Horror Musical Instrument - The Apprehension Engine

NEW The Apprehension Engine has come a long way since this video was made. Here's a performance from 2020: • Apprehension in Quaran...
I made a sketch of an idea I had for an instrument that specialized in creating horrifying sounds, and together with my good friend Tony Duggan-Smith, we designed it and Tony built it for me, with the intention of using it in horror film score.
Credit where credit is due: the ideas was influenced by a Vimeo video called, "Koka's Soundtrack Box #1". Go see for yourself. It's pretty cool. vimeo.com/168312956
It consists of metal rulers which are bowed, a hurdy gurdy like mechanism, a string played with an attached Ebow, a spring reverb (also played with an ebow) some long metal rods, magnets, trash, anything at all to get unnerving sounds.
To use this video in a commercial player or in broadcasts, please email [e-mail]

[@Proffa666]

I bet your neighbours love you

[@CaptainTrips]

Bet his neighbours love Jew too.

[@wickedwendigo216]

Captain Trips *facepalm*

[@giovanni2567]

"Love, what the hell are these strange noises?"

[@rustyshackleford1508]

*[MUFFLED KVETCHING IN THE DISTANCE]*

[@jonathanlundquist5845]

If i found out this person was my neighbor I would weep tears of gratitude for my good fortune

[@gorygabby1305]

this is what i'm talking about when i'm talking about asmr

[@SaidSquirrel]

I can feel the tingles already!

[@geeklette99]

I mean it's whatever okay some quality bedtime relaxation right here

[@tobiasbrunner4720]

Not to forget the sweet dreams you'll get afterwards...

[@blanchybaby]

What is asmr please?

[@srgmatrix6970]

Hell yeah. This tingles me a lot,only until that thing starts screaming,that I find disturbing

[@Jahu-qs2us]

Child: "Can you play me a lullaby?" Dad: "yeah sure" _existential dread intensifies_

[@bodychoke]

Not funny. Be quiet.

[@UL71M4]

Not funny. Be quiet

[@Anthony-jh6xt]

Haha

[@UL71M4]

@유키 but i asked

[@UL71M4]

@유키 but i didn't ask

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

The type of music you hear when your parents find your report card in the garbage bin

[@schrodinger_kot]

Ah... I see you

[@c.i.a3350]

Yikes. That is indeed worthy of tune from a horror movie.

[@diakounknown1225]

Diarrhea

[@bambangmaulana8121]

Hi again everywhere :D

[@NotHanjiYT]

OH BOY😂

[@eclairlacroix1830]

Im gonna play this in our garage, in the middle of the night, when kids still roam the streets. I would scare the crap out of those kids.

[@penguinlord8341]

Eclair Lacroix you.are.a.GENIUS.

[@rabbit0664]

Eclair Lacroix My kind of person.

[@PallabDutt]

Eclair Lacroix you are my man

[@bencorner3536]

Play this thing over a loud speaker the night of Halloween. That aught to set the atmosphere.

[@labshot]

Oh and you have to record it!!!

[@W0LFB3AT5]

It's like I'm walking down a long ass creepy corridor

[@mx.giraffe1971]

DJ - W0LFB3AT5 yeah try are annoying they just trying way too hard bro

[@adirblazkowics7717]

This instrument is officially my utmost favorite already. It's awesome to think such a whack-looking thing could make such amazingly effective sounds you'd think would belong to the sound of two metal bars or some shit scraping together.

[@cagneybillingsley2165]

very interesting, i would have thought they'd gone all digital with these types of sounds

[@locallovebug]

Is it weird that I find 99% of these sounds deeply pleasant?

[@mizbaibnbasher6269]

Damn psychopath, okay.

[@Sam-jh4nf]

Then you, my friend, are my kind of person

[@rsstnnr76]

Not at all.

[@greatwavefan397]

Music is a compilation of sounds that evoke an experience. When resorted solely strict, trite systems, it is no longer music.

[@AdoraVivos]

no, music is subjective, I finds these sounds very pleasing as well..but I also like harsh noise blasting through my eardrums so yeah that's that

[@hadenplouffe3976]

Now I want to make a horror film just so you have an excuse to utilize this awesomeness, lol.

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Cool!

[@hadenplouffe3976]

Are you and Robert Eggers going to continue collaborating on his next project?

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Hi Haden. That would be the remake of Nosferatu. Nothing is written in stone, but there's a good chance of it.

[@hadenplouffe3976]

Oh man, seriously? That sounds amazing, I can't wait to see how that turns out.

[@TorchRG0214808]

He would be probably the only guy that's not gonna be scared to any horror movies

[@be_vocal_online]

yeah , he's like "I know thats just a metal ruler"

[@Puulllll]

When he watches the horror movies, he will not to watch the stories, instead, he will busy to guess what probably instrument that be used in the movie... 🤣

[@marcinha1973]

who knows...

[@bartjanc]

I’m guessing you haven’t realized yet that all the ‘scary’ moments in horror movies happen when the music/sounds stop and it’s suddenly quiet..

[@chopchunk7573]

It's crazy how the sounds produced at 2:30 can sound so human-like. Some parts actually sound like someone crying and whimpering in pain, especially towards the end of that segment

[@Elchamuc020]

It just sounds like a distorted electric guitar...

[@MrShellbuster]

Sounded like the start of a doom sound track

[@kirkm650]

It's called an ebow. People use it on guitars, usually.

[@Kayaz48]

Wonderful! Incredible SFX from an analog machine. Much easier, actually, than making them digitally.

[@SilentJayBird]

Well, mostly, kinda. It is certainly being run thru a digital or software based reverb. 🙂 Which I love.

[@Asmodai281]

With the right sound you can summon Cthulu

[@wiltdidit]

ikr. or my mother in law

[@johnbeauvais3159]

Asmodai281 Is your profile picture the German general from Band of Brothers?

[@EddieMillerStudios]

The Famous Eccles HAAAA! 😂😂😂

[@FoxPopvli]

let's call it Cthulhuphone!

[@Emperatriz_Valentina]

Asmodai281 more like Satin

[@PaperbackWizard]

But *why* does music like this work so...effectively? What makes it so horrifying?

[@Relflow]

Hi Vsauce, Michael here! (The answer you're looking for is on his channel)

[@hyvnjih]

Science

[@pengilk8186]

Ambiguity. You know its music, but you know its no music any sane person would make.

[@mmarmars]

Vvibration and frequency

[@tarkenton3895]

Discord,sustain and shitloads of reverb

[@CoconutDiaries]

Came here after Sushin Shyams reference. Love you Sushin!

[@muhammad9083]

Vere aarum etheele nammal maathre ullu❤

[@CoconutDiaries]

@@muhammad9083 Ejjactly!😄

[@John_C_J]

Ethu interview?

[@CoconutDiaries]

@@John_C_J He said he created something new like this for Manjummel boys.

[@2lehom]

me: plays this youtube: recommends creepy video me: *and that’s how i got lack of sleep*

[@georgesaunders3532]

This is insane. Lots of effects, but the sounds are unreal

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Interesting that you say "insane". Before we decided on "The Apprehension Engine", Tony wanted to name it "The Insanerator"!

[@1OZPLAY4BMFO]

"Unreal" is an understatement. How about "inhuman"?

[@Spriglet_]

@@1OZPLAY4BMFO what about just straight up from another planet

[@spongegaming1526]

@@indiefilmandmusic wow

[@CarterM2008]

@@indiefilmandmusic Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz: Don't you mean Insane-INATOR?!

[@kimyouakunawa6034]

2:31 perfect for alien movies

[@nick3020]

Floof Overload it sounds familiar

[@preddes6522]

@@nick3020 war of the worlds?

[@williamsapong81]

The Prowler theme?

[@supipilekamge3270]

@@preddes6522 yes I think so

[@cartersenini1713]

William sapon The prowler theme is miles them reversed.

[@negative4044]

3:21 Soma horror game ambient *confirmed*

[@mctakahashi1617]

I think the echo effect is what makes it truly horrified.

[@jojimbousagi5903]

It's round midnight, thought I would watch one last video before I take a pee and finally go to sleep. Now I don't freakin' dare to go to the damn toilet.

[@ChrisRedfield1]

This man hasn't used his toilet in over two years.

[@superexpertgamerkiller9477]

Why

[@mariadelacruz1153]

Told u shudve brought a chamber pot in bed

[@ideaspark1316]

I'm in the mf toilet listening to this 🙃 I'm never leaving

[@icantthinkofaname8139]

Did u pee ur pants

[@p.terodactyl6848]

2:34 R.I.P. headphone users!

[@FatTonyLite]

MotionSickness thanks for the heads up. Read your comment 15secs before hand. Good looking out😂

[@HyperObjeckt]

that part sounds like some Trent Reznor business lol

[@spirobrine]

The moment ya stub your toe on the leg of the table

[@thenasiudk1337]

Me

[@Kenkittie]

Antonio Hernandez me too!

[@NicholasMew]

Wife: Honey, can you get a DJ for the kid's party? I know it's game day, I'm sorry. Me: I know just the guy.

[@vasharal38]

How can an instrument like this create so many sounds is what fascinates me. I can see or hear some of the sounds being used in movies to be fair. This is oddly satisfying to listen to.

[@devincook1396]

The places I end up on youtube...

[@F1rstp3rson]

yeah pretty much what i am telling me right now.

[@taschak3889]

The wonderful part of KZbin.

[@LucasKingPiano]

Is there just the one or is the Apprehension Engine available to purchase?

[@indiefilmandmusic]

You can go to www.apprehensionengine.com for more info. Only two have been produced so far.

[@goncalobaia1574]

@@indiefilmandmusic sad, I would love to do pranks with this

[@mccrunchystinkballs5543]

I would so learn guitar just to make some metal with it

[@Laurenconblaine]

Never thought a legend like you would be here also!

[@MattaparthiShivaBhargav]

I don't want to be neighbors

[@sashasiregar1238]

Listening to this while reading horror articles online. Such an experience

[@itsJordaan]

Everything between 2:24 and 3:00 gave me chills. Just imagine right at 2:40 a silhouette of what looks like a person rises up behind you, but still at a bit of a distance away from you. Then at 2:37 it's standing directly behind you, so close that you can feel it's breath on your neck. Spooky stuff.

[@aniacryan3222]

Very underrated comment

[@syafiuddinazahar2200]

2:23 sounds like WW2 fighter jet

[@mug1222]

He's using an eBow... an electronic bow with settings to up the octave, or entice feedback.

[@MatthewMcClellan]

That is art. It's fantastic :)

[@tonytremola]

Thanks Mathew! my life began in Fine Arts and that is where still reside in everything I do. Tony

[@Spriglet_]

its TERRIFYINGLY FANTASTIC

[@RaduOleniuc]

Make a 10 hour version and post it here.

[@syamilbasayevhasan1877]

crazy

[@swiftfox3461]

Actually that would be quite cool. I'd listen.

[@snowbloodapple]

I'd listen to that 😂

[@cliffpadilla5871]

That would be awesome!!

[@LemonCorgi07]

Make 2:22 - 2:40 about 5x louder and you've got yourself a SUNN O))) concert.

[@Rippedinside]

0:45 i need 1 hour of that sound

[@MrKeyb0red]

This is a sound designer's dream! Seriously, this is incredible. Mind telling me what reverb plugin you used?

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Hi, Eventide black hole. M

[@pneptun]

knew it!!!! blackhole is amazing! :)

[@MiloMcCarthyMusic]

Isn’t there a reverb tank on the machine

[@hamiltonscale1296]

INDIE FILM MAKER may I ask what preset was used?

[@leokimvideo]

Jimmy Page would love this

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Could've used it on "whole lotta love" I think!

[@lukepineda42]

hello!

[@borbetomagus]

Maybe you might enjoy Keith Rowe (from AMM) -- /watch?v=HnUVpiFHhmM

[@filthyrich7905]

Les Claypool

[@BLB13films]

or dazed and confused

[@Holgast]

Those suspended metal rods and bars are awesome! You can do some great stuff with that! And I like the hurdy-gurdy style spinning wheel for the strings. Although, everything is great. The Ebow stuff is also worth mentioning, that has a real weight to it.

[@Gruuvin1]

This should be on a loop, so we can all listen to it while sleeping.

[@celinesantoro791]

this is all over the hannibal series ost. glad to finally know what makes that amazingly spooky sound!

[@DuyNguyen-fo8vl]

2:30 the best rock instrument ever xd

[@PrinceLeader]

Such a simple machine, capable of so much... Apprehension... Awesome.

[@chance5150]

After stumbling across this vid during lockdown, was inspired to build my own. Even thou it evolved into a different (more percussive) type of instrument I must thank you for the spark.

[@nataliepatalie3834]

Imagine if you could get discernible notes out of this! I want someone to play lavender town's theme with one of these

[@tonytremola]

You can with harmonics.......but it's nasty!

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

The long drone strings could probably be used to play melodies with a slide, either with the ebow or just by plucking them. It wouldn't be easy, but with overdubs or looping you could construct basically anything.

[@narutofan9tf]

Terrifyingly soothing

[@maire454]

Having great songs in a horror movie is fine but a great score is what gets you there. Your work is *really* atmospheric!

[@vishnuanilkumar6707]

How many of u come here after sushin shyam interview?

[@info4arjun]

😃

[@IamBaheej]

😅

[@PXPTV32]

I too came

[@josephjacob1825]

Sushin Syam's interview Effect 😊

[@JuneOXX]

this gives me chills

[@StephanBuchin]

This is truly awesome. Great reverb and effects.

[@deon91]

I find listening to this fascinating, it's so different and otherworldly, somewhat hypnotic almost

[@shiningarmor2838]

Waterphone has nothing on this

[@shiningarmor2838]

Also, I could see this being used in metal music

[@julienielsen3746]

I like the waterphone better than this. Except the things sticking out on the front of it have a pretty neat sound.

[@twitchyflash333]

Ayo! It's Shining Armor

[@phquang5908]

Shining Armor waterphone is an instrument. this thing is 58 different instruments duct taped to a wooden box

[@victorygraceforever]

Huy Quang Phạm , what is "up" with your profile picture, XD!

[@adelinanurafiani9954]

engineer or artist who made the instrument is sick............ and that is awesome!

[@Chrisis578]

what i find amazing is that someone thought to use sounds like these to evoke fear and applied it to films successfully. so successfully in fact that there's now an instrument for it. people amaze me

[@ciragoose]

listening to this laying down, eyes closed, full volume will send you somewhere else. be safe on your way back.

[@virtuallyunknownn]

2:52-2:57 sounds like a perfect Space Rock intro

[@thibaultmuller]

Great instrument ! It can produce so many different sounds ! I found your video because I'm trying to build something quite similar (and close to Folktek's instruments too). I see a "guitar mic" under the strings, but how do you capture the sounds of the metal rulers ? With piezo microphones ? Would you agree to make a video explaining how it is built ? Thank you very much, Thibault

[@thibaultmuller]

Oops, sorry, you already answered my questions !

[@monsieurhonorificfishface5621]

Thibault Muller Where did they talk about the mics and what is the setup?

[@monsieurhonorificfishface5621]

I found answers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqvOXp9ufNJjg7s&lc=z12xfn5gtxq5v3l2z231dzmxhx22efnfo > What kind of pick ups are you using here? How are you getting your signal to noise ratio as low as possible? Very good matching of the various tone generators! Response: > They're contact piezo's. What was the name? K & L, or K&M or something. Someone else: > K&K contact pickup for much of it and a hot tele bridge pickup for the e-bow. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqvOXp9ufNJjg7s&lc=z12cu3ihkkfsehhtm224zxhypxbygxk4c04 > How much is the sound edited? Do you have contact mics or something that go to an effect unit or your recorder and then you add the echo after wards? I see there's a spring reverb, but this sounds quite digitally clean. > Also I really don't know much, just asking out of interest. Response: > Hi! I didn't edit this at all. Although I think I did add some reverb after the fact. There are 3 contact mics on the soundbox, and also a guitar pickup. Yes, that's a spring reverb with some added digital reverb.

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Hi Thibault. I use one multi pad K&K contact pickups. I don't know how many contacts, since I didn't build it. You can check out www.apprehensionengine.com if you'd like to contact the builder Tony Duggan-Smith. Also, there is www.markkorven.com/Apprehension_Engine.html if you want to see some more recent videos.

[@Petrichords]

I've always loved theses kind of creepy sounds in horror movies and now i know what creates them and I love it.

[@idagrant1767]

A+....Perfecto' and a '10' Thanks for contributing the scary music, it's what makes all movies so much better. Excellent Professionals at your craft.

[@Neznisgip]

Why do I find this relaxing?

[@mylifeatrandomASMR]

I absolutely LOVE your work!!!!!!

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Thanks!

[@GanarfGeorgie]

A brilliant device! Reminds me a bit of the experimental musical instruments created by the late great Harry Partch. It seems very versatile, suitable for a Lovecraftian entity or a futuristic adventure movie.Thank you for uploading this!

[@itachitard6096]

Now this is what I need in my film production this is extremely well done and of perfect quality now to find one and the works

[@ThePraetorianOfTerra]

As terrifying and amazing as this is, did anybody else expect the halo 2 bungie intro when he was messing around with the electric guitar-ish mechanism?

[@GothGuy885]

the re-verb Tank creates some Awesome effects. I had one when I was in my early teens, and when I got bored with just the echo voice effect through a mic, I started messing around with plunking and rubbing the springs. the tank had a small Vac. Tube Pre-Amp. which I fed its output into a Vac. Tube power amp I had for a turn-table. But I never thought of mounting the tank to a box and adding all the other things to your device is like a electronic version of the water harps they used in Old horror movies from the 60's, 70's. but I think it does a lot more effects then they did. Awesome Vid Man, Thanks :)

[@indiefilmandmusic]

You’re most welcome!

[@guyboos4356]

Billy thorpe children of the sun on acid

[@LuisRamirez-wh2vd]

Impressive how this instrument without being extremely complex can produce very well infernal sounds

[@ottmarsoulier7432]

I like this a lot. Yes, it frequently refers to waterphone, but this has more. The E-bow is quite crucial. Great device! Also not less important is the use of your reverb. Would say it sounds Eventide-ish. My compliments for the very tasteful development of this instrument and filming/recording it in a beautiful way. Thanx for the shivers!!

[@majki6667]

Outlast II noise

[@lmeza1983]

Majki 666 every horror game uses almost the same sounds.

[@majki6667]

I know

[@ChrisRedfield1]

Freaking OUTLAST.

[@punkazecke3881]

Outlast 2 was as bad as outlast 1 was good

[@F1rstp3rson]

2:20 - 2:59 I love that sound. I liked the sound of the Tripods(War of the Worlds) and Reapers(Mass Effect) and that sounds like it. Like a big Alien machine that is arising out of the ground.

[@TDH12]

I could listen to this all day...

[@teiyusteki]

I am absolutely in LOVE with this instrument!! TwT

[@bloodyface4739]

that's freaking scary

[@coolusername588]

the part at 2:52 when it gets distorted sounds perfect

[@themurph7780]

This looks like a serial killer version of the Hurdy First! Thanks for this!!

[@machiavellianwolf8246]

Wow what an amazing instrument! Beautifully chilling!

[@Genshi]

Pretty awesome! And clever...

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Thank you! M

[@gnomegreen]

i don't know why this reminds me to silent hill games it's so dope!

[@OldHorn666]

Oh my dog, I love this so much! Those sounds! They’re amazing! I only wish I could build something like that.

[@The_Custos]

After a long day working, this is calming.

[@TheBonnerBros]

This shit would be perfect for a Godzilla film

[@cosmobane6995]

Grandmaster Bushido Brown To create King Ghidorah's roar

[@antoniozilla9060]

Grandmaster Bushido Brown omg yes! 3:25 would be Godzilla’s stomp

[@cocowilliames8855]

My dog is scared as fuck of this video

[@julianmelodywinx1063]

Haha XD

[@stefanijoanneangelinagerma3862]

I think these are comforting sounds, calming.

[@ajohnson7099]

This is so cool! It reminds me of all the horror movies I watched in the late 70, early 80's

[@whitlermountain7198]

"what kind of horror do you want?" yes.

[@theeldritchlibrarian]

This is amazing! I'd love to read more about how it was constructed and what inspired the various components!

[@tonytremola]

It was constructed for a single purpose as practically as possible under the circumstances and everything had to playable and adjustable. Inspiration came about from what was possible in a very short amount of time! As far as inspiration goes, sound sources that can be manipulated expressively by a 'player' are paramount so that the player has room to explore.

[@theeldritchlibrarian]

Thanks! It's brilliant. Does its job fantastically well, and is generally just really, really cool.

[@markusjensen1580]

Robin M apprehensionengine.com/PreOrder/

[@matinuskathundrrphukk3233]

I find it intriguing yet soothing.

[@cafedruid9532]

This is actually really soothing.

[@Romethatibuiltinaday]

I love this kind of sound. It relaxes and removes tension from my brain.

[@jamesscott7259]

Can’t wait to see (hear) how they utilize it in The Callisto Protocol.

[@TheMadRatKing]

Suddenly I'm no longer as terrified when I hear sound effects like this. I just wonder how they make them, now.

[@nomdeplume6437]

I can just imagine my neighbors kids playing with this.

[@yukitakimahara7555]

1:17 when you see something hovering moving closer to you

[@tashbabenu4098]

This is fantastic!!! I want one!

[@satousays]

This is just so freaking cool.

[@frossty8876]

True music to my ears

[@Afvall]

Definitly gonna make music with this. Electronic music is gonna change:p

[@elliotville7820]

Fuck yeah

[@Helaw0lf]

Nurse With Wound utilizes creep instruments similar to this engine.

[@DedEternal]

Bring in the deathstep

[@TwoThreadsAhead]

This whole thing is amazing, but that ebow distortion is other worldly

[@IrisflowersMusic]

I can listen to that all day.

[@Spriglet_]

its like a kalimba and a violin had a child and the child was terrifying edit: and then that child had a child with a hurdy-gurdy

[@ginomcdonnell4512]

They then make a band with a theramin and a waterphone, and sleep is cured!

[@Kaibutsu_lol]

0:47 Sounds Like A Monster From Subnautica

[@Plinian5850]

Specifically the crabsquid kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6Gogoqbm6uUaNk

[@0_dearghealach_083]

Now, THIS. This is what we need in horror films.

[@archivehans]

The strings part was just perfect.

[@ranyuh3476]

I really freaking love the sound

[@antoniozilla9060]

your icon tho... is there someone inside you?...