Spruce Deuce robot drummer is a fleshbag percussionist's worst nightmare (video)

Sure you can make a drum machine out of Legos, but can you make an actual drummer out of Legos? Steve Averill couldn't, but we think his rather more organic creation is even better than plastic bricks. It's called the Spruce Deuce, a robot that, like the Spruce Goose, is actually made of birch plywood. He's articulated by 11 radio servos tied to a MIDI controller and, amazingly, is pretty good -- or, at least, he isn't bad, able to hit the snare, tom tom, and cymbals. He's even mastered the double bounce and sets the rhythm before the song starts, which you can see after the break. Sure, he's a little more stiff than you might want for an average jazz percussionist, but when you're dealing with something constructed from cross-ply wooden sheets you have to give up a little flex, man.

[novawes Posted Jul 9th 2010 12:55PM]

Yeah... not my worst nightmare. By far.

Maybe if it had killed him and the cameraman at the end of the video it would've been a bit more frightening. I dunno....

[bacon Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:26PM]

@novawes its still no Monkey Drummer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ZGIrNf71Q

[rchives Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:36PM]

I can see it now.

Spruce Deuce is going to get famous by making free videos on YouTube, gather tons of followers, and then sue his fans for listening to his "music".

[Grubermeister Posted Jul 9th 2010 3:16PM]

@bacon My thoughts exactly.

[novawes Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:17PM]

@novawes To be truly frightening it needs chainsaws or lasers or a railgun. Sheesh.

[blenderman345 Posted Jul 10th 2010 12:03PM]

@novawes : Trust me guys, this robot drummer is better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onhLY3jOtIg&feature=related
[No, I'm not spamming you, the video is of a REAL robot drummer... and I'm NOT rick rolling you, I promise]

[Mic2000 Posted Jul 10th 2010 5:15PM]

@novawes And what if we find out later that Steve Averill just build the first prototype of terminator?

[MichaelJJackson Posted Jul 9th 2010 12:57PM]

Ooh looks cool

[Smart People Play Tuba Posted Jul 9th 2010 4:01PM]

He plays a little . . . um . . . how can I put this . . . limp-wristed?

[blegeg Posted Jul 9th 2010 12:58PM]

Despite being a robot, his bandmates still complain Deuce loses the beat and plays too loud.

[Funke Tobias Dr Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:03PM]

This reminds me of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGWJbcTvL_M

[processfive Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:07PM]

So what? Neil Peart has been playing drums like a robot for decades.

[rederikus Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:29PM]

@processfive
What? Neal Peart a robot. I do not think so.

You must be a rap fan then and you know that you cannot say crap without saying rap.

[processfive Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:02PM]

@rederikus Oh yes, I called him a robot, and I'm not the only one who would do so. Did you know that the roadies and stage techs for Rush shows actually joke about how they just pop Neil's arms and legs off and pack him in a box between shows?

I'm not saying he's a bad drummer; quite the opposite, in fact. He is highly-skilled and very technically proficient. His drumming, however, has absolutely no soul.

[Radioheadonist Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:06PM]

@processfive HAHAHA! As a drummer, I feel obliged (or is it obligated) to respect Neil for his drumming skills over the years but to actually watch him play? Yuck. He has to be one of the most boring drummers to watch..........that has ever been. Such a disappointment.

[Radioheadonist Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:09PM]

@processfive Agreed. Neil somehow manages to take all the fun and soul out of drumming. He is truly fantastic and a pioneer of his day, but he might as well sit up there and swing large wooden clubs onto tree stumps for how entertaining he is.

[skyeman224 Posted Jul 9th 2010 3:36PM]

@rederikus
Actually, I worked at BRIC engineering in Toronto, the company that designed and built the "Peart Bot" in the early seventies. He was the prototype of a proposed series of "Rock Bots" meant to be released in '75. We ended up scrapping the project because it was clear "Neil" (as we affectionately called him) was completely soulless and would never truly replace a human.

[TheBrizz Posted Jul 9th 2010 5:42PM]

@Radioheadonist Please remember the job of a drummer is to play the drums in a way that sounds good with what the other musicians are doing; it is not to be visually entertaining. I'm not really a Rush fan but I can't believe the amount of criticism he's getting because he doesn't twirl his sticks or play more theatrically.

[koneill Posted Jul 10th 2010 6:34PM]

@TheBrizz I play drums, and while I absolutely respect Neil for his drumming capability and disagree with folk on here lambasting his playing for lacking flair, I will agree that in watching him play, it's apparent he lacks style. Hell, the drummer for the Stones has more "style" than Neil, and he's not a "great" drummer by any stretch...

[icecreamsocialist Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:07PM]

I've been wanting something like this forever. I hate going through the "dating" of Craigslist and tryouts. My version would look less anthropomorphic, something suitable for Nine Inch Nails with unnecessarily large pistons driving down on each drum. It would also drink beer.

[protocollie Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:08PM]

Uh, the robot's not that scary. The dude WITH the robot's one of the creepiest people I've ever seen in my life.

[pixls Posted Jul 9th 2010 3:28PM]

@protocollie i think more frightening is the comic sans titles *shudder*

[Massive Poop Posted Jul 10th 2010 3:34AM]

@pixls GIVE ME HELVETICA DAMNIT!

[kazz1896 Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:09PM]

Now play a rush song! Then I'll be impressed.

[jonbruc Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:19PM]

He needs a robot piano player.

[RLJSlick Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:21PM]

That is really amazing.

[Bruce Dickinson Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:42PM]

I gotta have more Cowbell, baby.

[jakeZ Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:50PM]

Spruce Deuce? Those splinters must be a bitch.

[Dan08 Posted Jul 9th 2010 1:50PM]

@Engadget
"Sure you can make a drum machine out of Legos, but can you make an actual drummer out of Legos?"

Oh but you can! Michel Gondry did:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRDi67G0Siw

[RITarded09 Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:09PM]

Pretty amazing.

[MVMNT Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:25PM]

Why am I reminded of that pottery scene in "Ghost" right at the start of this?! Eurgh!

[deathalo101 Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:42PM]

Someone should show him this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmPSaBWLrwI&feature=related

[Whyte Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:53PM]

I didn't know Chip Foose made robots.

[MrPinkBlackrose Posted Jul 9th 2010 2:58PM]

But he's got no "soul" man...no "soul"

[HitTheBricks Posted Jul 9th 2010 3:02PM]

Clever name but...taken out of context, if someone asked what a spruce deuce was, I'd be inclined to say "wooden poop".

[A25i Posted Jul 9th 2010 3:09PM]

@HitTheBricks
X( the splinters!

[A25i Posted Jul 9th 2010 3:09PM]

When Skynet hatches, and the robots become our overlords, at least they'll have rhythm.

[tineras Posted Jul 9th 2010 4:05PM]

I am actually very impressed. Keep working on it guy. And put some more torque into that kick drum!

[Mueychacha Posted Jul 9th 2010 4:21PM]

Douglas Adams is rolling in his grave, we finally found a drummer for Disaster Area

[teamdare Posted Jul 9th 2010 5:06PM]

TeamDare has done something similar, including a guitar playing robot. You see them play together here: http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamDARE#p/u/4/TB_5YAh6A7U

[CallDon Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:01PM]

If he stays sober I will hire him!

[niclet Posted Jul 9th 2010 7:09PM]

@CallDon Muahahaha!

There's a chance, he's on spruce beer for weeks now.

[niclet Posted Jul 9th 2010 7:07PM]

Hey! Is this Geppetto beside the drummer?

Anyway, great project. Sticks are a bit too slack though so it shuffles the beat too erratically.

[asdf072 Posted Jul 9th 2010 7:07PM]

Lame! Try making a whole robot band for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSZV1BAGUbQ&feature=related

(See this guy live if you can. Amazing!)

[mattchefcheck Posted Jul 9th 2010 7:18PM]

@asdf072 I agree, not as cool or exciting as Captured by Robots. Nice attempt though! My brother's band plays with Captured by Robots whenever he can, his band's Downtown Brown, look them up on Youtube, they're pretty sweet.

[Massive Poop Posted Jul 10th 2010 3:35AM]

Justin Beiber + this guy = dream team.

[Moochman Posted Jul 10th 2010 6:51AM]

Somehow this brings back creepy childhood memories:

http://www.showbizpizza.com/photos/ptt/unknown_01/29.jpg

[flett Posted Jul 10th 2010 8:16PM]

bastards trying to replace people with talent. why not replace rappers, everyone knows they dont have talent.

P.S. - its not called a double bounce, its called a drum roll.. lol

[Mike V Posted Jul 12th 2010 8:13AM]

Is this real?

It kind of looks fake to me.
Like someone (or several people) are controlling this puppet off screen with remote controls.

[Mr Itcher Posted Jul 12th 2010 12:25PM]

Stuart Copeland > John Bonham > Spruce Deuce > Ringo