DIY Plate Reverb Unit nearly finished.

[pathdoc]

Over the last few months I've been slowly putting together a plate reverb unit for my studio. The plate measure approx. 36x60 inches and is suspended in a wooden frame made out of 2x6's. I built a lid for it this weekend. I used a Vidsonix audio tactile transducer VX-6H72) to stimulate the plate and a simple contact pickup to pull the sound back out of the plate. I tried using the headphone output to power the transducer but its signal is too weak. When I crank up the headphone amp it distorts too easily so I'll be switching over to a small power amp.
http://home.swbell.net/hebert11/plate_reverb_pic.jpg
In the pic the lid is leaning up against the unit but hasn't been mounted yet.
Thanks for looking.

[pathdoc]

I should mention, the lid has a gentle curve to it so I hope it will act as a diffusor.

[cusebassman]

Sweet Jesus.

You should sell them commercially - I could always use a massive plate reverb for my apartment

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Excellent work. I'd be really interested to hear how it sounds when done.

[slidey]

WOW

would love to hear how it sounds as well

I have some big spaces that I could put plates in..............scheme scheme scheme

[pathdoc]

Once I feel I've optimized my setup I'll post a link for audio. You have to really do some wierd EQ to the return signal to make it sound reasonable. Again, my biggest issue is with too little power going to the transducer. I should have more info soon.

[cusebassman]

Actually, you should start developing a tiny little plate reverb (maybe a plate 2' square or 3' square).

I understand from your description how they work, but what would the drawback to designing one with a smaller plate be? Simply a lessened reverb effect?

[pathdoc]

The smaller the plate the shorter the reverb time. A larger plate can have reverb lasting several seconds (usually around 5).
I may experiment with a tiny plate. Can't hurt.

[cusebassman]

That would be quite cool - at the current size that thing is beastly - but if it were a 2-3 foot square, I think it would be manageable - just stick it in the back of the closet and have the I/O jacks running out, hehe

[tmix]

PathDoc,
How do you decide what metal to use? And how thick?
I work at an Aerospace sheetmetal parts manufacturer and have access to basically any type of metal from carbon steel , stainless steel, aluminum,etc. to titanium, and in all tempers and thicknesses.

I am just curious, I don't have time to build one currently.

Tom

[pathdoc]

I got most of the info from this article.
http://www.prosoundweb.com/recording...late/plate.php
Very helpful info in this article.

[ridgeback]

Very cool indeed. An old studio I did work in had a 64" x 40" homemade rig and it sang. He also made some cool dampening devices for it as well. Nice work man!

[pathdoc]

Last night I routed the input signal from a small power amp into the tactile transducer and finally the unit got enough signal. You can really hear the plate singing. Improving the input signal increased the output signal to a reasonable level. The pickup is connected to a passive direct box and routed into a small Mackie mixer where I can boost the signal and use some EQ.
Next I need to work on a set of dampeners.
Here is a pic with the cover off and sitting infront of the unit.
In this pic you can see the transducer and the mounting details of the plate.
Notice the inside of the lid is covered in foam. I'm hoping this reduces any ring from inside the unit when its not in use.
http://home.swbell.net/hebert11/plat...t_no_cover.jpg
thanks for all of your interest.

[brendandwyer]

Originally Posted by cusebassman

That would be quite cool - at the current size that thing is beastly - but if it were a 2-3 foot square, I think it would be manageable - just stick it in the back of the closet and have the I/O jacks running out, hehe

the problem is is that as the size &or density of the steel plate decreases, the high frequencies increase and the low frequencies decrease.

Really, for an adequate frequency response, it shold be 3-4' x 5-6', and the steel should be 1/64" (don't know the guage). However, tensioning the plate is critical too.

But yeah, you can use smaller dimensions, but 2 x 3 would show lots of high frequencies and not much low frequencies.

Not to mention you severly limit your decay times with smaller plate sizes.

[cusebassman]

Its okay - Im not really going to go out and build a plate reverb.

;(

[brendandwyer]

Originally Posted by cusebassman

Its okay - Im not really going to go out and build a plate reverb.

;(

i am

at least i really want to.

and i wasn't busting on you, i figured it might help those that might take this project on.

All of that said, it's not a tremendously expensive project, but it takes up a lot of room.

I know Steve Albini's at Electric Audio is in the basement of the studio, and he ran cables up from the dampening pads. i think that's pretty cool

[nddhc]

Reverb thats not a plugin???

Looks great, I cant wait to hear it

[Fishmed]

What would be cool is if you could build one using a Cymbal as the plate with the ability to swap out the cymbal for different flavors.

Plus, it would keep the overall reverb unit small.

[ofajen]

It just so happens that on Monday I visited a studio that has a pair of EMT plate reverbs. They are really big!

I'm curious: if you want a stereo plate reverb, does it require two, separate plates, or can you get a useful stereo signal from two transducers on different parts of the same plate?

Cheers,

Otto

[Zaphod B]

Originally Posted by ofajen

I'm curious: if you want a stereo plate reverb, does it require two, separate plates, or can you get a useful stereo signal from two transducers on different parts of the same plate?

I don't see how you could get a true stereo signal out of one plate. I'm sure they'd be two different-sounding signals, but not stereo.

[GearAddict]

I was interning at an amazing studio that had plates stores in the basement. They were patched into all of the studio so with a simple patch you could get in and out of them. I never bothered to hear them myself, but from what I hear, they sound fantastic and every new intern who starts recording usually runs EVERYTHING through them. lol.

[jrhager84]

I want one. How much you lookin' for to make 'em... I was just talking about an actual plate reverb in my home studio....it'd be killer...you really should sell them. Thanks dude!

-Joel

[pathdoc]

The cost of materials, wood, steel, hardware, tranducer, pickup runs about $300. You'll need a few other items you already have in your studio ie direct box, small power amp to power transducer, mixer and cables.
The biggest issue is getting the unit to your studio. Shipping would be insane.

[ofajen]

Originally Posted by Zaphod B

I don't see how you could get a true stereo signal out of one plate. I'm sure they'd be two different-sounding signals, but not stereo.

I'm starting to consider undertaking such a project, since I have some materials to get rid of. I'm hoping that one could make a stereo unit by putting two plates in one enclosure and thereby save some space and some cost in materials.

Cheers,

Otto

[brendandwyer]

i see no reason why you couldn't mount two plates in one enclosure as long as you address the following:

1. The tension on the frame will be double, so your gussets and bracing should be able to handle the tension

2. I would acoustically isolate each side of the enclosure (l/r) as well as i could.

3. You will need 2 amps as well