Revverrbb Constructing an Outdated but Superior Analog Device
in the Digital Age
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What is Reverb Reverb is short for Reverberation. A collection
of reflected sounds that bounce back to the listener. Example- The
Zombies The Way I Feel Inside
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What is a Plate Reverb? An Analog piece of music equipment used
to artificially recreate reverb. It was used in the studios of 50s
60s and 70s before computers could recreate reverb digitally. EMT
140- The first commercially available plate reverb
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Why Plate Reverb? Ive been interested in music and in
engineering for nearly my whole life. Always thought it would be
cool to have one. Inspired by reverb-heavy contemporary music.
Interest in analog signal processing. Wanted to do something that
involved construction. Did not want to do anything conceptual.
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Goals Build a working analog plate reverb. Weld the frame
myself, by first learning how to weld. Build the electronics, learn
how to troubleshoot and learn more about circuit design. Build the
wooden enclosure. Have practical use after the project was
finished.
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Process: Inspiration Fleet Foxes, a band drenched in plate
reverb Article: The Interfacing of Balanced and Unbalanced
Equipment Using Jensen Transformers
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Process: Motivation I like reverb as an effect. Although quite
simple it is often just the sound you are looking for when in the
studio. Knew I wanted to participate in college in a major that is
based around electrical engineering and audio technology. Thought
the working principle of the device was quite interesting.
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Process: Construction Build the Frame and Plate Finding the
Steel: Shipped from North Carolina Welding with Jonathan Fletcher-
Plate construction went fairly smooth
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Metal Frame and Plate
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Process: Construction Build the Electronics Plans found online:
had to be redesigned, multiple times Ordering parts Prototyping and
final construction
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Final Circuits
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Process: Construction Build the Wooden Enclosure Solving the
wheel problem Purchasing the wood
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Wooden Enclosure
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Challenges Finding a sheet of steel. Finding a welder that
could take me in as a sort of apprentice Electronics- from the
prototyping to using them with the plate Productivity over
time.
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What I Learned I do not like to work on two things at once, for
instance regular schoolwork and my senior project. I go through
bursts of interest. I am very hard on myself. I do not enjoy
documenting my process. Welding and Electronics as Ive
discussed.
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Future? This product fits exactly what I want to do in the
future. It is the combination of engineering and music that I want
to pursue in college. Keep improving on the plate; redesign the
electronics. Build more things in my free time I became more
interested in technical readings. I started the Naval Electricity
and Electronics Training Series or NEETS and I want to finish
those, though it will probably take a year
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Thank You Sy Abramowitz Jonathan Fletcher Paul Hamilton Carrie
Clark Dale Scott Dave Morgan The Ross School