Why not turn old cell phones into awesome little noisemakers? Many older cell phones contain a MIDI synthesizer for playing ring tones and a Java Virtual Machine framework.Cell phones also include a color display, speaker, output jack, internal memory, battery, and input keys.
(Blackberry Demo by Mike Una.)
Apparently there is a lack of basic sound making apps that run on J2ME for phones. So I set out to learn the language, design, and create a simple application for playing sequenced MIDI loops. The project took several weeks to take shape, from learning the limitations of the cell phone to crafting a set of 99 short MIDI files. In the end it was a success and I’m excited about the possibilities.
The resulting application features very simple keypad controls: Numbers 1-8 randomly select one of 99 preset loops to fill the looping 8 step song mode. The # and * keys adjust the length of the song, making it shorter or longer. The 0 key turns on the Self Play mode where the pattern will change randomly or flip around. Pressing the 0 key during the Self Play also clears all patterns and returns you to the Normal Mode. The 9 key also exits the Self Play mode, but sets all patterns to random. The only obvious function missing is the ability to adjust the tempo of the whole, because the MIDI loops have individual preset tempos.
The final piece of the puzzle is this output converter box. With the exception of Blackberry phones, most have a proprietary style connector for hooking up a headset. Built with the help of this diagram, my box allows my Nokia 2610 to go from 2.5mm connector to dual 1/4 inch jacks for Input and Output. Once the sounds are processed through a delay it really makes the tones interesting and usable as filler material in an Experimental Music Set.
The first version of this MIDI sequencer is available to my readers for Free with hopes that many will try and provide feedback for a better paid digital download version in the future. So please enjoy and comment with your feedback, videos, and sounds!
Download Links:
http://www.getlofi.com/getlofi.jad <- This is the Install File ( 1K )
http://www.getlofi.com/getlofi.jar <- Actual Application ( 26Kb )
NOTE THAT YOUR CARRIER DATA RATES APPLY!
Extra information about ways to install .jar files.
Tags: cell phone noisemaker, cellphone audio generator, j2me experimental music software
I can testify that this application makes some very unexpected and interesting sounds. The sounds are different for each type of phone.
looks great! Let’s see if I have some old cell phones lying around! I actually have often been wondering why nobody had ever attempted this!
Thanks!
Most thrift stores have older cell phones for under $5 or look around on eBay for the Nokia 2610 ( unlocked ) and a CA-45 Data cable ( needed to transfer the app ).
However the best place to snag an old cell is one of those Electronic Recycling boxes.
Cool app. Unfortunately it doesn’t work properly on my SE w810i. Seems like there’s some kind of timing problem and it only plays tiny bits of every sequence.
Yes, the Sony Ericsson phones are currently not compatible. Perhaps we can fix that in our software.
The new version 0.3 fixes Sony Ericsson. Please try it out.
Version 3.0 started up correctly but then froze. Nothing moving and the only thing working is the quit key.
Correction, if i start up the application and then press autoplay, go into the phones media player and back it starts playing but with even more erratic timing than before. Looks like there’s something strange going on with the handling of zero patterns.
Strange, its working for me on the SE W380. When the app starts up it just runs through all the song really fast because there are no patterns set. The 0 pattern is just a blank 4 note bar.
We’ll keep trying.
Hey it’s up! Someone told me this happened and I checked the site and thought they were crazy.
Sounds awesome. And I still have that phone.
Brilliant idea! Doesn’t work on touchscreen phone. Have to seek out old nokia in the ‘cupboard under the stairs’ aarrrrggh!
I was told it does work on a Blackberry Touchscreen. Just have to enable the keypad during the program somehow.
Doesn’t work on my Nokia E71, installs OK but no sounds.
Works on a Nokia 6630. Only the Midi-Soundset of the 6630 is crap so the loops don’t sound well..
Cool, well it works! So that’s good.
This is great!
would be cool if we could somehow type in what number of loop we want, and or make our own midi sounds even if its with a computer app.
-theo
Hey Theo,
Those are both good ideas. I think that we can build that Type and Play feature into the next version.
The MIDI sounds themselves you can’t edit, those are factory preset on the phone. However the MIDI loops (the notes) that the Software plays are editable, and can be created with any MIDI composer.
Anyone is welcome to make some MIDI patterns and email them to me. If they sound decent they will be included next time.
Nice work! Will you be opening the source?
Thanks, for the props. Perhaps in a very distant future the source code will be shared.
@Theo: It’s easy to open the .jar file with WinRAR (for example), extract the .mid files and edit them with a sequencer or make a new .mid file (i used FLStudio) then put them back in the .jar file (after making a backup of the original, of course).
Hey DCP,
That’s pretty clever! I didn’t know you could do that. Just figured that .jar file was all compiled and stuff.
Great hack! Enjoy.
Oh and post some sounds of your edited version.
[...] Everything you need: MIDI Loop Sequencer aka Cell Phone Noisemaker [...]
I installed and tried it on a Nokia 5300. The sequencer looked like it was running, but there was no sound, at least from the internal speaker (the volume was cranked). I will keep messing around with it…it looks like fun
Hey Brian, yeah some Nokia models don’t work correctly
There may be some preferences for application access to Audio though you could set.
great appz!
works fine here on an lg viewty KU990I
Hey, comments are enabled again? Fine
I found out that your little Noisemaker only works on Phones with MIDP 2.x. So it won’t even install on a Nokia n-Gage or a Nokia 3660 for example. Runs OK on Nokia 6630 and 2610 here. Runs with input problems on an O2 xda Comet but that’s due to the poor Java Engine on that model. Doesnt run on a Siemens SL-55.
[...] Everything you need: MIDI Loop Sequencer aka Cell Phone Noisemaker [...]
I couldn’t even get it to install on my LG Shine CU720. Is it compatible with this model? Hopefully I can track down some older phones to try this out on.
Wonderful, suddenly my Blackberry is much groovier than it was! Works like a dream
Love this, downloaded it last year and was wondering if there were any updates or features added since inception? Or has this project stopped and what i have is what i get?
Cool bro, I’m new here and I appreciate your excellent work, you have a awesome site dude