A mechanical plate reverb driven by solenoid percussion creates a hybrid acoustic-electronic instrument

A plate reverb is a large sheet of metal suspended in a frame that vibrates to create reverb. When solenoid-based percussion (electromagnetically triggered strikers) physically hit the plate, the plate functions simultaneously as a reverb effect and as the resonant body of a percussion instrument. The result is a unique sound that blends the transient attack of a struck metallic object with the reverb tail of the plate itself. Sequencing the solenoids with a step sequencer (Barker uses a Beatstep Pro) allows the plate to be programmed as a rhythmic instrument that also creates reverb for other sounds passing through it. This is an example of creative repurposing: a signal processor becomes a sound source, and the reverb tail of the processed signal becomes part of the rhythm.

Examples

Barker’s setup: plate reverb with solenoid percussion sequenced by Beatstep Pro. Other instruments are also run through the plate as a reverb, so they share the same acoustic space as the percussion hits.

Assessment

Describe what makes a solenoid-driven plate reverb different from both a standard plate reverb and a standard percussion instrument, and explain what creative benefit comes from using it as both simultaneously.