A simpler version of what’s happening here. Basically a small transducer (my RH) is being driven by the mic (LH), and it so happens when both are pointed at the ruler at the right angle, it rattles up against the mic and snare.
I’m not doing the descriptor-based ducking like I am in the other video but mainly because the small transducer does (almost literally) nothing when it’s just dangling there.
This setup sounds quite good on the china cymbal too, but in my short explorations I couldn’t get as dynamic/gestural language as I could if I also have the ruler and snare at hand.