‘demon box’ makes music out of drills, chainsaws, TVs and more using electromagnetic fields

Listen to objects with electromagnetic fields using demon box

Startup Eternal Research has developed Demon Box. It’s a musical instrument that can convert and transform the electromagnetic fields from objects into sounds for music-making. Objects with electromagnetic waves pack unseen and unheard frequencies. The role of this triangular Demon Box is to summon and reveal these sounds in the audible world, helping producers shake up their tracks with layers of sharp, fuzzy, or resonant ambient sounds.

all images and video stills courtesy of Eternal Research

Eternal research adds 33 inductors for electromagnetic waves

Eternal Research’s Demon Box has 33 inductors, as listed on its ongoing campaign. These are the components that react to electromagnetic fields — they’re the ones that pick up signals from devices or objects that give off electromagnetic waves. The startup arranges these inductors in a triangular form. In this way, they capture the electromagnetic signals from different angles and sources. These frequencies are then converted into usable audio or control signals for musicians and producers to use or apply to their synthesizers and other equipment.

there are 33 inductors on the device that pick up signals from objects with electromagnetic waves

Demon box summons sounds from wi-fi routers, tools and more

Producers and composers can plug external devices into the Demon Box so they can retrieve the music coming out of drills, microwaves, chainsaws, and other objects with electromagnetic waves. The list of objects that users can use includes mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, microwave ovens, tuning forks, electric guitars, computers and laptops, neon signs, old video game consoles, fluorescent lights, robotic and animatronic toys, radios and TVs, electric razors, power tools, speakers, audio equipment, and anything with a small motor (like a toy train), to name a few.

these inductors on the Demon Box convert the electromagnetic fields from objects into sounds

The triangular device has three mono audio channels, one stereo audio channel, three control voltage channels, and one MIDI channel. This means the device can be connected to a mixer, speaker, synthesizer, modular equipment, and even to a laptop or computer since it comes with a USB-C port. They can also plug their headphones in and listen directly to the sounds using the stereo mix output. The Demon Box has three main audio channels.

the Demon Box can make sounds out of power tools through electromagnetic fields

These allow producers and composers to play with panning, phasing, and effects layering. Each of these audio channels has its own aux-in, meaning users can plug in an external synthesizer, drum machine, or other audio devices and blend it with the sound coming from the Demon Box’s inductors.

They can also independently control the mix between the sound coming from the aux-in and the sound picked up by the inductors. The setup makes it flexible for users to control how much of each sound they want in each channel. So far, the Demon Box is priced at 799 USD for retail, and shipping begins in March 2024.

even animatronic toys work on the Demon Box