"Droid Mischief" - Akai MPC X + Arturia MiniFreak + ASM Hydrasynth + Novation BassStation II

video upload by Patrick Manderson

"'Droid Mischief' was recorded live late afternoon on Friday August 25, 2023 using a MIDI sequencer and a room full of synthesizers and drum machines. Three analog mixers were used with a rack of ouboard effects mixed in stereo and recorded. Mixing and automation was controlled by the sequencer directly to the synthesizers. The final recording required manual adjustments and muting of the of mixer channels to suppress the noise coming from some of the devices. Video was recorded weeks after afterwards.

'Droid Mischief' was inspired initially from a previous composition utilizing a number of budget analog synths from Behringer. At [3:35] these synth along with the everpresent Novation BassStation II play a series of bleeps and bloops with a backdrop of ominous vocal grunts and breaths by the *Korg MS2000*. Each of the Behringer analog synths were patched for their perspective parts with CV modulating their volumes from the *Akai MPC X*.

Three patches were programmed for the Xenomorph voice on the *Korg MS2000*. Each utilizing the Korg's distortion. Dual patches were used to mix breathing noise and throat noise with velocities. [0:24], [1:53], [3:21]

The second part 'The Feast', is anchored by a groove using syncopated bass notes on the ASM Hydrasynth and percussive embilishments using AFX-MODE on the *Novation BassStation II*. Note: 4-5 stacked BassStations w/AFX-MODE would make an incredible sounding percussion synthesizer.

The Korg Radias is always present with its flexible 16 voice drum kit filled with various bottom frequencies, mid and high filtered noises layered and mixed with various modulations to make all sorts of lovely percussions [3:30]. Vocal 'Ahhs' embelish the suspensful parts [3:46], [4:45].

Dave Smith Instruments Prophet REV2 filled in a number of spaces, most notably the drama strings at [4:36] with the Roland JP-8080.

Eight patches were staged for use in the first half on the *Roland System-1M*. Its fidelity cuts through very nicely. I was suprised by the sound coming out of it despite the generic sounding filter. The oscillators and overall fidelity is excellent.

The Korg Minilogue and Minilogue XD take turns playing bass as well as other parts throughout. Always useful and never disappointing. The Minilogue is permanently coupled with the Drawmer DL241's gate to manage its noise.

Engine drones were provided by the Sequential Prophet 6*. It also provided additional syncopated notes with the *Hydrasynth in the last 3rd.

The delicious sounds coming from the Arturia MiniFreak was on stage throughout. Liberal use of its two macro modulations over MIDI CC-117, CC-118.

00:00 somwhere on deck D of the Nostromos
00:39 introduction
01:06 MS2000 and System-1 layered voices
01:27 buildup using BS AFX sounds layered with Rytm and Radias
01:49 Minilogue XD playing the bass
02:15 all instruments playing here
02:51 transitions with synthesized percussions
03:28 the chase
04:36 string transition with Prophet REV2*
05:00 Hydrasynth syncopation at 'The Feast'
05:49 resolved tension
06:16 finishing up with 'the groove'
07:25 synth credits"