Playing Bass with Marbles - Testing 3 New Ideas

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The design requirement process pushed me to gather some more information about how the instruments were supposed to play. So here we are with some prototyping again.

Thank you to all Wintergatan Youtube Members!

Video edited By Martin and Hannes from the Trainerds Youtube Channel:

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[Wintergatan]

Sometimes my thumbnails feels like those AI commercials for the Willy Wonka Experience

[odw]

I love how much fun you're having since you recently (re-)discovered that fun is a "must have requirement".
Seems like you're keeping the best of both worlds: A rigorous scientific approach with lots of testing; But mixed with plenty of energy, creativity, crazy ambitious new ideas and playfulness.

[RobBulmahn]

If I had to choose a starting point, I'd probably base a design on a piano, which is doing a fundamentally similar action, and has had centuries of refinement.

[antonymitchell]

Those harsh hits are due to the hard plastic hammers, the strings will vibrate against them and provide a hard sound, I imagine some padding would make the attack softer, like using a hard/soft beater on a bass drum pedal.

[Bbeaucha]

I was the genius who suggested the hammer jammer design! I hope it is carved on my tombstone as my greatest accomplishment (even if Martin doesn't pick that design).

[MorningDusk]

check out piano hammers, they are designed for dynamic volume based on impact strength.

[buidelrat]

You're not crazy, you're cool. Or at least you're my kind of crazy. Thanks for sharing.

[Khantia]

Beware! The marbles bounce trajectory may also change along with the spring tension. So you may need a more reliable "collecting" system than what the MMX had.

[MomradG]

Can we have a "this design... Is shit" gif?
Best expression ever

[blar]

The more stuff you add between the marble and the instrument the less tight the music will be, undoing all the gate work.

[dannyneumann]

Some thoughts: 1) harpsichords have a "plucking mechanism" that uses a different system than a groove -- worth looking into in case you do want to go that route.

2) You can alter the volume of piano keys, which depend on a lever mechanism, by pressing them farther up the key.

3) The lever striking mechanism could use some felt (again like a piano) for a cleaner attack.

Cheers. Great video.

[Saixoz]

The mechanical finger definitely sounds nicest! The last one still has the sharp note at the start, which is unpleasant.

[Grombags]

Love this. Just seeing and listening to you play music on something as simple as a bass guitar is always so cool.

[iraravid]

Different approach:
go back to dropping marbles on the strings, but have two levels of marble paths.
you can have a lever deciding if you want to drop them from the 'first floor' or the 'second'

[jacobv_]

I think there is something really magical about seeing a large steel ball bearing bouncing off of the strings of the MMX Cyberbass. It blew my mind that a marble could accurately hit those strings and fly off predictably. It definitely earned it's name!
When I see the pads and hammers and springs from this video, it's very obvious how it works and seems like it is clearly going to be very reliable. It just doesn't have the same magic. While I do think soft hits are a good requirement, I think it's too early to decide against direct marble hits.

[philiprioux]

Seems like the second version of the first option is approaching a piano design. Check out the harpsichord as well!

[Onthewayover]

Great sounds! Don't forget usability! That's a lot of functions to fit on a programming wheel. Rooting for you!

[electropuff]

That attack sounds great, like bass slapping

[Nessinby]

I love that you're accounting for the natural "accidental" sounds like the slap.

There's so many obviously over-processed synthesized music that removes little details like that which makes songs feel human. Chopping out the singer breathing, the amp humming, the strings singing..

Even the mechanical noises of the marble machine is an instrument in and of itself.

[riuphane]

Honestly the finger like one seems the most fun to me, but i do see why you picked the one you did. Then follow up with a dampener and it'll be really interesting!