Phasic Cycloid Shimmer Voices

Published on Mar 11, 2014 JeffreyPlaide·100 videos

"Phasic-Cycloid Shimmer Voices is a highly unusual original experimental electronic music composition utilizing "shimmer chords" and swarming combinations of waveforms creating surreal modulating choruses of glass-like shimmers and piercing sonic effects. The inspiration behind this work came from the un-tapped potential of cross-coupled chaotic oscillators and the beauty of swarming 8-oscillator chord combinations. The SynFactory 1.15 software modular synthesizer provided the prime waveforms and sonic effects for the work. SynFactory is so versatile, modules can be configured to perfectly replicate the cross-coupled chaotic sounds of twin oscillators modulating one another. Several tracks utilized the SynFactory 8-oscillator configuration fed into an 8-channel mixer module, then slightly filtered and processed by a triplet of delays. One 8-oscillator patch used square and triangle waves to sound like the interior of the Miniscope from a Doctor Who story. Another patch used all triangle waves for a refined shimmer. Another patch used all square waves. Variations on the 8-oscillator approach included first and second through a ring modulator, the third and fourth likewise, the fifth and sixth, etc. using four ring modulators feeding into a second-order ring modulator then filtered, mixed and delay applied. The chaotic cross-coupled patch just consisted of two oscillators and two delay units to produce the chaos. Variations on this theme included introducing ring modulators into the configuration and additional oscillators to control the FM. Signal generation tones also provided additional effects, especially when modulated and slowed down to create eerie "wobbulator-like" motions. The final mix seems to shimmer and resonate with metallic overtones as each of the SynFactory 8-oscillator swarmings come in and out of prominance. The visuals are the result of pure video synthesis techniques. The backgrounds were a direct inspiration from the fabulous EMS Spectron video synthesizer. Multiple exposure NAM modulations were superimposed upon colourised, solarised and XOR (exclusive OR) created backgrounds. Many different effect layering and processing techniques were used, some directly emulating the functionality of the EMS Spectron. Interestingly, many of the foreground motifs used 8 multiple exposures to compose the complex pictures. Some of the patterns resemble early computer graphics or experimental film animation with multiple exposures. The images vibrate in synchronisation with the music. Pulsations move with the resonating 8-oscillator chords. Light patterns fall in and out of existence. Scintilating vibrating motions capture the essence of the motor-like metallic resonances. Alien or extraterrestrial inspirations cannot be ruled out in the making of this work. The entire piece is extraterrestrially-orientated to a large degree."