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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!twitch!grt
From: grt@twitch.UUCP ( G.R.Tomasevich)
Newsgroups: net.rumor
Subject: Computer music from RFI
Message-ID: <347@twitch.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Mar-86 16:00:40 EST
Article-I.D.: twitch.347
Posted: Fri Mar 21 16:00:40 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 24-Mar-86 00:35:37 EST
References: <14700001@hplabsb.UUCP> <476@mmm.UUCP> <9345@ritcv.UUCP> <104@mit-amt.MIT.EDU> <1494@osu-eddie.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel
Lines: 19

> > The TRS-80 Model 1 used to put out so much RF interference, that one
> > way of adding sound to ANY program was to put a small AM radio right
> > by the machine, and listening to the electronic "music".  Some

The IBM 1620 was RF noisy, too, and of course it had no such thing as D/A.
We would put am AM radio by it, too.  Someone had written several pieces
of music, which were available on decks of cards.  Someone had even written
a music compiler, which took notes, spelled out on cards, and produced
the notes.  I think, but am not sure, that that is how the composed pieces
were done.  This was at the Harvard Chemistry Dept.  Many computers
emitted a fair amount of RF from their console lamp drivers, including
the HP 2115A, the Data General Nova 1200, PDP-11.

Even modern equipment makes noise, sometimes audible.  We have an 8088
processor pack in a frame powered by a Western Electric 484AA power converter.
One can hear what the 8088 is doing by listening to the 484AA.
-- 
	George Tomasevich, ihnp4!twitch!grt
	AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ