A 65-Year-Old Computer Plays Boards of Canada's 'Olson'

Someone Programmed a 65-Year-Old Computer to Play Boards of Canada’s ‘Olson’

In a remarkable fusion of modern nostalgia and vintage technology, an engineer has programmed a 65-year-old computer, the Programmed Data Processor-1 (PDP-1), to play “Olson,” a track by the beloved electronic music duo Boards of Canada. The PDP-1, noted for housing one of the first video games, Spacewar!, is now being celebrated as an impressive playback device for contemporary music.

In a captivating demonstration, Boards of Canada’s atmospheric sound is rendered using paper tape, carefully fed and programmed into the PDP-1 by Peter Samson, a Computer History Museum docent. This endeavor belongs to Joe Lynch’s PDP-1.music project, through which he strives to bring the haunting melodies of “Olson” to life on this antiquated machine.

As Lynch reveals on GitHub, the essential “Harmony Compiler” was initially developed by Samson to transform audio signals into lightbulbs’ flickering patterns while he was a student at MIT during the 1960s. Originally intended for classical music, it surprisingly adapts to ’90s electronic tracks, showcasing the flexibility of this technology.

Using innovative techniques, Samson repurposed four bulbs into square wave generators, effectively creating a simplistic digital-to-analog audio converter. The signals produced are mixed into stereo channels, transcribed via an emulator, and meticulously punched into paper tape.

While the painstaking method makes even basic songs labor-intensive, the unique experience of hearing Boards of Canada’s nostalgic tunes from a classic computer is undeniably rewarding. This fusion of past and present not only highlights the artistry behind electronic music but also pays homage to the groundbreaking technology of yesteryears.

What do you think about the intersection of vintage technology and modern music? Share your thoughts in the comments!