MMXS - A tribute to the Marble Machine X

MMXS is a tribute to Martin Molin and a miniature homage to his ongoing music project Marble Machine X.

I couldn't source any blueprints and had to base the overall design on video footage. The building process took me about 8 months of trial and error, from designing the parts to final assembly. I also added some unique and personal mechanical elements due to the small form factor.

MMXS is battery powered and features 16 note switches(chromatic), 128 programming bars, an Axoloti Core with 10 different sound presets, DC motor speed control, volume and a built-in speaker.

The finish of the machine is inspired by older Meccano toy sets

I intended the MMXS to play the original Wintergatan song, but the mechanics just couldn't handle the pressure. In the end I had to come up with something of my own. All the sounds in the video are generated by the marble machine itself, with the exception of background layer and lead pad created by my small Bivalvia Synthesis.

[Wintergatan]

Incredibly beautiful! The Design is so so great. This inspires me to keep push the MMX.

[AtomicShrimp]

Really beautiful - the engineering is so perfect that in the opening shots, I thought this was a computer render

[zilianthegreat]

Who else thought it was a 3D render at the start? I was so confused when I saw his hand playing the notes

[HarmonicVector]

"Don't talk to me or my son ever again."
- Marble Machine X

[harrytaylor]

Hello, and welcome to Aperture Science Musical Development Department

[abbofun]

The marriage between modern items and the 1960’s Meccano look is just fabulous! these colours immediately bring me back my youth.

[nickjenkins]

Holy Crap, This is music i would hear when im playing Portal 2 in a test chamber. This music is amazing and i love this.

[blackkissi]

the marble lifter @ 1:10 was clever. Had to re-watch that section at 0.25X playback speed

[JakeBiddlecome]

I got a big smile watching this. Really nice work, this whole thing is so clean and I love the color choices. Milky way fans are the best people!

[v.a.pankov]

It must be a wonderful feeling to create something like that

[veleriphon]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
I also detect a nod or two to This Old Tony, but I could just be crazy.

[samgineer]

This sounds like something straight out of the Portal 2 soundtrack and I'm here for it! :D

[mattekudasai]

aw man, I was thinking of making a mini marble machine but then I saw this and this one is way more professional than anything i could have made

[morzemus]

I love the "windup-key" on top.

[e-mananimates]

I like the windup key you added to the contraption!

[dmkays]

Your machine is a beautiful masterpiece in it's own right and a great tribute to Martin and his MMX vision.

[farquhaad]

The amount of precision required to build this must’ve been insane! Congratulations on such an awesome build man!

[johnvavrin]

WOw! I would love to have a little tabletop machine like that! Beautiful work :-)

[quietwarf]

I love it. A hundred years from now the MMX, and the Mmxs will be together at the museum.

[gewerdstrauss]

Just gotta leave a comment before this blows up eventually. Sweet work, that MMXS is kinda cute when you see the older brother.