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The Prism is a documented 2009 DIY, guitar-shaped instrument that uses four laser beams as optical strings. Breaking a beam triggers sound, while an infrared rangefinder built into the neck provides pitch control. It is an electronics project—not a documented mass-market guitar—and the historical sources do not establish whether it is currently sold as a kit or finished instrument.
What is the Prism laser synth-guitar?
The Prism combines laser-triggered input, analog synthesizer circuitry and a neck-mounted pitch control in a guitar body. Hackaday described it as an instrument and reported that schematics and a PCB layout were available to download. SonicState called it a “mutant guitar/synth hybrid.” The original coverage dates to 2009, so it is best understood as a documented DIY build rather than a current commercial product.
Hackaday’s Prism project coverage and SonicState’s 2009 description provide the historical overview.
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How does the laser guitar work?
Four beams act as optical strings
Gizmodo reported that four lasers act as strings: when a player moves a hand through and breaks a beam, the circuit detects the interruption and triggers sound. In the creator’s technical discussion, phototransistors sense the laser light and comparator circuitry processes the resulting change. This is optical triggering, not vibration sensing from conventional strings.
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Gizmodo’s report on the four laser strings describes the playing concept, while the creator’s build discussion covers the sensor and circuit details.
The neck controls pitch
The neck was refashioned as a pitch bender using an infrared rangefinder. As the player’s hand changes its distance from the sensor, the rangefinder’s output changes and controls pitch. The neck therefore supplies a continuous control gesture rather than the fretting action of an ordinary guitar.
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- 【Portable and Versatile】 The detachable keyboard enables standalone performance, and the foldable guitar body makes traveling a breeze. Additionally, it’s compatible with a wide range of devices, including headphones, microphones, and foot pedals, ensuring unmatched. versatility.
What electronics does the documented design use?
The creator identifies Thomas Henry’s XR2206 voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) as the heart of the original design. The build discussion also describes four selectable laser-triggered octave ranges, an onboard low-frequency oscillator (LFO), and a simple 555-based sync generator. The sources describe a project build, not a standardized parts list for a currently available product.
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How does the original concept differ from the proposed revision?
| Aspect | Documented original design | Proposed revision |
|---|---|---|
| Optical sensing | Four laser beams detected through phototransistors and comparator circuitry | The cited discussion does not specify a different sensing method |
| Oscillator architecture | XR2206 VCO at the center of the design, with selectable octave ranges | Four independent XR2206 VCOs |
| Pitch control | Neck-mounted IR rangefinder used as a pitch bender | The cited discussion does not specify a changed pitch-control method |
| Envelopes and voices | Onboard LFO and 555-based sync generator; the sources do not establish four independent voice/envelope channels | Four VCO channels with planned ADSR envelopes and VCAs, plus a mixer |
| Instrument or controller | Guitar-body instrument integrating optical input and analog sound circuitry | Described as a more complex synthesis revision; the sources do not establish a separate external controller |
The distinction matters: the four-beam input does not by itself establish four independent synthesizer voices. The creator’s revision specifically proposed adding four VCO and envelope/amplifier paths.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you build a Prism, and what parts would you need?
The historical Hackaday coverage says schematics and PCB-layout files were available, making the Prism useful as a study or reproduction project. Those reports do not establish that the files remain accessible today, nor do they identify a current kit, manufacturer, warranty, or retail supply chain.
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At a high level, a reproduction would need the documented design files and the electronic building blocks described in the creator’s discussion:
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- Phototransistors and comparator circuitry to detect beam interruptions.
- An IR distance sensor or rangefinder for the neck’s pitch-bend control.
- An XR2206 oscillator IC or suitable module for the documented VCO design.
- The associated analog components, including the 555-based sync circuit; the creator also discussed delay components for richer synthesis.
This is not a verified bill of materials: the exact component values, sourcing, and assembly requirements should be taken from the available design files and circuit documentation, if accessible. The creator specifically raised the practical challenge of finding parts still in production for a reproducible build. A more ambitious four-channel revision would also require the additional VCOs, ADSR circuits, VCAs, mixer, and supporting components described above.
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Is the Prism laser guitar still sold?
The cited sources document a 2009 DIY build and downloadable design files, but do not verify a current seller, finished instrument, kit, or ongoing parts supply. On that evidence, treat the Prism as a historical project you may be able to study or reproduce—not as a product confirmed to be available for purchase.
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