Mark Mosher's It Doesn't Have To Hate Us To Use Our Molecules - Nord Lead 4 & Octatrack

All synth elements are from the Nord Lead 4 being both played lived and sequenced live via Octatrack. Video further below.

"This dark cinematic electronica song was inspired by James Barrat's book 'Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era' (www.jamesbarrat.com ).

This is really a live version of the song recorded in two sessions - the first on June 4th, 2014, the second on July 19th, 2014. I first sequenced the underpinnings of the songs then rehearsed controlling the arrangement on-the-fly and playing the lead lines as well as some sound manipulation in real-time. Once I felt good about my performance, I recorded the song directly to a digital recorder (Zoom H2n). I then picked my favorite takes from each session and combined them using Ableton Live and only used light mastering FX to sweeten the mix. I made a video recording of the first session as a teaser for the release of this single which you can watch here youtu.be/IN6p9QhScKw?list=UUm36lYPbh4W464V_6XPu-ow. [below]

While at first listen, you’ll hear what appears to be repeating motifs - but if you listen back a few times you’ll hear that it’s quite an unusual arrangement in that I really mix up how the motifs are repeated and combined. I vary the lead lines in each section as well.

All synth elements are from the Nord Lead 4 which I played live on keys and sequenced live via Octatrack. I make heavy use of trig-level automation to manipulate parameters on the Nord Lead via MIDI CC messages. I also sequenced real-time automation plus manipulate the Nord on-the-fly. The Octatrack also acted as a mixer allowing me to record audio down to the digital recorder.

Mark Mosher
Synthesist, Composer, Sound Designer, Producer
Boulder, CO
www.MarkMosherMusic.com
credits
released 22 July 2014"

Video:

"It Doesn't Have To Hate Us To Use Our Molecules"

Published on Jun 5, 2014 Mark Mosher

"http://www.MarkMosherMusic.com

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Video Production Notes
I used a combination of practical projection with video feedback, real-time video effects via two webcams run through visual Software Resolume, and primary footage captured with a GoPro. I then composited all the shots in video editing software with only a teeny bit of post-production to create this dark -- almost old-school analog video processing vibe.

The computers in the video are there to process and capture video from the two web cams - plus are part of the shot as a story element and for side-lighting. One is being used to project a camera in real-time over my right shoulder. This same camera is also seeing the projection which causes video feedback.

This rig is quite snappy, so all the latency between the different versions of my image are intentional introduced with the video editing software to create tension.

Mark Mosher
Synthesist, Composer, Sound Designer, Producer
Boulder, CO
http://www.MarkMosherMusic.com"