The Behind The Scenes Video
Consider this a down-payment on my promise to deliver a behind the scenes video. After this one I aim to do post-mortem videos in the future for some of the more elaborate projects. So you can expect more incessant rambling to appear at sporadic intervals.
In the meantime here's this...
UPDATE: Video added (whoops).
Apologies for the missing video earlier. Last night I scheduled this post to go out this morning and everything looked good. Somehow though while the saved version of the post showed a thumbnail of the video, when it went live it had vanished.
Comments (146)
Visiting electronics stores was totally a thing! I remember family holidays to London where me and my dad would spend an entire afternoon on Tottenham Court Road (my mother went to see other sights in London on those days, for some reason 🙄) checking out what cool new stuff might arrive on our shores months later. Sometimes it would take another six months for a new product to be launched here in Sweden, and some other products never saw a Scandinavian launch at all! Today, everything is available on-line to everyone everywhere. Which is a good thing, for sure. Still, just checked out Tottenham Court Road on Google Street View and these days it seems to be a street full of furniture shops. A very strange, and somewhat melancholic, sight indeed. Anyway, a wonderful video. Didn't mind it being "chatty" at all. On the contrary, it was very fascinating to be able to get an insight into what you do.
I took a detour down Tottenham Court Road a few years ago while I was passing through London for work and there were just couple of normal electrical chain shops, but no thrill of seeing something new. It’s a shame, but things move on. At least I have those memories, many younger people won’t.
thank for this one, really enjoyed the honesty and openness. watched it all the way through and admire your passion, keep up the good work. If you ever need any random oddball tech then check out my instafeed. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/instaglyn/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/instaglyn/</a>
Some really great stuff there - I think we've lived parallel lives because I appreciate and remember all of those.
Brilliant - i admire to honesty and transparency. I always wondered where all the 'stuff' goes! You almost need an assistant to help you store or resell the stuff you cover! Thanks for the video. Anthony
Looking at the number of Patreon supporters you have, it seems clear that you're doing something right and that there is a devoted audience for what you do. I personally enjoy the way you introduce all sorts of obscure tech that I've never heard of and shed light on things that I thought I knew about. Please carry on! At about 17:25, you talk about how you're not happy with the echoes while you're recording your voice-overs. Something that you might try would be laying a folded towel across the work surface. This might reduce some of that echo from the bottom of the shelf, but could be removed when you're using that area for filming and working on the gear. I'm looking forward to the piece on the Sennheiser Surrounder. It looks like an interesting and yet completely impractical device; I can't help but wonder how it ever made it into production in the first place. It would be great for a Halloween costume!
I may well try the folded towel idea - it's worth a go, thanks. Funnily enough I had the surrounder on back-to-front in the video. I'll get to work on that one soon.
You can buy foam soundproofing wedges which should help your echo problem i think they are like £2 from amazon. The wedge shape will stop the sound reflecting of your walls and you can cut them to fit and stick them up with double sided tape.
The barrier is that the wall has to double as a plain white background as well. Then there’s a monitor that swings in front of it while doing voiceovers. So anything on the wall will be behind the monitor.
LEGION OF DOOM! I had underwear with them on it!
Btw the youtube subscribe count is worthless. I've subscribed to many channels that I find more or less interesting, but I need to manually browse into that channel and see if any new videos have been uploaded, to make sure that I see it. Otherwise, it's all up to Google, what they want to show, and who knows how that's determined. The important thing, is actually to tick the alert button next to the subscribe button, which will ensure me that I get all new videos from e.g. your channel. I don't think I've ever seen a youtuber give that recommendation?
Made it 100%, also agreed fully with your sentiments. As an retired broadcast sound recordist, I always place lapel mikes upside down as they do sound better - all due to the cardioid capture pattern which (when inverted) sound harsh. Also your conclusion of letting a crew into your house - you were spot on, you lose control, privacy, and peace of mind. Thanks for keeping us entertained - most broadcasters only care about ‘reality’ crap - and your channel has been perfect entertainment. Proud to be on Patreon, as the care you take shines through and it’s like meeting up with an old friend to get the latest update. More power to your elbow Mat, you make a difference!
Really glad to hear your validation about the inverted mic. I saw they did this on TV, I assumed they knew what they were doing so I tried it, and yes, it sounded noticeably better. I'll never understand all the complaints I get about something that's well established that I copied to make things better. Its like some people prefer things to be rubbish. Perhaps I should shoot the next one in 240p B&W.
Hi Mat, I've said it before and I'll say it again I love these videos. You made a point of saying that you are just a guy who buys things and makes videos about them and you said that, compared to others on YouTube, you don't think that you are very good. I couldn't disagree more. I think your style and videos are the most accessible and watchable. They are comfortable and your delivery makes them personal somehow. I'm like you - I love technology but have no idea what each chip does or how it does it. I like the bigger picture and I love to watch you take things apart and, occasionally get stumped - just like I would. But, like me, you have a go and if you are like me, after much sweating and wishing you'd never started it, eventually get it working which is a huge sense of achievement. So please, never change and keep doing what you do as people like me will keep watching and supporting you.
I think I may have lost a touch of my gung-ho bravado with repairing things after seeing the maze of belts and cogs that were in that Codeck machine a few weeks ago, and then the Hi-Vision Laserdisc ..I have a feeling like the next machine I open could be just as complicated. I suppose there’s only one way to find out for sure though. They never anticipated that these things would still be in use 30-40 years down the line when they put them together, and in many cases they were right.
Btw thanks for the expression "serial-hobbyist". I might borrow that, because I hobby the same way. I do amateur photography, I fancy really old cameras, 90's computer parts/components, old and new computer consoles (even though I never game) c64, amigas, vinyl, laserdiscs, minidiscs and although I swore that I would never get into cassettes, I did anyway, and also got the Walkman that you recommended, for the same reasons. So you certainly inspire me, and thanks a lot for that.
I think there are a lot of us serial hobbyists around. I've yet to find anything that I'd be happy to stick with permanently. When things get comfortable, that's the time to move on to something more challenging. I like to keep learning.
Hi there. Always enjoy your videos and audio quality is usually really good. However if the ambience is bothering you, have you tried the RØDE video mic? They are very inexpensive, and because it's a shotgun mic, it will cancel out the audio from any direction that it's not pointed at.
I've got one of those Røde video mics, however it's just the voice-over section where the audio is a bit off. That's using a USB mic. I'll look into some baffling type stuff.
I might be one of those "well, actually..." guys, but why? Your approach is fine, if I get one of the machines you show in a video I could probably get much deeper into the technical details myself, but your videos are very interesting and give a good idea of what the thing is and what it can and can't do. The elitist bunch annoy me, most of the time I think they are just showing off. I must say some of the equipment you have makes me drool :) Good suggestions on how to get stuff from Japan, too. And by all means keep saying "garridge", nobody except the French pronounce it "correctly" anyway (it is a French word as you have probably guessed and is found in other languages too, including American) and the anyway the French can't pronounce "camping" properly either ;)
Most videos of reviews etc. regardless of nature are similar to watching something on television, the presenter in many/most cases is talking to an audience. Your videos are far more 'real', your presentation creates for the viewer the illusion(?) that they are over for a cup of tea and are sitting on a stool looking over your shoulder while you talk. Don't change a thing.
Watching the video I again realized what a humble and nice person you are. A big reason why I like watching your videos. They are also very entertaining and provide in depth information. The "garage" thing made me laugh out loud because my English teacher at school (I'm German) always told us to say garaaaage (with a long a) because that's how the English say it ;-)
I watched it all... I can relate to 90% of the things you said!
Great video. I always get such a kick out of these. i know you're just an ordinary bloke and all, these video's really help solidify that, but at the same time there are always tips tricks and helpful details we can learn about what you do. I like the idea of doing a post mortem after a video goes up. One thing that'd be keen to see once in a while is using a secondary cam while you work on a vid with time lapse as a bonus video. Like if you end up shooting most of the video (and work performed) at the workbench. I think you've done that before in vid's. or even time lapse showing how much it takes to set up in the garage and get everything situated. i'd love for people to get that "standing in the corner watching" feeling like this one had, but to show just what it takes to do what you do, and how much effort goes into it. :) I know regular youtubers won't care so much but patrons like me that watch these "chats" will enjoy seeing and understanding it. Or would that ruin the mystique and show too many of your trade secrets? haha
Hi Mat. I am proud to be calling myself your Patron for quite some time now lol. I do collect, vinyl, MD, Cassette, 8 track, reel 2 reel, NT2, Elcaset, but dcc is the main thing that I really have specialized in. Happy to always assist you with any questions you might have. Greetings DRDCC.
It's always difficult to get the right message across when I'm doing these off the cuff videos. I really just wanted to say that I don't specialise in anything - I just skim a lot of topics at a superficial level, and that's deliberate. I get a lot of complains from specialists who start everything with "well actually...." but the videos just aren't meant for them - they're for everyone else. I'm trying to emulate the more general technology level of shows like Tomorrow's World that I grew up watching on TV. An expert will learn nothing from these videos. I hope there was no offence taken.
Thanks for posting! I'll tell Dr. DCC you mentioned him; I don't think he's a Patron. He likes other stuff too besides DCC, by the way, but DCC is his specialty. We're friends in real life because we're both interested in DCC and we both happen to be Dutch and living in Southern California. But there are things he's into and I'm not, and vice versa. The same goes for everyone I suppose: I've been watching your channel for a long time but though I've been wanting to buy a dashboard camera for years, I'm not really interested in your videos about them. But I drop everything I do for videos like the Hi-Vision one. I wish you knew more about electronics so you could analyze and repair more broken stuff, but that's just the way it is. Keep up the excellent work!
I am extremely envious of Dr DCC's electronics skills. More and more of these things I find could probably do with a number of components swapping out. Watching him remove and replace microscopic surface mounted components is very impressive. I didn't mean that he wasn't interested in anything else - it was more that he specialised in one particular thing. I can't think of anything I specialise in or anything that a specialist in that subject wouldn't be slightly frustrated about my cursory knowledge of. I know a tiny bit about quite a few things - but not a lot about any of them.
Hi Mat, I’ve really enjoyed this video. I’ve been watching your channel for 1,5 years now. Telling myself all the time having to become a Patreon, and I became one today. Because I really enjoy watching each and everyone of them. I am from ‘81 but also have a love for old, rare or weird tech and just don’t have the time nor the resources to investigate them so thoroughly. So please keep doing what you do the way you do it. It’s insightful, authentic, UK style dry at times :). And I especially appreciated your behind the scenes video. Don’t edit it. ;) Jasper C./NL
Thanks - and hopefully I'll be able to do a few more videos like this in the future.
Really interesting and I see why you outsourced the storage of the FujiFilm AP-1 to my equally small study! Keep on making them, Mat, and I will keep watching. You've interested me with so many unexpected pieces of technology in the past couple of years.
It's rare for me to send anything out - but I'm glad it went to someone who could use it more than I could, even if it was just for a few hours.
Is that Fuji Acros 100 I spy on the desk?
I just checked and yep you’re right. I got them because reviews said it was the best B&W 35mm film currently available...and I’m planning on using it in a feature on a couple of retro cameras at some point. I’ve just looked it up and apparently it’s being discontinued later this year.
I like these videos, even if you do talk longer than you'd like, but then this isn't tightly scripted, is it? What I get from this is your personal journey and insights into what it takes to make your videos, something I would otherwise have no idea about.
Another comment; it's interesting that BBC took an interest in you. I couldn't help but think that you could, perhaps, be considered as a host for their new retro-based show! Or perhaps even a segment on "Click"...
Very, very interesting BTS video. I always wondered what your day-job used to be and what your family think of your career change.
I don't think I'll ever really know what my family think. People tend to tell you one thing and perhaps think another. I think they can see that I'm happy doing this though.
Mat; I've watched since the very beginning -- and have enjoyed the journey. I'm glad to support you on Patreon; and will continue to do so as long as I remain employed. I'd most like to learn about your background and worklife, prior to youtube. Also; sorry to hear of your illnesses; hope they're nothing too serious and your able to maintain a good quality of life.
I like to keep a very strong line between what I used to do and what I do now. I never discuss my old job as it's more than likely some of the people I worked with are aware of what I do now and might watch the videos. I don't think they would appreciate me talking about their current job in a past tense - "I used to do X, but now I'm much happier doing this". So I'll just say I worked in a normal office environment for thirty years. In the end I just couldn't do it any more for a number of reasons, with ill health and the torturous commute being the main ones.
I have always looked forward to watching all your videos and feel you video content, methods and editing is very good; re: the issue of not that many views for the larger effort videos I can’t help but wonder if that is a marketing problem; what if you were to classify somehow your content so that upon casual observation it’s obvious that extra time/effort went into a particular video; I’m thinking something like bronze/silver/gold type classifying (that is horrible but you get the idea); I’ve heard very similar frustrations from other folks I subscribe to and realize that getting your base to view the premium, large effort content is a struggle and can actually diminish your willingness to continue producing the content; have no fear that there are those of your base that really enjoy your ability to “break it down” and your keen wit; please carry on
Funny you should mention model railways. Where you were importing obscure equipment from Japan, I imported a 1/87 model of the E5 Shinkansen (high speed train). Objectively, the thing could be considered hideous (sort of a metallic green with grey platypus with a pink stripe), but it's interesting. And that's really the point, isn't it? Anyway, the reason why I became a patron is not so much the quantity of videos and exclusive features (in that respect, it's not much of a deal), but because I enjoy watching your videos and I think you should get some sort of reward for that. And yes, it has inspired me to look again at some old and supposedly obscure formats. It just brings me joy and relaxation from the daily grind.
In regards to cars, how about a Vauxhall Astra GTC? Looks fabulous (in my biased opinion as an Astra GTC driver) and the boot space is surprisingly large, because you need to be able to fit one of those massive wheels in it. Visibility other than straight ahead is a bit rubbish, the gearbox could be better, opening those massive doors in a tight spot is challenging and it's a bit on the heavy side, but other than that, it's nice.
Excellent video. I love these behind the scenes videos of your work. You are very thorough and the prosecution values are very good. You seem too hard on yourself. I have found your channel to be one of the more well produced online. Keep up the excellent work and try not to beat yourself up.
This was absolutely amazing and entertaining. Thanks for doing this!
*video finishes* What YEAR is it!? Seriously though, I love the video.
Hey Mat, did I spot a boxset of the Danish TV comedy "Klovn" in the top shelf behind the camera at 06:00? I love that show! I'm thrilled to hear that you really enjoy what you do, because I imagine it would be so easy to fall into the trap of the research and production of your videos becoming a routine and a chore. I enjoyed every minute of this video, and never forget that you just wouldn't have the sheer volume of loyal Patreon followers if we didn't feel we were getting excellent value from you and what you produce. The puppets are brilliant too and I for one would like to see more of them. I suspect making those segments are quite cathartic for you at times, a good foil for your sense of humour! Keep up the good work sir!
I really enjoyed this peek behind the curtain!
Mat, I think your estimate of a few hundred thousand viewers for a BBC piece is WAY WAY off. You will have MILLIONS of viewers of that piece. Don't project about how bad it will be (it won't), just do it!
Hi Matt! Great insight to your work. My house is a similar size and just as full (mainly tape decks). I really do need to tidy up. Remember, you are always welcome at tapeheads. Regards, Kelv
I pop in quite frequently, but I'm not a big poster. Everyone is so helpful and friendly there I'm likely to get into a chat and then fall behind on the things I'm working on. However almost daily I direct people to tapeheads.net when they contact me looking for advice on something that goes well beyond my level of knowledge about tape. I'm like one of those actors who play a TV doctor that strangers stop in the street to ask about their illnesses - I just play the part of an expert on youtube.
Hi Matt, This was a nice little behind the scenes episode. The spontaneity of it made it feel relaxed and friendly. Feels like we got to know the man behind the videos just a little bit more in that ”Patreon friend” kind of way. Thanks! Here’s some feedback: You have a real ability to make obscure subjects interesting. Your ’radio voice’ is pleasant and your humble demeanor is appreciated at the same time as you time and time again show a wide range of knowledge. Do not underestimate your capabilities when you are comparing yourself to others. In all their simplicity your videos are engaging and well thought out with a nice attention to detail. And the puppets are a breath of fresh air among all the YouTubers taking themselves a bit to seriously. Also I think the nostalgia factor is key to a lot of viewers even though I like the newer stuff to. Just keep up what your doing - showing us what you, yourself find interesting - and I’ll keep on being a Patreon. BTW, may I suggest you get some kind of roll down-type of (green) screen in the garage. Could be a flexible solution for a bunch of various uses. All the best, Siberg (pron. Seeburg)
You've reminded me of something I should have shown. I do have an old projector screen in the garage hanging from the rafters that I use when I need a plain white background. If I've still got the footage, I should do a bit about the green screen section I used in the Sony e-book reader episode.
With regards to selling old equipment, I was going to suggest selling it off to Patreons only, which would presumably cut down on the number of scam artists. Or maybe even giving stuff away as Patreon "prizes", if you don't want to the hassle of deadling with taking money. But I see in the above comments you're unwilling to ship, which does make things tricky. Thank you for your videos, though, yours is one of my very favorite YouTube channels and I'm glad you continue to do it.
Getting rid of old tech is a bit of a concern - but it's been alleviated somewhat recently by the addition of the locker. I suppose at some point I'll ned to figure out a long term strategy to pass these things on.
Top blethering. I've always wondered why when we see glimpses of your home, it doesn't look like a mad hoarder's house. Seeing behind the scenes just makes me all the more impressed at the results you get from the thoughtful use of mostly non-professional equipment in an ordinary and very cramped setting. I enjoy your videos for three reasons: the sheer randomness and not knowing what you'll come up with next, a weird re-living of my youth in that you sometimes show gadgets that I'd have bought 25 years ago had I not been skint at the time, and an element of admiration/envy in that you've escaped your job and found something that you enjoy and are good at. My eyes were drawn to the Sony mini system on the bench behind you. I had one of those (model FH-55W) which I bought in Boots in Lincoln (remember when some branches had large electronics departments?) in 1987 and lugged home on the train. It cost £279.99. There were two models on sale, the main difference being the single and double cassette decks. There was also one with a separate CD player but it wasn't a perfect match for the mini system and it sat on top of the main unit which seemed like a bad idea as it would block the air vents. I eventually (in 1988) bought a Sony Discman to connect to it. The system had a few nice features, notably the ability to switch on with a timer and record radio programmes. It could also skip to the next track and automatically fast forward through blank sections of tape but I found it to be too inclined to skip when it reached a quiet section of music. Recordings sounded fantastic until I played them back on any other player or even the other deck on the same machine, leading me to think that the record head was always slightly out of alignment. The clock was back-lit and the bulb didn't last long. I took it to a very old-fashioned electrical shop, Horridges of Middleton near Manchester, to ask if the bulb could be replaced and was told that they would have to strip down the entire unit with labour costs (maybe £30) that seemed excessive at the time. I eventually replaced the system with a nice Marantz amp and gave it to my Dad. He died in 1998 but the system remained at my Mum's house until she became fed up with tripping over it and disposed of it only a year or two ago. When I last switched it on, I found it to be unusable because the volume and equaliser sliders had become dusty and this badly affected the sound. I was intrigued to see that you appear to have a second set of speakers for yours so maybe you're cannibalising different units to get one working. Gosh, that was tedious but I hope it tells its own story about why I appreciate what you do. I completely understand that your works in progress often take a long time and don't always get completed at all so promise not hold my breath or nag you for the Sony mini system video :)
It's not an FH-55W, but it is something similar and the replacement speakers arrived a couple of days ago, but I haven't tried them out yet. All being well, that's one that may well appear in a couple of weeks.
Precisely the kind of video I love to see from my favorite producers, and precisely the kind of video I'd be terrified to make myself. A sort of "imposter syndrome" feeling is all too relatable. Loved this look behind the scenes though, seems we do a bunch of similar stuff to get by making videos in a small space. Glad you got a storage space, it goes a long way to freeing up one's workflow.
Don't know much about roadsters but I can easily say the most fascinating piece of equipment you've ever explored in your videos is the Tefifon. I'd love to have such an interesting item. Second most interesting is the Seeburg BGM player.
Those are two highlights for me too. One of my recent(ish) favourites was the HiPac - a completely unknown system to almost everyone in the west that I was the first person to make an English language demo of. It felt to me like discovering a new planet...but unfortunately no one was as excited about it as me. Just shows you can't always tell what's interesting to others.
Gutted for you that you sold the Roadster, I've had mine for about six weeks now and I'm loving every drive. I should've waited and bought yours, a long drive from Leicestershire though.
I'm most gutted that no one makes anything at all like that any more. So that's the end of it for me. In five years if my situation changes I don't have the option of going and getting a new one. Although every few months another dozen almost identical SUVs come out.
Do you mind me asking if that is a genuine or a replica Eames chair? If it's a replica is it one your recommend? I'm in the market for one but the quality seems to vary greatly.
It's a replica. Whilst it's decent to look at, I'm sure it's not a patch on an original. It required a bit of self assembly and the arms were a devil to attach - the screws seem to go in at a cross threaded angle. So I wouldn't recommend this one, even if I could remember where I bought it from.
If you're thinking of binning the German gambler, instead why not put the machine on the MPU Mecca, which is at <a href="https://www.fruitemu.co.uk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.fruitemu.co.uk</a> when it's back up, I guarantee you will at worst get someone (reliable!) to collect the machine or maybe even pay you for it. There are a lot of members in your area, and they (we!) all hate to see machines scrapped especially the wierdies!
Thanks for the tip....and if you know of anyone who's an expert in German machines I'd be interested in learning a bit more about them before making a fool of myself in a video.
The CED video you mentioned was actually the first video of yours I watched, and since I've always been fascinated by old technology I was immediately hooked. Before then i did not really follow any youtubers or any thing like that, thinking it was all screaming teenagers "reacting" to whatever nonsense, and I think maybe there are others like me who don't know about your videos but would enjoy them. Maybe television isn't were you can find new viewers but certainly there are plenty of people who haven't heard of you who would like your videos
Getting noticed is a big problem on youtube. I think I'm lucky that I started quite a long time ago so word of mouth was enough to grow the channel. I think it would be a lot more difficult if I was starting out now.
As usual, a great video, Mat. You are far too hard on yourself and your work. Your facilities allow you to make some of the best videos on YouTube, that means, they're great. I suspect most of your patrons watched your entire video, and I doubt any of us would complain we aren't getting our money's worth. One thing you didn't show was your Puppet's dressing rooms. They rate full rooms, don't they? You've mentioned failed videos in the past, for things that failed catastrophically or just never worked. Have you considered putting together a vid of these failures? I'm sure they would be entertaining, as everything you do is.
There is something to be said for working within constraints. If someone gave me access to a TV studio for a week I'm quite sure the video would end up looking pretty much the same.
Hi Matt, as Patreons, we all watched the video until the end; ramblings and all - because we all get it. You are not average, you are one of the best YouTubers, like The 8 Bit Guy, Technology Connections and Retro Man Cave. This is why we fund you because we appreciate the time, effort and quality of your productions. Also, and shamelessly; if you want to sell you Commodore SX64's then let me know I'm 47, not 10 🤣
My NTSC SX-64 is in the locker at the moment. I'd be happy to sell that one - I'm still using the PAL model though. The only problem is that I can't ship anything, so you'd have to be local. The problem with the NTSC model is that it uses a step-down transformer and isn't compatible with every game, but on the positive side its faster.
Fantastic video as always Matt!..nice to see 'behind the scenes' and don't worry about your studio not being the greatest - You've kept to the mantra of just being a bloke who makes interesting videos about things you buy - You produce interesting and informative videos, that I, and others enjoy watching! - I'd never heard of a Tefifon before I saw your channel. I like the idea of directors cut/postmortem videos too!..Keep at it, you're doing great!
Thanks - as far as extras, I'll see what I can come up with over the coming weeks.
Thanks for letting us into your home and giving us such a detailed look at your work environment Mat. I just wanted to let you know that the way you described yourself at the end there - serial skimmer with an interest in older tech and a somewhat technical bent - describes me to a tee. Like you I don’t know too many people like myself IRL, most others either don’t care or are super intense about specific topics, but thanks to the Internet we can find hundreds of thousands of likeminded people.
I think that's what some people just don't get - the passing interest in a particular topic. There's always the super intense guy who can pull apart every video - "you didn't mention this" or "in fact you'll find that..." - but to them that subject was everything. To me it's enough for a 15 minute video.
Great video Mat! About tripods, actually almost all tripod companies use Arca-Swiss compatible quick release plates nowadays, Manfrotto being the odd one, but they starting to adopt too.
I didn't known that. Perhaps I backed the wrong horse.
Enjoyed the look behind the curtain. The "bloke with a camera" line made me laugh since I have told a few coworkers about your channel and how well presented it is, almost like watching a documentary. Over the years, I've bought a few things based off your channel like the LG PF1000U ultra short throw projector. Thanks to that video, I now have a large enough TV that I can sit on my couch and see well with my uncorrectable reduced vision and a vaulted ceiling with a hanging fan in the middle. Your video on Atmos made me want to get that, but before i do anything there, I need to find a suitable cabinet for all the gear below the projector wall. My coworker was looking for a dash cam, so I sent him to your recent video on the Aukey (?) dual-dash cam. He bought it based on your review and he's quite happy with it. You've also been an outlet to (virtually) experience all sorts of old tech without having to buy it. I grew up in the era of making mix tapes from vinyl and plugging in TVs, computers, and other things into a stereo to make it sound better. With my reduced vision, I even had specialized books on tape from the state library system through the mail. I even ran that specialized tape player through the stereo. I wonder if that'd be an interest to you? They were called Talking Books and I think they ran at 15/16 IPS and required the special player also from the library. It was a free rental. There was a switch to play normal tapes as well but the speaker was horrible for anything other than spoken word.
I'm interested in the RNIB players and those special large tapes they used. However it seems like the tapes have all completely vanished while the players do make the occasional appearance on ebay from time to time. As far as the projector and Atmos type stuff goes - I'd love to do more of that, but once you've bought it - then you've got it....it's not like there's any need or desire to upgrade. I always try to keep my eye out for anything new and interesting that would be worth buying for myself and then sharing with others.
Great Video Mat, This kind of video is why i'm a Patron, you are so real, there's no annoying acting, and no massive ego to fight past, it's like having a conversation with a mate about gadgets. Keep up the great work, and thanks.
Being honest has been a massive hindrance to me in my career. Working for people requires a level of acting that I just couldn't muster. Pretending that you were interested in things that just weren't interesting. Not telling people that their ideas needed a rethink. However I've carried my honesty through to doing this. I don't feel comfortable doing sponsored posts for things that aren't worth buying. I can't hand on heart say that something isn't rubbish when it clearly is ...so I rarely take in any review samples any more. I think the last one was a year or so ago. So what you see is just me being me - it's not the kind of thing that would ever work on TV, but it seems like there's room for it on youtube.
YOU'RE AWESOME! Make no mistake.
Hey Matt, I would like to know how you archive your material. Do you still have all the original Source footage for all your videos? Or do you delete some of the source material and just keep the final edits? And what do you store them on?
I only keep the finished videos. The rest of the stuff gets deleted. But make no mistake, all the good stuff is used...the deleted files are just junk. It's all stored on a Drobo and also backed up to a separate external HDD. Even if all that was lost - its still all on youtube.
I totally enjoy your ramblings, especially the stream of thought stuff like how to pronounce “garage.” I think your channel is more enjoyable because you’re just a guy showing off a bit of something he’s interested in, rather than some rivet counter pontificating about minutiae. I like the term “serial hobbyist.” I’m in the same boat, and I’ve reached the point where my wife and kids threaten me with tossing everything in a dumpster after my death, I’ve decided to get rid of almost everything. I hope that part of that will entail my making videos of my collection as I go along. It’s pretty daunting, though, as I don’t want to put out crap videos, but can’t spend a lot on video equipment.
I've got no doubts that everything is going in a skip when I'm dead. No one would have the time or inclination to find the right person for everything. So my mission is to document the best things in videos. Barring any weird events - these videos should live on long after I'm gone. So people in years to come could see how some of these things worked. Its like a virtual museum that anyone can visit at any time from any country.
I am just as fascinated about the different formats of audio equipment or specialized equipment. Like you I don’t care why this ship or that ship, who wrote the code for the chip. Yes I do like to look at how they are put together. Always interested if I can fix something with out knowing about electronics. I want to talk with the normal guys about this stuff too. The techi people that go on and on, they don’t interest me. You make videos for us people just like you. I also have to say, with Patreon we have voted with our dollars and elected you to be our spokesman, the person to find machines you like, know we will like them too. I pay in and you have to understand just how cool it is for me to sit back and think, we viewers elected you to do this full time. We said, with our money, your good at this and we want to make this your job and to educate and entertain us with the videos you make. We want to give you enough money so you can even buy equipment you could before so you can show us. Just how cool is that. You are also like a personal friend. That’s why we like thenbehind the scene. The other very cool part of this is, no matter where you travel in the world you will have a fan there that would absolutely love if you would not pay for a hotel but stay a day or 2 at their house. We don’t see you as a celebrity, we see you as an extension of ourselfs doing what we wish we could do, but can’t. I couldn’t do the videos and my voice would drive all of you away. Together we have created a new kind of job and you have become successful at being you and representing us. I hope you never have to get an outside job and this is all you have to do until it’s no longer fun for you. We viewers will always concider you part of our family. When you see someone every week talk to me with information I want to hear, the human mind just makes you family. Your a honest and humble man. I have a feeling the vast majority of your viewers are just that as well, that’s why this works. Thank you for the tour, I would say some kind of behind the scene is needed every 9 month to a year. Very best wishes on your hunt to finding new equipment to share with us. If you ever need extra money for a special thing you want to buy let us know and we will support you. Best wishes from Oregon, in the USA.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm the kind of person who isn't comfortable promoting himself. A lot of people gain followings based around their personality. They make videos, sell books, do signings for those, make personal appearances - they want to become celebrities. I'm uncomfortable with all that side of things. These videos just aren't about me - they are about the things I show and I try my best to not get in the way. Glad you're onboard.
Hello Matt - Good to learn what motivates you and what your objectives are: An inspiration to those amongst us who might consider a tech-oriented, or repair-how-to, channel in the future. I look forward to a future video about the economics of a Patreon-supported channel. Could you very briefly describe the studio lighting you're using: LED panels? Home-made or store-bought diffusers? Thanks!
Those are CFL bulbs - I think they're quite bright ones. Daylight rather than warm light. They're just in the diffusers that they came with. They aren't this specific model - <a href="https://amzn.to/2LuTEbJ" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/2LuTEbJ</a> but they're that kind of idea. I do wonder if LED panels would be better.
I'm sorry to be 'that guy', but I feel the need to suggest a couple of corrections - errors which appeared early in the video. Here goes: 1) You do NOT come over as unprofessional in the slightest and 2) You are NOT old. That is all. Please keep up the excellent output! [Edit. 3) Your place it not a 'shambles'. If you'd like to see an actual bone fide shambles come and see my place. On second thoughts… don't.]
It's one of those 'you're as old as you feel' and I feel worn out. I think it's because of all the health things. I think I'm one of youtube's more senior contributors. When everyone you know that does this is younger than you, it's easy to feel like an elder statesman...especially when I've got DVDs that are older than some viewers.
You have my sympathy on having to sell your Smart Roadster. My wife and I are expecting our first child in a few months and I had to sell my 2012 Mazda MX-5. Turns out that 2-seater sports cars are terrible family cars. I think at one time you were driving a 3rd generation MX-5 in a dashcam video but I don't remember you mentioning anything about that car specifically. If you're ever in the mood to do another ramble video I think it would be fun to talk about cars you've owned and what you thought about them.
I'd be more than happy to do that. I don't know how many people would be interested in hearing it though - but perhaps I'll give it a go.
I'm one of the BBC oiks that would show up on your doorstep (the sound guy) and you're right; DON'T LET US IN! we mess the place up, take twice as long as promised, the journalist asks stupid patronising questions and then you get 15 seconds on the local news as 'man makes tech videos'. That's if you're lucky enough to get a real crew. Nowadays it's more often a 'media' graduate with a DSLR who knows less about production than you do. Good call.
Being on 'the tele' definitely doesn't have the status it once did. Thanks for the honesty though.
Mat, we agree on so much and yet completely disagree on how great your videos end up being. There's a danger these days to over-produce and rapid-edit everything to cram 60 minutes into an exhausting 5. Ditto to under-produce ala your ten year old CED "padwan". Your videos strike this balance perfectly which is why I often re-watch them a good few times. The heart you put into them seals that. Don't change a thing. This video, like the others, was worth every penny of my pledge. I think it was wise re-thinking the whole BBC thing. On top of the irritations you mention there's also your privacy and from expereience, news folk tend to be a bit pushy and want to come at it from an angle on the day you're not comfotable with. (They'd try and coherse your wife's involvement for a start) I used to work at Riverside Studios so had a few pieces done there which I could tell the participants felt a bit pressured by when a sudden push in a new direction would be thrust on them. Always go with you instincts. That's what's got you this far :-)
straight forward, honest and down to earth. Just the working place I had imagined it would be. But it takes effort to produce great results from it. Nice!
Thanks for the video, Mat. I watch the entire video and really enjoyed your "conservation" with us. I'm more than happy to help you through Patreon. I just wish I had more disposable income and could donate more. Such is life, I guess. Thank you for all the videos you put up. It comes through on your videos that a lot of time and research have gone into them. You do a great job of putting videos together. Thanks again!
I just hope I can keep finding the things that interest me and are worth showing to everyone else.
I just finished the video. It was great, and authenticity makes it so. But where was the part about the nerd groupies since you have become famous?
Really interesting to see into your world, Mat! You shouldn't do yourself down, you may be an ordinary bloke, but the care and skill and attention to detail you put into your videos is second to none. As you pointed out, anyone can make a video review, but to make a GOOD video review that brings thousands of people back week after week is a rare skill indeed. Your presentational style in particular is excellent - you don't talk down to your audience, nor use unnecessary hyperbole. It is just like having a chat with a friend who is showing you something he's found that's quite interesting, but probably won't change your life. Thanks to you, we have several gadgets in our home that wouldn't otherwise be there. Your video showing how easy it is to set up a TP link plug with an Echo Dot is a case in point. My wife who is not a gadget person in any way LOVES being able to go into the living room and command Alexa to turn the lights on! She even likes the LaMetric clocks we now have. So, thank you Mat, and do keep up the good work. btw, that checked shirt makes crazy moire patterns on some sizes of Window (although not on full screen), so maybe one to avoid for YouTube videos. PS Patreon is really playing up lately, keeps logging me out and demand I click on an e-mailed link to 'secure my device' - very frustrating. This is my second attempt at this comment, apologies if the other one did get through after all.
I'll bear that in mind about the shirt. I'd normally try and go long sleeve with a jacket to avoid looking like I'm on holiday, but it's just a bit hot for that. I'm glad you liked the TP-Link plug. That's one of those things that so many tech 'expert' type people said was a pointless video, but it wasn't made for them. It was for normal people, to introduce an idea that was a lot simpler to implement than they might have thought. I love them too, Just ten minutes ago I used mine to turn my HiFi on.
I'm a southerner & I pronounce garage same as you do Mat, mum says the same, wife says the same, stepdaughter says the same, though my dad says "gah-rarrrjshe". Cambridge dictionary online says "gah-rarrrjshe" for UK, "G'raaaage" for US. It's a French word in origin, but we've Anglicised or Americanised the pronunciation of it as our languages have evolved. Pronounce as you are happy to pronounce it, stuff the nay-sayers!
Thanks for the confirmation on that. It's always amusing seeing the people who are utterly flabbergasted that anyone would say the same word differently to them. I wonder where they've been hiding. Perhaps locked up in solitary confinement since birth. I just need to talk to my next door neighbour to hear someone pronounce words differently to me, and if you've ever spoken to a call centre...
Thank you for sharing that with us Matt, always intriguing to get a glimpse into the life of a Patreon. I made it to the end and feel you have done a marvelous job sharing interesting technology with like minded folk. Much looking forward to a update on your current Hi-Fi setup, I spotted a curious switch box next to the DCC, during your LongPlay Vinyl episode. Sorry to hear about your Smart Roadster, what car have you replaced it with? As a subscriber and Patreon for a few years now, I can say with confidence that your videos are some of the enjoyable and professional of those I've seen on Youtube and beyond. Keep doing what you do, your an inspiration.
Unfortunately I'm going to keep the new car a secret. I'm picking it up on Tuesday and it's a tiny bit distinctive so I decided I'd better keep the details to myself to avoid unwanted attention. It's definitely not the kind of thing that anyone would say was cool though.
Glad you gave the BBC the boot, bunch of oxygen thieves in my opinion
Hey, I gotta get it from somewhere!
I got to the end and loved every second of it. Thanks, Mat!
Thanks Asaf.
thank you for posting this. I enjoy your being conversational. I do have a question! You mention in talking about your garage (or is it garage?) that the missus drives a Mini, I bought a Mini back in March, and I love it! What type do you folks have, and do you like driving it? I enjoy mine a lot. I got an 'S' model with a standard transmission. I am uncomfortable driving automatics anymore... I love the videos you make, and I hope you continue doing so! EDIT: your comment via Serial Hobbyist hits really close to home. I can't count how many different collections or hobbies I've started over the years, I maintain strong interest in them, until there seems to be nothing left to learn, then I move on.
The Mini is a Cooper S 3-door, with an Auto transmission. It's a few years old now...but its fully loaded. You can see a bit of it in this video. <a href="https://youtu.be/XJNtyXT6JdU" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/XJNtyXT6JdU</a>
Well I watched all of that. One of the main things I get out of a video like that is to know you as a friend. Does that sound weird? Hope not. Being a retired Marketer, I can tell you the niche group you referred to is what is called the "Long Tail". With possibly a billion YouTube viewers, most of whom are probably looking for LOLCats videos, there is plenty of room in the long tail [ <a href="https://www.snl19.es/wp-content/uploads/Imagen1.png" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.snl19.es/wp-content/uploads/Imagen1.png</a> ] for people like you to make a very good living. Also, don't disparage your level of knowledge. I don't know of anyone with your breadth of knowledge of consumer technology across the years. That in itself is a niche expertise. All that looking round Laskys in the 70s is now paying off! If I were to try to make a video like one of yours, I would not know where to look for a suitable subject recording format or technology.
It's funny but while I'm sure I've heard the phrase long tail - I never knew what it meant until now. It's always a good day when I learn something, so thanks for that. As far as the friend comment goes...well that's how I see it to - I consider Patrons friends.... helping me out in the way a friend would.
Watched the whole thing, enjoyed it! Your subject lighting, and delivery are why I subscribed. As far a dialect goes...don’t care what you call things, but please don’t say ‘al-u—minum’ :)
The thing that a lot of people in youtube comments miss about the UK/US aluminium/aluminum is that everyone just pronounces it how it's spelt where they come from. Fortunately I think I've managed to avoid saying it up until this point.
Behind the scenes was just what I expected, nothing to be embarrassed about. Be proud of the things you can do with the limited space and equipment you have. Nice to see the HP-01 on your wrist. Is the gold one your daily watch now? I had mine cleaned and the bracelet buffed for a few euro, it looks as new. Very happy with that watch. Always enjoy your content!
I would have worn the silver one, that's my everyday watch - the gold is for special occasions. But when I put it the silver one on I found the batteries have died, so I'll need to replace those as soon as possible. I never thought of having one of these watches buffed, something I should consider sometime.
Oh, you must really do the interview with the BBC! Don't make excuses.
I turned them down. Patrons get to see what the BBC don't.
Thanks for the “Behind the Scenes” look. It was worth every penny 😃. The “Production value” in your videos, both quality and Entertainment wise is above and beyond 90% of the stuff that is on youtube, and as long as I can be a Patreon of your channel I will be a proud supporter.
@42:15 One does not talk about expertise, one demonstrates it... which you do.
Thank you Mat, I do love your rambling Patreon-exclusive videos! I’d say this kind of content is definitely worth the money you receive on Patreon, we love your enthusiasm for discovering unusual tech and your attention to detail when filming and editing. And you were right about the wrestling tag team that wore shoulder pads similar to that bonkers-looking surround sound device: it was the Legion of Doom. They were also known as the Road Warriors, and in their earliest days together, were a kind of homage (or rip-off!) to the original Mad Max films. I’ve not seen any of those so I couldn’t say how faithful their gimmick was to the movie, but I have seen rather a lot of wrestling over the years so it was fun to hear you mention the LOD!
I'm surprised that name came to me there, it's one of those things on the very fringes of my memory. On the other hand I couldn't remember 'Sugru' to save my life.
Thank you for this behind the scenes look — it’s fascinating to see how “putting the effort in” brings such polished final videos out from relatively modest production equipment. Until now I’d assumed you had fairly high end sound/video/lighting equipment, etc. If you do another BTS video, I’d be interested in seeing what you do for post production to be able to bring out such professional videos, pretty much weekly, with a crew of one. Ewen
I don't know whether you've already seen it - but the post production just involves a lot of time spent messing around in iMovie - You can see some of this here: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/fabled-behind-13923639">https://www.patreon.com/posts/fabled-behind-13923639</a>
Btw Mat, if you are afraid of things going "rotten" or bad in storage, you could go to IKEA and get those vacuum bags they have for storing soft things like clothes, pillows and such. You could put the more sensitive stuff in these things. Albeit it won't fix any heat/cold issues, but if rot and such is an issue, this would probably help. :)
I've never had a problem with rot fortunately - that's more of a damp cellar type thing. I'd love a cellar. No my issue is the loft/attic getting sub zero in winter (probably) and like a sauna in summer. It's not the kind of environment I'd like to keep anything delicate. That said there are quite a few old things up there that haven't got damaged (yet).
This is a “teaser” to a behind the scene video which is coming ... right?
There is no video??
Seven 'Likes' already yet no sign of a video ... must be liking the comments?
Well, now I know: there is nothing to it, making videos ;-)
Non sequitur
i thoroughly enjoyed staring into space for 15 minutes....
Que? C'mon c'mon tap tap where's the video? 😀😀😀
Where is The video?
is this a Monty Python intro ??
^ True
In the meantime here's this... 2 Likes
That's it, I'm starting a twitter campaign to EXPOSE this FRAUD!
I see nothing too... :(
He's ruddy tricked us ;)
Can't see anything either.
Is it just my browser or is there no video? :)