Music Box Files - Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby

I finally got around to scanning a music card strip and collecting all the resources needed to share it with others. I scanned the strip for the Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby, which you can see in action here: http://youtu.be/LDgYSWoSoqU

In this resource pack:

• A scan of the card (filename Lullaby.jpg)
• A chart that shows what notes the music box plays (filename actualnotes.jpg)
• A file for use with Sekaiju, a free & open source midi sequencer (filename pan_lullaby_final.skj)

Link to files on Google Drive

Notes on using Sekaiju:

• Open the .skj file in Sekaiju
• Use the 'View' > 'Show new piano roll' feature to see the editor I used
• The file is not identical to the final punch card composition, but very close

I bought my music box from this online store based in the UK but you can also get them through Grand Illusions now.

Other note: the music box punch card note labels are based in another key, as I understand it, and you can 'translate' by transposing to the key of C. I'm not a classically trained musician or a trained musician of any sort, so instead I ignore the stuff printed on the card and just refer to the handy chart I made (filename actualnotes.jpg). I transcribed this piece by ear off this version of the theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47mLY8vX3L0

Happy punching! P.S. -- if you're interested in a resource pack of another music box project let me know. I plan to get them scanned and online eventually, but if I know somebody is interested I'll expedite that. The best way to let me know is to send me a message via youtube (not just a comment on a video). Actually for any resources pack you need (laser cut stuff, etc) just let me know in some form (I think I get email notifications on comments left here...)

Lullaby from Pan's Labyrinth - Music Box

I did another music box piece, this time the lullaby from Pan's Labyrinth.

Music Box - Theme from Being John Malkovich

The big existing music box composition app is designed for the more ubiquitous 15 note diatonic DIY music box by Kikkerland. The source code is not available. Also it is for Android only.

The next music box project will have to be writing some music box composition software. This took forever using a mix of free tools not designed for the job at hand. You can see my extensive notes all over the punch card.

My music box software desired feature list:
-Platform independent, written in python
-Distribute source so others can modify it for their particular music boxes
-GUI allows user to click and drag holes on a virtual punch card
-Allow for variable speed playback to previewthe sound, pause and play with easy keyboard shortcuts
-Highlights timing issues (minimum spacing for repeat notes due to the music box mechanism)
-Creates a vector format file that can be printed (for easy hole punching) or lasercut

Great Fairy Fountain - 30 Note Chromatic Music Box

I got my first diatonic music box a while back, and then started searching for a chromatic one. I finally found one here: http://www.deanorgans.co.uk/order_musicalmovements_mbm30hp.htm

The video above is the Great Fairy Fountain theme, adapted by me for the music box.

I'm working on modifying the gear system a bit. The problem is that the holes on the same line (same note) have to be a certain distance apart in order to play the same note twice in succession. The solution is to scale the piece so that all the holes are farther apart. The problem is that then you have to turn the music box handle really fast to make the same tempo as before. I'm going to pick some gears out of my collection (yes I have a gear collection) and try to fix this problem.

The next music box related project is to get large sheets of cardstock and use a laser cutter to cut them out and also punch them with tunes I've adapted for music box. I also want to write some code to create either an easy system for writing music for the box or for adapting pieces from the tool I already use, Noteflight.

Finally I'll want to build a permanent 'box' for the music box--something nice, maybe cherry wood. I'll need to think carefully about the design in terms of resonance, but also handle placement, weight, ease of use, etc. The design of any particular project is always way more complicated than I expect it to be.

Lost Woods - Music Box

I got a music box for my (upcoming) birthday. Seven hours later, and this was done...

Things I learned:

No accidentals (must be in the key of C and free of any sharps or flats).

You can't play a note and the note directly above it because the hole punches are too close.

You can't play the same note in rapid succession (on adjacent lines on the grid's 'time' axis).

Now I really want a music box that can play half steps, can play notes in more rapid succession, and isn't so squeaky.