Is polystyrene a good resonator?

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  • Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
  • Building of a new sound design cinematic percussive instrument with polystyrene, springs and metal rods
    You can support the channel and get access to my ebook and exclusive content here:
    / nicolasbras
    I'm Nicolas Bras, musician and homemade instruments builder, on this channel you will find tutorials, compositions, building projects, improvisations, live concerts
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    / musiquesdenullepart
    Find my music on nicolasbras.ban...
    Music :
    Nicolas Bras - Guyane, Homemade (album)
    Nicolas Bras - Chromojara, Homemade (album)
    Nicolas Bras - Multisoufflant, Homemade (album)
    Sandrine Morais : Video edition
    Charlie Rabuel : subtitles

Комментарии • 339

  • @NielMalan
    @NielMalan 2 года назад +291

    The curl of metal produce by drilling or turning on a lathe is called "swarf". Did you build the world's first swarfophone?

    • @matthewnewman5477
      @matthewnewman5477 2 года назад +62

      It's polyswarphonic.

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +75

      My favorite for now, thanks for that!

    • @ineedabetterusername7424
      @ineedabetterusername7424 2 года назад +37

      I believe you meant to say "swarfofoam"

    • @killermetalwolf2843
      @killermetalwolf2843 2 года назад +12

      @@ineedabetterusername7424 i believe you meant to say "swarfophone o' foam"

    • @JSaltyfabricator
      @JSaltyfabricator 2 года назад +6

      Swarf is always a favourite word when I teach tool sharpening to students!

  • @3DPDK
    @3DPDK 2 года назад +76

    The first ship I was assigned to in the U.S. Navy was an aircraft carrier that was in the ship yard for an overhaul. Occasionally on my off time I found an interesting pass time; I would find a quiet nook on the ship and put my ear directly onto the bulkhead ... and listen. You could hear welder's chipping hammers, grinders, needle guns, mauls and other ship yard tools resonating from all parts of the ship. Some sounds had a fast reverb time while others had long delay echoes. Occasionally you could hear footsteps on bare metal decks and strangely enough the faint sounds of human voices. It was very percussive but had a strange musical quality who's tones depended (I presume) on the size of the metal plate being worked. I haven't thought about that for years until I heard the sounds of this video. It sounds exactly the same.

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +13

      Sound transmission in metal is so rich!

    • @searchiemusic
      @searchiemusic Год назад +2

      you'd def appreciate a plate reverb

    • @TheCALMInstitute
      @TheCALMInstitute Год назад

      Absolutely wonderful story, thanks for sharing!

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L 10 месяцев назад

      I do this sometimes in my apartment building, putting my ear or some basic resonator like a cup against one of the steel beams. Water hammer, valve squeaks, cupboard doors, footsteps, floorboard creaks, bass drums in music, etc all vaguely reverberate through the structure even though you don't hear any of it from the walls normally.

  • @benjaminwells7714
    @benjaminwells7714 2 года назад +108

    Hi Nicolas, been doing recycling workshops with my Primary School Science classes in Australia. The students adore your videos and we are learning so much from you! Thanks for the videos, keep up the fantastic work.

    • @jonbongjovi1869
      @jonbongjovi1869 Год назад

      in places like NYC, i tried to get the govt to create an ART SCULPTURE program with broken furniture etc. We artists will turn all that trash into PERMANENT ART that fills society with wonder. but the press and govt all said "better to spend a billion a year shipping all this broken stuff to landfills in Pennsylvania!"
      "ART-SCIENCE" is the best thing ever!

  • @KneesBitten
    @KneesBitten 2 года назад +23

    How you go through both cut-shot and slightly longer displays (like your tuning) is absolutely brilliant! Your video style is a really good pair with your music/sound-play!

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +4

      Many thanks, I have a lot of fun with the editing part!

  • @Rouverius
    @Rouverius 2 года назад +10

    Some of this reminds me of a wrought iron fence I knew as a kid. I would love running past it while letting my hand hit the pickets.

  • @iqqmut79
    @iqqmut79 2 года назад +23

    You have to try XPS! (Extruded polystyrene) It’s far more rigid than EPS (expanded polystyrene) and also comes in several thicknesses.

  • @vinny142
    @vinny142 2 года назад +6

    5:56 That sounds like movie music for a sneaky part of a chase scene where the good guy is trying to get through a building evading the bad guys who are looking for him.
    Damn, it took three seconds to get that impression from that sound.

  • @jeremypicard6245
    @jeremypicard6245 2 года назад +6

    the blowing technique at the end sound very nice!!

  • @stahlwerk812
    @stahlwerk812 Год назад +1

    Omg we used to throw those "springs" away when I used to work in a machine shop. I had no idea you could use them like that , genius.

  • @brianspenst1374
    @brianspenst1374 2 года назад +19

    The most obvious name would be the styrophone.

  • @AIRVENT03
    @AIRVENT03 2 года назад +4

    😍🥰👂🎶🎶🎶
    Décidément Nicolas Tu es un Fameux Créateur et je crois (en espérant ne pas me tromper sur le terme ) un Véritable Sound Designer. C'est super de partager tes idées de créations avec nous. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      Grand merci! Oui sur ce genre d'instruments il y a un boulot de sound design acoustique, ça faisait longtemps que je voulais partager ces explorations en atelier, je suis très heureux de pouvoir enfin faire ça!

  • @ianhesford
    @ianhesford Год назад +2

    This channel is absolutely the single greatest thing in the entire universe.

  • @SONGSTICKS
    @SONGSTICKS Год назад +1

    You are such an inspiration for me!
    I made myself an overtone flute a while ago using an old didgeridoo that didn’t sound that great as a didgeridoo, but with your idea
    Of the mouthpiece made from 3 cd’s sandwiched together it sounds fab! I didn’t actually use 3 cd’s in the end. I used just one between two bits of plywood which I then fretted down to a smaller mouth size. I then discovered that dividing tubes from a golf bag fit perfectly in the other end, so cut to different lengths, I now have more keys to play with 😊.
    My next project is an electric calabash drum 😊
    Thanks for all that you do, you’re a star!

  • @MannOfTheHill345
    @MannOfTheHill345 2 года назад +8

    Wow! You have got to be one of the most innovative and imaginative musicians I've ever seen. I love your ideas and the fact I just watched you turn styrofoam and drill chips into an instrument is hurting my brain in the best way possible.

  • @darwinsaye
    @darwinsaye 2 года назад +5

    There were some polystyrene speakers used in amps in the past. Fender Bantam Bass amp and Yamaha TA-60 come to mind.

  • @DanielSMatthews
    @DanielSMatthews 2 года назад +10

    It is very interesting that many of the sounds you are creating in such a low tech way are actually reminiscent of the examples I have heard produced with the csound digital music synthesis system.

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +2

      Yes, this instrument is a lot inspired by Baschet brothers instruments, they think their acoustic principle as an acoustic modular system!

  • @steelski01
    @steelski01 2 года назад +7

    I find it incredible that you are able to find such unique sounds and harness them into an instrument. I envy the freedom you must have to be able to do this.
    To me the sound would go well in a horror game as I get a cruel vibe.
    I would call it the stynator .

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +2

      Thanks, it is really fun to explore this kind of acoustic system, possibilities are endless

  • @ze_glitchy_gamer7629
    @ze_glitchy_gamer7629 2 года назад +2

    Not just from the sounds itself it's menacing. This would fit in a horror movie if anybody's looking for creepy or intense pressing music.

  • @MannyJazzcats
    @MannyJazzcats 2 года назад +5

    I would like to hear what this would sound like on a wooden box instead of the polystyrene but the sound of it is pretty amazing either way

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +4

      That should work too!

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L 10 месяцев назад

      I was thinking someone must have done similar things 200 years ago with some wooden packing crate they found lying around.

  • @rickschuman2926
    @rickschuman2926 2 года назад

    Back in 1969, the band I was in had polystyrene PA speakers. The worked quite well.

  • @stockicide
    @stockicide 2 года назад

    I had no idea polystyrene was so good as a resonator! This gives me ideas.

  • @lolybube
    @lolybube 2 года назад +3

    I love how simple but clever and cool your projects are

  • @brucebaldy
    @brucebaldy Год назад

    Very good! When I was a kid I saw a guy at UCLA doing a concert with instrument made of lengths of rod mounted to wood bases, some hollow and an instrument made of bicycle rim with strings instead of spokes, very interesting.

  • @musicman9901
    @musicman9901 2 года назад +3

    New to the channel but Nicolas, if you like springs you must already know about the Yaybahar right? Found out about it a couple years ago and was amazed at the sounds and versatility of the platform. Certainly one of if not my favourite modern invented instrument, to think such a great idea was just thought of in 2017 is kind of amazing.

  • @israellutz3612
    @israellutz3612 2 года назад +2

    With the rods being threaded you should definitely try playing them like a Guiro/Reco Reco!! 🐸🎵

  • @Soundpaintmusic
    @Soundpaintmusic 2 года назад +1

    Love the percussive nature of it too! Naming is hard. So many elements. Polyrod. Springrod. Polyspring. Metallispring. Rod Springart.

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +1

      Rod Springart. You win the worst pun award!

    • @Soundpaintmusic
      @Soundpaintmusic 2 года назад

      @@NicolasBras LOL : ))))

  • @ATRestoration
    @ATRestoration 2 года назад +3

    You are amazingly talented!

  • @SSRT_JubyDuby8742
    @SSRT_JubyDuby8742 2 года назад +3

    You never cease to amaze me with your creativity. 😎🎙🎶✅

  • @MH_Binky
    @MH_Binky 2 года назад +10

    I was going to joke about giving it the name "styrophone" (since it uses styrofoam as a resonator), but it turns out it's already used for a different (albeit similar) instrument. On that note, how would it sound using a bow on the rods to generate sound?

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +2

      Yes, that seems to be the most popular name! The result with a bow is not that good on the rods

    • @roberttemple2521
      @roberttemple2521 2 года назад +1

      @@NicolasBras Maybe if you rub the rod with a lightly moistened finger/thumb grip, like playing the cuica from Brasil. Lots of variations come to mind using the cuica concept. I think bowing would be best with mounted strings, somehow, like a diddly bow, maybe. Different shapes of this material are open to all sorts of things.

  • @MattKeenanMusic
    @MattKeenanMusic 2 года назад +4

    Fantastic video, inspiring to make awesome sounds out of the cheapest materials! I also love spring reverb 👌

  • @sophiejullien1892
    @sophiejullien1892 2 года назад +1

    Ce polystune est un enchantement !

  • @Caligari...
    @Caligari... Год назад +1

    Harry Partch would love this !

    • @terryenglish7132
      @terryenglish7132 11 месяцев назад

      Wow, I really dug the first album , but sort of forgot about him. Thanks for reminding me. Any stand out albums suggestions ?

  • @pizzall
    @pizzall 2 года назад +1

    Thank you so much for this demonstration. I bright spot. Inspiring.

  • @maxinehardy9411
    @maxinehardy9411 2 года назад +1

    i absolutely love how they sound when you blow on them,,, super super neat

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      I love it too, I think about a full instrument using this system!

  • @elvancor
    @elvancor 2 года назад +1

    Apparentlly, the name Styrophone is taken. But this deserves it so much more.

  • @Just_look_Channel
    @Just_look_Channel 2 года назад +1

    Cool, I also played drums and always noticed different interesting sounds of carved objects.

  • @mhf5044
    @mhf5044 2 года назад +5

    I wonder what would happen if the rods were long enough that they could be tuned to a harmonic from side to side? Would they resonate sympathetically? Likewise with the springs. Cool stuff!

  • @MarkMcCluney
    @MarkMcCluney 2 года назад +2

    Fascinating. Amazing how bell-like the rods sound. Thanks mate.

  • @antimoustique3175
    @antimoustique3175 2 года назад +1

    Nice experiment and cool instrument! Reminds me a lot of Arte TV jingles!

  • @Resomius
    @Resomius 2 года назад

    5:15 Sounds like a very budged Carillion and I love it!

  • @andreassumerauer5028
    @andreassumerauer5028 2 года назад +1

    That are some cute sounds. Since you are inviting suggestions:
    How about having the metal bar row horizontally at the bottom edge of the styrofoam board.
    This way you could play the bars like a Glockenspiel with both hands while still having access to the springs.
    Soundwise a bit of Rattle and Buzz might be a nice addition to the sound repertoire of the instrument.
    I am thinking of cutouts from PET bottles or tin cans. These could be mounted in a bent shape below the springs so that those would beat against the plastic.
    Thanks for the inspiration. Keep up the good work!

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      Thanks, that could be some fun ideas! This kind of instrument is endless, kind of an acoustic modular thing!

  • @BillOwens315
    @BillOwens315 2 года назад +1

    I wonder if those spirals could be made into a tuned snare as well? Do be cautious - sometimes they are very sharp!

  • @orperry8064
    @orperry8064 2 года назад +1

    OMG, u can make a kind of flute that has a spring, so the sound is produced by the airflow on the spring. a kind of tube with a spring in it with a resonation chamber that amplifies the sound produced by the spring

  • @LordOfTheTermites
    @LordOfTheTermites 2 года назад +1

    Nice full reverby sound

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +1

      I have to mute the springs, too much recerb in my music room with this thing!

  • @seamusmceagan
    @seamusmceagan 2 года назад +1

    I bet you could get some crazy sounds with a violin bow!

  • @bemdoido2257
    @bemdoido2257 2 года назад +1

    O cara transforma o Isopor em uma caixa acústica. Esse é o cara!

  • @dindasatya
    @dindasatya 6 месяцев назад

    Hi Nico, thank you for your videos, it's very interesting for my organology class, especially for recycling used materials to make some music instruments.

  • @skocko2t778
    @skocko2t778 2 года назад +1

    This Polytiresonnator is fun

  • @El_Couch_Potato
    @El_Couch_Potato 11 месяцев назад

    This one turned out great!

  • @jeffcajon9292
    @jeffcajon9292 2 года назад +1

    J'ai suivi le lien que tu m'as donné sur diaspora, super vidéo, c'est bien allumé et sonore à souhait ! bravo :-)

  • @cke5417
    @cke5417 2 года назад +1

    This would make an amazing soundtrack for a horror or otherwise atmospheric game.

  • @sebastianlagos8284
    @sebastianlagos8284 2 года назад +3

    It's like a song that you would use for a horror chase scene

  • @TheMonsieurO
    @TheMonsieurO 2 года назад +1

    So cool...I love it!

  • @imanoiam
    @imanoiam 9 месяцев назад +1

    Thanks!

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  9 месяцев назад

      Thanks a lot for your support!

  • @makeperceive
    @makeperceive 2 года назад +1

    excellent

  • @recursr1892
    @recursr1892 2 года назад +1

    You are now on Barth traces 😀 -What a little wonder, polystyrene can act as such powerfull resonator! I Think, you can easily give it any shape-someone wrote its surface is the key, not the material in the volume-whatever that means for building instruments. I favored the tapped sounds, great drum with a sympathetic touch-you can also scratch along the springs to extend the sound range.
    I find open ended springs difficult to tame for music creation-I wonder what you will make out of it 🤓

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +1

      Bart Hopkins' writings was my first discovery with polysytyrene instruments!

  • @Xanderqwerty123
    @Xanderqwerty123 2 года назад +1

    That instrument would make a killer horror game soundtrack

  • @hellf.o
    @hellf.o 2 года назад +1

    Awesome as always!

  • @MegaFrankels
    @MegaFrankels 2 года назад +1

    Getting some Amon Tobin vibes!

  • @gambe96
    @gambe96 2 года назад +1

    Un véritable génie, passioné et créatif !

  • @lagrotteenbordel3727
    @lagrotteenbordel3727 2 года назад +1

    Salut Nicolas, merci pour tes vidéos.
    Je propose le polyston

  • @Berkendoder
    @Berkendoder 2 года назад +1

    Hope Tom Waits is watching this. Perfect instrument for his percussion!

  • @brandengillette7794
    @brandengillette7794 2 года назад +2

    Cool video! 😎 There's an interesting instrument I stumbled upon called the yaybahar. It uses a long spring connected to a drum and some violin apparatus. I'd love to see you reconstruct something like that.

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад +2

      Yes I know this one of course, I'll have to try some adaptations of this system!

  • @RedmarKerkhof
    @RedmarKerkhof 2 года назад +1

    With the way the instrument is positioned, it reminds me of a vietnamese bamboo xyolophone

  • @joewoodchuck3824
    @joewoodchuck3824 5 месяцев назад

    Great! I'd like to hear results by using a more solid sound board.

  • @sashajedinac9391
    @sashajedinac9391 2 года назад +2

    the Styrophone!

  • @madisonking8057
    @madisonking8057 2 года назад

    Simply amazing

  • @pausepourunchangement9259
    @pausepourunchangement9259 2 года назад +1

    Ce taff de ouf tu me fais halluciner ^^

  • @MariusKruger
    @MariusKruger 2 года назад

    Very nice. This would be amazing for film sound tracks!

  • @miro2424
    @miro2424 2 года назад +1

    The line between genius and crazy is very slim indeed.

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      I don't think there is a line

  • @cyranoidemisanthrope553
    @cyranoidemisanthrope553 2 года назад +2

    Chaque instrument est un voyage inouï. Merci! Un spiralostyrène. Or an springstyren.
    Que ce soit la matière (polystyrène!) ou la manière (souffler sur les ressors!). Bravo!

  • @Call_Me_TUA
    @Call_Me_TUA 2 года назад

    I believe you have created an instrument perfect for horror soundtracks. I like it

  • @jmha2428
    @jmha2428 2 года назад +1

    The StyroPhone? Loving your vids pal. Subscribed a couple weeks ago.

  • @biglangly
    @biglangly 2 года назад +1

    I get some strong "Battlestar Galactica " vibes from this

  • @earthquakesan
    @earthquakesan 2 года назад

    I discovered your youtube channel recently and what you are doing is amazing!

  • @defenestrated23
    @defenestrated23 2 года назад +1

    Getting strong "underground theme" for a video game vibe.

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      yes very video game and cinematic sounds!

  • @elijahcie531
    @elijahcie531 2 года назад +1

    I think we can all agree on styrophone maybe this doesn't make any sense to people other places in the world but we in the US call expanded polystyrene styrofoam and I think if we called it styrophone like xylophone

  • @josuefreitas
    @josuefreitas 2 года назад

    That could be greate on a Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire performance or maybe on a Iannis Xenakis piece.

  • @jamesrussell8278
    @jamesrussell8278 2 года назад

    Fascinating

  • @adrielpro66xd87
    @adrielpro66xd87 2 года назад +2

    Please how to make pressure organ

  • @makeperceive
    @makeperceive 2 года назад +1

    The rods sound makes me think of Harry Partch

  • @Raku777
    @Raku777 2 года назад

    Thanks for sharing. I would not have imagined you getting such wonderful bass sounds out of Styrofoam! If I were to give it a name, it might be "Styro-Coil Thunderdrum".

  • @Relbac3
    @Relbac3 2 года назад +2

    Can you make a pvc drums that blows

  • @snoottaroo6181
    @snoottaroo6181 2 года назад +2

    I would name the instrument something literal but fun like 'Spribariphone' or something

  • @weak7897
    @weak7897 2 года назад +2

    Parfait pour des bruitages et musiques de film d'horreur ça

  • @user-ih5qo6yo1r
    @user-ih5qo6yo1r Год назад

    Honestly sounds super similar to the music in fear and hunger, very interesting

  • @manvilathwal7
    @manvilathwal7 2 года назад +1

    ❤❤❤ UNIQUE MINDSET
    IMPRESSIVE❤❤❤
    NOTHING TO SAY🤐🤐🤐

  • @bogdahn689
    @bogdahn689 2 года назад +1

    Tu es un génie :) c'est des résidus de tour à métal excellente idée !

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      Oui c'est ce qu'on m'a dit, ils sont parfaits pour ça!

  • @currello1
    @currello1 2 года назад +1

    I love your videos. I have a dream. Jacob Collier performating with you and yours instruments...

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      That would be so cool indeed!

  • @MarcWeertsMusic
    @MarcWeertsMusic 2 года назад +1

    Brilliant! Such creativity!

  • @MikMech
    @MikMech Год назад

    The Tension is real.

  • @alexhormann8931
    @alexhormann8931 2 года назад

    Wow, that's a SpringThing 😁

  • @stevepethel6843
    @stevepethel6843 2 года назад

    You are so interesting and likeable. CREATIVE. . .music sound brilliant musician innovative

  • @fredericthom8113
    @fredericthom8113 2 года назад +1

    C est excellent on dirait une machine à composition pour l électroacoustique !!
    Est-ce que ça serai possible de faire voyagé des billes de verre ou de métal dans les ressorts ???

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      J'ai essayé avec des rondelles, mais compliqué de faire suivre le ressort, ils ne sont pas très lisses ni réguliers

    • @fredericthom8113
      @fredericthom8113 2 года назад

      @@NicolasBras oui effectivement , si c est des serpentins de tour à métal , ça doit être dur ... Je pensais à tore que c était des vrais ressors ...

  • @karnalunea1122
    @karnalunea1122 2 года назад +1

    the sound makes me think of the myst games or quern: undying thoughts.
    those would maybe sound interesting on that thing.

  • @Chemanic1
    @Chemanic1 2 года назад +1

    Their is a way to make rubber glove bagpipes maybe you can try that for a video

    • @NicolasBras
      @NicolasBras  2 года назад

      I made a few a long time ago, I have to work on!

  • @alpesta
    @alpesta 2 года назад +1

    Another crazy video, love it!

  • @h2o1969
    @h2o1969 2 года назад

    Um, you are so awesome. Such amazing instruments, and this one out of trash. It sounds ds great. I actually have a bunch of actually springs. Maybe I will try something similar.

  • @kgamaseg
    @kgamaseg 2 года назад

    These sounds remind me of old 60's suspense and horror series such as "The Twilight Zone", "The Outer Limits", and "Night Gallery".

  • @bluellew
    @bluellew Год назад

    Love you man.