Zach, you could be correct in the bird cage, that the applause come with the reappearance of the bird. But for the point of the discussion the disappearance of the birdcage is irrelevant if it was done by sleight or by mechanical means, for the audience, it is gone.

Fonda, I will disagree with you, in my view, I will applaud at the end of the original matrix because the trick is paced and "in crescendo" until the 4 coins are together, but I will be silent on the Flash matrix, too sudden, no time to react. David approach, will help with the sudden end of the Flash adding a pacer move later on. The "How did he do that" in my view could apply to both.

Does anybody know of a matrix where all four coins travel at once as a finale? (such as in some coins across/coins through table routines when each travels individually first, then together) Or do you perhaps feel this wouldn't add anything to what's already a great effect?

I have always felt that the expectations of the audience is an important factor in deciding which effects to perform and in what order.

People who know of Al Schneider and go to watch him perform expect a high level of magic, mostly Theatrical perhaps, but with tough of Virtual.
A slow pace suits his presentation style and a lot of subtleties and psychological ploys in play, e.g. his Basic Vanish.
The original Matrix evolved from both his style and attention to asking, "What is the audience thinking right now?" -- at least that is what I got form his books.

Performers like Mb and many others posting on the Café seem to prefer a setting where the audience expectations are less known: on the bus, street corner or at lunch break.
It may not even be known that the performer is a magician. The audience has to be trained as to what to expect to some degree.
A slow presentation may not be appropriate, or even the use of a table top. Or even coins at all.

So, perhaps it is a mistake to attempt to speed up an effect like Matrix -- or to call it Matrix just because cards and coins are used.
One certainly cannot assess "better than" without knowing the chosen audience or setting.

Now, this thread asked about "favorite" that has little to do with "better" or "best."

I would love to hear from folks as to why a certain approach is their favorite as related to expectations of the audience.

I have learned important thinks from Al and Mb and Dave -- but nothing from squabbling or chest beating.

"This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes" --- Morpheus (speaking of the Matrix)

I will have to agree with MB when it comes to taking the red pill and seeing what improvements, changes, additions or whatever can be added or taken away from the original. Not that the original is not good (It is fantastic) but it is what we were told "The Matrix" was when there was much more out there.

I like the late JC Wagners Penny Matrix

Any feelings about starting with five cards?

I like this too. I have never heard of or seen the others and they are every bit as good imo.

I have seen Al's version but again, a great effect!

Rune Klan's 3 coin matrix (if not Al's).

3 pieces of silver DVD. Great magic by Rune Klan.

There was also a matrix routine done with butterfly's, I think Buma released it 10 years ago.

We owe a debt to Al for getting so many people's creative juices flowing with his original creation.
+1 for Dean Dill's Tonight Show Matrix and Simple Matrix w/ Backfire. Love those backfires!!

In no particular order

1. Bob Kohler's Return to Spender from Impossibilia
2. Dean's Tonight Show Matrix from his Intimate Miracles Book
3. Armando Lucero's Matrix Routine....Not in print to my knowledge
4. The Original by Mr. Schneider

Armando Lucero´s Matrix routine.

After watching David Ben perform Ross Bertram's routine from Stars of Magic, this is definately one of my favorite matrix routines. Extremely slow and magical

This is my favorite coin matrix: Ryan Hayashi's Ultimate Coin Matrix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKQ_tvbrDQQ

It looks very difficult. It is very beautiful. WOW!!

I am not sure that what Hayashi does is the Matrix, maybe is inspired by the Schneiser's one, but this one has a lot of things going on, backfires, reverse, etc. It is entertaining, however because of the lenght and the heavy sleight of hands it is more a demonstration of the magician skills. I had the same feeling when watching cards manipulations. The magician is the center piece not the routine.
I'd agree with Schneider here on the difference between the spectator amazed by the skill of the performer and the actual moment of magic.

I think that if Mr Hayashi just takes a piece of the whole routine, then he will have more impactant.

I hope this post does not sound negative, it is my way of looking at magic

I really like Hayashi's work, and think this is pretty nice, more a demonstration of what can be done…Any little piece of which would fool laymen out their shoes.

I'm sure he wouldn't do all of it like that, but more so he seems to be showing the many possibilities (and he's showing it quite well, I might add).

It seems he might've won some "European Championship" with it, so that would say quite a bit for it as to magicians. As to regular specs, done in part, it would be quite effective as 7-8 different ways of doing it at his beck & call…Every one as much a fooler as the original classic effect (which clearly inspired it all), some even creatively more so, IMHO.

Marion, I agree as a demonstration of potential possibilities is very good

Yeah I was going to say, after Hayashi's, there's really nowhere to go from there. It has everything, which is clearly too much, but it's a stunning competition piece!

On the East Coast Magic Productions' A Weekend at the 4F: The Original Close-up FFFF Magic Convention with "Obie" O'Brien, Volume One, DVD, Ryan Hayashi lectures on "The Matrix Trilogy". Ryan Hayashi's Ultimate Cups and Balls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDoVmlMd......ndscreen though not a Matrix is also brilliantly performed. As he says "Check it out". What a very talented magician!! Very inspiring.

That was an amazing cups and balls