Unconventional DIY Plate Reverb

[Tibbon]

I was at work today and using a new whiteboard that had been installed in a conference room. It's a large 4x8ft board or something around that size. When I started writing on it I noticed something odd... it wasn't the standard plastic as most whiteboards. It was some thin metal, that when erasing it sounded... well like shaking a thin plate. Like thunder.

I'm always a fan of "odd" sounds, which generally aren't well modeled by various computer systems. I'm not looking for the "classic" AMT plate sound. I did think to myself however that perhaps it could be used with a driver and a pickup mic or two as a really "weird" sounding plate. Might mess around with it this weekend when everyone's out of the office. Obviously there's no insulation chamber around it.

Then later, I looked up at the exposed metal HVAC ducting that's around the office. We throw magnetic toys at it often and it makes quite a sound. I started to consider to myself how this too might sound in a similar capacity. The metal is MUCH thicker and would need much more drive to push it to vibrate, but since it's a suspended chamber, it might make some near noises.

Anyone interested in hearing the results? Anyone done this before? Good idea, or a complete waste of time?

Any ideas for cheap drivers, and pickups that I could use?

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

(...)Anyone interested in hearing the results?

Most definitely!

Any ideas for cheap drivers, and pickups that I could use?

Driver: drumseat shaker. Pickup: guitar PU, but not touching the metal, just real close to it. Or a contact mic.