The Aquasonic Waterphone

[BornInTzyon]

Sounds just like the strange noises everyone's hearing across the globe....very weird!

[ThomasGrillo]

@BornInTzyon Indeed. :)



[the26thhour]

Could you please make a classic horror score using the Waterphone & Theremin

[ThomasGrillo]

@the26thhour I'll have to give that some consideration. Let's see now. Legos, toy hospital, charactors, mad junk science scene animation, waterphone, theremin, um, yeh, I think that might not be too far off. ;)

[jpjb83]

How appropriate is it that the guy vaguely resembles Stephen King?

[ThomasGrillo]

@jpjb83 LOL! ;)

[dwellyn]

How exactly would you even begin to score something like that?

[ThomasGrillo]

@dwellyn You would simply score with indications of ascending, and decending scales, or attacks of single notes in whatever range the waterphone is capable of, but it's more for effectgs. However, the more expensive ones like the ones made by Richard Waters can be played more musically, albeit with emphasis on effects.

[dvamateur]

This is similar to what that Brazilian percussionist used in Chick Corea's band in the Ultimate Adventure concert.

[ThomasGrillo]

@dvamateur Cool. :)

[Snowuk95]

1:09

Torture to my ears and instant headache

[ThomasGrillo]

@Snowuk95 Yeh, LOL. It's an effects demo, not a musical performance. Your ears and head will feel much better after checking out my theremin musical videos. ;)

[Snowuk95]

@ThomasGrillo Sure will! :D

[damicantthink]

dude....bad ass....

[kevintheblacksmith]

That thing sounds awesome

[ThomasGrillo]

@kevintheblacksmith Pretty wicked, indeed. Just wish I could have afforded one of Richard Waters' waterphones. His sounds much better, and you've heard his in movies.

[bannarepublic]

im on that weired part of youtube again...

[ThomasGrillo]

@bannarepublic LOL. No worries. Gets better, just head to my channel for some real music. :)

[insidesonfire]

Amazing man!!! WoW! in Spanish your last name means CRICKET! it is so ironic how well it fits with what you're great at!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

@insidesonfire Indeed. :) Do have a look at the theremin vids I've done if you get a chance. :)

[insidesonfire]

@ThomasGrillo I defiantly already checked it out right after I saw this video.. and was simply amazed! that Theremin instrument is simply awesome!... I'm in a Heavy metal band that is all about creating beautiful metal as best to our knowledge... and recently found out about the Waterphone... very awesome instrument.. and I have been watching your videos.. Just Love it! Awesome man.. it means a lot you replied back...Thank you

p.s our band name is UNEXPLAINABLE

[ThomasGrillo]

@insidesonfire Glad you enjoyed the other vids. :)

It would be interesting to see what your band does with both theremin, and waterphone. :)

I'll certainly look y'all up, and give you a listen. :)

[insidesonfire]

@ThomasGrillo We will be sure to keep in touch with you.. and give you exclusive email of the song we create... the name Unexplainable... allows us to go into our genre of music with doors wide open... as well as subject matter with all the new reality shows about ghosts and things unexplained.. that's what we write about.. so these instruments will defiantly intensify what we're trying to capture... thanks again... and keep up the great work!

[ThomasGrillo]

@insidesonfire That sounds awesome. Aptly named, indeed. I look forward to hearing the piece. :)

[SnootyWimbledon]

Wow! This has been used ALOT in hollywood sound effects :42

[ThomasGrillo]

@SnootyWimbledon Yes, they have. But the ones you heard were the ones built by Richard Waters. This one's just a knock-off. I wish I could afford one of Richard's waterphones. They sound much better than this one.

[gridsleep]

That sounds exactly like Gyorgy Ligeti's Atmospheres as used in 2001:A Space Odyssey. To think, this simple little hand held device can sound as good as the entire London Symphony Orchestra, when such sounds are needed. I would really like to have one of these.

[hillbillyreaperjen]

I want this guy to play at my Birthday!

[thepeyoteprincess]

Reminds me of whales singing... beautiful but haunting x

[ThomasGrillo]

@thepeyoteprincess You should hear the theremin. ;)

[LogansGeeTar]

Sounds like they used this to make that weird song when they are tracking the sniper down in Full Metal Jacket

[ThomasGrillo]

@LogansGeeTar That, and aother movies. :)

[chickensodelicious]

@LogansGeeTar exactly what I thought of thats the movie I remeber it from most

[realcodeman11]

SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO MAKE ONE OF THESE

[ThomasGrillo]

@realcodeman11 You weld two pie ins together, cut a hole in one, weld a tube on the hole, and then cut, and weld rods cut to various lenghths to the edges of the assembly, and hope you got it right. It's much, much harder to build one of these and make it sound good than it appears. That's why they're so expensive. Oh, and did I mention, you'd be working with bronze. It's much easier to just buy one, albeit more expensive. :)

[realcodeman11]

@ThomasGrillo

Well, I've got all the time in the world, just not money, but I thought those rods were brass?

[ThomasGrillo]

@realcodeman11 Nope, bronze. :)

[realcodeman11]

@ThomasGrillo

 Thanks then!

[ThomasGrillo]

@realcodeman11 You're welcome. :)

[YayBeerReviews]

So that's how they make those noises. Resident Evil anyone?

[fatalframe95]

The first two notes you played sound like the first notes of tsukimori no uta XD

[ThomasGrillo]

@fatalframe95 Interesting



[TheLoneDevil]

It's like I'm playing Silent Hill

[ThomasGrillo]

@TheLoneDevil Indeed. :)

[wee855]

i feel like i'm in F.E.A.R. now...

[ThomasGrillo]

@wee855 LOL ;)

[mattmanmkb]

Can make this sounds with a guitar that has floyd rose.

[ThomasGrillo]

@mattmanmkb Cool. I'd like to check that out. :)

[webkinzbabeeXD]

im in a scary movie

[ThomasGrillo]

@webkinzbabeeXD LOL :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@lordofrandomness4 Check ebay, and search for Aquasonic for the one like mine, or for a better one, consider the inventor, Richard Waters, who still makes the real thing.

[lordofrandomness4]

Dear Thomas, what kind of waterphone did you use in this video and where can I get one? Its super awesome :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@lordofrandomness4 The one seen here is the Aquasonic waterphone. It cost about $400 on ebay. However, if you want an even better quality sound, and you're serious about using waterphones in movie productions, ect, you really want the real thing. That would be the waterphones produced by Richard Waters. They're about 3 or 4 times the cost of this one, but well worth it because of what they do, and how they're built. Check the description box for a link to him.

[111vnderbnder111]

@ThomasGrillo Can you buy them in stores?

[ThomasGrillo]

@111vnderbnder111 Not unless you find one in a pawn shop. Mostly, they're found on ebay, or the originals can be found at Richard Waters' site.

[MentallyEric]

i got chills

[ThomasGrillo]

@MentallyEric :) That's what it's all about.

[fisheyefighter]

it looks like he cut a baseball world series trophy in half

[ThomasGrillo]

@fisheyefighter LOL! ;) If I had one of those, I wouldn't be here, fiddling around with this thing. LOL

[madsketcher]

I've always wondered where that sound came from! Awesome!

[ThomasGrillo]

@madsketcher Thank you. :)

[snoopytroops]

Hahaha, 2.20 reminds me of the panda sneeze.

[demirojas27]

Its like watching the village :D

[BigTymerPimp]

This new song from The Mars Volta sounds amazing. lol

[Liam2020]

sry, I had to puta dislike in this, I thought it would be a cool instrument like the theremin but all it did was high pitched sounds and rolling arround the thing. It would be cooler if he played a melody with it...I say sry because I know I'm a minority in this video! ahah 11 dislikes against 349 likes...

[ThomasGrillo]

@Liam2020 The point of this video was to demonstrate the device as an effects device. It's not, and never was designed to play music. It's meant to produce scary sounds. The video just mainly shows what that device is, and how it's used. You've heard it in many movies and tv shows where something bad is about to happen. :)

[Liam2020]

@ThomasGrillo thx for the clarification! then it is a kick ass instrument! haha

[FuggyProductions]

@Liam2020 This isn't a musical instrument, it's used for sound effects in movies...

[shirokun002]

Akira Yamaoka's favorite instrument.

[6X6Chelsea6X6]

This is the thing nightmares are made from... Creeppppyy...

[ThomasGrillo]

@6X6Chelsea6X6 This, and theremins, and other creepy sounding instruments. :)

[89Draco]

i need one of these o.o

[ThomasGrillo]

@89Draco For about $300 to $400, there's the one seen here, but if you want an even better sounding quality waterphone that sounds like the ones in the movies (because they are them), check out the waterphones by Richard Waters. The run into the thousands, but when you hear his, you'll understand why they are so high in price.

[adarkerlight]

Ah. I bet that's what's being played in the background of Steve Roach's Immersion : One.

[ThomasGrillo]

@adarkerlight Very likely, but it's likely one of Richard Waters' waterphones. ;)

[Admiral3131]

I'd love to just hide in bushes at night and play that as people walk by.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Admiral3131 You'd best be wearing a flack jacket if you do, LOL ;)

[TheChemTrailReport]

music to my dogs ears!

[ThomasGrillo]

@TheChemTrailReport Yeh, right! LOL :)

[chapisbored]

1:53

these guys are comedic geniuses.

[rlawrence331]

It really doesn't help that this guy looks like Stephen King.

[ThomasGrillo]

@rlawrence331 LOL! ;)

[RightOfNowhere]

@rlawrence331

Okay, I thought I was on crazy pills.

I'm not the only one.

[ozzy2221]

I got chills! I'm watching this in the dark!

[ThomasGrillo]

@ozzy2221 Cool. Wait...what was that? No, over there, behind you...

[sphinx200]

@ThomasGrillo "They are eating her and then they are going to eat me! Oh my gooooooooooooooooooood !"

[ThomasGrillo]

@sphinx200 Cue the scary theremin in 3, 2, 1...

[ISISbandLive]

My music teacher told me about this instrument today, I am seriously geeking out over it! Is it possible to create a melody by bowing certain areas? I'm asking because at 3:45 you play descending notes chromatically, but could you not bow particular notes to create something that sounds major/minor?

Thanks alot for the video :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@ISISbandLive You're welcome. ;)

It depends on the model of waterphone. Each one, even within a given model line, has it's own unique tuning. There is an aproximate scale with mine, but playing a melody is rather challenging. Other models, like the ones built by Richard Waters is designed to produce an alternating up / down pattern almost like an apregio of sorts as the bow is drawn across it. I get lower notes drawing near the top of the rods, and higher notes when bowing near the reservoire

[ThomasGrillo]

@ThomasGrillo Further, playing minor or jajor is really not quite an option, unless one has the waterphone custome tuned to permit this sort of selective playing. You can, to some extent play a simple melody, but it's difficult to do as the rods are not exactly tuned, particularly on the model I have (cheaper). Richard Waters tunes his far better, and therefore he charges a lot more, as well he should. :)

[cafity]

2:20 HAHAHAHA

[ryanrules281]

Train Horn at 0:36.

[ThomasGrillo]

@ryanrules281 LOL ;)

[organfairy]

This reminds me of the German artist Ingo Insterburg who made a similar looking instrument out of a dried christmas tree (!) sanded down and the 8 thickest branches tuned so he could play "Oh Tannenbaum" on it.

[ThomasGrillo]

@organfairy Interesting. I'll have to look into that. :)

[MrFranciscoFidalgo]

@ThomasGrillo Wich instrument is that then?

[ThomasGrillo]

@MrFranciscoFidalgo The waterphone seen here is the Aquasonic waterphone.

[fstball4110]

its nice but the truth is that these sounds can be easily produced with modern synthesis... even virtual synthesis.

[ThomasGrillo]

@fstball4110 To a point, yes, but you can't duplicate the bowing effects that you can do with these things. Nor can the effect of watter moving around inside the waterphone at desired rates. ;)

[bigbagron]

Can you play melodies as well?

[ThomasGrillo]

@bigbagron Not on this model. Some of the more expensive models may be tuned to allow some simple melodies.

[Mike0isabigdeal]

The waterphone is an amazing instrument and ridiculously fun to play

[ThomasGrillo]

@Mike0isabigdeal Yes they are. :)

[Astrenar]

Sounds like every sound from a scary movie/game ever.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Astrenar Indeed. :)

[HLkiller2]

I'm quite sure they've one of these on the Myst 3 Exile Soundtrack...

Possibly the fourth game as well... (Jack Wall is awesomesauce)

[ThomasGrillo]

@HLkiller2 Cool. I'll have to play those games, and listen for it in them. :)

[robaba89]

Woah, it sounds like whale songs... perhaps they aren't singing and it's just water rolling around their noggins XD

[ThomasGrillo]

@robaba89 Yeh, lol, :)

[CynicalFrequency]

Contains water eh? Sounds like tormented souls to me. (I mean that in the best way possibe)

[ThomasGrillo]

@CynicalFrequency Yeh, lol. :), It does contain a small amount of water. If there's no tourtured souls in there, it'll certainly torture a few souls. :)

I've actually had a comment that theremins run on tortured souls. :)

[Taru58]

Wow sound like some horror movie sound! Love it. :D

[ThomasGrillo]

@Taru58 Thank you. :)

[xatyt]

I love the waterphone, please make more videos!

[ThomasGrillo]

@xatyt Will do. Stay tuned. :)

[Astharot90]

Beautiful!!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

@Astharot90 Thanks. :)

[HATECREWrulz123]

how much would one of these cost?

[ThomasGrillo]

@HATECREWrulz123 This one is the cheaper of the two known manufacturers. It was about $400. But if you want a better sounding one, the ones made by Richard Waters sounds great, but runs more than twice this one's cost. Some of his even run into the thousands. But they're considered metal sculpture that performs. Holywood film producers use his. If I could afford it, I would too.

[StoverTV]

This is a great instrument to play outside at night. Sounds spooky.

[ThomasGrillo]

@StoverTV Yeh, lol. Hid behind a bush, and do that on Halloween. :)

[forestfairness]

sounds great thomas.....i am collecting and playing misc. weird instruments, will have to put this one on me list to find or make.....how did you get such a good recording, using mics?????....aloha, forest

[ThomasGrillo]

@forestfairness Allthought the camera I used was rubbish as far as video goes, it had a great quality built in mic. Got lucky on the audio on this one. :)

[PLANQUINQUENAL]

esta demente este pibe



[ThomasGrillo]

@PLANQUINQUENAL Yeh, lol :) You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it sure helps. LOL :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@PLANQUINQUENAL Yeh, lol :) You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it sure helps. LOL :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@PLANQUINQUENAL Yeh, lol You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it sure helps. LOL :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@PLANQUINQUENAL Yeh, lol You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it sure helps. LOL

[ThomasGrillo]

@PLANQUINQUENAL Yeh. You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it sure helps. :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@PLANQUINQUENAL You don't have to be crazy to do this, but it helps.

[DarkZekeX]

can you notate for the waterphone?

[ThomasGrillo]

@DarkZekeX Not really. There are so many variations between models, and even within the same model, that the notes on one, are not the same on another. The notes on mine are close to a scale, but not accurate. A waterphone by Richard Waters has a pattern that resembles an arpegio, of sorts. The best one can hope to do in the way of writting for waterphones is to simply script the kind of desired action the audience should hear.

[bassmanboe]

@ThomasGrillo wouldn't that make it closer to an exotic rhythm percussion instrument?

[ThomasGrillo]

@bassmanboe The waterphone is not a percussian instrument because we use a bow to play it with. However, it's not exactly a melodic instrument. It's mostly for creepy effects. Have a look at a perfect example of it's use in my new video, The Creature Within. :)

[FUHGI]

CAN YOU MAKE MELODYIES WITH THAT THING ?

[ThomasGrillo]

@FUHGI Nope. No melodies. Waterphones are non-melodic devices for adding emotional effects to movies. Namely, fear. :)

[vgermuse]

Thomas, cool demo! If you or your viewers are interested in obtaining samples of Richard's instruments go to the waterphone web page of Richard Waters, inventor of the waterphone.

[ThomasGrillo]

@vgermuse Thank you. Been there. That's how this all got started. :)

[vVjosseVv]

FEAR 2!!

[ThomasGrillo]

@vVjosseVv Indeed. LOL :)

[Tocy777]

epic

[ThomasGrillo]

@Tocy777 Thanks. :)

[spencer1121324]

all the sounds of a horror movie in one conveint package

[ThomasGrillo]

@spencer1121324 But wait! That's not all! Check out my channel, and you'll see, and hear the other instrument of horror. The theremin! I also use that instrument for music. :)

[blahpoopman]

i want one so bad

[ThomasGrillo]

@blahpoopman You can find this version of waterphone on ebay. Just key in Aquasonic Waterphone.

[OMFGWTFSTFULOL]

It sounds so haunting... It's cool though, I wasn't planning on sleeping tonight anyways.

[ThomasGrillo]

@OMFGWTFSTFULOL Thanks. Glad you liked it. :)

[jerrbear85]

excellent.

[ThomasGrillo]

@jerrbear85 Thanks.

[Sphinxfalcon]

i was always wondering what the hell made that creepy noise in horror movies. Now I know.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Sphinxfalcon Indeed. ;)

[IsaacTheGuitarist]

Holy, this is like the soundtrack to my nightmares :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@IsaacTheGuitarist LOL. I'd hate to experience one of your nightmares if you're hearing waterphones backing up your frightening nocturnal visions. :)

[networkse7en]

sounds eerie

[ThomasGrillo]

Indeed. :)

[frobie54]

I had always assumed that the sound was a computer synth, but this is ten times as awesome. They use it heavily in the Myst III: Exile theme, and in Dragon Age: Origins, there's a part where this thing makes up the entire background music. It's really eerie sounding. And awesome.

[ThomasGrillo]

thanks. Yes, this is what was used in those games, and indeed, many movies, and tv shows too. :)

[ScottWarnerMusic]

How exactly do you go about getting your hands on one of these spectacular items??

=)

[LizzyChan101]

And my question is:

Do you have to change the water out-- is that possible? Or does it just stay in there.....

[ThomasGrillo]

It's best to dump the water out after you play. Otherwise, the minerals in the water can cause lime build up inside the instrument if you have hard water. Also, you don't want mold, or mildew growing in there. Helps to spra a shot of lysol in there once in a blue moon, and to occasionally rinse with mild soap and water. You just dump the water out through the handle, which is a hollow pipe through which you put water into the instrument.

[LizzyChan101]

Ah. Thanks.

[ThomasGrillo]

You're welcome. :)

[EvanAxer]

THATS THE INSTRUMENT !!! finally i was trying to figure out how they made those horror movie sounds. Awesome thing

[ThomasGrillo]

It is indeed. :) Thanks.

[corizomb]

is it normal for this to make one feel extremely uncomfortable?

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes. That's why film-makers use them in scenes where something bad is about to happen, or an ominous fact is made obvious in productions. :)

[FmTutorials]

they used it a lot in the matrix

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes, they did. :)

[CrazySean]

0:45= Wayne's World 2!

[ThomasGrillo]

Indeed. LOL :)

[videolizzard99]

Downright horrifying. It looks like it would be fun to play... or maybe I'm just sadistic!

[ThomasGrillo]

It is indeed a cool instrument to do horrific sounds with. An, yes, it's a lot of fun too. :)

[videolizzard99]

Just out of curiosity, how did you come to acquire your waterphone? I'm thinking about possibly constructing my own.

[ThomasGrillo]

I got mine from Aquasonic's ebay site.

You should know they are much more difficult to build than they look. Each tone rod has to be tuned by snipping it til it's in tune, and there's a lot of brazing, or welding involved.

[videolizzard99]

Thank you very much! I'll have to check out the site then!

[ThomasGrillo]

You're welcome.

Don't forget to check out Richard Waters' site too. His are probably the world's finest waterphones. :)

[mikerutherford666]

kinda sounds like a dying whale

[ThomasGrillo]

...or something. LOL ;)