In a remarkable fusion of computing history and electronic music, engineer Peter Samson has successfully programmed a 1959 PDP-1 computer to play Boards of Canada’s atmospheric track “Olson,” demonstrating the unexpected musical capabilities of one of the world’s earliest commercial computers.
The Programmed Data Processor-1, more commonly known as the PDP-1, holds a special place in computing history as the platform that hosted Spacewar!, one of the world’s first video games[5]. Now, thanks to Joe Lynch’s innovative PDP-1.music project and Samson’s expertise as a Computer History Museum docent, this vintage machine has found a new purpose as an extraordinarily slow but fascinating music player.
Transforming Light Bulbs Into Sound
The technical achievement behind this musical feat is both ingenious and laborious. The PDP-1 lacks any conventional audio output, so Samson repurposed four of the computer’s status indicator light bulbs into makeshift audio generators[5]. These bulbs, originally designed to display program status information to computer operators, were transformed into four square wave generators by rapidly switching them on and off at audio frequencies[5].
Each bulb essentially functions as a 1-bit digital-to-analog converter, with the signals from all four bulbs being downmixed into stereo audio channels[5]. The result is a distinctive, primitive sound that somehow complements the already nostalgic quality of Boards of Canada’s original composition.
The Harmony Compiler: A 1960s Innovation Revived
The software enabling this musical performance has an equally fascinating history. The “Harmony Compiler” used to translate “Olson” into machine-readable format was actually created by Samson himself during his student days at MIT in the 1960s[5]. Originally designed to reproduce classical music through the PDP-1’s light bulbs, the compiler has proven surprisingly versatile, handling 1990s electronic music with equal capability[5].
Paper Tape: The Ultimate Slow Music Format
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this project is the playback medium. Every note of “Olson” must be manually punched into paper tape and carefully fed into the PDP-1[3][5]. This painstaking process transforms what would be a simple digital file on modern systems into a physical artifact requiring hours of preparation for just a two-minute song[7].
The paper tape contains the compiled musical data that the computer reads sequentially, with each perforation representing specific instructions for the light bulb frequencies. This tangible, mechanical approach to music playback creates a stark contrast with today’s streaming services and digital audio workstations.
Digital Nostalgia Meets Analog Heritage
Joe Lynch’s motivation for the PDP-1.music project goes beyond technical demonstration. According to his GitHub documentation, the goal is to “rediscover the physical connection between early computers and music”[7]. The choice of Boards of Canada’s “Olson” is particularly apt—the Scottish electronic duo’s music already evokes themes of memory and the passage of time, making the track’s performance on a 65-year-old computer a kind of meta-commentary on technological nostalgia.
A Bridge Across Computing Generations
This project represents more than just a technical curiosity. It serves as a living reminder that the foundational principles of computer music—converting digital data into audio signals—remain fundamentally unchanged since the 1960s, even as the technology has become exponentially faster and more sophisticated. The PDP-1’s revival demonstrates that technology’s value extends beyond raw performance metrics, serving also as a medium for artistic expression and historical preservation[7].
For digital history enthusiasts and retro computing fans, watching and hearing a machine from the dawn of the computer age reproduce contemporary electronic music offers a unique perspective on how far technology has advanced while honoring the ingenuity of early computer pioneers.
Sources
- Boing Boing - This 1959 computer plays Boards of Canada’s “Olson”
- Startup News - Someone programmed a 65-year old computer to play Boards of Canada’s Olson
- Engadget - Someone programmed a 65-year old computer to play Boards of Canada’s ‘Olson’
- MashDigi - A 65-year-old PDP-1 computer recreates an electronic music classic