Contemplative Ring-Modulated Partials

YouTube via JeffreyPlaide
"Contemplative Ring-Modulated Partials is an original electronic composition primarily composed on the Korg R3 synthesizer, and utilising extensive use of the 8-step arpeggiator and randomising sequencing functions. The work also features extensive use of double ring-modulated waveforms. Double ring-modulated effects produce some rather unexpected groans, warbles, wheezes, rumbles and squawks - due to the sum and difference effect acting twice on the source oscillator waveforms. The main sequence was composed using dual timbres each set to operating with dual triangle waveforms. Each waveform was ring-modulated by the second oscillator, processed with stereo delay, then further ring-modulated using a sinewave in note mode and adjusted until an interesting effect was achieved. The two timbres were each treated in this manner, then fed to the master reverb effect. The sequence was composed at 104 bpm and played using the 8-step arpeggiator set to random mode. Some steps were muted to create variety in the passage. The second sequence was created in the same way as the first but with different transpose settings for the timbres. Different oscillator ring-modulation settings were used for the individual oscillators, and different pitch settings for the second ring-modulation effect. Again an 8-step randomised arpeggiation sequence was called into play. The last sequence was created like the second sequence, but with lower filter cut-off and high-resonance to induce self-oscillation. Again, wildly variable settings were used for each ring-modulation function. The rhythm track was created on the Hammerhead Rhythm Station using basic electronic percussion set to a four-bar sequence. This was heavily equalised and reverb added. All these tracks were mixed down to create a sub-master with three distinct sequences following on from each other with very slow cross-fades. To the sub-master, an atonal ringing sequence was added comprising triangle waves tuned to non-octave intervals and played as a random arpeggiated sequence. For effect reverse reverb was applied to all tracks and mixed at certain times and panned manually to create an ambient "wash" in the background. This then became the master mix, and it became apparent that interesting poly rhythms could occur when using different arpeggiated settings, but synchronised to the same tempo reference. The result is an interesting trance-like ambient electronic composition with extensive use of ring-modulation and arpeggiated sequences. The visuals are a mixture of moving photo-montage panoramas and video synthesis techniques using modulating patterns superimposed over each other to create a complex cascade of motion and light."