MATRIXSYNTH

Teaching 6th Graders How to Solder at Eco Arts Festival

YouTube Uploaded by RothMobot on Apr 26, 2011

"Roth Mobot was invited to conduct one of their circuit bending workshops at the annual Eco Arts Festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa."

Taurus 3 :: A Step Outside

YouTube Uploaded by experimentalsynth on Apr 25, 2011

"You've learned all the RUSH cover songs. What else can you do with a Moog Taurus 3?

The Moog Taurus 3 springs from a very iconic lineage. Because of that rich history, it's easy to type-cast it and not fully explore the full sonic potential it presents. The inclusion of volume, pitch, filter and gate control voltage inputs, coupled with a MIDI-syncable arpeggiator can take it far outside its usual low-end drone duties. This video just scratches the surface of what is possible. Its purpose is to encourage you to "step outside".

The first example shows the Taurus 3 filter being modulated by a Make Noise René: a very fun analog step sequencer with some interesting Cartesian (X & Y clock) capabilities. The CV inputs on the Taurus 3 make it a great add-on for modular synthesis set-ups and there are an almost unlimited number of interesting things you can connect to them. The René is definitely at the exotic end of the spectrum but it is still extremely useful. It's great to have that extra level of control available at hand level too.

Due to personal preference, I tend to use things like the René to control filter cutoff instead of pitch. I enjoy the ability to play the notes while synchronized filter events occur. It gives a pleasing (at least to me) mix of tight-sequenced and loose-live feel.

The second example takes things even farther afield. I first discovered the Droid app Nanoloop in a recent CDM article. Its useful features and sleek user interface made it an instant favorite.

Here I used one of my favorite production tricks: processing the Droid audio through a Moog MF-101 (Moogerfooger) low pass filter. In addition to nicely warming up the Droid, it also created a control voltage (CV) proportional to the volume of the input audio. In other words, the CV mirrored the volume envelope of the beat Nanoloop created.

This is an incredibly powerful tool. When that CV controls something interesting... say that filter on a Taurus 3, some very interesting synchronizations occur, all completely in the analog realm. When the Droid outputs a loud kick, the CV output on the Moogerfooger goes high and the Taurus 3 filter opens wide. As soon as the kick sound is over, the CV goes low and the filter shuts. Mid-volume sounds open the filter midway. These are not discrete steps. The CV hugs the volume contour of the input audio and outputs a nicely wiggly, but tightly synchronized analog control signal.

This is conceptually very similar to side-chaining and the great thing about it is that the filter modulations created will follow any changes in the rhythm. Sudden shift in tempo coupled with a time signature change to 11/8... no problem! I haven't tested it but this should also work with a live drummer. Of course, there is no rule that says you have to connect the CV to a filter input. You could connect it to volume or if you're feeling really avant-garde, to pitch.

This technique works best with when the beat is not too busy and has some definite dynamic peaks and valleys. A bit of gain adjusting and tweaking of the base filter cutoff frequency on the target synth (the Taurus 3 in this case) are sometimes needed, but the unique results more than make up for this little bit of work. Higher resonance settings on the target synth will make the filter modulations more noticeable. If you have a synth with CV inputs but without MIDI, this is a great way to get it dancing to your beat.

The last example shows a somewhat basic MIDI-synced arpeggiator application. By using your foot to transpose the arpeggiation, you can create quite a sophisticated soundscape while your hands are free for other musical mayhem.

All of these applications are fairly basic. Imagine doing any of them while using the Taurus 3's USB connectivity to simultaneously control Ableton Live, or while it is part of a monster MIDI stack...

Lastly, remember to wear sensible shoes."

Pittsburgh Modular Generator Noise Demo

YouTube Uploaded by amphonic on Apr 26, 2011

"This is a demo of the Pittsburgh Modular Generator synthesizer module. The Generator is a dual oscillator built around two triangle core, wide range, periodic waveform generators. Ideal as the basis for tuned percussion/noise, abrasive amplitude, frequency and timbral modulation. Tones, drones and textures. As a multipurpose signal generator, Generator can provide the basis of a wide range of complex sounds from drums to atonal, nintendo zipper/fart noises. This module was made for FM madness.

The Generator is modulated by a Doepfer A-145 LFO."

Bach's GIGUE FUGUE in G Major - on an 100% analog monosynth - PREVIEW!

YouTube Uploaded by syntesen on Apr 26, 2011

"-EDIT: To see where I'm currently at with the track, here's the Ableton screenshot shown briefly in the video: http://dave.gl/jsb_ableton.png !!!

This is a quick preview of my latest work. I recently purchased an MFB Microzwerg analog patchable synthesizer, so I just had to record a beautiful Bach work with it.

The Microzwerg is, indeed, 100% analog. The only digital part is the MIDI to CV/Gate converter. Apart from that, it's VCO's, not DCO's... and it's just sheer beauty to play around with!

Now, to record the track - totally like Wendy Carlos did, I suspect - just one note at a time, without MIDI sequencing, just pure hand-played... and creating patches as you go, as there's no patch storage, so the sounds will change (which rather makes the track come alive!) is really great fun, but it's also a hefty amount of work!

So please, comment, say what you think! If you like it, great, I could use some encouragement to finish the last ~65% of the music score. If you don't, well, I'd like to hear that as well!

All the best & love,
David

————|RECORDED WITH|————
-- Apple iMac 21.5"/Core 2 Duo 3.06GHz/8GB DDR3RAM
-- MFB Microzwerg synthesizer
-- Lexicon digital reverb unit
-- Bode-like Linear Frequency Shifter (used for phase-shifts)
-- Extremely cheap Behringer Chorus Pedal
-- M-Audio KeyRig49 cheapcheapcheap MIDI keyboard"

Free Weekly Ableton Live Rack #5: "Space China Synth"

YouTube Uploaded by AfroDjMac on Apr 26, 2011
From that man that brought us the Michael Jackson synth.
"Ableton Live instrument rack created by hitting dinner china with a wooden spoon. This instrument sounds a lot like wind chimes or steel drums. Layered underneath is another synth created from Operator. Together they have both an ambient, spacey sound, as well as a clear and distinct melodic side.

Every week I post a new Ableton Live Rack, please check http://www.afrodjmac.com for synths from the last few weeks and for next weeks.

Download the Ableton Rack: http://bitly.com/ifL7ci

Social Network me:
http://www.facebook.com/afrodjmac
http://www.twitter.com/afrodjmac
http://www.youtube.com/afrodjmac"

Dataline Octatrack Improvisation @ Musikmesse 2011

YouTube Uploaded by MrDataline on Apr 26, 2011

"All performance made from scratch, improvising all day long at the Elektron booth. Great times...

Sorry about the sound quality...."

Pepe - KORG M1 EX Factory Presets (MPC-0EX) Part 1 - 4

YouTube Uploaded by wwwPepeMusicDE on Apr 26, 2011

"A demonstration of the 100 factory sound programs of the KORG M1 EX (the expanded version of the M1 with lots of new PCM waveforms).

I'm going to make further demo videos of all the other official KORG M1 program and PCM memory cards (MPC/MSC-01 to 016 and MPC-11 to 13).

I'm still searching for the PCM card MSC-015 "Drums 2". If you don't need your card anymore, please make me an offer! :o)

---

Eine Demonstration der 100 Werksdaten-Programme des KORG M1 EX (der erweiterten Version des M1 mit vielen neuen PCM Wellenformen).

Ich werde in Zukunft noch weitere Demovideos von allen anderen offiziellen KORG M1 Programm- und PCM-Speicherkarten (MPC/MSC-01 bis 016 und MPC-11 bis 13) machen.

Ich bin noch immer auf der Suche nach der PCM-Karte MSC-015 "Drums 2". Wenn ihr eure Karte nicht mehr braucht, macht mir doch bitte ein Angebot! :o)"

The Mush Orchestra - Live-Improvisation-Jam-003

The Mush Orchestra - Live-Improvisation-Jam-003 from KUF Records on Vimeo.

"A live improvisation jam by The Mush Orchestra. Recorded at Copenhagen Noise Lab on the 26th of April 2011. No processing, just straight out of the mixer.

Equipment used:
Nord Modular G2, DIY midi-controller, Elektron Machinedrum UW, Korg Kaoss Pad 3 and a Mackie 1202 vlz3 mixer.

Every sound is made with the Nord Modular G2, the Machinedrum UW is only playing samples from it.

The Mush Orchestra is a project by Rasmus Nyåker who is also oone half of the ambient duo FEJLD. Their album is availible as a free download - more info at:
kufrec.com/webshop.html"