The Stars Are Veiled | 1010 Lemondrop Ambient

video upload by r beny

"Recently picked up a 1010 Lemondrop Nanobox. Still in the learning process. I wanted to see if I could create a track using the Lemondrop alone, with no external sequencing or processing. Here is the result.

Patch notes: The two grain engines are scanning through my own acoustic and synthesized material (mandolin, guitar, piano, Korg Opsix). I'm using the hold function on the built-in screen keyboard to keep the grain engines running. The built-in oscillator is being sequenced by the built-in modulation sequencer. There's some slight modulation on one of the filters (notch). I then play with the grain parameters (mapped to the X/Y knobs) and the effects by hand."

Lavender Sea | Korg Opsix Ambient

video upload by r beny

"Inspired by a dream I recently had.

Hello. It's been a while. Last year was tough, but I am back after a long focus on my mental and physical health.

Recently picked up a Korg Opsix and I have found it to be a sound design dream. The open architecture of the operators creates a semi-modular routing environment, where you can route any oscillator to any oscillator, including themselves for feedback. Because of this and the ability to use tuned comb filters, wave shapers, filters, and other sound shapers as operators, you can take the Opsix beyond FM into other areas such as physical modeling and additive synthesis.

This is a piece heavily utilizing FM feedback (to create textured pads and beds of noise) and physical modeling (karplus strong).

Thanks to those who have stuck around and as always thank you for listening/watching."

July Skies: r beny, Sarah Belle Reid. Todd Barton, Gerald Fjord, Cindy Reichel, redstripedown & more

video upload by Colorado Modular Synth Society

"July Skies is the fourth installment of our space music made with modular synth series. The artists are free to interpret what space music sounds to them. The only requirement is to use their modular synth in their process.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Novation AFX Station • Lightbath Patches + Overlays Demo

Lightbath

"I'm honored to be one of five sound designers selected by Novation and Richard D. James to create Patches + Overlays for the new AFX Station synth. I'm in good company with the others being Richard Devine, Noyzelab, Perplex On and ol' pal, r beny.

The AFX Station is a Bass Station II with a facelift that makes it easier to use the AFX Mode Overlays that are part of the new firmware. Plus, the thing looks great, now. More pro, less toy imo. It's a powerful synth that reminds me a lot of my Roland SH-101, but with patch-saving capabilities and some gnarly distortion and drive.

My patches parody a few choice sounds like BoC's Roygbiv and One Very Important Thought and some of the dirty sounds used by Tobacco and Black Moth Super Rainbow as well as a bunch of 'classic' Lightbath sounds and even a few jokes.

Lightbath Patches

082 - Audubon
083 - B3 Marimba
084 - Bass Racer
085 - Dandy Gum
086 - Formantable
087 - Gravity Error
088 - ImportantThought
089 - Mosquitohead
090 - Pluckbath
091 - Roy G. Biv
092 - SH-Gregorian
093 - The Fourth Below
094 - Threefold
095 - Tobacco Blessing
096 - Warm Chillbath

Lightbath Overlays

o5 - Gyil
o6 - Glitch
o7 - Flute"

Novation → https://novationmusic.com/en/synths/a..."

You can find additional Novation AFX Station posts here.

Waldorf Iridium Ambient

r beny

"Can it ambient? Can it distortion?

Multi-layer patch with the Waldorf Iridium. Making heavy use of the Particle and Resonator engines. Sequences from Squarp Pyramid. It gets loud. Whitecaps of white noise.

Thank you for listening."

Sempervirens | Felt Instruments Blisko, Strymon Magneto

r beny

"Sempervirens - always flourishing or vigorous. (of plants) evergreen

Sound on sound performance with Felt Instruments Blisko and Strymon Magneto. Inspired by the recent forest fires here in California, specifically the sempervirens sequoias, which manage to flourish even in fire.

Felt Instruments makes beautiful virtual instruments in VST format. Here I am using their newest suite of instruments named Blisko, which incorporates Viola, Violin, and Cello recorded and modified in interesting ways. They are MPE compatible and that adds an extra layer of expressiveness. It feels like you are playing an actual physical instrument, as opposed to the normal multi-sample experience.

I am using my iPad as a screen for my computer to show the VST. The Analog Heat is acting as an audio interface for my computer, so I can send the audio from the VSTs to my eurorack. I use Strymon Magneto to make sound on sound loops and then feed that into Clouds in looping delay mode. The bass is from the Moog Subharmonicon.

Apologies for the lower than usual video quality. I didn't realize I wasn't shooting in 4k and this ended up being the best take. Sometimes you just have to let things be."

Novation PEAK & Synthstrom DELUGE // Ambient Distortion

Dexba

"Introducing the first video of my new PEAK, oh boy, not so sure I was loving this thing before I started sequencing with the Deluge, the ultimate hardware sequencer/piano roll for dawless lovers.

I was stuck playing it via my Korg SV1, so no mod wheels, no pitch bend, nothing, and everything was static and sort of... lame? It is not the right word, but no excitement, no vibrant feelings like with the OB6 and the Lyra 8, I was getting always the same tones and sounds, and nothing too exciting for me to show you guys.
The reverb is and always will be one of my favorites, it just sounds TOO good, and I admit I am in love with the distortion possibilities.

But yes, yesterday something clicked, playing it with the Deluge, since the sequencer is completely missing (Why Novation? Why.) and I saw it from a new perspective.

All in all, we, Peak Owners, are here a little because of r beny videos with it, so: here it is an ambient track full of peace and some distortion, growling full of harmonics.

Enjoy!"

Fjorda | Novation Summit

r beny

"Live performance of a track off of my new EP The Dashboard Cast a Spectral Light, out now on 12" vinyl and digital on the illustrious Past Inside the Present label.

pitp.bandcamp.com

Novation Summit through the Marantz PMD420 3-head cassette tape recorder.

This is a track called "Fjorda", which is a sister track to a previous track/video 'Fjossa'. As 'Fjossa' is a song inspired by the waterfalls I saw in Iceland last year, 'Fjorda' is inspired by the fjords.

This is a little bit of a departure from my normal way of playing, building up layers and layers. This is a performance of the bare skeleton of the song. Just playing the patch and living in the moment. Trying to get to the emotion of the song.

The patch for this song is called "Algae" and is included as a factory patch on the Summit in the multi-patch section. You can also find my patches in the Components app.

Besides the EP, I have vinyl editions of my first 4 albums for sale on my Bandcamp. Full Blossom of the Evening, Cascade Symmetry, Saudade, and Eistla.

rbeny.bandcamp.com

Thank you for listening."

Synthstrom Online Festival #1

Published on May 16, 2020 Synthstrom Audible

"A 3-hour streaming festival with community live chat, showcasing brand new, previously unseen, live performances on the Deluge.

All artists have contributed their time for free and it is hoped you can spare a moment to make a donation to NZ Women's Refuge in return. Please follow this link: https://womensrefuge.org.nz/make-a-do...

An A-Z of the artists appearing (not order they appear on stream) is below, with a link to check out further of their work.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Novation Launchpad Pro MK3 standalone control of synths and modules - r . a d i a t o r 2 - CALC-

Published on Feb 21, 2020 -CALC-

"Here the Launchpad Pro MK3 is firmly in the driving seat.

In standalone mode it is sequencing a Rossum Electro Assimil8or, Novation Summit and the Beatsqueezer. It's also a control surface for the Octatrack

Featuring:

Novation Summit - Sequenced by the Launchpad Pro feat. a wonderful Multi patch from the incredible r Beny

Rossum Electro Panharmonium - Fed some food from an aux on the mixer and Morphagene

Rossum Electro Assimil8or - Sequenced from the Launchpad Pro via a fine CV.OCD

Beatsqueezer - Sequenced by the Launchpad Pro feat. a fine sampled Una Chorda from a furry friend.

Elektron Octatrack - being controlled by the Launchpad Pro's custom modes Launchpad Pro is a super cool controller as well as sequencer.

Novation Circuit Mono Station

Oto Bam
Oto Boum

Meris Ottobit Jnr

and some modules.... a place I never wanted to go.... but I went and I like it too much."

A Path Opens in the Bloom | Tasty Chips GR-1, Oto Bam, Marantz Cassette

Published on Jan 15, 2020 r beny

"Hello and Happy New Year.

Lately I've been getting into using granular sampling/synthesis to re-contextualize various sound sources. The human voice has been my favorite sound source of late. The Tasty Chips GR-1 is perfect for this, not just for its granular capabilities, but also because of its 11-voice polyphony/4-part multi-timbrality. I initially bought it on a whim, just because it was available, but it has become an important part of my studio for this type of stuff.

Here I have a recording of my own voice (trying to hold a C, I cannot sing) loaded into GR-1. I'm playing it back polyphonically via the Keystep through the Squarp Hermod. I use the Hermod essentially as a MIDI looper (you can see the initial loop recording queued up in the beginning of the video). GR-1 is running through a Marantz PMD-221 with the output set to monitor the tape just after it's been recorded to in real-time. I'm using a cassette loop for extra sound degradation. The Marantz is running through the OTO Bam for some extra stereo goodness/light to heavy reverberation.

Just a simple little piece for proof of concept.

As always, thank you for listening."

Opal | Novation Summit Ambient

Published on Nov 16, 2019 r beny

"Another piece with the Novation Summit. This time using Squarp Hermod (in the background) to sequence one of the multi-patches, while I play/improvise under it.

I believe some of my Summit multi-patches are included amongst the factory patches on the synth (which I heard is shipping now), but they are also up on the components site.

Slowly getting my new studio up and running."

Fjossa | Novation Summit Ambient

Published on Sep 22, 2019 r beny

"Hello. I am back. Here is a video featuring the Novation Summit. A quick little improv session based around some patches I made for the Summit this summer.

In this video, I'm using the multi-patching capability to meld 2 patches together. At first playing 1 singular patch, then with a split between the patches on the keyboard, then with both patches layered.

These patches and the song were inspired by a trip I took to Iceland this summer. I was in awe of the many waterfalls I saw there, I wanted to create a patch that felt like sound was flowing and dramatic, with lots of movement and modulation.

I believe the patches will be released by Novation at some point."

Open Source Magazine OS01 - Eurorack Magazine

via this auction

"I purchased this magazine from AnalogueHaven in Feb 2019 and never opened it. It is sealed and in mint condition. Includes the 4GB MicroSD card.

Open Source is a journal of synthesizer culture, visual art and technology. It was conceived and meticulously crafted for the synth community by passionate musicians and artists in Silicon Valley with collaborators spanning the globe. This limited run of 200 issues will only be available in physical print at select boutique synth shops. Each issue includes a 4GB microSD card loaded with audio visual goodies including two full-length albums.

Issue 01 features:
• An in-depth interview about the virtual vs. sensual artistic process with ambient maestro, Robert Rich
• A year-long development journal on the Endorphin.es BLCK_NOIR written by designer Andreas Zhukovsky
• Interview with visual artist, Bill Wiatroski discussing “Manifestation”, his analog video installation in Alameda, CA
• Creating electroacoustic instruments using contact mics by Nathan Moody
• Guide to Granular Modular Synthesis by Austin Cairns
• Decibel levels in Eurorack Synthesis by Kurt Kurasaki
• And James Cigler’s perspectives on moving beyond East Coast vs. West Coast synthesis

The 4GB microSD card contains:
• Open Source Records presents "Rituals:in:Time”, an exclusive album by m.0 aka Maurice Jackson including the “Passage” music video directed by Danny Kim
• "Blck Noir”, an album from Principal Uno (Julia Bondar and Andreas from Endorphin.es) including a bonus track named, “Le Fleur du Mal” and a behind-the-scenes video from the photoshoot
• An exclusive preview of r beny’s untitled album
• Five original patches from James Cigler, m.0, r beny, Distco and Qorser demoing the Endorphin.es BLCK_NOIR
• Darkwaves effects firmware for the BLCK_NOIR"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Novation Peak | Ambient II

Published on Mar 19, 2019 r beny

"Spring is almost here. Winter is gone too soon. Apologies for the dust.

All sounds and effects from the Peak. Sequence from Arturia KeyStep into a Squarp Hermod (both off screen)."

Patch from Scratch: "Eurorack Ambient"

Published on Nov 21, 2018 MAKEN0ISE

"Relax.

The patch for this video was inspired by classic ambient and furniture music, as well as by currently popular ambient modular composers here on YouTube.

Erik Satie first introduced the notion of “furniture music”, music specifically made not to be the center of attention.

He made some other musical innovations that are pertinent to ambient music, including;

1. The removal of bar lines from sheet music. (The experience of playing pieces in this style, such as the 6 Gnossienes, is that of finding the meter that arises between the note durations rather than having it dictated by the outward structure of the piece.)

2. The notion of exact temporal durations in minutes and seconds being prioritized as the main structural element of pieces.

In a letter, John Cage once wrote: “the importance due [Satie] [is], I believe, to have consistently structured his music on lengths of time rather than harmonic relations. I’m sure he was aware of doing this but I doubt whether he knew its real importance, which is real: liberation from the Beethoven yoke, far more real than that granted by S[choenberg] with the 12-tone row.”

The best known pioneer of “ambient music” *as such* is Brian Eno.

For Eno, Ambient music should function equally well in the background and the foreground. “It must be as ignorable as it is interesting.”

CLICK FOR MORE »

Florescent Dream // Novation Peak + Elektron Digitone

Published on Oct 21, 2018 r beny

"A dream of blooms. Live and extended version of the track Florescent Dream from my new album Eistla. Available at rbeny.bandcamp.com if that's yr jam.

Arturia Keystep playing Novation Peak arp and Elektron Digitone pads through Boss DD-500.

The album version is 3 different Peak patches recorded to cassette and a field recording chopped up by the Make Noise Morphagene. This version features the main arp patch on the Peak, and a variation of one of the other Peak patches recreated on the Digitone. There is also a new Digitone part added to add some low end.

DD-500 is used to create feedback textures. It is seriously a beautiful pedal (it reminds me of the Analog Heat, in that there are several algorithms to choose from, but there are a lot of options to customize the patch within each algorithm. Except the 500 goes way way way deeper than the Heat). For this video I am running everything through 2 custom patches in parallel."

Tone Science Module No​.​2 Elements and Particles (DiN​:​TS02)

"Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, continues to explore the world of modular synth music.

DiN was initially set up in 1999 by well known UK synthesist Ian Boddy to bridge the gap between the analogue music of his heritage and the emerging digital possibilities of the future. This label has always forged its own independent path and to date has released 56 physical CD albums as well as 21 download only releases.

Even after being involved in music since the late 1970’s Boddy has continued to explore new sonic territories and in 2016 he released what was probably his most experimental album in “Tone Science” (DiN48). This album comprised five long, slowly evolving self playing compositions realised entirely on his vast arsenal of modular synthesisers. Boddy’s love of the analogue sound has been well documented not only through his own releases but many sound and sample libraries. These instruments all but disappeared in the 1990’s but recent years has seen an unprecedented growth in interest in this form of synthesiser with a proliferation of both module manufacturers and performers using these highly flexible and personal systems.

Thus, inspired by his “Tone Science” release, Boddy has set up this sub-label to feature artists and performers working in the field of modular synthesis. The first release “Module No.1 Structure and Forces” was released in March 2018 and has garnered a lot of critical acclaim. This second compilation “Module No.2 Elements and Particles”, like its predecessor, features nine artists from different musical backgrounds with the common thread being that all the tracks were composed entirely with a modular synth system.

The album opens and closes with the ambient soundscapes of two tracks by Todd Barton and
 r beny. Barton is a world renowned exponent of Buchla modular systems as well as the Music Easel employed on this track. Austin Cairns (aka r beny) has a penchant for lo-fi looped synth atmospheres which combined, in this case, with a field recording creates a haunting, evocative piece. The next three pieces by Bluetech, Parallel Worlds and Paul Nagle build up rhythmic and sequenced elements with a fascinating amount of detail that modular systems are so good at. They also all use various methods to produce a poly-rhythmic, fractal feel as patterns shift and change throughout their tracks. The middle of the album then sees a fascinating experimental ambient interlude by Dave Bessell (a member of the synth group Node) using waveguide physical modelling in the analogue domain. The second half of the album has a rawer, more gritty feel with Richard Quirk building up a crescendo of wonderful textures in his track “Radar Hill”. This is followed by Hainbach using the exotic Ciat-Lonbarde series of hand built instruments to produce, in his words, a piece of “pure electronic music”. Nathan Moody then brings proceedings to a climax with a gnarly, muscular track using a Buchla modular system before the blissful ending piece “Marine Layer” closes out the 60 minute sonic journey the listener has just travelled.

Boddy has curated both the artists and tracks on this album to flow in a musical way and not just be a collection of equipment heavy demos. Though fascinating and always cool to look at, it is important not to get lost in the gear for gear’s sake syndrome. Having said that this album features Eurorack, Serge, Buchla & Ciat-Lonbarde modular systems and the nine tracks show how varied and flexible these instruments can be.

“Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles” continues the journey down the rabbit hole of possibilities and sound worlds inhabited by artists and musicians working in this ever fascinating and varied musical field.
credits
releases October 19, 2018

1. Todd Barton Floating World 8:41
This is an exploration of layering various timbres and textures, each having its own
diverse panning structure and speed. Performed on a Buchla Music Easel with a
TC Electronic Ditto x4 looper and TC T2 reverb.
toddbarton.com

2. Bluetech Magnetic Lullaby 6:36
Multitracked sequencers in long takes at different clock speeds to get a fractal layer of shifting melodies evolving at different rates with Strymon modulation at different times for complexity.
bluetechonline.com

3. Parallel Worlds Additive Procedure 5:56
Eurorack, Analogue Systems and Serge modular systems, using harmonics created via waveshaping/wavefolding & the Verbos Harmonic Oscillator & RS370/375 Polyphonic Harmonic Generator.
parallel-worlds-music.com

4. Paul Nagle Euneirophrenia 7:52
The peaceful state of mind after a pleasant dream. In this mellow polymetric excursion, Cirklon's CVIO juggles a Quadnic, NW1, Plonk, Rings and Plaits.
bogusfocus.com/pn/

5. Dave Bessell Overtone 6:37
Between two worlds, the technical and the theatre of the imagination, the apparently real and the obviously synthetic play hide and seek with your perception. Realised with an all analogue signal path, this is a study in waveguide physical modelling.
sites.google.com/site/davebessellmusic/home\

6. Richard Quirk Radar Hill 7:22
This track is taken from an ongoing collection of music based on abandoned radar stations. Created with an AJH Eurorack system along with a Voltage Multistage, Bark filter, Magneto delay, Radiomusic and a tube Echoplex.
richardquirkmusic.bandcamp.com

7. Hainbach Your Strange Glitter 5:02
Aiming for purity I focused entirely on the Ciat-Lonbarde Plumbutter, Sidrax and Cocoquantus. I wanted this piece to feel like “synthesizer music”, clear and shimmering, yet alien, not rooted in a real acoustic space.
hainbachmusik.com

8. Nathan Moody Prophet And Loss 5:02
This piece was created using a Buchla modular synthesizer (200 & 100 series modules) as a meditation on the false piety of tyrannical populists in the early 21st Century.
nathanmoody.bandcamp.com

9. r beny Marine Layer 7:02
Fog conjuring with Mutable Instruments Rings loops being processed by Orthogonal Devices ER-301, Mannequins Three Sisters, and Strymon Magneto.
rbeny.bandcamp.com


Total Time 60:24
license
all rights reserved"

Follow-up to:
Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles Demo Mix
Todd Barton Autumn Tour & New Release

Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles Demo Mix

Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles, set to be released on Oct 19, features the following supporters of MATRIXSYNTH: Todd Barton, Parallel Worlds, and Dave Bessel.

Details:

"Various Artists Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles DiN:TS02

Release date 19th October 2018

Limited to 500 copies. Digipak CD format.

Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, continues to explore the world of modular synth music.

This second compilation “Module No.2 Elements and Particles”, like its predecessor, features nine artists from different musical backgrounds with the common thread being that all the tracks were composed entirely with a modular synth system.

The album opens and closes with the ambient soundscapes of two tracks by Todd Barton and
 r beny. Barton is a world renowned exponent of Buchla modular systems as well as the Music Easel employed on this track. Austin Cairns (aka r beny) has a penchant for lo-fi looped synth atmospheres which combined, in this case, with a field recording creates a haunting, evocative piece. The next three pieces by Bluetech, Parallel Worlds and Paul Nagle build up rhythmic and sequenced elements with a fascinating amount of detail that modular systems are so good at. They also all use various methods to produce a poly-rhythmic, fractal feel as patterns shift and change throughout their tracks. The middle of the album then sees a fascinating experimental ambient interlude by Dave Bessell (a member of the synth group Node) using waveguide physical modelling in the analogue domain. The second half of the album has a rawer, more gritty feel with Richard Quirk building up a crescendo of wonderful textures in his track “Radar Hill”. This is followed by Hainbach using the exotic Ciat-Lonbarde series of hand built instruments to produce, in his words, a piece of “pure electronic music”. Nathan Moody then brings proceedings to a climax with a gnarly, muscular track using a Buchla modular system before the blissful ending piece “Marine Layer” closes out the 60 minute sonic journey the listener has just travelled.

Boddy has curated both the artists and tracks on this album to flow in a musical way and not just be a collection of equipment heavy demos. Though fascinating and always cool to look at, it is important not to get lost in the gear for gear’s sake syndrome. Having said that this album features Eurorack, Serge, Buchla & Ciat-Lonbarde modular systems and the nine tracks show how varied and flexible these instruments can be.

'Tone Science Module No.2 Elements and Particles' continues the journey down the rabbit hole of possibilities and sound worlds inhabited by artists and musicians working in this ever fascinating and varied musical field.

01 Floating World by Todd Barton 8:41
02 Magnetic Lullaby by Bluetech 6:36
03 Additive Procedure by Parallel Worlds 5:56
04 Euneirophrenia by Paul Nagle 7:52
05 Overtone by Dave Bessell 6:37
06 Radar Hill by Richard Quirk 7:22
07 Your Strange Glitter by Hainbach 5:02
08 Prophet & Loss by Nathan Moody 5:02
09 Marine Layer by r beny 7:02

Total Time: 60:24

Released by: DiN

Release date:
19 October 2018"

Western Sycamore // Elektron Digitone Ambient

Published on Apr 11, 2018 r beny

"Reflection and contemplation with the Elektron Digitone."