Hackaday Podcast Ep 352: Visualizing Sound, and Windows 11 Is a Dog
Jan 9, 2026
This week, the hosts discuss innovative ways to visualize sound using Schlieren imaging and explore quirky hacks like painting on floppies. They delve into the performance of Windows releases on old hardware, revealing surprising benchmarks. A unique method for estimating caffeine content in drinks is presented, alongside discussions on device liberation and glitched JPEGs for artistic effects. Furthermore, the history of autopilots and time clocks adds depth to their tech-focused conversations.
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Flip-Dot Display Recorded Live
- Elliot recorded a long flip-dot display at Chaos Communication Congress and used it for What's That Sound.
- Three listeners guessed correctly and Flippin' Heck won a Hackaday Podcast t-shirt.
Seeing Sound With Schlieren Techniques
- Schlieren photography can visualize sound by showing refractive index changes in air caused by pressure waves.
- Use a fast strobe LED and global-shutter camera to freeze repetitive ultrasonic waves for imaging.
Engineer Fast Strobes Carefully
- Overdrive LEDs with careful MOSFET/gate-driver control to achieve microsecond strobes for ultrasound imaging.
- Bolt optics and camera to rigid mounts to avoid motion destroying high-frequency measurements.
