Sampled Bike - Music made from your bike

by Matthew Dennison
Mar 6, 2011

Does your bike make music? Here is something you may have never seen...

Inspired by Mateusz Zdziebko's 'Sampled Room', I was curious what kind of music or beat my bike could make.

With the help of a friend, Jason, I recorded all the sound bites I could think of from my bike on a Zoom h4n.
Finding variety was tough; bikes mostly make thumps, thuds, tings, and pings. With a collection of just under forty sounds, myself and another friend, Joel, began to play around with the noises--seeing what kind of things we could construct out of them. After some frustration and some do-overs, we managed to get on the right track.

Meanwhile, I wanted to shoot the bike. I wanted a white backdrop, as in 'Sampled Room.' But apparently my family doesn't own pure white sheets.
Access to a studio with a backdrop and lights wasn't a problem--cause I had another idea. I had a more interesting, make-shift plan. With the help of Jason, I moved everything out of the corner of my 9' x 11' room and taped up half a ream of white legal size paper to the walls and floors. A little sketchy and less than ideal, but I kind of liked it.

Looks silly in real life.
Looks silly in real life.

But surprisingly cool on film.
But surprisingly cool on film.

Anyways, a month later of editing and playing around and you get this.
Please Enjoy!

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Matt Dennison
http://vimeo.com/mattdennison
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140 Comments

  • + 152
flag aceospades1250 (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:52)
 NOW MAKE A DUBSTEP REMIX!
  • + 6
flag mzk1997 (Mar 5, 2011 at 12:10)
 bike was done by radrider!!!
  • + 9
flag Downhill340 (Mar 5, 2011 at 12:30)
 that must have been hard to edit..
  • + 6
flag faultlinetv (Mar 5, 2011 at 13:27)
 Awesome idea Matt. Good job putting it together!
  • + 27
flag Morsinator (Mar 5, 2011 at 13:36)
 Should be on iTunes...
  • + 5
flag radrider (Mar 5, 2011 at 13:54)
 holy i did that frame, kewl
  • - 9
flag no-ah (Mar 5, 2011 at 23:09) (Below Threshold) show comment
 f*ck dubstep
  • + 2
flag lucaso3 (Mar 5, 2011 at 23:24)
 how can u say that a dirty baseline is all u need just watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z59gAXZ0ksQ&feature=related />.....Dubstep is just awesome lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1hLduV1p88
  • + 2
flag pedalbitesucks (Mar 6, 2011 at 0:19)
 Frank Zappa once played the bicycle, you can find it on youtube. But otherwise, that was a jam
  • + 1
flag ukal (Mar 6, 2011 at 4:28)
 reminds me of Kraftwerk - Tour de France...
  • + 2
flag joshdgk (Mar 6, 2011 at 12:52)
 this would be a sick advert for banshee tbh!
  • + 2
flag hoolydooly (Mar 6, 2011 at 12:53)
 That is sick! first comment is gold. this is just as good or better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFybwg4wadI
  • + 1
flag warden13 (Mar 6, 2011 at 16:03)
 Good job on the video!

I did a project like that a couple of years back so I know how much time and effort it takes to work on it.
What seems like a simple idea can get very complicated quickly as far as having enough variety in sounds and how to structure the music to make it sound interesting.
I recorded all of the sounds with different mics hooked to the camera, then had to organize and separate each sound. After collecting about 50 to 60 different sound bites I handed it all over to my friend where he went through each sample, created drum kits or put them into various software to create different synthesizers where he could actually play melodies. Once that was done he made a few different tracks and then I went on to make the film with the video clips matching the corresponding sounds.
That took quite a bit of time to edit the video because there was a fair amount of layering and quick cuts to make, as well as figuring out what sound was what.

I uploaded the video here on pinkbike awhile ago but there were issues with the transfer, I'm guessing because of the quick cuts. I just uploaded to vimeo because it seems that their flash compression worked a bit better.

The original, full-length film has a documentary before the music explaining the process that we used, what microphones, camera lenses, studio software and issues we had during the project. The cool thing was that I submitted it to the Bicycle Film Festival and was accepted where it made its premiere in New York City.

You can check out there short version of it here:
http://vimeo.com/20719368
  • + 1
flag haydendmorrison (Mar 8, 2011 at 4:33)
 I'm a big fan of that one^, nice and fast paced
[Reply]
  • + 32
flag nastynick42 (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:43)
 Quite possibly, one of the most creative projects I've seen!
That must have been a bunch of work to get that all together; way to go.
Its pretty sick!
  • + 13
flag johnny-compton (Mar 5, 2011 at 15:30)
 ^^^Dick? and that was awsome!
  • + 7
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:52)
 Grow up, man.
  • + 7
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 12:34)
 That would be great! Smile
  • + 3
flag josh090 (Mar 6, 2011 at 18:16)
 douche
  • + 2
flag KillaKHS (Mar 7, 2011 at 6:16)
 wow
  • + 2
flag johnny-compton (Mar 7, 2011 at 8:05)
 whata f*ckin bellend...
  • + 2
flag haydendmorrison (Mar 8, 2011 at 4:30)
 Too much caffeine? I'm getting grouped in with 'pompous English riders' or something and seeing as you don't know what the f*ck you are talking about, whitwelljames, I'd like you to shut the f*ck up for everyone's good.
  • + 1
flag jk-mrdck420 (Mar 8, 2011 at 21:35)
 holy shit!.. ya i feel sorry for you haydenmorrison gettin grouped in with a juvinile ass wipe like that..
grow up little kid, and get off the site if your just here to critisize.

and nasty nick took the words from my mouth
one of the most creative things ive seen in awhile.

can anyone say BANSHEE BIKE COMMERCIAL??
[Reply]
  • + 23
flag adam-mitchell (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:40)
 This is pretty cool, must admit...
  • + 11
flag PauuuuuL (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:45)
 Too mainstream.....
  • + 7
flag boostmaster (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:54)
 this is really great! But I have to admit, when I first seen the blog my stomach sank only because...

...I had the exact same Idea!!!

aaaaaaaahhh!!!! lol,
now people might think I got the idea from you if I make stuff like this in the future...
I honestly had the same basic idea!
Oh well good work man, I like the color grading!
  • + 4
flag a1bike4me (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:00)
 Need to fix that Rotor haha Amazing job!!
  • + 16
flag dingus (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:08)
 You know what you wanna do with that right, you wanna put a ban-gin donk on it...
  • + 2
flag OllyJ (Mar 5, 2011 at 12:15)
 haha, screw fixing the rotor if it gives you tunes like that when you're riding Wink haha... I'm just in my head trying to figure out how to make a dubstep remix of this... reckon I could get some bass down my spinning up my mud spikes and ragging a bit of thick card against them...
  • - 4
flag bunkey (Mar 5, 2011 at 13:39) (Below Threshold) show comment
 If you want awesome dubstep samples then you gotta think outside the box a little. Not quite the same but I got a pretty wild sample from putting my guitar through various compression and overdrive effects whilst running it through a tuner and spinning a powerball just above the pickup to whatever frequency of note I wanted. You can check out an early version in this old video for an idea, its the eerie drone kinda sound. http://www.pinkbike.com/video/59204/
  • + 1
flag theriotact (Mar 5, 2011 at 15:35)
 DUBSTEP REMIX GOOOOOOOOOOO
  • + 6
flag tom-cuthbert (Mar 5, 2011 at 18:22)
 That'd be an awesome advert for banshee Smile
  • + 1
flag bikeddict (Mar 5, 2011 at 18:48)
 if you were listening to this while riding down a trail you would constantly stop to see if something was wrong with you bike Smile
creative idea and great editing by the way
  • + 1
flag thedemo7rider (Mar 6, 2011 at 10:59)
 that is so cool good job on it
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag haydendmorrison (Mar 5, 2011 at 12:44)
 Not especially complicated to do and it wasn't a very interesting rhythm imo. People have been doing this kind of thing for years Wink Having said that, it is pretty damn cool and could be taken further.
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:53)
 I don't take pride in thinking I'm the first to do it!
  • + 1
flag haydendmorrison (Mar 7, 2011 at 6:58)
 Goodgood, it was more aimed at some of the replies Wink A definite plan to be worked on though, make some awesome technical beats or something, I wish I had some nice recording equipment to go with this now-redundant software Frown
  • + 1
flag jcinkits (Mar 7, 2011 at 22:30)
 it seems every english riders has a pompous critique to state about this before they throw a bone to the mix.........wankers.
  • + 1
flag haydendmorrison (Mar 8, 2011 at 4:08)
 Oh no, an honest opinion! Get f*cked. If you read what I said again the general feel of my comments were positive Wink It might be because I spent two years doing this kind of stuff at college but I thought I'd offer some friendly crit and he took it well
  • + 1
flag haydendmorrison (Mar 8, 2011 at 4:14)
 Oh wait, he didn't take it well. My mistake
  • + 1
flag jcinkits (Mar 8, 2011 at 14:12)
 hey, your right, it was an honest opinion, but pointless to state: 'people have been doing this for years' yeh...so what....does that make it redundant, like your software - and, the rhythm was good enough, and as for your comment being 'aimed' at some of the [ positive] replies - a little self righteous; but hey maybe your not a wanker just another teenager who knows everything and can't just be positive without using others efforts to show how smart he is...as for me getting f*cked, beats jerking off on line like you...ok. your turn to TRY to be witty or call me a f*ggot or whatever it is that turns you on, but i'm done and won't be reading it anyway :-)
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 9, 2011 at 1:47)
 Haha, I took it well! Can't we all just get along? Smile
  • + 1
flag haydendmorrison (Mar 9, 2011 at 10:54)
 Sorry Matt, bit of a mix up there! He did take it well, no worries. Sorry if people took my comments the wrong way, I didn't really mean for it to sound like that, had a shit week so I wasn't in the best mood so it didn't come out with a positive spin Razz It's not redundant or anything, I just meant that the guy up there who said it was the most creative thing he had ever seen should look into it because there is tonnes of equally cool stuff about done in interesting ways, well worth a look if you are into it. I wasn't trying to put him down, I just thought I'd make a fair comment on something I'm interested in/know a little bit about. Leave my personal habits out of this! Haha, sorry again, I hope we can all get past this Wink
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag jdots (Mar 6, 2011 at 1:07)
 haters gonna hate, but matthew makes good videos still
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag F8L-DJ (Mar 5, 2011 at 19:59)
 So sick! I tried taking all the sounds off of the silly little pinball game and making a remix type thing out of it. 30 hours later I had 45 seconds worth. I liked how it was turning out, but I just couldn't stand working with it anymore... So props to them for sticking with it.
  • + 1
flag F8L-DJ (Mar 5, 2011 at 20:10)
 My dad went off his nut! He just can't believe that is all made with a bike. No drums etc.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag novatek (Mar 5, 2011 at 23:52)
 The mainpart of the track its a classic drum loop but switched with the sounds of the bike thats ok but theres something with the pitch of thelead and the other sounds maybe you can process the sane sound thru a vocoder so you can get a scale or something, plus giving an extra industrial sound, good idea my 2 favorites things to do, creating music and riding bikes nice!
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:54)
 I tried to do everything without processing or altering any sounds. All the sounds are straight from the bike! I agree something just a little off, but I'm happy with it!
  • + 1
flag novatek (Mar 7, 2011 at 4:41)
 Yeah im not trying to be an ass, its the kind of thing that I wish to hear from anyone. For me thats a pro recording sound and thats not easy
Maybe on the future o idk hehe, peace
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag vineet (Mar 5, 2011 at 21:07)
 Must say its brilliant. Kraftwerk will be impressed if they watch and listen to it.
and a very good advertisement for Banshee!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jerryhazard (Mar 6, 2011 at 7:56)
 Cool stuff.. sorta like STOMP for bikes. I like it, can definitely appreciate it, since I cannot even begin to make beatz...
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag jcinkits (Mar 7, 2011 at 22:16)
 Love the Effort and Creativity and anyone who disses this needs a handlebar up the butt...the ratchet wrench sound was a little bit o cheatin, but i guess since it was turning a nut on the ride...:-)
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 9, 2011 at 1:49)
 And the pump too! Shhhhh.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag wort (Mar 5, 2011 at 14:27)
 Nice! Pluck the Spokes for some sweet sounds...
And Specialized did this a while back, and they did a pretty good job: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68N43K5Y0Ek
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:54)
 Pluck the spokes! Great idea..wish I had thought of it!
  • + 1
flag Kiwic (Mar 7, 2011 at 10:57)
 If you get an old wheel that hasn't been retrued and spin it while you hold a spanner to it you get a hell of alot of different notes, could potentially tune with a spoke tool.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag boxter (Mar 5, 2011 at 12:17)
 that was awsome when i watched it i thought it was an ad for banshee bikes lol
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag ScratchNDent (Mar 6, 2011 at 6:20)
 Any chance you could play "do you remember" by phil collins?
  • + 1
flag dlproductionsjasper (Mar 6, 2011 at 15:43)
 That would be amazing.
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag deathmetaldownhill (Mar 6, 2011 at 10:12)
 I'm sorry but this has been done so many times before with car doors, buttons and engine noises, gun shots from COD and so many other things. It's only a matter of time before people do something like this with their respective hobbies.

Don't get me wrong, it was well done, but certainly not an original idea. Well done anyway Big Grin
  • + 1
flag jcinkits (Mar 7, 2011 at 22:26)
 not original ? well, never seen it done on a bike and none of us give a shit about doors buttons or wtf....so tell us again, whats the point in telling us it's not original? well done. [ period ] would have sufficed professor.
  • + 1
flag deathmetaldownhill (Mar 9, 2011 at 1:41)
 Do you have a problem with the concept of originality? It may have not been done on a bike before but the fact remains it has been done on many other things and has also been in British TV adverts. Sorry to make you whine. I just gave some constructive criticism only to unintentionally offend somebody like you.

Why would I just leave it at "well done" just to fit in. It was a good effort and worked well, like i said. I know you're 'too-biker' for car doors and buttons but seriously, an "i disagree" would have sufficed, student.
  • + 1
flag jcinkits (Mar 9, 2011 at 23:54)
 ok. i disagree.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag phatdanny (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:20)
 its really good but it would be nice to hear a bass linein there tho...dont you think?....but ye its really good Smile
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag zer0her0 (Mar 6, 2011 at 2:28)
 yes... avids are perfect for making squeaks... Wink
  • + 1
flag jasterixstrange (Mar 7, 2011 at 10:32)
 my thoughts exactly
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag JesusJohn (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:50)
 That was great, Nice job, It's a bike version of the coldcut track timber http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8-QDCKdVO4
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag spider2054 (Mar 6, 2011 at 9:53)
 So Sick!!!Great job
My new faviorite song!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Aub444 (Mar 6, 2011 at 9:07)
 thats dope. great banshee add too.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag campofchampions Plus (Mar 6, 2011 at 8:11)
 Is that the frame you won at camp? Amazing job. Stunning actually.
Ken
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:56)
 It is! Thank you!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mattridesbikes (Mar 6, 2011 at 9:54)
 that is really cool ma friend
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Shredder-boy (Mar 6, 2011 at 6:49)
 Should make a rock/metal song using bike parts!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag toadmaster45 (Mar 6, 2011 at 14:36)
 any one notice there is a chain ring bolt missing?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag KillaKHS (Mar 7, 2011 at 6:06)
 My bike would like to know who he may speak too about vocal auditions?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag shepmedic (Mar 7, 2011 at 7:13)
 Really Really wicked awesomly SICK!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Snowdog85 (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:41)
 haha very creativeRazz
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bmoony (Mar 5, 2011 at 23:31)
 that was awesome....great concept
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag zachlemdersi (Mar 6, 2011 at 13:57)
 should of thrown a link to IFHT at the end of the vid!! So sick man
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 14:11)
 Hahah, shoulda!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Astars (Mar 6, 2011 at 10:58)
 wooow amazing genius guys
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag rosslikesbikes (Mar 6, 2011 at 13:22)
 How bored are they? Go out and ride.
  • + 1
flag jcinkits (Mar 7, 2011 at 22:20)
 well, i'm bored and i just rode, so maybe i could watch you ride...off a cliff...
  • + 1
flag rosslikesbikes (Mar 8, 2011 at 12:44)
 Perhaps you need to find a new sport if you've been riding and your still bored. I am the one riding and not making music with my bike and you tell me I need to ride off a cliff. Weird reasoning.
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 8, 2011 at 14:06)
 Fortunately, not everything in life has to involve riding!
  • + 0
flag jcinkits (Mar 8, 2011 at 14:28)
 hey rosslikesbikes- whats weird about me being bored after a rip and asking you to ride off a cliff; how awesome that would be to see ! ok. i'll make it simple : telling others how bored they must be [ to make and / or watch this vid ] and to just go out and ride is arrogant and pompous - and as mattdenison says: not everything in life has to involve riding, so some of us do not have tunnel vision and prefer to get creative with other aspects of our lives and riding. and since you did not call me a f*ggot or tell me to get f*cked, [you know, the usual cyber rants] then it behooves me to say you have every right to be bored and i hope you don't ride off a cliff...happy trails.
  • + 1
flag rosslikesbikes (Mar 9, 2011 at 13:19)
 Ok i don't know where to go with that so let's just agree to disagree.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Tim94 (Mar 6, 2011 at 10:23)
 Those guys, have nothing better to do! Great movie!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag clive (Mar 5, 2011 at 22:20)
 the Crank lost one screw?
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:57)
 Yes, haha! I should replace that sometime Razz
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dawids (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:41)
 HAHAHA. thats awesome. Good job.
  • + 3
flag LIVE-4-WEEKEND (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:45)
 so good, even like most of the song lol!
good effort would never have thought a bike would have sounded like that, all i ever hear is groans, grinding a breaking :L
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag anarchistx (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:57)
 Haha, thats pretty sick! Good creative minds at work.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag basto71 (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:02)
 i love it !!! bravo! merci!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag november29 (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:50)
 Really great job on music and very cool editing
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag element22 (Mar 5, 2011 at 17:34)
 That was just fantastic. Great work...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dlproductionsjasper (Mar 5, 2011 at 21:22)
 Nicely done! Sweet shots, editing, and great sound quality!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jumpslut (Mar 5, 2011 at 19:43)
 Incredible talent. That was the most creative video I've ever seen.
  • + 2
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:55)
 Thank you very much!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag MirrorEyes (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:04)
 Haha that's really cool. Great job guys.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag pokalface (Mar 6, 2011 at 16:25)
 sick soundtrack!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag aeyjay (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:42)
 That was pretty amazing.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag fantaman (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:40)
 that was sweet
  • + 4
flag hayzy666 (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:44)
 I'm doing this for a project in my degree at the moment quite funny seeing the lecturers faces when I drag my muddy bike into the studio.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag brookeeh (Mar 8, 2011 at 18:14)
 this is legit .
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag LIVE-4-WEEKEND (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:43)
 so good, love it !! Smile
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag EdikTatsak (Mar 7, 2011 at 0:44)
 great job!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag josh090 (Mar 6, 2011 at 18:26)
 so nice, i loved that
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Bashment (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:46)
 Super creative LIKE!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bikefsu (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:30)
 bike version of stomp
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag xtr3m3 (Mar 6, 2011 at 8:27)
 dubstep Smile)
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Robalondo (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:35)
 Soooo awesome man!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Jerrywm (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:15)
 shweeeet!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ryanreishripper (Mar 5, 2011 at 22:59)
 thats cool.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ustemuf Plus (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:49)
 badass.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag crazy-kid (Mar 6, 2011 at 12:53)
 that was sweet!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag msarri24 (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:07)
 jajajaj juust SICK Big Grin
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag seraph (Mar 5, 2011 at 12:09)
 Might wanna get a chain ring bolt for those cranks there.
  • + 2
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:59)
 Good eye!
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag Edwin1000 (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:46)
 When is this on iTunes? nice work! lol
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag Bjammin (Mar 5, 2011 at 12:16)
 Dirtmerchant, looks like might finally get a VAWD
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag dkidd (Mar 5, 2011 at 10:47)
 i was mildly entertained...
  • + 4
flag pieman6 (Mar 5, 2011 at 14:15)
 if it was a charlie sheen dubstep song produced by a bike would you be happy?
  • - 1
flag dkidd (Mar 5, 2011 at 16:34)
 I prefer the dubstep vid. with the girl who faked nerve damage from flu shots.
If someone recreated that with bike parts I'd be down.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag RorySmith (Mar 6, 2011 at 4:39)
 MysteryGuitarMan anyone?
  • + 1
flag mattdennison (Mar 6, 2011 at 11:57)
 Big influence!
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag dingus (Mar 5, 2011 at 11:07)
 Neat idea. Part of it reminded me of a Faithless song, you should do a Banshee cover versions album Razz
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag VAGFORLIFE (Mar 6, 2011 at 8:52)
 what an artist....
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag apachemauro (Mar 5, 2011 at 17:38)
 love you guys!
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag tdoyle1995 (Mar 5, 2011 at 13:18)
 please dont make a dubstep remix. dubstep blows
[Reply]
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