Reactor

New Aesthetic Watch: Google Beatbox [UPDATED]

by Hrag Vartanian on May 8, 2012

We’re not sure this is art (or care really) but this is a great trick you need to try in 4 easy steps:

1. Cut and paste the text below into Google Translate:

pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk bschk pv bschk bschk pv kkkkkkkkkk bschk bschk bschk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk bschk pv bschk bschk pv kkkkkkkkkk bschk bschk bschk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk bschk pv bschk bschk pv kkkkkkkkkk bschk bschk bschk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk bschk pv bschk bschk pv kkkkkkkkkk bschk bschk bschk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk pv zk bschk pv zk pv bschk zk bschk pv bschk bschk pv kkkkkkkkkk bschk bschk bschk

2. Choose the “from” language to be German.

3. Click the “listen” button in the bottom right corner of the “from” box.

4. Listen.

Great, now the computers will beat us at beatboxing.

h/t Nick Riggle’s Facebook page

UPDATED: As per usual, our commenters are really “on it” and mentioned that this is a Google Easter Egg. I also found this guide to the “notations” for the beatbox function. Enjoy:

  • zk = suspended cymbal
  • bschk = snare
  • pv = brush
  • bk = bass
  • tk = flam1
  • vk = roll tap
  • kt = flam2
  • kttp = flam tap
  • krp = hi hat tap
  • pv = short roll
  • th = better hi hat
  • thp, ds = instant rimshot
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  • http://twitter.com/KevinBuist Kevin Buist

    This is cool, but when you hover over the listen button when this text is there and it’s set to German, it says “beatbox” rather than “listen”. Which makes me think it’s actually an easter egg, rather than a “natural” feature of the technology.

    • http://hragv.com Hrag Vartanian

      THAT makes a lot of sense, Kevin. Thanks.

    • http://www.facebook.com/joanna.black JoAnna Black

      I remember this making the internet rounds at least a year ago. It didn’t used to say “beatbox” on that button. I think they changed it to be cute.

      • http://hragv.com Hrag Vartanian

        Any idea why it is only in German?

  • http://twitter.com/jilnotjill Jillian Steinhauer

    Accidentally clicked “listen” in English first. Ha! That was not as cool as beatboxing, although the contrast between the two is nice.

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