This one might go down like a LED Balloon
You may recall the story about the nice company who sent me a christmas gift of an LED Christmas tree to thank me for featuring their clock the other year.
They recently got in touch again to say that they’d got a new LED cube kit and wondered if I was interested in taking a look at it. It sounded intriguing and I did feel some obligation, so I agreed.
They ended up sending two kits - the cube and a clock. In a way this turned out to be a good thing as the cube wasn’t as interesting as I‘d anticipated. However I now felt I had to assemble and demo two kits - which wasn’t my initial plan.
So please find attached a rather long video where I put together two LED centric kits. I considered making two videos, but felt both objects didn’t warrant a dedicated video. This is not my finest hour - or forty minutes, so it’s recommended to use the provided chapters to skip around.
If you haven’t noticed, on the last couple of videos I’ve included chapter markers. This feature is not available when viewing an embedded video but can be accessed on youtube either via the progress bar (which is a new feature) or from the video description. So if you’re in a hurry, you can jump straight to the end.
Now when I see people on youtube complaining about a video’s length, I know it’s more a public pronouncement of ineptitude at operating a media consumption device, rather than a criticism of the video content.
I hope things are good for you - or at the very least, bearable. I have to say that 2020 isn’t looking like it will gain a slot in my top ten greatest years list unless there’s a drastic turn around in this last half.
Have a good Sunday (or whatever day you read this).
Comments (45)
HI, Mat, apropos of something completely different, I may be "teaching my grandmother" here, but I just happened across this and wondered if you'd seen it. https://youtu.be/tz9nr0d5UHA?t=1305
Thanks for this - I'll need to go back and watch the whole video later, but this blows my theory out of the water that I own this same machine. Now there's two of them we know of. I'm wondering what my serial number is - from what I remember though, there's no serial number sticker on it.
Mat, of all the places I've been to, Germany have to be the nicest and have the friendliest people I've met. I would have been there this week had it not been for some virus malarkey going on!
Mat, I’ve noticed that you’re so close to getting your gold play button 🤞. For whatever it means it will be very well deserved. G.
Enjoyed the videos as usual, sometimes it's the journey... Question: would the cube, if put in the centre of a darkened room and rotated, fill the room with trippy colours? Asking for a friend.
I’ve just had a play about in my darkened lounge - and am now expecting my ‘illegal rave’ to get a visit from the police. However as far as the experiment goes - well it’s more of a colour changing light wash than anything with a discernible pattern. I don’t think the rotating added anything as by the time the light hits the walls it’s just a bright coloured light.
Your idea of having the cube's LEDs sound-activated reminded me of this Radio Shack "color organ" kit I built in the '70s: https://bobyewchuk.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/radio-shack-color-organ.jpg?w=540&h=366
Dang, those look way cooler than the more modern Radio Shack LED Color Organ Kit that I have. It's just a pcb with some LEDs on it.
I have to admit to cringing a bit at the point you were extracting the boards. I'd have broken out the dremel (not spon.) probably. That said your point Sare fairly made and I was up for buying the cube to go with my gixie clock up to the point it turned out to be 200 euro! Great videos as always. Thanks for taking the time to make good honest content.
That was a lot of work and editing! Personally, I think I'd split those videos up and run the clock one now, because it's got dates in it, then run the other one in a few weeks. I felt it was a bit too much in one go. Gave me a bit of construction indigestion. :-) (I admit I'm out of step with most people here, but just my hapeth-worth.)
I think you’re right - but splitting it would require me to shoot new sections to camera, and I don’t think I can find the time to do that.
Sir, you have the patience of a saint. And, frankly, a saint I'm completely willing to light a candle to.
Hello! Nice! Your phrase "Maximum time on the stopwatch is 39:59 - as the digits only advance to 3 on the first position." created additional redundant chapter in the very end of video. Chapters feature side effect... May be try use something else instead of semicolon to make YouTube not use it as chapter mark?
Thanks - I’ll fix it.
Hi Mat! I was wondering if you and Tim Rowett, the Toy Wizard of "Grand Illusions", would consider creating joint videos on simple "Tech Toys" of yesteryear? Nothing complicated, but just getting together and discussing little kit toys that you can put together, or the history of certain novelty toys and such? Just a thought...
I’m a nightmare to work with - I can barely work with myself due to creative differences. That’s why I started working on my own - I’m the only person who hasn’t removed me from their contacts.
I know it's not like for like but... I just put together a budget barbeque and there were so many parts missing it took me 2 and a half hours! I feel your pain.
I had a nightmare with an Aldi patio table set recently. It so nearly ended up getting set on fire, just for the satisfaction of it.
Great video, I prefer long videos too! One little correction: when you are talking about a Stopwatch function at around 32:10 you say that it can count up to 59:59 although there is no "5" in the first stack. It likely can go only up to 39:59. Probably not worth a re-render, though. Thanks!
That’s a good sport - but you’re right that it’s not worth a re-render. I’ll put a note in the video description, next to my bank account details and pin number where I can be sure no one will ever be able to find them.
More patience than I have with those kits! I got a build-a-radio kit from a charity shop, but the instructions assumed you had a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering. I can see why it had ended up being given away! I forgot to mention after your last Oddcast to thank you for keeping the Patreon tier system the same. A channel I also subscribe to opened up to Patreon recently, but I was shocked to see the lowest tier being £4, for which you got, to quote Marvin the Paranoid Android, "not an electronic sausage"! In fact, for any extra content at all, they wanted £8, which I thought was rather steep!
I suppose it’s each to their own - but I’m always eternally grateful that anyone would pay for something they could get for free.
Great video, Mat. I'm not particularly interested in the product, but you make it interesting. BTW - I notice that you're getting towards 1 million subscribers. When you hit it, I'll up my Patreon by £5 for one month, to buy you a drink. Just don't be alarmed when I put it back down thereafter.
It’s a very kind offer - but I think I need to do a patreon chat about the million first.
Thanks, Mat - great videos as always. Not sure I think much of the cube - I think the novelty would wear off very quickly, and the skill required for assembly is above my pay grade. I do like the clock - how does the brightness compare to the famous Gixie clock (which isn't really bright enough to see well in bright daylight)?
Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to compare them side by side - however unlike the Gixie these clocks use two LEDs per panel (sent through two legs) - so should in theory be brighter. However I'd say that bright daylight would still be a bit of a challenge.
OK, first, MISTER Taylor, all your videos are great though admittedly, some are greater than others. But we, your Patroeon ... izers like them all. So stop being so down on yourself! :-D Second, I've only watched the Pollonium part (also: Pollonium, guys? Really?) and I have to say that it's quite clear that you are not an electronic hobbyist. If you were, you would 1) know that surface mount technology (SMT or SMD for the devices) are the bane of all electronic hobbyists every where and make it completely impossible to do anything with electronics, especially repair, because the components are far too small and require special tools. Also, lead-free solder is the bane of all electronic hobbyists because ... Europeans or something. Of course that's rubbish as you handily demonstrated in the first clip. You really didn't have much trouble repairing either the connector or the LEDs. Helps not knowing what "everyone knows". :-) Great clip and I am certain there was a high-level board meeting at the vendor where they took your video and your (wise, IMHO) suggestions very seriously. Bravo!
I really like the cube. Not sure what I’d do with it, especially for that price, but it is rather fun. Sort of a 2020 version of the clacking desktop metal balls thing.
Yes, weirdly enticing isn't it, that cube. But I might actually go for the clock thing. I like it... Oh ouch, 149 euros for the clock. That's quite a lot...
I wish to complain, there were too many/not enough chapters. 🙂
very nice, will be getting one of those clocks, the cube is a bit much for me
Why choose? Some videos can be long, some can be short. I enjoy both, and I see them when I have time for it. Do what you feel is appropriate for the specific content. Some people will always complain, don't let them steal enthusiasm from you. Never ever even adress them or their complaints in your videos, not even in the patron-only-videos either. We love to "nerd in" to technical stuff. It is more interesting to hear you tell something, for example about vintage hifi, instead of explaining why and how some, probably few, complainers whine. Do your thing! That's why we subscribe to your channel!
Indeed. As I've pointed out before, 3% of any community is populated by actual, certifiable psychopaths (YT video commenters probably more), so taking negative comments from randoms anywhere on the internet to heart is ill-advised. My comments, though, must be taken incredibly seriously.
Ben Heck made a really good video on how to solder surface mount components: https://youtu.be/oGB7Yrbeo_Y
Your old yellow soldering iron is the same one I started with!! In 1987. Did you have it for many years or get it in the last few? I like that cube, but will be hanging from a cable, which will also provide the power.
I can’t remember when I got it - not recently.
I agree with all of the above comments. But maybe that's because I'm easily LED.
I hope they sort the instructions and components for the clock, they aren't entirely my thing and that would put me off completely. The cube would benefit from magnetic connectors, they do seem to be readily available.
Yes, magnets would make sense.
Great to see you have finally got a better solider iron , same one I use. Are you finding it a lot easier
Yes - I needed it for the stand as much as anything.
I really like this clock. It's just beatiful to watch. You are right with the cube. They should at least make a version with 3 or 5 sides instead of 6, Being able to charge it without opening the whole cube is quite important.
Yes, or maybe sell an optional rotating stand that holds it on the corner so you can see all 6 sides. In for a penny, etc.
I prefer the longer videos too. I like being to get settled and have my mind blown or educated watching your vids. I dont mind the short ones either. I never expect a vid to released constantly or on a particluar day each week. But as soon as i see one uploaded its the first thing i watch. Keep up the great work.
Personally I like the longer form videos. I can't really see a problem with having a mix of both.