talkmagic.co.uk

i think im going to place an order for the hydra + 3 movement sensors and get creative

Tomo - if you can make the magnet sensor compatible with the hydra that will be fantastic...i've been meaning to pick one of those up!

naychandler1 wrote:well what be the difference between the hydra and the FMT ? can someone please explain the REAL pro's and com's for newbie to electronic magic before i buy???????

The FMT is the original analogue device i designed about 3 years ago now for the very long range detection of magnetic fields. It's a little fiddly to set up and only detects the SOUTH pole of a field, but can give you enormous range.

The FMT2 is a digital device running some very sophisticated averaging and filtering software that detects BOTH poles, thumping once for north and three times for south. Being computerised, it is auto-configuring and has a setup mode that enables you to adjust the intensity of the thumps.

Hydra was a complete system we brought out to showcase how far we had come, and to act as a wakeup call to other developers (hey, we are Subversive!). It consists of an expandable set of transmitting sensors feeding into a receiver whose software automagically works out what's plugged into it. I was never happy with the physical design of the receiver and the abilities it contains were confusing to potential customers. I'm currently designing as new and streamlined receiver that will simply thump or provide visual output over four channels. The old one will be withdrawn, but the existing sensors will all be compatible with the new one.

The FMT3 will be a Hydra-compatible device.

I hope someone can help with this. I purchased an FMT 2 a while ago now (a year ago - maybe 2?) and a curiously strong £1 coin. I had some issues with it which I'll explain in due course. My principle reason for buying the FMT 2 was bizarely, to teach me how not to have to use it. I wanted to get good at muscle reading and I devised a routine where a £1 coin is locked in a box by a spec and they then put their hand on my shoulder (or some other contact mindreading technique). I then find the box with the coin. Of course, I know in advance where it is but I was using it as a 'failsafe' for muscle reading so I could get used to people's movements when I knew the outcome.

Whatever you think about my crazy logic, it worked for me. The problem is that I find my FMT (and I STRESS 'MY' FMT is unpredictable). If I place a coin in a small box with five or six other boxes it will let me determine which box the coin is in. However, after about five minutes it starts randomly 'buzzing.' I can be nowhere near the coin and off it goes. I've tried resetting it but the same problem occurs. I've had it start going off over boxes that DON'T contain the coin. This happened fresh out the box and to be honest I left it for a while as I hadn't thought of a suitable routine to put it in. I now have something where I think it would prove extremely useful. However, I got it out today, dusted it off, put in some rechargeable AAA batteries and went to work. I asked my wife to mix up six boxes. She did. I got the first box. I asked her to do it again. The FMT went bonkers and I simply couldn't repeat the effect. I guessed in the end and got it wrong. I want to use it in a stage effect but I don't trust it to be accurate.

Everyone raves about this product so either mine in knackered or I'm doing something wrong?? Any advice welcome?

K

It sounds duff. I'm happy to swap it out for you. Drop me a line on info@subversivecircuits.co.uk to tell me more.

Tomo wrote:It sounds duff. I'm happy to swap it out for you. Drop me a line on info@subversivecircuits.co.uk" target="_blank to tell me more.

Top man! I'll send you an E-mail!

K

MrTetley wrote:Tomo,

Are we talking about a detector that could e.g be put under a watch strap with a remote receiver/thu***r that could be put in a pocket?

That would be excellent! I was looking at Sixth Sense but I prefer the pole awareness of the FMT-2. If the FMT-3 is what I think it is, it's a no brainer!

And I'm sure your pricing would be very fair going by your other products! .

Yup. The FMT-3 is a transmitting device.

Size: 40x25x8mm (a few mm longer and wider than the SS 2.5 and about as deep)
Weight: 7g (12g with batteries)
Range with a Curiously Strong £1 Coin: 7.5cm

A crazily long range isn't too important for coin-in-hand effects because you can get right in there without your wrists vibrating.

We're looking at supplying the FMT-3 with a 3-button keyfob as standard for remote cueing and sending codes - the buttons can be pressed in combination for 7 codes. AND you can obviously put the transmitter in an object to extend its usefulness. Also, because it transmits, the receiver can be used for other things. We're working on a set of really tiny movement sensors that'll work with it. We had some initial discussions with a main dealer about packaging it with a DVD of material from working magicians. I think we're ready to resume those talks.

Here's a picture of the transmitter next to a 2p piece.

By the way, the receiver will run on a couple of AA cells, giving you a rough guide for the eventual size.

There are numerous systems that have been on the market for decades, you'll even find mechanical versions in Mind, Myth & Magic. But, rather than being co-dependent on a system that WILL fail you in the long run, why not learn how to do the same effect "for real"?

Electronics can and will eventually fail you. I've known so-called "Mentalists" whose entire show relied on electronic systems and when they power was out, they didn't know enough basic Corinda to let them move on with some form of show. It's the Max Maven adage of always having an "out" but in my book it is more wise to frame you show in a way that the gadgets aren't as important but more of an accent or even a fall-back point.

I'm not saying that you can't or shouldn't use electronics; I love all the James Bond toys. I'm just encouraging you to take the more proven course of action by relying on old school technique over such a ploy. Take a look at Rick Maue's various offerings such as "Final Picture" and "Terasabos" as well as some of Banachek's thinking when it comes to laying out the selections in a manner that psychological leads people toward a particular choice. Another amazing marvel you may want to learn to trust and work with is a Pendulum, it will take you straight to the item chosen when you handle it properly.

Consider the alternatives first, before spending a ton of cash on a nifty gimmick.

Every stage mentalist of at least the last 100 years have used an electronic device on stage, without which the show would be ruined or greatly lacking in quality, you probably recognize it.




I do see your point Craig, I'm a complete technophobe myself, but at the same time swamies can loose their lead, audience members can f*** up duel reality with a word, pens can run dry and idiot t.v show hosts can set you on fire at any moment. Risk taking and allowing for failure is often encouraged in mentaslim, you yourself will admit that fails and misses can in fact improve credibility.

I love the idea of relying on nothing but my own mind for mentalism, but I accept that the method doesn't matter, the effect is what's important and often electronics can make effects more clean and direct.