20 minute video I accidentally watched all of after all, vol. XVII

December 11, 2018 12:08 PM

Leo (of Leo Makes) makes, or rather remakes, a plate reverb unit out of an Ikea shelf. He made one before, too, but the new one is better.
posted by cortex (14 comments total)

but the new one is better

I see what you did there.
posted by whuppy at 12:44 PM on December 11, 2018 [5 favorites]

Well cool, but... Metal Supermarket.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:55 PM on December 11, 2018

I think the best part is where he shows his mistakes, and of course, how you don't have to just stop at the first version that works. Like, that's how making stuff really works. You get an idea, you make some shit, some of it doesn't work, but you keep going until it does. And then if you're not happy with it, keep bashing away. Discouragement can be a dream killer.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:10 PM on December 11, 2018 [5 favorites]

"A. Hacky Prototype" would be a good username.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:19 PM on December 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

Wow, it sounds great! I just want to listen to it all day!
posted by aubilenon at 2:25 PM on December 11, 2018

Related: I had no idea studio-type plate reverb units were so huge; when I went looking for more details I found this very interesting video: Inside Abbey Road Studios’ Legendary Reverb Plate Room. I guess maybe bigger plate = smoother response; plus they have a large mechanism for the damper that bulks up the cabinet.

All that said, his version 2 unit is pretty dang fantastic.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:07 PM on December 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

I wonder if his version 3 will include a damper...
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:07 PM on December 11, 2018

I think the best part is where he shows his mistakes

Ditto.

I'm also jealous of those nifty miniature tools (that is one cute tiny tablesaw). Also the CNC machine.
posted by gwint at 3:18 PM on December 11, 2018 [2 favorites]

I wonder if his version 3 will include a damper...
The scarf was working pretty well ...

Check out his other videos - he's that nice mix of engineer/tech and musician, like Tom Scholz of Boston, that reminds me of home recorders, four-trackers and gearheads that I knew growing up.
posted by eclectist at 3:24 PM on December 11, 2018

The scarf was working pretty well ...

He could tie a long fishing line to it, strung up and over a pulley mounted in the ceiling, so he could raise and lower it at will.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:41 PM on December 11, 2018

I accidentally the whole video
posted by Secretariat at 9:22 PM on December 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

Like, that's how making stuff really works. You get an idea, you make some shit, some of it doesn't work, but you keep going until it does.

Reminds me of that old King Krimson song:

I do remember one thing.
It took hours and hours but..
By the time I was done with it,
I was so involved, I didn't know what to think.
I carried it around with me for days and days..
Playing little games
Like not looking at it for a whole day
And then... looking at it.
To see if I still liked it.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 11:24 PM on December 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

I DID
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:14 AM on December 12, 2018

I repeat myself when under stress
I repeat myself when under stress
I repeat myself when under stress
I repeat myself when under stress
I repeat
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:15 PM on December 12, 2018