Wintergatan's Marble Machine | Pianist Reacts

In this video I react to Wintergatan's Marble Machine. The machine is a musical instrument that is played using 2000 marbles hitting various instruments with marbles through engineering.
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[@chrisxd146]

Wintergatan exhibits mastery over both musical knowledge and mechanical engineering. He's documented his progress on the second version of this machine where it could run through 20,000 marbles without fail, and details how much of a nightmare it was just to achieve that. However, I think the more important takeaway is the blending of disciplines to create such unique results and inspire others to learn new skills.

[@kelaarin]

Sadly, the second machine was a failure (or at least not up to his standards of perfection). He's working on designing the third one now.

[@Jrakula10]

i wouldnt say hes mastered mechanical engineering but hes trying.

[@d1oftwins]

@@Jrakula10 I would say one important part of mastering engineering IS to keep trying. Engineering is not a learned and done education deal because you cannot account for every solution that there might be for every problem, you are never prepared for everything there is. Engineering is an ongoing, highly iterative process that brings you closer to your goal with every new iteration of improvement. The only problem was his mal formed requirements that put form over function, which he knew well would be a problem yet as an artist he had his unrealistic priorities until he learned the bitter impractically of it. From that point of view he's half way there to be a master.

[@ZevVeli]

What a lot of people who are only aware of him because of this video fail to realize is that he is primarily a composer for music boxes. I actually have a few of his other songs on some of my spotify playlists and they're all really interesting.

[@elindquist5725]

@@ZevVeli I would say a musical composer full stop. Yes he likes to use different mediums, but there doesn't seem to be an instrument he can't play. Even when he was messing around aka procrastinating during MMX2.0 build, he would create some amazing music. I only wish I had a portion of his musical prowess.

[@Ravendjdjdjjd]

Thank you for doing a reaction to wintergaten's marble machine

[@matticawood]

You are welcome 😊

[@millesabords1654]

You were right to slightly insist on asking a reaction :-) Martin meets some discouragement sometimes, all support is welcome ! I'm a fan of his work. And, well, since I'm here I will check out a bit more of Matthew's channel

[@thomasjay975]

@@matticawood he made a new version called MMX but he benched it because it was too feature creep and he hit a roadblock that he was struggling to pass. So right now hes in the design phase of rebuilding yet another version but hes currently solving all the design flaws of the 2nd version before building. Because he kept running into parts where he would fix something, and that would just completely break everything else so it was just not working out. His idea is to fix all the current issues, then make everything work together. Before it was aesthetics and functionality, now its functionality over aesthetics

[@elindquist5725]

You should check out wintergaten's channel.

[@ahumanioi]

Big dedication mate 👍

[@TheMaelstrom]

You should see his development of MM3 - his latest videos. He's been through a lot, but the new machine is CAD-designed, 3d printed, and tons more detailed.

[@georgeterzterz902]

Did he name it MM3 ? I suggested that he named it MMXL

[@TheMaelstrom]

@@georgeterzterz902 I thought I saw MM3, but I am not involved in the design, I'm just a watcher, so I don't know for sure.

[@georgeterzterz902]

@@TheMaelstrom I didn't assume you're involved. I assumed he said it and I missed it

[@neopalm2050]

@@georgeterzterz902 he called it that several times, and the most recent video's title even mentions it. (though it wasn't out when you commented this)

[@georgeterzterz902]

@neopalm2050 thanks for informing me mate. Though MMXL would be awesome. Anyway let's hope that there won't be any major issues with MM3

[@michaelfink64]

Yes, this took Martin a long time to make. He wasn't satisfied with the reliability and precision of the Marble Machine, so he spent several years building its successor, Marble Machine X, whose construction he painstakingly recorded on his KZbin channel. Still it wasn't good enough for his ultimate aim, a world tour, so now he is designing the next iteration. This is a beautiful obsession. I hope to see it in real life when Wintergartan goes on the world tour one day.

[@amberjude2886]

I've watched him religiously and if I miss the world tour I will never recover.

[@HANIMEME]

@@amberjude2886 same, ive watched every video upload since the original marble machine

[@AndersJackson]

This is the first machine, which took about one winter to make. This isn't MMX or the newest design.

[@michaelfink64]

@@AndersJackson Yes, I know. In think one winter is a pretty long time. I described MMX as "its successor" and the newest design as "the next iteration".

[@AndersJackson]

@@michaelfink64 one winter for the first Marble machine are not a long time. Not as it was build on spare time. You could try to build one faster. Anyways, the first is also documented in videos.

[@marcelk.4371]

So cool to see that since all the years, there are still reaction videos coming about the MarbleMachine

[@computerdave06]

I love that even now, people are still finding this and reacting to it. His project to make a newer version of this that can be taken on tour and play more complex music is quite a journey to follow.

[@donmeles7711]

It is somehow disturbing and so cool, that there are people out there who just discover the original marble machine song NOW! :o I kind of relived my first time seeing it...

[@billkeithchannel]

Just like this new generation has never heard of Animusic, the videos that inspired the creation of this machine.

[@spplS.]

Me too. It really felt like the first time when I didn't know all the flaws it had.

[@namewithheldbygoogleforsec673]

Here is the link to Wintergatan's KZbin channel, if you want to find out more about his marvellous music machine: www.youtube.com/@Wintergatan

[@williampickett8074]

One of the most interesting things I like when I'm watching Wintergatan's videos, is that I am watching someone's life's work in real time. It's being let in to watch a great mind at work and to understand the process and involvement it takes. Thank you for taking a look at his videos!

[@juliolunavalle9]

You need to check "all was well", in that song he only used a music box that he made it and a "modulin" witch is an electric instrument he also made it, its a beautifull song

[@mrssriplo1]

I would suggest watching some of Wintergatan's other live or studio made music videos. A favorite of mine is Sommarfagal but honestly any of them would be epic. They play so many different instruments and switch between them so smoothly even though there are only 4 people in the band. It's really really impressive.

[@roykale9141]

you cant do this å lol

[@AndersJackson]

Sommarfågel. But I think the video of recording and then the video if the performing of "Visa från Utanmyra" is even better. 😎

[@mrssriplo1]

@@roykale9141 I think I could I just haven't figured it out and when I'm trying to type quickly that definitely won't happen lol. Let me try... å ah there we go. Just took a minute.

[@roykale9141]

@@mrssriplo1 😂

[@Sancrest42]

Wintergatan himself told this was the 64th or 65th take to get it just right and he actually lost a lot of marbles

[@JackDraak]

that dude has lost some marbles on this (set of) projects, no doubt! Amazing he has any left at this point!

[@waltlock8805]

This was actually a lot of takes spliced together. The first machine was mostly smoke and mirrors, but it showed a lot of promise. The 2nd was much better built, but still flawed. Hopefully the third time will be the charm.

[@saddlebag]

@@waltlock8805 I thought it was just two takes spliced together?

[@waltlock8805]

@@saddlebag No. The first machine was a mess. It couldn't play the song through, so he used a lot of smoke and mirrors to create the video. Which is fine - it's what a LOT of concept prototypes actually are. It was a "proof of concept". The second machine (MMX) was much better built, but ultimately failed due to poor design choices and some over engineering (prioritizing visual effects over simple functionality). Hopefully, the third one will be the charm.

[@lensers791]

I am sure he prob did lost a lot of marbles when making this instrument…if you know what I mean XD

[@SeagullWaterPurifier]

Wintergatan is an absolute master at work - knowledge, skill, talent pure genius - been following him for years and our whole family love ❤️ him to bits - hope to see him play live 😊

[@cavemaneca]

One thing on this. From what I remember Martin saying about the Marble Machine, it was about 6 months spent originally building it but another 6 months recording and editing to get that music video. The original machine would break often during recording, marbles would fall all over the place, and other miscellaneous issues. Most of the video and audio is stitched together from the best clips. It's still an amazing work of art that I would bet has inspired thousands to work on engineering, music, or both.

[@matthewtuel2747]

He's on the third iteration of the machine. The second (MMX) wound up being a failure due to feature creep and over-engineering. MM3 is looking to come full circle using simpler mechanisms, but he's got a ways go to with prototyping before we will see any assembly occurring.

[@lefterismplanas4977]

This video was actually pieced together by multiple takes. This machine never actually played the full song correctly. Not once. That's why he built a new one. But the new one couldn't possibly play a full concert reliably. So he's now trying to figure out if a machine like this is actually possible in the first place

[@superdude3112]

Well the new one could do 20k marbles with no fails, which I’m guessing is closer to a full concert, but he’s still not satisfied. It’s 100% possible he just needs to lower his millisecond precision standards. Turns out people would be too mesmerized by the machine to notice a millisecond delay in a loud concert setting

[@ast_rsk]

What really makes this marvel of a song so good is not just the song itself but also all the mechanical noises and and built-in foley that just creates such a wider atmospheric feel to the tune.

[@dionlarsen10]

I get back to this phenomenon every year or so , just fantastic 🤟🏼🔉🔊❤️

[@Voxel613]

you deserve to have atleast a million subs! keep up the good work mate!

[@llamapi3]

Should check out his current progress on his 3rd design. Dude is as mechanically brilliant as he is musically talented.

[@billkeithchannel]

Yeah he self-taught the Fusion360 CAD software, machining, welding, and 3D printing for the second version the MMX.

[@michaelsoftbinbows]

Martin took so many different takes of the MM because it would constantly fail, and the fact that it operated as well as it did is insanely impressive, IDK if its still there but it was being displayed at the Speelklok Museum, and he has now begun work on a 3rd machine after his 2nd attempt got out of hand

[@trevorhaddox6884]

"He's not playing all the bass notes there." That's because the video is spliced. He said himself it never worked enough to play the song the whole way through so he had to splice it, and it never worked after. He is working on a 3rd version (version 2 was abandoned) that will be massive and be able to be heard in person. EDIT: there are also open string notes as you mentioned.

[@sargepent9815]

I dont know what more amazing, the fact that he built this machine, getting everything in key and timed correct or the fact that he accounts for the movement of the marble and holds everything in tempo. The melody took me about 20 minutes to get nailed on keyboard, but he incorporated percussion and bass guitar and had all those timed perfectly. In a seperate video he said the timing was all in the mathematics due to it being gear driven with known ratios. Yes this thing looks incredibly fragile and crudely built, but its as much of a piece of art and engineering as much as it is an instrument

[@troychriscarretas2657]

He now perfected his machine with no marble hitting the floor. His newer version uses 10,000 marbles

[@Schnapsbrennor]

Good God that song is bringing back so many old memories. Absolutely love it.

[@kailaniandi]

Marble machine is my favorite musical thing on the internet. The pure genius of it amazes me every time I see it.

[@saddlebag]

I love the band Wintergatan, thanks for doing this reaction!

[@Sherirose1]

The sounds marble machine is pleasant to listen to. Feels like drops of rain.

[@damienknapp1667]

They don't make legends like Matt anymore!

[@janhanchenmichelsen2627]

Martin Molin is one of a kind! But check out the Wintergatan band as well. Really nice music.

[@billkeithchannel]

Yeah not too many bands can put out only 1 album then make a wildly successful KZbin channel combining music, engineering, and machining.

[@AmicaCream]

Thank you for reacting to the marble machine, Martin is building a new MM i hope you will react to that as well!

[@crispymcchicken2720]

very cool, keep up the good work friend

[@matticawood]

Thanks! 😊

[@cameronbell4371]

You should check out some of the other instruments he's created.

[@peterkoch3777]

Martin published piano note sheets for the song. The marble machine and the MMX are now in Rüdesheim am Rhein in Germany in a museum and the guys there are trying to get both in presentable and somewhat functional shape! If you are around, make a visit to Siegfrieds Spielautomaten Museum!

[@Sh3phrd]

You mentioned the changing chord structure. The super interesting thing about that is the melody/xylophone notes are fixed in the programming wheel and can't be changed mid song. So the only way to change the sound/feel for different sections of the song is the bass line.

[@lambo_drives]

0:59 welcome to the Wintergatan; cheers. 1:26 beautiful rendition(s) you know all the sheet music is available suggested donation I believe) 😊 but you probably already knew that (or don't even require it 😊)

[@CuberGamesOG]

"The marbles are falling out the bOtToM!" 💀💀

[@tedridout2541]

Please do a full cover please in the same key. I'm a huge piano fan and am a huge fan of the lower end of the scale

[@ENetArch]

If you ever get the chance, watch the videos on him building the marble machine. It's fascinating how much time and effort he put into this machine. And, how he worked out the mechanics of the song.

[@esra_erimez]

5:31 "the marbles are falling out of the bottom" 🤣

[@miedan21]

3:46 the most understatement of the past decade

[@imblackmagic1209]

he's building a v3 of the machine that promises to be much better, and more automated than v2, absolute madness

[@billgamer856]

Also check animusic's "Pipe Dream" song the original inspiration for the machine

[@starboss2020]

Ps it played once now sits in a music museum next to its big brother marble machine x

[@vincentrobinette1507]

The bass: There are four channels, to drop marbles on each of the four strings. If you do not interact with the bass, the machine will only play the E, A, D, and G. strings. (the "open" notes on the bass) He as the option to reach in and "slap bass" the fret board, to insert more notes if he wants.

[@cambriaofthevastoceans6721]

You should see the work he's been doing on the updated version of the machine

[@redthorne1129]

I think the most insane part to me (and you can see it a few times in the video), is that every single piece of everything that "directs" the marbles is outfitted with something to account for the margin of error and randomness when flinging little metal balls everywhere. The size of the screws, the shape of the catchers past the xylophone...just the math to accurately make those things work hurts my head.

[@GrimGriefer5]

Can you react to “when you accidentally write songs that already exist part 2” (and the other ones as well) much appreciated

[@Synthespian13]

He’s actually in the process of designing the 3rd version of this machine

[@omnomgamer8633]

He did make a second machine that was improved and he is working on a third one.

[@themustardman219]

I am consistently amazed by different pianists ability to accurately figure out the key of a song, but then replay it on their piano and make it sound absolutely nothing like the song lol

[@spyfire242]

To me it sounded pretty much exactly the same, obviously the melody wasn't the same but all the notes were the same just played a bit differently.

[@themustardman219]

@@spyfire242 that's what I'm talking about. They completely change parts of the melody for some reason, making it sound very different

[@spyfire242]

@@themustardman219 I don't think they are changing it on purpose, they just don't know exactly how it is played and are approximating something that sounds similar in their head. And it does sound very similar.

[@Quickened1]

@@themustardman219 and in a completely different octave... I agree with you man! That was the first thing I thought after watching this, "that sounds nothing like MM". Good ear...

[@Quickened1]

I thought it was just me... Thanks, now I can sleep well...

[@stirfryjedi]

Wintergatan has a sheet music book available for sale in his merch store, for those interested! Enjoyable review and assessment.

[@namewithheldbygoogleforsec673]

@Matthew Cawood, amazingly, he is still "building" it. He is often adding things to improve it, to smooth out the "rough edges". I think it's an amazing music instrument. here is the song being played on church bells: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2GYXqVmi8h2kLM

[@matticawood]

I did see some newer versions of it after I filmed this and it looks very different now! 😊

[@namewithheldbygoogleforsec673]

@@matticawood yes, it does! It's changed more than Dr Who has changed faces! LOL Merry Christmas to you and yours, Matthew!

[@JeroenBouwens]

@@matticawood Not really, he's basically built a completely new machine (MMX) from scratch which shares absolutely nothing with the original you are reviewing here apart from the idea of playing music with marbles. Unfortunately MMX didn't work either, and it remains to be seen whether the third machine he's currently conceptualizing will ever actually get built.

[@lmao2351]

He built another one that kind off failed, so now he is creating his 3rd one that is gonna be way better.

[@red62]

I don't know why the piano rendition hit me so hard, even if it is just a section.

[@billkeithchannel]

There is an orchestrated version that is simply beautiful. He has an entire playlist of cover versions that range from quirky to awe inspiring.

[@JmsNmnn]

@5:50 he's currently working on the third iteration of the machine that WILL be precisely CNC machined and 3D printed

[@karintippett753]

I was watching a Wintergaten concert the other night and in it he explained it took 60 days to produce this video as the machine kept having issues and the fact the entier room is white is what made it easier to edit 60 days of takes together into the one video.

[@quinnobi42]

Matt saying 'the machine must be very well constructed' is really quite funny considering Martin has spent the last 5 years or so trying to make a newer, better version that wasn't 'thrown together'.

[@fenrirwulf9266]

I can't hear this video anymore without thinking of the Death Grips mashup one lol Wintergrips - Takyon Machine

[@adndragon9156]

It’s a really big music box.

[@vakakeyma]

There are so many marbles on the ground!! Haha! Many moles were whacked since this video came out. 😂😂

[@shadowgolem9158]

Remember, that video is the result of aprox 70 combined takes according to Martin.

[@bananaplaysnz]

How do you find the chords of songs so easily???

[@maltesephil]

thats his v1.0, He's now working on v3.0

[@Pootie_Tang]

That's Martin Molin - the biggest flex Sweden has to offer!

[@octogonSmuggler]

I'd like a Bill Wurtz reaction if ever possible. They way he switches things around is wild.

[@Asingularlollipop]

My 4th grade music teacher showed up my class this

[@enderborn6860]

5:07 it just hit me thoese are lego pieces as music box bumps FUCKING GENIUS MOVE

[@dacomputernerd4096]

The bass isn't actually set to a mechanism for the notes, it's just an usual tuning of EGEG so it fits most of the chords well on open notes

[@INSIDEHARDWARE]

Check out his channel. He is working on his 3rd machine now. This was his first

[@tylerwhales]

Don't ask Martin if he thinks this is a well built machine 😏. It's what we fell in love with though!

[@finnhasselman6706]

Nice video!!!! im a big fan of you! I play piano too i hope that i can get as bood as you!

[@immovableobjectify]

The marbles hit the bass where you would normally strum or pick. To get anything other than an open tuning, he has to reach in and press on frets.

[@jax1373]

FINALLY!!!

[@thefrankandbeansshow6914]

Wow cool

[@ghostbirdlary]

and thats just version 1. he was working on version 2 and got it pretty good, but he scrapped it and sent both to a music museum and he is starting from scratch now. should next react to marble machine X (version 2) and whenever hes done with version 3, that one

[@xuko6792]

5:50 - looking at you, MMX

[@MontblancTD]

Wintergartan and Martin are something I look forward to seeing on the world tour. Martin is brilliant. I love the music he creates from various instruments. Music Box, Harp & Hackbrett - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipm8fniPqb52btE

[@Penetal]

Want to ask you to react to the MMX machine, but that is more of a documentary series of how to create a better, bigger, and more beautiful machine. I wont spoil the end for you in case you wanna watch it on your own. When you are done with that you can start on the MM3 machine doc that is currently being made.

[@DrippyG9]

You have to react to wintergatan - proof of concept its such a vibe

[@morefiction3264]

This is version 1 which didn't really work, there are marbles all over the floor. Version 2 was better but he couldn't get the precision to play on stage although he worked on it for years. He's working on version 3 now.

[@nihilus0]

Important to note about the Marble Machine is that Martin (the creator playing it) has deemed this model a failure. He went on a jurney to create a functioning version he wants to play at Wintergatan koncerts. H enamed that project the Marble Machine X. After 3 year of developing it he came to the conclusion the Marble Machine X is also a failure and started a new project for the 3rd itereation. All is documented on his Wintergatan YT channel. It is an extremely interesting journey. He was doing a lot by himself but later started to oursource parts of the project which improved the process significantly. Martin is a true Renesaunce man being a musician first he learn metal welding, CAT design, CNC machining, and he leard many new lessons about himself too.

[@grantjones1299]

forgive me if i sound dumb here, but am i correct in thinking this machine can only play this one song? i think thats how it is cause like all the larts and stuff are like created for exactly the notes and stuff that they play

[@sambishoppercussion]

I guess you could just change them

[@sambishoppercussion]

There made of Lego technic pins

[@Jskew]

Please react to Pentatonix "Run To You" it is all acapella and they have over 5 BILLION views on KZbin. The song was written by two members of the group, one of which plays the cello and beatboxes simultaneously!!!! I believe it is in the key of F lodean??? It is quite simply hauntingly beautiful and I would love to get an expert review of the song. Much love and keep on keepin on J. PS they have won 3 Grammys, nominated for 5, and recently got a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. J.

[@anwaraisling]

Looking forward to Martin completing the MM3.

[@mcrzy]

waiting for the day when matthew cawood does a video on funky stars 3.5 billion

[@rythmcentral1571]

Were they on like a 2 month vacation when they built this

[@dyllonhp_1026]

Hey mat, you already react the first part, now the second part of the most insane piano pieces ever by Rousseau. He made 2 part.

[@theynnarski4727]

could you make a video about the nuker 4 (black midi song with over 2,6 billion notes)? i’d be very thankful

[@wesplybon9510]

3:45 Matthew: "It's a very well constructed machine" Martin: "It's GARBAGE! And so was MMX!"

[@lightaces]

It is worth noting, though, this took at least about 20 takes, edited together. And he has spent the last 7 years trying to make a machine he can actually tour with, and still isn't there. But he's learned a ton, and is a very fine composer, at what he does.

[@xdragon2k]

What you should know is that the first marble machine (this one) is not actually a working model. It was a hack job and it takes some movie magic to show the video we see here. This is why he is making Marble Machine X (also failed), and now he's on his way on making a MM3 that will focus on functionality over visuals.

[@WarWolfX1]

He lost some marbles, but you should see his MMX much more refined but he now he is working on a version 3, since the MMX wasn't accurate enough. The new MM3 will have some 3d printed parts, with millisecond accuracy. watch "This Design Trick Surprised Me!" around 8min to get a summary of the MMX.

[@okidoxb4846]

check out the chopstick piano from Kuma films

[@RayFromTheHayclan]

He is starting to build a third version and it's going to be 3D printed this time.

[@chuacayden4091]

Damn you very good at the copy piano music (Playable)

[@matticawood]

Thanks! 😊

[@laurensnieuwland4657]

If I remember correctly the sound you're hearing isn't made by the machine. They recorded it on man-played (?) instruments afterwards because the machine was playing too inconsistently.

[@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwsyz357]

This is like the animusic thing

[@someonesomebody5287]

Wintseguddens mubble machine. 😂

[@Funkytrip73]

Could you do a reaction video on Peter Bence? Not sure if you know him, but he makes awesome arrangements of popsongs. His version of Under pressure is amazing (using beatloop as well) as is his rendition of Bohemian Rapsody