The leaves are already falling, we can’t ignore the truth anymore: I spent four years of my life trying to play music with marbles 🤷 :). Seriously the Marble Machine is a first principle bad idea… maybe thats why its so entertaining seeing me trying to make it happen. I will make a video on this one beautiful day, right now I am too busy progressing the aforementioned bad idea so well see when that happens. ANYWAY! You asked for a "I Believe" Hoodie so we made one! Check it out here: teespring.com/stores/wintergatan After the recording of the video i have found out that the US Hoodie version differs from the European, the one i used in the video, this information just reached me. When you go to Teespring from the US you will see the correct version of the hoodie in the thumbnails. Here is the US Material: Eco-Fleece 50% Polyester, 46% Cotton, 4% RayonAlso the color of the drawstrings differs, white in the US. Thank you for your support! / Martin & Team Wintergatan
When I get frustrated about my failures and start freaking about a need to redo something, I recall how Martin destroys his build parts just to make them even better in the end - and it helps me to get calm and start over. Thanks, Martin, you had teached me how not to surrender, not to get mad, and just do the job. We need the "pain is temporary, glory is forever" t shirt.
Today we learned that there only thing that sounds like a high-hat is an actual high-hat. I believe we also learned this lesson with the snare drum. Always learning. The journey is the fun part. Thanks for sharing!
The ability to simply abandon an earlier idea and, at great cost in time and energy, develop a new and better one, does seem to me to be kind of unique and amazing. I agree it can cause problems, but it's also quite admirable. I'm a designer myself, and when I find myself down a blind alley it's paralyzing, because I am so reluctant to back up and start again.
Sunken cost fallacy. I believe Martin made a video about his ongoing struggle with over coming this phenomenon and its made my life better as well. The idea is that no matter what you are working on you must consider that a decision that has lost merit in the light of new information or circumstances will only cost you more time and money than acknowledging the fault in your plan and moving back to a workable position. Long winded stop and start over. But usually I don't see the light until trying to adjust the invention or repair I've made to the break point. So I too struggle with this concept.
As much as i am always impressed with Martin, i am also impressed with the comments on his channel. There are always someone who felt the same way as i did, but articulate better than i can. I agree with everything you said~!
@@jordonbrewer2354 A minimalist design wouldn't even need any marbles. The music wheel itself could tap the instruments mechanically. Martin might be trying not to overdo it on purely aesthetic components, but this project is definitely not about minimalism. :P
@@SimpleAmadeus I didn't claim the whole project was a bout minimalism. I'm claiming that... If the idea is to create a machine that plays music with marbles. He's creating that as minimally as he can.
@@jordonbrewer2354 Not really... The marble climbing alone could've been a single component, in stead of a complex mix involving magnets. And the fancy gears are entirely aesthetic as well. It's not a bad thing. An actually minimalist design would've been very underwhelming compared to this.
3:02 Martin: "There is not a single point where the metal of the levers touch the metal of the machine" 3:15 Also Martin: Moves lever down to make metal-metal sound.
Martin, serious question. Does having a youtube audience help motivate you to keep pushing through parts of this project you dread? I'm a software developer and I know i'll walk away from a project for some time because i'm dreading doing a specific part of it. Watching your videos however, you always have the next part done or worked on substantially every Wednesday. I'm super impressed by your level of motivation.
I can't speak for Martin, but personally after decades of working on various projects...I find I get to a certain point of frustration and have to push the project aside for a bit...I think what having an external motivator like you mention youtube (or a boss, or spouse), is it limits how long you can push a project away...but even Martin has said a few times throughout this build that he has put off certain aspects because it was too hard, and he didn't have an answer...yet...I think what really helps Martin on this project is his ability to describe his vision, delegate without fear, and as a result has surrounded himself with a good support team of craftsmen and donors.
@@marcoazz "I swear to god IDLE if you tell me one more time that you cant turn ints to strings I'm gonna chuck an angle grinder at you - while it's controlled by a relay triggered by catching the exception you cause when you try and fail to turn numbers to strings"
I don't know... this doesn't feel like feature creep. It's more like replacing a poorly realized part with a more reliable, higher quality one that performs that same function. And it makes sense, most of the sound of the MMX is now coming from authentic (although highly modified) musical instruments. Although I enjoy music made by found objects, the advantage here is that this new part should not only sound better but also be more quickly recognizable to the listener. Allowing our ears to better focus on the core sound of the MMX, in my opinion, is a good thing. Can't wait for Part 2!
You said it best. This rhythm machine went through the same problematic issues as the mini-snare-with-rice-grain-inside does for it to be snaredrum's substitute; that Martin had to literally build another "instrument" equivalent to those that are already optimized. Rather a tall order for an alternative challange (read: side quest), i suppose.
I completely agree. To me the goal isn't "build a marble machine" which could be completed quickly, the goal is "make great music using this unique and amazing instrument." As far as I can tell, no one has made a marble machine instrument like this before, so there are no previous versions to base your design on. Martin is treading a completely new path, and as a trailblazer, sometimes you have to acknowledge your mistakes and backtrack a bit. In the end he will get there with a fantastic instrument and amazing music.
It seems like an utterly reasonable strategic decision. He's saddled with a hasty design that's turning out to be fundamentally flawed in multiple ways that would greatly complicate various parts of subsequent development. The realization of an elegant alternative design with a lower likelihood of complications is certainly justification to reconsider investing more resources (time) in the problematic development path.
When you broke the rhythm machine down that really shows how dedicated you are to this project, you won't settle for "good enough" and I think that's true dedication right there.
Hey Wintergatan! I have been following for over a year now and I just want to say I love what your doing and how you are bringing the maker community together to create this awesome machine, it is really inspiring!
@@TheNathannator Our co2 production has ZERO affect on the earth heating. Plus there is NO evidence that the earth is actually heating. electroverse.net/physicist-co2-retains-heat-for-only-0-0001-seconds-warming-not-possible/
So inspiring watching Martin on his journey with the MMX. The raw dedication and willingness to overcome every obstacle that comes his way is awesome. We all love and support you Martin! Love these videos.
I think the best way is to hook an electric motor to the flywheel by friction to keep a perfect tempo. He can still use the pedal at the beginning and use the motor to keep the speed once moving. A DC motor from a treadmill with an SCR control would work marvels.
While that would add an element of mechanical perfection, solving a million problems... I’m not sure how I feel about it not being “played” by a human being. And besides... music isn’t perfection... “Music is the space between the notes.” -Debussy
There's been so many times through this build where I've thought "Now that's really cool." but then you go back and change it to something completely different- and it's like the pieces fall into place. I think the replacement to the rhythm machine was a fantastic idea. The new system just sounds infinitely better.
I think you should not be afraid of getting always stuck in search of improvement. What you are doing here is something out of the ordinary. You are making a CUSTOM machine that plays a lot of other MUSICAL instruments. Which takes a huge spectrum of knowledge - theoretical (you already have) - practical is what you are constantly build up as you do with the machine itself. You are doing an amazing job, I really admire your knowledge, determination, and dedication to this project.
He can have an Engeneering degree, which is representative of his engineering skills. Martin is simply not an engineer, full stop. He is wildly talented, creative and a joy to behold. *But he is not an engineer*
@@Khaztaroth I know you mean well. I, too, wish Martin well. A Mechanical Engineer designs his components, calculates the build up of tolerance and provides finished drawings. In direct conversations with Martin's actual engineers, it has been made clear that not only has the build up of tolerance calculation not been made, but that major components are not even in his CAD drawings. An engineer *calculates* in the face of uncertainty, making design choices based on a conservative approach that will provide success with compromises. Martin just builds stuff and tries it out.
@@WhatAboutTheBee The standards by which universities award engineering degrees change as methods and technology improve but the definition of engineer is still "someone who designs, builds or maintains machines or public works'. Leonardo DaVinci was an engineer who did not have a degree from MIT. Would an engineer 500 years from now think that no one from our time would be engineers because we don't do things the same as they do?
@@saradeanna The very minute that Martin completes a University curriculum in Engineering, I'll be the first to recognize him as such Until then, he is not an engineer.
"Pain is temporary" a slasher horror film about Martin finally going crazy because of the mmx and going around terrorizing people in rural france with that saw
literally throughout this video I was thinking the whole time: "Why do you need metal plates scraping on wood? just use drum sticks hitting a metal surface instead."
MrGonzonator he didn’t though; he disassembled it. Apart from the rhythm volume control levers which are wholly redundant with the new design, all the other parts are whole and reusable and will probably be back on the machine by the next episode.
Hello Martin, I visit you from time to time and you know, what? You're a perfect example of a clinic case...I could get friends with :-). The mixture of an engineering and passion oriented on music supported by the creativity is something really unusual. And inspiring. Thanks.
Yes, I was noticing the same issue when he expressed his inability or difficulty in keeping the revolutions in time with the recording. I saw other comments that called for an RPM tachometer, but think the adjustable governor in conjunction would be even more effective.
Martin, the skills you had prior to the original MM and those you keep showing us with the evolution of the MMX are truly outstanding. Keep up the outstanding work. Don't mind the tweaks, you work through them well. And thank-you for all that you have shared to date.
This guy is a bloody genius ! To have this idea in his head - design it - solve the problems - and create what was in his head - just an idea a concept a new creation- AND MAKE MUSIC ?!!? Incredible ! Just incredible
Wore the "I believe" T-Shirt today when a coworker recognized it and came to me, so we had a nice chat about the last updates on the MMX. The number of believers is rising ^^ So much fun to see you progressing. Keep up the spirit! :-)
Martin: "It sounds like spring steel scrapping against plywood with a contact microphone and I don't like it" Audience: "Uhm.... Martin... we need to talk about something..." :)
In geoscience modeling, we call it "Garbage In, Garbage Out" - we stand with you in getting it best in the primary variable, rather than band-aid plug-in audio engineering. love from a small island on the west coast of canada.
"The rhythm is really difficult to get tight" What would happen if you added a Centrifugal Governor with indicators on it to show how fast you are playing the beat? It wouldn't help with the offset timing issue, but once you found the timing, it would be easier to keep the crank at the correct speed.
You have an amazing mind. Your musical and mechanical aptitude is obvious to anyone who watches any of your videos. I wouldn't be surprised to see you show up on one of those shows that come up every now and again about people with a particular genius.
My motto when building anything new to me: "No guts, No glory!" You don't know until you try, and what doesn't kill you...makes you stronger. Every, and I mean Every inventer goes through these processes God knows how many times, each time advancing ever closer to the goal, so I applaud your efforts, and hope for only the best results. Thank You for sharing. ✌😁💥
IDEA: for timing, instead of using the hand crank to speed the machine, use it to tighten a spring powered motor, like in a wind up toy, & use a lever to control the speed. A big coil spring with a one way gear.
Seeing you pull out the angle grinder again gave me a smile and huge laugh! I trust you, Martin, because when you take a step back, it's so you can leap forward! *I believe!*
I wouldn't be surprised if some engineering student in Japan has tried to do just that. Give it enough time and someone will try to make one out of Lego XD
I can't remember when he said it, but Martyn once said that he's going to put the CAD and all relevant files online once the MMX is completed. I think he WANTS to see others make their own copy of MMX.
1 step back, 2 step forwards. That is life. And you are always moving forward and will get there. It's just hard to see when you are so zoomed in. But being on the outside I see it. Just keep going martin. It's all about the journey, not the destination. And you are already a star!
I love the fact and also the way you are able to reflect upon yourself so well, it truly is a trait you need to build the marble machine!!! Much love, your Dutch neighbour☺️
@@WhatAboutTheBee sure, but much slower. The point is to have enough consistency to make it through a tour. Almost everything on the MMX is designed to be swappable in case of damage or degradation.
One thing I did not expect learning from these videos when I started watching them: PAIN IS TEMPORARY. Yep, it's okay to go back and re-do stuff, letting go of bad designs, having worked hours on something unusable is not a bad thing, as long as you learned your mistakes in the process. I've been trying to learn that for myself for years during all my projects, but watching the actual benefit of it every wednesday, I'm now genuinely believing it. I'm no engineer, no real musician, I just loved the MM1 to bits. And I'm learning so much from the building of the MMX, even though I'm just passively enjoying this, it's incredible. That's one of the reasons I keep watching this like a junkie. Thanks, Martin ! (and THANKS FOR THE HOODIES !!!)
First. Like for the video. Second. Like to the "It's Wednesday my dudes" guy. Third. I felt sad when he began to tear apart the MMX, but that is the daily life of engineering. Finding better solutions just when you finished to build one and see that it doesn't work as expected.
Martin, I'm starting to think the process of this is more enjoyable than the finished product might be. I know there is a goal in all of this, but I for one won't be disappointed in the slightest if this becomes a never-ending pursuit. Watching you invent and troubleshoot and zealously endeavor to find what is best for this dream is the best part of the MMX. I hope the first song you play on a stage is a sad one, because as beautiful as that song will be, we will all be sad not to see this process go on ad infinitum.
You should add a tachometer, like to have a live feedback of the rotational speed of the MMX, you could add a simple hall effect pickup to dial in an RPM signal
Matin you know what... watching every week how you struggle to make your dream com true is one thing but what really inspires me is the way you you talk about it ... there's so much humility in your voice and at the same time its full of wonder and passion of a little kid watching mesmerized at the stars. The world can be a magical place. Thanks for reminding us about that...
I don't think you need to keep apologising. Hundreds of thousands of people are enjoying watching you learn and build. I personally love these big 'crisis' moments, because I know I'll get to watch you replace something awesome with something mind-blowing.
Watching you move through these challenges and overcoming them translates to every other part of life. So you're delivering life lessons... HILARIOUSLY! There is so much value you are creating for all who watch it's ridiculous. Keep it up, brother!
I'm always ending a wintergatan's video with this feeling: amazing how a man with genius, dedication and a lot of support can overcome anything. Martin, not only your videos are instructive, interesting and entertaining, but they are also empowering for all of us, filling us with positive feelings. Thanks so much!
I think Martin has the perfect combination of quirky musician, sense of humor, and engineering genius. I am pretty sure we'd get a long pretty well if we ever met. Someday, that'd be a cool thing to happen.
Oh thank goodness. I always worried that that rhythm machine would be disappointing on the final product. I’m so excited to see this new design! It seems so obvious, but it took so long to think of. Those are the best designs.
A centrifugal govenor admits more or less steam as a function of the rise and fall of the metal balls. I'm not convinced that this is an appropriate feedback mechanism as Martin doesn't expel gas as a motive force for MMX. Martin does have a flywheel which is used to modulate velocity, as the rotational inertia resists changes in velocity. The issue for Martin is to get that flywheel to the appropriate velocity, when it all the while resists that very change.
@@WhatAboutTheBee Instead of actuating a gas valve with the governor, you can also actuate a brake pad on a brake disk. That's how it works in acoustic (wind up) gramophones. It's a very simple but effective speed limiter.
Remember the point is to have the crank work in time with the machine. The beat should be on the lowest part of the downstroke. Part of it is playing better, but not having a hard, snappy note can make playing to a beat hard. I think the revamped rhythm machine will fix the issue of being able to hear the actual peak of the sound. Look at the sound comparison part at 12:02. Martin explains it.
Awesome video! I found that after the complicated first iteration the second is elegant and simple. IF...you are willing to push and not settle. Keep up the amazing work, experience like this can only be earned.
part of me knew this was coming. the new part I'm sure will be miles ahead of the old part. however, I am worried that you're entirely replacing the old hi-hat. are you? because I really really liked the visual style of the old one, getting hit by marbles was just the best thing to watch. I know it's harder to get right though. part of me just wishes you increased the marble drop height and added 2 more droppers for 4 total and called it a day.
Hey Martin, I had a question, do you ever find that having this weekly episode sometimes gets in the way of having a fully fledged design, simply because you have a week to do things and get a video up? Or does it almost help to have that slight time pressure going to keep you from over designing?
I noticed about myself, that when I try to show or explain what I'm doing, I actually see many errors and other things that I would not notice otherwise.
It is not just the engineering getting better, the script is also getting better with each episode: Angle grinder symbolism is very powerful. Meticulously removing the blue tape from the floor as work to be done although you are demolishing a piece of already completed work, dismembered limbs of the beat machine with a drop of blood on the floor, melancholic theremin music on a saw juxtaposed with celebratory eyeglass frames, all fit in perfectly to deliver the trials and tribulations of the protagonist.
Rapid Prototyping Design Process ruclips.net/video/SMLDAgDNOhk/видео.html Now with larger scale with Stainless Steel StarShip. I hope you mean the first iteration of the Rhythm Machine...
The leaves are already falling, we can’t ignore the truth anymore:
I spent four years of my life trying to play music with marbles 🤷
:). Seriously the Marble Machine is a first principle bad idea… maybe thats why its so entertaining seeing me trying to make it happen. I will make a video on this one beautiful day, right now I am too busy progressing the aforementioned bad idea so well see when that happens. ANYWAY!
You asked for a "I Believe" Hoodie so we made one! Check it out here:
teespring.com/stores/wintergatan
After the recording of the video i have found out that the US Hoodie version differs from the European, the one i used in the video, this information just reached me. When you go to Teespring from the US you will see the correct version of the hoodie in the thumbnails.
Here is the US Material:
Eco-Fleece
50% Polyester, 46% Cotton, 4% RayonAlso the color of the drawstrings differs, white in the US.
Thank you for your support! / Martin & Team Wintergatan
Plot twits..... Marble machine is scam😔
Hey would you make " pain is temporary. Glory is forever" hodies? I would love to buy one from you. Ps I admire your work on MMX.
What if you connected the axle to a loose ratchet and had a sort of fly wheel to keep it at a constant speed avoiding human error
Hoodie is top of my wishlist for 🎄 A symbol to me of seeing things thru.
Thanks for the near birthday (that'd be friday) present of the weekly video martin :)
When I get frustrated about my failures and start freaking about a need to redo something, I recall how Martin destroys his build parts just to make them even better in the end - and it helps me to get calm and start over.
Thanks, Martin, you had teached me how not to surrender, not to get mad, and just do the job.
We need the "pain is temporary, glory is forever" t shirt.
Today we learned that there only thing that sounds like a high-hat is an actual high-hat. I believe we also learned this lesson with the snare drum. Always learning. The journey is the fun part. Thanks for sharing!
I'm still curious how He ist ging to fit a real bass drum into the MMX
There is only the kick drum left to go hehe
Maybe next lesson is Metronome - “the only thing that sounds like a metronome is a...” 🤔😄
"The spirit is the journey. The body is the bus..." - Johnny Clegg
@@doomse150 I think there is space at the bottom underneath.
I need a t shirt with the slogan "pain is temporary, glory is forever" on it and a line art of your busted angle grinder
This definitely needs to be the next t shirt.
Seriously! ✊
Oh God yes!
Absolutely!
You can probably get that already on like an MMA gear website or something
The ability to simply abandon an earlier idea and, at great cost in time and energy, develop a new and better one, does seem to me to be kind of unique and amazing. I agree it can cause problems, but it's also quite admirable. I'm a designer myself, and when I find myself down a blind alley it's paralyzing, because I am so reluctant to back up and start again.
Sunken cost fallacy. I believe Martin made a video about his ongoing struggle with over coming this phenomenon and its made my life better as well. The idea is that no matter what you are working on you must consider that a decision that has lost merit in the light of new information or circumstances will only cost you more time and money than acknowledging the fault in your plan and moving back to a workable position. Long winded stop and start over. But usually I don't see the light until trying to adjust the invention or repair I've made to the break point. So I too struggle with this concept.
As much as i am always impressed with Martin, i am also impressed with the comments on his channel. There are always someone who felt the same way as i did, but articulate better than i can. I agree with everything you said~!
Though he didn't abandon the idea of making music with marbles yet.
Martin needs to name two of the songs in the album "Pain is Temporary" and "Glory is Forever"
"If you like a more minimalistic design"
Yes, that's why we're watching you create this behemoth of a music machine 😂
I mean..... I would suggest the machine is as minimalist as it can be. Not that that's worth much but it's there.
@@jordonbrewer2354 A minimalist design wouldn't even need any marbles. The music wheel itself could tap the instruments mechanically. Martin might be trying not to overdo it on purely aesthetic components, but this project is definitely not about minimalism. :P
@@SimpleAmadeus I didn't claim the whole project was a bout minimalism. I'm claiming that... If the idea is to create a machine that plays music with marbles. He's creating that as minimally as he can.
@@jordonbrewer2354 Not really... The marble climbing alone could've been a single component, in stead of a complex mix involving magnets. And the fancy gears are entirely aesthetic as well. It's not a bad thing. An actually minimalist design would've been very underwhelming compared to this.
@@SimpleAmadeus Fair enough. I see your point.
"Pain is temporary"
Wait, Martin, what are yo-
"Glory is forever"
MARTIN NO
I cry every time. Both from sadness at seeing him destroy this beloved creation and the anticipated epicness of what he'll replace that part with.
I really dont think i could have made that decision
xD
*MARTIN NO*
i don't understand the joke, pls explain?
13:47 oh god hes gonna rebuild the whole mmx
was really worried he was going to take the whole thing apart!
"Pain is temporary" ..... Uh, guys.... Somebody stop him?!?! LOL!
*BURN IT DOWN! PAIN IS TEMPORARY, GLORY IS FOREVERRRR*
That's Episode #110.
Yeah, I had an angle grinder moment right as he said that.
"playing music with marbles is a fundamentally bad idea"
proceeds to play on a saw 3 seconds later
Had me cracking up for 3 minutes straight. I wish I could be this guy's friend but damn I don't think I'd be able to contribute a single useful thing.
mick gordon
uhhh
i cant hear you over the chainsaw and lawn mower
I love how you are able to take this immense machine and breakdown the individual adjustments into such easy to understand steps.
3:02 Martin: "There is not a single point where the metal of the levers touch the metal of the machine"
3:15 Also Martin: Moves lever down to make metal-metal sound.
Martin, serious question. Does having a youtube audience help motivate you to keep pushing through parts of this project you dread? I'm a software developer and I know i'll walk away from a project for some time because i'm dreading doing a specific part of it. Watching your videos however, you always have the next part done or worked on substantially every Wednesday. I'm super impressed by your level of motivation.
I've heard that doing things publicly increases accountability. But there are plenty of public failures so 🤷♂️
Well audience sometimes is a good motivator I hope you think of your customers as your audience Hugs I said it as well as I could I'm dumb Lol 😜
I can't speak for Martin, but personally after decades of working on various projects...I find I get to a certain point of frustration and have to push the project aside for a bit...I think what having an external motivator like you mention youtube (or a boss, or spouse), is it limits how long you can push a project away...but even Martin has said a few times throughout this build that he has put off certain aspects because it was too hard, and he didn't have an answer...yet...I think what really helps Martin on this project is his ability to describe his vision, delegate without fear, and as a result has surrounded himself with a good support team of craftsmen and donors.
Gee, I totally agree with you and I'd like to know this too.
Same, I am a game developer, I had I worked on projects alone that nobody knew and stopped since I had no audience telling me if I do something good.
"Garbage in Garbage out"
I'm in Software Engineering and I feel you.
Just please don't show up with the angle grinder at work when you've got some code refactoring to do ;)
@@marcoazz I can think of some problems in software that can be solved with an angle grinder but they are admittedly rather few haha
We use that adage in statistical analysis as well. Except magic also happens midway, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
@@marcoazz """ Fucked
[Some code]
"""
and rewrite it all would probably be the closest analogy.
@@marcoazz "I swear to god IDLE if you tell me one more time that you cant turn ints to strings I'm gonna chuck an angle grinder at you - while it's controlled by a relay triggered by catching the exception you cause when you try and fail to turn numbers to strings"
"Pain is temporary"
Please, someone, stop this guy, he's becoming masochist :D
I'd argue that he was a masochist to start with. XD
Yes, But no! Funny joke, but i dont want him to stop :)
He should do a shirt with this quote on it
"Victory is forever"
Dude.... Take your negativity elsewhere.
"Pain is temporary, glory is forever" might be my new life motto.
I don't know... this doesn't feel like feature creep. It's more like replacing a poorly realized part with a more reliable, higher quality one that performs that same function. And it makes sense, most of the sound of the MMX is now coming from authentic (although highly modified) musical instruments. Although I enjoy music made by found objects, the advantage here is that this new part should not only sound better but also be more quickly recognizable to the listener. Allowing our ears to better focus on the core sound of the MMX, in my opinion, is a good thing.
Can't wait for Part 2!
You said it best.
This rhythm machine went through the same problematic issues as the mini-snare-with-rice-grain-inside does for it to be snaredrum's substitute; that Martin had to literally build another "instrument" equivalent to those that are already optimized. Rather a tall order for an alternative challange (read: side quest), i suppose.
I completely agree. To me the goal isn't "build a marble machine" which could be completed quickly, the goal is "make great music using this unique and amazing instrument." As far as I can tell, no one has made a marble machine instrument like this before, so there are no previous versions to base your design on. Martin is treading a completely new path, and as a trailblazer, sometimes you have to acknowledge your mistakes and backtrack a bit. In the end he will get there with a fantastic instrument and amazing music.
It seems like an utterly reasonable strategic decision. He's saddled with a hasty design that's turning out to be fundamentally flawed in multiple ways that would greatly complicate various parts of subsequent development. The realization of an elegant alternative design with a lower likelihood of complications is certainly justification to reconsider investing more resources (time) in the problematic development path.
Plus, as a drummer, seeing actual drum bits doing the drumming just makes me absolutely giddy.
It's more like "eternal refactoring" than like "feature creep" :)
When you broke the rhythm machine down that really shows how dedicated you are to this project, you won't settle for "good enough" and I think that's true dedication right there.
Hey Wintergatan! I have been following for over a year now and I just want to say I love what your doing and how you are bringing the maker community together to create this awesome machine, it is really inspiring!
Pain is temporary: regret is forever. You definitely did the right thing.
Started to panic as he removed more and more parts from the MMX 😬
Thought he will not stop. But he did!
Greetings from Munich, Tom.
The combination of music and engineering is so beautifully captured in this machine! It never gets old!
i love the way he goes with chopping off parts he isnt happy with.
Put this guy and Settled (swampletics) in a room and they'll crack fusion and climate change in a week.
@@Ree1981 Climate has been changing for millions of years, we don't cause it and we can't change it.
@@Ree1981 osrs player spotted
@@skmetal7 It's not that we cause it, it's that we're accelerating it.
@@TheNathannator Our co2 production has ZERO affect on the earth heating. Plus there is NO evidence that the earth is actually heating. electroverse.net/physicist-co2-retains-heat-for-only-0-0001-seconds-warming-not-possible/
So inspiring watching Martin on his journey with the MMX. The raw dedication and willingness to overcome every obstacle that comes his way is awesome. We all love and support you Martin! Love these videos.
I would suggest adding a tachometer or something along those lines, with a small led display so you can adjust the rpm accordingly
Why not mechanical tachometer? :D
I was thinking the same, that way you could see the BPM/RPM at any moment.
I just added the same comment... in less technical terms
I think the best way is to hook an electric motor to the flywheel by friction to keep a perfect tempo. He can still use the pedal at the beginning and use the motor to keep the speed once moving. A DC motor from a treadmill with an SCR control would work marvels.
While that would add an element of mechanical perfection, solving a million problems... I’m not sure how I feel about it not being “played” by a human being. And besides... music isn’t perfection... “Music is the space between the notes.” -Debussy
There's been so many times through this build where I've thought "Now that's really cool." but then you go back and change it to something completely different- and it's like the pieces fall into place. I think the replacement to the rhythm machine was a fantastic idea. The new system just sounds infinitely better.
I love love what you do and i love the adventure you brought us. I am loving every single moments of the marble machine x creation. Thank you
This. Yes Yes Yes!
Bravo Martin not afraid to keep on improving your ideas, this is how great works are made.
I really didn't like the sound of the rythm machine either. So glad you decided to redesign it completely instead of taking the compromise
Nooo...the angle grinder again! Ha ha... I love it, the next iteration will be good, I'm sure!
2:13 Martin getting used to memes
I think you should not be afraid of getting always stuck in search of improvement. What you are doing here is something out of the ordinary. You are making a CUSTOM machine that plays a lot of other MUSICAL instruments. Which takes a huge spectrum of knowledge - theoretical (you already have) - practical is what you are constantly build up as you do with the machine itself. You are doing an amazing job, I really admire your knowledge, determination, and dedication to this project.
When the machine is done I want every university in the world to give Martin an honorary Ph.D. in engeneering.
He can have an Engeneering degree, which is representative of his engineering skills. Martin is simply not an engineer, full stop. He is wildly talented, creative and a joy to behold. *But he is not an engineer*
@@WhatAboutTheBee bummer
@@Khaztaroth I know you mean well. I, too, wish Martin well.
A Mechanical Engineer designs his components, calculates the build up of tolerance and provides finished drawings. In direct conversations with Martin's actual engineers, it has been made clear that not only has the build up of tolerance calculation not been made, but that major components are not even in his CAD drawings.
An engineer *calculates* in the face of uncertainty, making design choices based on a conservative approach that will provide success with compromises. Martin just builds stuff and tries it out.
@@WhatAboutTheBee The standards by which universities award engineering degrees change as methods and technology improve but the definition of engineer is still "someone who designs, builds or maintains machines or public works'. Leonardo DaVinci was an engineer who did not have a degree from MIT. Would an engineer 500 years from now think that no one from our time would be engineers because we don't do things the same as they do?
@@saradeanna The very minute that Martin completes a University curriculum in Engineering, I'll be the first to recognize him as such Until then, he is not an engineer.
These videos are a wonderful and a lesson on Design that has been preserved for future builders, designers, and engineers. Thank you.
"Pain is temporary" a slasher horror film about Martin finally going crazy because of the mmx and going around terrorizing people in rural france with that saw
I love seeing parts being redesigned, it's very interesting seeing how a different approach can make such a big difference.
literally throughout this video I was thinking the whole time: "Why do you need metal plates scraping on wood? just use drum sticks hitting a metal surface instead."
I didn't get why he had to destroy the whole thing. If he mounted those metal bits on the bottom and the sprung drumstick tips on the wheels....?
MrGonzonator he didn’t though; he disassembled it. Apart from the rhythm volume control levers which are wholly redundant with the new design, all the other parts are whole and reusable and will probably be back on the machine by the next episode.
Look at the thumbnail, he already had it built and we never notice.
Switcheroo: instead of metal on wood, it's wood on metal
Hello Martin, I visit you from time to time and you know, what? You're a perfect example of a clinic case...I could get friends with :-).
The mixture of an engineering and passion oriented on music supported by the creativity is something really unusual. And inspiring. Thanks.
Waiting for a governor for the flywheel. Then it doesn't matter the pace of cranking. Old school steam has the answer.
Link to device?
So, basically MMX becomes one over-engineered music box?
well technically it still is, but then Martin should figure out how to make that happen...
@@TheWineroute ruclips.net/video/zNzpOwWzxXw/видео.html
Can you adjust a governor so it allows you to play lots of different tempos? Because he wants an unlimited range of speeds for the machine
Yes, I was noticing the same issue when he expressed his inability or difficulty in keeping the revolutions in time with the recording. I saw other comments that called for an RPM tachometer, but think the adjustable governor in conjunction would be even more effective.
Martin, the skills you had prior to the original MM and those you keep showing us with the evolution of the MMX are truly outstanding.
Keep up the outstanding work.
Don't mind the tweaks, you work through them well.
And thank-you for all that you have shared to date.
It is Wednesday my hoodies...
haha what a change, we are progressing :)
Eaaaayyyyyeeeaahhh!
gotta change it up every now and then to keep my sanity lol (:
Wednesday it is, my doodie.
Indeed it is my fellow hood
This guy is a bloody genius ! To have this idea in his head - design it - solve the problems - and create what was in his head - just an idea a concept a new creation- AND MAKE MUSIC ?!!? Incredible ! Just incredible
There might be some feature creep going on, but you're definitely not falling for the sunken cost fallacy.
Wore the "I believe" T-Shirt today when a coworker recognized it and came to me, so we had a nice chat about the last updates on the MMX. The number of believers is rising ^^
So much fun to see you progressing. Keep up the spirit! :-)
Martin: "It sounds like spring steel scrapping against plywood with a contact microphone and I don't like it"
Audience: "Uhm.... Martin... we need to talk about something..." :)
In geoscience modeling, we call it "Garbage In, Garbage Out" - we stand with you in getting it best in the primary variable, rather than band-aid plug-in audio engineering. love from a small island on the west coast of canada.
"The rhythm is really difficult to get tight"
What would happen if you added a Centrifugal Governor with indicators on it to show how fast you are playing the beat? It wouldn't help with the offset timing issue, but once you found the timing, it would be easier to keep the crank at the correct speed.
Hoodie looks AMAZING. Im in love at watching and hearing how its changed over time
My wednesday has more meaning than most others!
You have an amazing mind. Your musical and mechanical aptitude is obvious to anyone who watches any of your videos. I wouldn't be surprised to see you show up on one of those shows that come up every now and again about people with a particular genius.
My motto when building anything new to me:
"No guts, No glory!"
You don't know until you try, and what doesn't kill you...makes you stronger.
Every, and I mean Every inventer goes through these processes God knows how many times, each time advancing ever closer to the goal, so I applaud your efforts, and hope for only the best results.
Thank You for sharing.
✌😁💥
Personally, I already love the way it sounds! Can't wait to hear the finished product!
IDEA: for timing, instead of using the hand crank to speed the machine, use it to tighten a spring powered motor, like in a wind up toy, & use a lever to control the speed. A big coil spring with a one way gear.
Seeing you pull out the angle grinder again gave me a smile and huge laugh! I trust you, Martin, because when you take a step back, it's so you can leap forward!
*I believe!*
Me opening youtube staring at the first spot on the homepage as it loads: "please be wintergatan"
*loads* "Wintergatan, 8 minutes ago"
"hell yeah"
YES
This also solves the problem in one of the previous videos where the hi-hat ran out of marbles a couple of times. Worth it!
Holy cow, the physiclal sound envelope is genious :o
Oh hell, nevermind, here comes the angle grinder...
F
F
@@YoshionoKimochi F
40th like. Nice.
Moon and Star is seriously something of the most beautiful I have heard. Makes me feel good. Amazing work Martin
imagine someone following this series and building it themselfs
I wouldn't be surprised if some engineering student in Japan has tried to do just that. Give it enough time and someone will try to make one out of Lego XD
I can't remember when he said it, but Martyn once said that he's going to put the CAD and all relevant files online once the MMX is completed. I think he WANTS to see others make their own copy of MMX.
@@Daggeira yup
Michael Oakes for a price
the @@1itim I'd hope so! He's put enough blood, sweat, and tears into it, so the rest of us don't have to.
1 step back, 2 step forwards. That is life. And you are always moving forward and will get there.
It's just hard to see when you are so zoomed in. But being on the outside I see it.
Just keep going martin. It's all about the journey, not the destination. And you are already a star!
Everyone's all that until Martin drops the "Pain is temporary, Glory is forever" line
I love the fact and also the way you are able to reflect upon yourself so well, it truly is a trait you need to build the marble machine!!! Much love, your Dutch neighbour☺️
you have come so far i remember when it was just a frame welded together
Martin, you are an absolutely inspiring person. Thank you so much. I believe.
Wants to avoid feature creep, also invents wiggly drumsticks
Metal fatigue also occurs with coiled springs.
@@WhatAboutTheBee sure, but much slower. The point is to have enough consistency to make it through a tour. Almost everything on the MMX is designed to be swappable in case of damage or degradation.
LOL! 😂
sure, but they are actually needed...
Maybe he could glue 2 different metals to eachother
One thing I did not expect learning from these videos when I started watching them: PAIN IS TEMPORARY. Yep, it's okay to go back and re-do stuff, letting go of bad designs, having worked hours on something unusable is not a bad thing, as long as you learned your mistakes in the process. I've been trying to learn that for myself for years during all my projects, but watching the actual benefit of it every wednesday, I'm now genuinely believing it. I'm no engineer, no real musician, I just loved the MM1 to bits. And I'm learning so much from the building of the MMX, even though I'm just passively enjoying this, it's incredible. That's one of the reasons I keep watching this like a junkie. Thanks, Martin !
(and THANKS FOR THE HOODIES !!!)
First. Like for the video. Second. Like to the "It's Wednesday my dudes" guy. Third. I felt sad when he began to tear apart the MMX, but that is the daily life of engineering. Finding better solutions just when you finished to build one and see that it doesn't work as expected.
We have been watching you create the prototype, beta and final machine all at once. It should evolve. Your stamina is remarkable.
Heisenbergs Rhythm Machine: With uncertainty built in.
Good job recognizing that something won't work and making changes. Pain is temporary, Glory is forever.
Martin: *pick up angle grinder
"Pain is temporary"
Me: Oh shit, here we go again.
Martin, I'm starting to think the process of this is more enjoyable than the finished product might be. I know there is a goal in all of this, but I for one won't be disappointed in the slightest if this becomes a never-ending pursuit. Watching you invent and troubleshoot and zealously endeavor to find what is best for this dream is the best part of the MMX. I hope the first song you play on a stage is a sad one, because as beautiful as that song will be, we will all be sad not to see this process go on ad infinitum.
You should add a tachometer, like to have a live feedback of the rotational speed of the MMX, you could add a simple hall effect pickup to dial in an RPM signal
Matin you know what... watching every week how you struggle to make your dream com true is one thing but what really inspires me is the way you you talk about it ... there's so much humility in your voice and at the same time its full of wonder and passion of a little kid watching mesmerized at the stars. The world can be a magical place. Thanks for reminding us about that...
Martin: _has a better idea for a certain part of MMX_
Angle grinder: "Hello there"
*has a better ID
That's a nice piece of engineering you got there. Would be a shame if something were to... happen to it.
Angle grinder comes out, parts go flying!
The level of catharsis upon actually finishing this this will be unrivaled.
It did sound a little bit like someone chopping vegetables in the flat upstairs. Onwards and upwards!
Greetings from snowy Gagnef Martin!!
I don't think you need to keep apologising. Hundreds of thousands of people are enjoying watching you learn and build. I personally love these big 'crisis' moments, because I know I'll get to watch you replace something awesome with something mind-blowing.
Martin at 10.000.000 subs: Gonna disassemble the same stuff with a dynamite !
Pain is Eternal ! Glory is Forever ! Explosions are Magnificent !
Watching you move through these challenges and overcoming them translates to every other part of life. So you're delivering life lessons... HILARIOUSLY! There is so much value you are creating for all who watch it's ridiculous. Keep it up, brother!
Pain is temporary, *angle grinder here* glory is forever. Shirts and hoodies when? Maybe a poster?
Going through all the changes, all the ideas with you is a wild ride.
- "Oh no... please don't grab the angle grinder again.... Martin, no!"
- "MARTIN YES!"
I'm always ending a wintergatan's video with this feeling: amazing how a man with genius, dedication and a lot of support can overcome anything. Martin, not only your videos are instructive, interesting and entertaining, but they are also empowering for all of us, filling us with positive feelings. Thanks so much!
Kind of just want the design on a hoodie without any words
Martin, I respect your decisions. Tearing down and rebuilding is harder than polishing. And it is the right thing to do. Respect and power to you 🖖
You should make pain is temporary, glory is forever shirts!
I think Martin has the perfect combination of quirky musician, sense of humor, and engineering genius. I am pretty sure we'd get a long pretty well if we ever met. Someday, that'd be a cool thing to happen.
Angle Grinder exist: "pain is temporary"
Me: oh no. nonononono!
Also me: but glory is forever! cha!
We need "Pains is temporary. Glory is Forever" merch.
Oh thank goodness. I always worried that that rhythm machine would be disappointing on the final product. I’m so excited to see this new design!
It seems so obvious, but it took so long to think of. Those are the best designs.
To help with timing - I’m envisaging something like a centrifugal governer...
A centrifugal govenor admits more or less steam as a function of the rise and fall of the metal balls. I'm not convinced that this is an appropriate feedback mechanism as Martin doesn't expel gas as a motive force for MMX. Martin does have a flywheel which is used to modulate velocity, as the rotational inertia resists changes in velocity. The issue for Martin is to get that flywheel to the appropriate velocity, when it all the while resists that very change.
@@WhatAboutTheBee Instead of actuating a gas valve with the governor, you can also actuate a brake pad on a brake disk. That's how it works in acoustic (wind up) gramophones. It's a very simple but effective speed limiter.
LimaVictor yes, the idea was as a brake for speed limiting (or even just as a really accurate mechanical indicator)
Remember the point is to have the crank work in time with the machine. The beat should be on the lowest part of the downstroke. Part of it is playing better, but not having a hard, snappy note can make playing to a beat hard. I think the revamped rhythm machine will fix the issue of being able to hear the actual peak of the sound. Look at the sound comparison part at 12:02. Martin explains it.
@@WhatAboutTheBee idk I see a lot of smoke come out of his ears now and then XD
Awesome video! I found that after the complicated first iteration the second is elegant and simple. IF...you are willing to push and not settle. Keep up the amazing work, experience like this can only be earned.
Next Episode
Martin: I'm gonna replace the kick drum with an actual 16" kick drum which is gonna be mounted below the MMX.
Shared once again to Facebook. This fella will never quit a problem of any kind !
part of me knew this was coming. the new part I'm sure will be miles ahead of the old part.
however, I am worried that you're entirely replacing the old hi-hat. are you? because I really really liked the visual style of the old one, getting hit by marbles was just the best thing to watch. I know it's harder to get right though. part of me just wishes you increased the marble drop height and added 2 more droppers for 4 total and called it a day.
Real instruments will almost always help beef up and give grounding to a sound. Never apologize for doing what's best for the music, Martin.
Hey Martin, I had a question, do you ever find that having this weekly episode sometimes gets in the way of having a fully fledged design, simply because you have a week to do things and get a video up? Or does it almost help to have that slight time pressure going to keep you from over designing?
I noticed about myself, that when I try to show or explain what I'm doing, I actually see many errors and other things that I would not notice otherwise.
It is not just the engineering getting better, the script is also getting better with each episode: Angle grinder symbolism is very powerful. Meticulously removing the blue tape from the floor as work to be done although you are demolishing a piece of already completed work, dismembered limbs of the beat machine with a drop of blood on the floor, melancholic theremin music on a saw juxtaposed with celebratory eyeglass frames, all fit in perfectly to deliver the trials and tribulations of the protagonist.
“One of the biggest traps for smart engineers is optimising a thing that should not exist in the first place” ~Elon Musk
So true in your case.
Rapid Prototyping Design Process ruclips.net/video/SMLDAgDNOhk/видео.html
Now with larger scale with Stainless Steel StarShip.
I hope you mean the first iteration of the Rhythm Machine...
This is, remember, first and foremost, art.
Tim Hocking I was agreeing with him dumping the way the rhythm machine for a better design. Not for the whole project 😂
"pain is temporary"
"Glory is forever"
thats a really good inspirational quote.