage instead to Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
, Greek god of lightning.
Singing Tesla coils were featured in Walt Disney's movie The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
A singing Tesla coil was used in Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's 2011 performance piece Biophilia
Biophilia (album)
Biophilia is the musical project and eighth full-length studio album by Icelandic singer Björk. The album was released on 10 October 2011, over four years after her previous studio album, Volta ....
, during a song called "Thunderbolt".