Published on Feb 1, 2019 TheTechnobear
Eigenharp Alpha and Madrona Labs Soundplane for the controllers.
"This weeks challenge was to create an ambient piece with the help of the AE Modular.
This was new to me, and honestly, the piece got more complex than I imagined...
I started with the FX / drone made on the AE modular, this was a mix of FM, noise, and feedback, and fed into the Multi FX - it was made so with changing various module parameters had pretty wild changes.
Next, I created a new AE patch, for what would become the arp, trying to create a kind of berlin school vibe.. this was relatively simple, using the NYLE filter, and then playing with Delay and MultiFX to get some flavour to it....
I layered this with a bit more of a pluck sound from the Virus TI.
Finally, I recorded some short-wave radio on a Koma Field Kit, and put this thru a spring reverb...
all the above I recorded on a Tascam 244 4-track, which I then recorded out in single tracks to Ableton.
I arranged this in Ableton in sections I wanted, then could improvise over this, with l two tracks both using Madrona Labs Aalto.
the first was played with the Madrona Labs Soundplane, as its great for fluid, expressive pads.
the other, was played on the Eigenharp Alpha which I prefer for more responsive, lead type sounds.
It's funny, whilst both are expressive controllers, they play so differently, even using an identical patch, the result will be completely different.
Things I learnt, to plan it better!.. with more layers, it got confusing to improvise over the top of, and become problematic to mix :) "
"A Macbeth Studio Systems M3x and its box. I bought this new in October 2003 via GSF Agency and, in one of the more regrettable aspects of my life, I stopped using it and all my other gear (besides my guitar) when I moved in December 2004. It's been sitting in its box ever since, until I pulled it out today. 
