Mat’s Tat

The plasma ball makes a high-pitched noise. Take that into account for future videos because you might not be aware

I think this feature is a keeper. It's fun, diverting, quick. Mat seems to be cheerful. There is an element of consumer review. That being said, I did half-way think we were going to look at body art! :)

The disc is right out in my opinion. There is not enough variety in the design. It almost looks like it's just blinking. The glitter is quite nice, though.

As a backdrop item, I reckon that the glitter lamp is best, it's a slim design so won't take up too much space, it works quickly, and it's interesting to look at without being overpowering.

Dare I say there's plenty of stuff in the background already? Not sure you need more stuff.

it was exactly 12:25, you're accurate as always.

I personally liked the borg disc best but for a background it is very distracting. The ball/globe looked underwhelming on camera so glitter was the surprise winner for me as I thought it would be boring!

A call for comments, that will mean something?? Okay, well to be honest, I've never liked the neon BOOM thing that's in the set, so replacing that with the glitter lamp would be my vote. If not, it'd look good next to the MOVA globe. Anything but the plasma disc, it would be much better at the hifi end of the shed/office.

If I had to choose, it would be the plasma disc. it looked a lot better on the shelf than I thought it would do.

Plasma Orb

Enjoy your break and avoid the crazies that are out and about in the world. Happy Easter.

I liked the plasma lamp, especially with just some black card behind it, would probably look not too bad. The plasma disk was too manic. Glitter lamp not bad, but not that interesting from a distance

I would prefer the glitter lamp...

No, really don’t think any off these. What i miss is the little display you had showing YouTube subscribers etc.

The plasma ball has the best effect, but you'd have to modify it. I wonder if you could use black electrical tape (the cure all) to make a permanent backstop, and maybe find some anti-glare matte finishing spray paint for the front side so it doesn't reflect studio lights. (krylon is available in the US on amazon - advertised for use on glass arts to dull the surface). That might make it perfect for this application. I agree with others that the action of the plasma ball is the most soothing and nicest. The glitter lamp just kind of looks cheap (sorry).

Another vote for the glitter lamp. Plasma Ball - Meh Plasma Disc - Too distracting

Black Electrical tape will solve that Thee Fun business

I would keep the glitter lamp in the studio and move the plasma ball to the living room which now serves as hometheater room.

For this application, my vote is for the glitter lamp. But if I had to pick one to have on my desk, it would be the plasma ball.

I like the plasma ball with the black cloth best. The plasma disc is underwhelming, and the glitter tower is just kitschy.

The glitter lamp looks the best of the three, and fits in best with the types of motion and light patterns that your other items have. The plasma disc is far too frenetic. And I also prefer the glitter lamp because shiny. (I had to dispose of my glitter lamp some years ago as the liquid discoloured and became a most unpleasant yellow, and I replaced it with a lava lamp, and it's just not as good.) As to the plasma ball, it was definitely going to be made of glass, not plastic. It has to contain gases, just like an old incandescent light bulb, and is at a lower pressure than the outside atmosphere - it could be done with a clear plastic, but not well. It feels like the high voltage from the Tesla coil at the centre might make the plastic a bit melty, too, but I'm sure the current's too low for that. But glass is the only realistic material for this purpose.

Glitter lamp

I’m afraid I prefer the plasma ball. It has a nice slow, almost soothing effect and will blend in quite well with the rest of the backdrop. The glitter thing is odd/high. The plasma disc is too distracting. Loved this video.

These guys put the plasma ball to good use. https://youtu.be/zPlb-vAiCvg?si=mSTiH1h1pBwPMFmH

I prefer the glitter lamp. It's similar to the wave machine, that it's doing it's thing quietly in the background. The Plasma ball is the worst of the 3. The Plasma disc stands out the most but could be the most distracting of the 3.

They all look fine but it's enough seen them once. The items are also a bit generic because everyone has seen them before and they don't have sufficient retro charm to make a comeback. The background is busy enough and has more unique items that I haven't seen anywhere else.

Actually, I like the plasma ball the most. It's a balance between the chaos of the plasma disc and the subtlety of the glitter lamp. I'm also partial to a plasma ball! 🔮

I preferred the ball, it just might need to be put in front of something dark to help a bit, but i thought it was still quite visible. The glitter tube was a bit bright and distracting. good video thought. Bring on the tattwo

And we all know the plasma ball is used as the Daleks Time Controller... https://i.ibb.co/qwnsxLh/IMG-1945.jpg Episode dates from 1988, the same year I saw one on a school trip to the Science Museum.

I think the glitter tube. Placed to the left of the globe maybe.

Mats tat 1. Plasma ball to dim. Glitter lamp, just boring, maybe if youre like 5 years old, but not for anyone getting on in years- so fir me it would have to be the Borg plasma wheel. If tou tack some black fabricto the square backdrop that fills the square then i personally think it would showup nicely, plus its relevance, mant people loved star treck and qill get theBorg cinnectiin easily. Thats my 2 pence worth anyway!!

Glitter lamp is my favourite!

Go for the glitter lamp, maybe lower down as you suggested. The plasma ball is too indistinct, and the Borg disk thing would drive me mad. 💿🫣

MATT, ALL three cannot compare to the color changing LED Head that i miss so much from your old set ! BRING HIM BACK ! (With sony studio monitor headphones) (btw you inspired me to get one a long time ago )

The glitter lamp looks fine I think. I have one of those with orange fluid in it, and it's form factor is the same as a lava lamp. Funny, but I use it as a night-light, when my cats want me to let them out in the early morning, and it is bright enough for that time.

I noticed the plasma things give off a very high pitched whine. Might give you problems!

Thank goodness your name isn't Mit!

I would suggest one of those drinking birds.

I personally like the plasma ball, but I think the best option is the glitter lamp in place of the lava lamp, preferably with a more subdued color.

The glitter is my fav. I enjoyed the video as always, thanks!

the star trek one is cool. but maybe is distracting. but not sure if it matters as it won't be in the screen on any closeups etc.

Glitter lamp spoke to me.

Tat videos are great, Mat. At least with tat I end up spending a modest amount of money - unlike when I clock one of your lovely watches and spend hunners.

A bit of Gary Glitter

I vote glitter, but they all strike me as a continuity nightmare!

Hope the next edition is called Tatmoan.

I vote glitter lamp. Its slow movement is complementing the wave machine. (Although maybe you could try to find one with a more interesting colour.)

I was in love with the plasma ball as soon as it lit up. It's whispering to me to do some reckless, unnecessary spending. It might need some TLC to make it work in your studio, but it's beautiful. I agree, the plasma disc probably draws too much attention to itself. The glitter lamp is the most "inoffensive" so it likely won't make the other objects jealous.

Plasma, glitter lamp is too bright, plasma too busy and too expensive. The Plasma lamp at that distance was not as busy as I thought it was... ymmv

I quite like the plasma ball. Despite it being dim, it means its not too distracting. The glitter lamp is also good. It looked like it had a bottle cap, so it's probably possible to experiment with different glitters

Like the plasma ball, also like this type of video! Enjoyed the edits you made and got to say very well phased.

My wife and I were looking through these comments and she suddenly declared "I'm getting wet!", and then we realised the Velux is open and it's started to rain. In other news, the glitter lamp looks best in our opinion.

Glitter definitely. Plasma was too much distraction. Use them for visuals with music tests instead.

Hmm, I like those kind of things. But i like both the glitter thing and the plasma ball. But i watch everything on a 55 inch oled, so things might look great for me, but not die everyone watching on a mobile phone..

my opinion: not a fan of any of the three. ahh well.

I'm probably in the minority but I like the disc.

Enjoyed Mats tat. Plasma ball gets my vote not in your face works straight way and seems to blend in with what you have already If you want to fit it in. But every thing looks great on shelf already.

I think you're going to go with glitter...but let's hold our applause until the next set of contestants.

totally unrelated. Is that the Nomad watch strap? I had been considering one. I really like the look of whatever band you are using. (Seen at about the 10 min mark)

That is a first. Mat reviews three items I already have although I think only my Plasma Ball was bought new. If you haven't bought one already I would suggest a Fibre Optic lamp. Soon your backdrop will look like the lighting department in Magg's department store which fascinated me in the early 1970s back when I couldn't afford anything there

I really hope you don't go with the plasma ball for no reason other than the high pitch whine it produces while it's on. I could hear it even when it was on the shelf behind you. I had one as a kid and it did the same thing, which is why I never turned it on despite really liking how they looked. (I am kind of happy to find out my hearing hasn't degraded to the point where I can't hear such things yet.) I thought the glitter lamp looked nice when it was out of focus so the sparkles had that nice bokeh effect. Maybe it would be something good to put on the farther end away from the camera.

Although it’s quite pale, I really like the plasma ball. You have a lot of flashy red, yellow and orange stuff back there and it’s quite soothing. Now of course, do what you like, but wouldn’t it be an idea to just have some of the more interesting objects you’ve previously looked behind you? There’s a lot to look at and you do visually always keep things moving rather. It’s hardly 1970s open university :)

My opinion, from best to worst: glitter lamp, plasma ball, plasma disc. The disc is really too flashy. I enjoyed the light-hearted video. One thing about the plasma thingamajigs: they are high-frequency circuits, if they are on and you hear hissing noises from something you're repairing, they actually may be the culprit.

For me the glitter lamp its the best of the trio. As other people suggested it would be great replacement for the lava lamp that lights up at a lazy snail’s pace.

I like the format of the video. Glitter is good and not too distracting. What would Mat's Tat Two look like?

I'd get rid of the lava lamp - it creates too many problems when you want to do something quick to camera. Go for simplicity. I actually like the plasma ball, especially with something black behind it. It's becomes a small but interesting effect on camera that doesn't detract. As you say, you don't want anything distracting.

I think you are right, the best of the bad bunch for showing up on camera is the plasma ball, and then you can really only see it in the dark anyway.

I actually like the plasma lamp, but you're right that on camera, it doesn't give the effect it gives in real life... The plasma disc moves too much, to wild indeed. I guess I can agree with the glitter lamp being the best option. Happy Easter!

none of them

Enjoyed the British humor in this one, especially the intro :D

The first time I ever saw a plasma ball was in the hi-fi section of an electrical appliance shop when I was a kid. I didn't question why it was there, I just enjoyed looking at it.

Glitter lamp is the best because it fits with the rest. The plasma stuff is too nervous.

Why is that plasma globe glass so cloudy? Different from mine. Is it a different style or needs cleaning? Not that it would fix it for your set up, but still.

I too like the Plasma ball but I think the Plasma Disc may look better if it were mounted on the wall. Especially because you have basically zero space. I would replace the lava lamp with the glitter lamp. You have an eclectic mix back there, and the lava lamp to me is a bit too cliche. And finally, you need something Nixie back there. I know it would be small etc...but it really is what started it all.

Weirdly, it was 12:25 when you said it was... Anyway, I think the glitter lamp is the right about of compact and not distracting while still being visually interesting that the wall needs. The plasma disc pulls focus IMO

I like the plasma disc personally

i say replace the lava lamp with the glitter lamp - if only because it starts up pretty fast and it doesn't look that bad as a background object.

Weirdly enough the plasma ball was my fav.

I love the plasma ball. I think if you put in in a shadow box it might solve the brightness problem. It would shade the most of the light to make it look good.

I think the plasma ball is lovely under the studio lights but not in any way that makes it suitable for the wall. the disc... mostly entranced me by being the same size as your head which isn't good either, haha. The glitter lamp is all right. not too much going on which is what the purpose wants.

LOL at “vy-nals.” 🤣

When I saw "Mat's Tat" and 3 options covered up, I assumed the video would be selecting which background music player you were going to get a tattoo of.

I liked the plasma ball most of all. I think it showed up pretty well on camera, especially in the last shot when it was compared against the other two. Most of all though I'm looking forward to more Mat's Tat. Some easier videos of first impressions or simple tests sounds like a great way to keep videos coming out without having to stress as much about research and editing. Nice video and I hope you find something you really like for the shelf in Mat's Tat 2.

I always thought those plasma plates were cool when I was younger. Not seen one for a long time until now and I still think they’re cool as funk.

I've been a massive fan of the plasma discs since they 1st came out. I even had one recessed in the parcel shelf of my 1st car. (with a translucent radiation vinyl sticker over the front, it looked great). I sprayed the back of the disc in black paint to increase the contrast. It was so popular that someone broke into my car and stole it. I'd consider a mini version of the disc over the other 2. With the plasma ball, you are at the mercy of reflections from the studio lights. Even with a black background, I think a lot of the action will be lost with frontal reflections. One thing to bear in mind is the YouTube compression. If you have too much moving on the screen, it can create artifacts in the video although I think you are a way off from that but it could affect people watching on a low bandwidth.

Glitter tower if I had to pick one, the others are just not suitable for bright studio lights. Honestly I don't really care for any of them, stick with the lava lamp!

Why not all three? It shouldn't be a contest, as they are all very nostalgic and look nice, each in their own way. Some items on the shelf are inert, never even notice them. Put more pizazz in the background!

Glitter tower deffinately the best one

Who you calling tattoo you long streak of.... phoenix nights. Another great vid thanks. I vote for none of them. But the disc is the coolest imo

The plasma ball is better that you think. At least it is on a full size screen.

What intrigues me more than the three items brought out today is that Toblerone-shaped gadget with the blinkenlights seen at screen-left, behind the glitter lamp. I don't remember seeing it before, so I'm hoping Grace or someone will point me toward the source video, to save me from looking through the entire Techmoan YouTube catalog or scrolling one by one through each monthly Patreon update for the last 8-10 years.

I refuse to tell you which one I prefer because I'm so disappointed that you stated the wrong time. You said it was 12:25 when it was in actuality barely 10:40. What am I even paying for with this subscription? Apparently, the luxurious salary of your second cameraman as evident at 7:18.

Mat's Tat is all very well, but why no Mat's Cat yet?

I’m team Glitter Lamp! ✨

• My favorite is the glitter lamp. • What if people don't want to be distracted from the 'crumbling disaster'? • You could place the plasma disc behind the orange phone so that it's partially concealed? • 7:19 I noticed the door didn't close properly, but I quickly became hypnotized by glitter and the camera has zoomed in by itself. 😮 • The plasma lamp looks okay however it isn't cohesive with your other items. Although you could experiment filming in a darkened studio and this weird lighting effect from Star Trek. https://ibb.co/dsqHFW3j • Off topic but your Blu-ray/DVD shelf placement is aesthetically pleasing in its current position; like a sort of backdrop when you shoot items on your desk. Take care 🤍

The disk is a bit too manic, imo. I wonder if an ear-bud (headphone) taped over the mic hole, playing some slow-tempo music might make it more appealing. Ball. I like it, but doesn't show up very well. Glitter, particles too small since it's a bit out of focus (understadably). Looking forward to Tat Two, and interested in why YouTube comments are off. A comment cliffhanger.

Now that he's brought up the idea of Mat's Tat-1 and Tat-2 (Electric Boogaloo)😉 I'm afraid the patrons' bloodlust will only be satisfied if Mat actually gets a tattoo which he can show off at the next monthly update. As for the three candidates for background display, the glitter lamp seems to show up best on-camera.

Well, it turns out I have personal experience with 3 of the 4 things in this video. I never owned a glitter lamp, (though my daughter did). However, I did have both of the plasma lights that you bought. My Borg plasma thingy was, in fact, green, although I'd purchased it before the Star Trek episode that showed it. Funny, I was miffed because the store didn't have a blue one. You might ask, "3 of the 4... What's the 4th thing?" It's funny that you had a small spot on your nose, that seemed to go away the next day. I just had a relatively larger scab, that had a little cancer in it, cut out, leaving me about a square inch hole in my nose, right where your spot was. I then went to a plastic surgeon who stretched and pulled my skin like Saran Wrap, leaving my nose a little asymmetrical and crooked. I do pray and hope you don't have that kind of spot on your nose, Matt. It was definitely not the best way to spend an afternoon. Good video.

Just honest opinion. The glitter is passable. The plasma ball looks broken, like a crystal ball with glaucoma. The plasma disc does look rather manic indeed. And I keep thinking it should be green.

These ferrofluid visualizers look amazing https://burnslap.me/store/?idx=10

Glitter lamp, for now. Eagerly awaiting Mat’s Tat 2 😃

I think the glitter lamp is by far the best of the 3

I like this format, maybe buy a mystery box with electronic tat and review that 😅

The glitterlamp is best I think. The disc is too manic indeed, it is distracting.

The disk is more distracting than enjoying.

Love a plasma ball but even if you could see it well it's a bit too busy.

Can't tell you what to put on your shelf, but "Mat's tat" has to be a thing now.

Pre-watch sarcasm - we're finally going to get a look at that tattoo? 😮

*books eye test*