Wiardgroup

> The closest to being ready to prototype is what I term 
the "rattler". 
> It will be a stereo miniature plate reverb. Room simulation is not 
> it's goal. Metallic pops, fizzes and sproings are.

Nice.  Another idea that might be incorporated into this is attach a 
small piezo-pickup/microphone into the system attached to the 
rattler.  I don't know exactly how plate reverb works, so this may 
be superfluous, but if it's like spring reverb in that an actual 
electrical signal is sent throught the plate, then a pickup of some 
sort might be quite fun.  A lot of experimentation has centered 
around very small not obviously musical objects (springs, paper 
clips) which are amplified with piezo-pickups to great musical 
effect.  Adding such might be a good idea in this case, at least as 
an output if nothing else.

> Another that is further from realization will be a mechanical 
> karplus/resonator system. Like a miniature 1 octave chromatic 
> clavinet.

Hmm, not at all sure how this would work--and that's a very good 
thing:).  Is a karplus/resonator system another term for 
karplus/strong synthesis, known for physical modeling using short 
delay times?  If so, I'm not exactly sure how a clavinet-type thing 
would fit with that.  I'd love to hear more about this, as I know a 
fair amount about clavinets, clavichords, etc... and might be able 
to help.

I was also thinking about something that incorporated em 
> feedback and a vc'd glass/metal slide in what amounts to being 
close 
> to "sarod in a box". 

Hmmm, now that sounds interesting.  These all sound like great ideas 
for really different products.  Electro-mechanical type instruments 
became a bit of a dinosaur when purely-electronic designs (synths, 
electronic pianos, organs) became feasible, and in many ways it's a 
shame.  There are some things that just can't be emulated well with 
purely electronic means, IMO, and electro-mechanical items can 
introduce unexpected and complex sounds with relative ease (think of 
a spring reverb--shake it, bang it, put magnets near it, etc...lots 
of fun sounds that would be time consuming to create otherwise).  
Indeed, I can just imagine sending a signal from, say, the wogglebug 
through a small noise-making plate verb and seeing what happens.  
Quite fun.

JR "Bulldogge" Ross
& Snuffy, too:) (in de-lurk mode)