I gave every train in New York an instrument

Ever found yourself sitting on a train, just staring out the window, and wondering what it’d be like if the train had its own soundtrack? Well, that whimsical thought turned into a wild project for me: I gave every train in New York an instrument. Sounds absurd? Maybe. But as a developer and a music lover, this journey was packed with challenges, laughter, and some pretty enlightening discoveries.

The Spark of Inspiration

It all started on one of those dreary Monday mornings. I was commuting to work on the A train, and the usual screeching and clattering of the train was downright depressing. I thought, what if I could turn this cacophony into a symphony? What if I could somehow craft an experience where every train car had its own instrument, creating a unique soundscape that reflected the vibrant NYC life?

I shared the idea with a fellow techie buddy over coffee, and he was all in. We began discussing the technical side: how would we track the trains? How would we generate music? And, more importantly, how do we keep it from sounding like a cat fight?

The Tech Stack: Getting Started

After some brainstorming, we settled on using Python for the backend because it’s like my trusty Swiss Army knife for prototyping. For real-time tracking, we used the MTA’s API, which provides live train data. I found integrating with it surprisingly straightforward—here’s a snippet of the code we used to get the train locations:

import requests

def get_train_data():
    url = "http://api-endpoint-url-here"
    response = requests.get(url)

    if response.status_code == 200:
        return response.json()
    else:
        raise Exception("Could not fetch data")

train_data = get_train_data()
print(train_data)

In my experience, working with APIs can be a bit of a rollercoaster. Sometimes the data is clean, other times it feels like herding cats. You’ve got to be ready for anything—like that time I spent two hours debugging a broken endpoint, only to realize it was just a missing parameter.

The Sound Design: Crafting Melodies

With train data flowing in, the next step was crafting the sound design. We partnered with a musician friend who had experience with generative music. We used MIDI files to represent each train. The idea was to assign a unique instrument to each train based on its route. For example, the L train might have a funky bass line, while the C train could rock out with smooth jazz vibes.

Here’s a taste of how we coded the sound generation:

from midiutil import MIDIFile

def create_midi(train_id, instrument):
    midi = MIDIFile(1)
    midi.addTrackName(0, "Track")
    midi.addTempo(0, 0, 120)

    # Add notes based on the instrument
    note = 60  # C4
    midi.addNote(0, instrument, note, 0, 1, 100)

    with open(f"train_{train_id}.mid", "wb") as output_file:
        midi.writeFile(output_file)

create_midi("L", 34)  # 34 is for electric bass

I can't tell you how satisfying it was to hear the MIDI files play back in our initial tests. But, of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Early on, we faced a challenge where the notes clashed more than a bad high school band. The trick was finding the right balance and making sure the sounds didn’t create an auditory nightmare.

The Tech Traps: Lessons Learned

As with any project, we hit some snags. For instance, I didn’t anticipate the issues we’d face with real-time data. There were days when the API would lag, and the trains would sound like they were playing a game of musical chairs. It taught me the importance of fallback mechanisms—like using cached data for sound generation.

We learned to embrace failure as part of the process. One day, the MIDI files we generated sounded more like a cat being stepped on than an instrument. Once we worked through the glitches, it became clearer just how much the technology can shape creativity.

User Experience: Making It Interactive

As we developed the project, we knew we had to make it user-centric. So, we built a simple web interface where users could listen to the sounds while viewing the train schedules. The interface was built with React because, let’s be honest, it’s hard to beat that component-based architecture for dynamic user experiences.

One of my proudest moments was when we actually got feedback from users who said they loved the concept. It reminded me of the power of community in tech—how collaboration can elevate a simple idea into something meaningful.

A Symphony in Motion

Finally, we took our project to the streets—or rather, to the trains! We set up a speaker system in a few train cars, synced to the instruments we created. It was surreal to see people’s reactions. Some were confused, some were delighted, and a few even danced. That’s the magic of blending technology with creativity; you create experiences that go beyond the mundane.

Conclusion: The Journey Ahead

Reflecting on this project, I’m genuinely excited about where technology can take creativity. It’s easy to get caught up in the ins and outs of coding, but at its core, tech is about enhancing the human experience. I learned that even a whimsical idea can spark a wave of innovation when paired with the right tools and dedication.

As I look to the future, I’m eager to explore how AI and generative models can add even more depth to these types of projects. There's so much potential, and I can't wait to see where it leads next. If you’re thinking about diving into a quirky project of your own, go for it! You never know what kind of symphony it might create.

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Love Reading?

If you're a fan of reading books, I've written a fantasy fiction series that you might enjoy:

📚 The Manas Saga: Mysteries of the Ancients - An epic trilogy blending Indian mythology with modern adventure, featuring immortal warriors, ancient secrets, and a quest that spans millennia.

The series follows Manas, a young man who discovers his extraordinary destiny tied to the Mahabharata, as he embarks on a journey to restore the sacred Saraswati River and confront dark forces threatening the world.

You can find it on Amazon Kindle, and it's also available with Kindle Unlimited!

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