Meditative infinite reflection pool - 1010music Lemondrop, TX-6, Monome norns “pixels”

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Floating in the ether. My script 'pixels' sends out some vibes in G Phrygian. The notes being determined by the graphics. The 1010music Lemondrop granulates the live input from the norns. The TX-6 mixes it all.

I’ve really enjoyed the lemondrop more lately. That’s great it turning things into swirly soundscapes."

Incidental music for an imaginary exploratory game Great Conjunction, 1010music Lemondrop, TE TX-6

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Just sit back and enjoy this one. This combo produced many haunting chords, and rhythms over the last week. I’m not sure if this pass captured all the possible magic that I heard but I think you can fill in the blanks.

I recently signed up with a distribution service, and I think this particular set up might actually produce my first ambient track/release.

The great conjunction is creating all the tonal and percussive information, which is being fed into the lemondrop, which slices and dices the grains of sound, and plays them back rhythmically.

It gets a little intense sometimes, and then there’s some sparseness that reminds me of breath of the wild when you’re just standing there, looking at something beautiful."

Working out a new audio circuit for the Great Conjunction 2op FM Fragment Synth

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Every week the wonderfully purple, Great Conjunction, gets a little tiny bit closer to being completed. No major breakthroughs on the software front but I did squash a few bugs and probably created a few more. I spent a good deal of time reworking the PCB to incorporate a new audio output circuit. I’ve ordered up most of the parts that I’ll need for the next batch of five prototypes, and I hope to order of the prototypes within a week."

Pseudo random chill FM beats Great Conjunction, Dirtywave M8, TX-6, Phantasmal Force

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Every week the wonderfully purple Great Conjunction, gets a little tiny bit closer to being completed. No major breakthroughs on the software front but I did squash a few bugs and probably created a few more. I spent a good deal of time reworking the PCB to incorporate a new audio output circuit. I’ve ordered up most of the parts that I’ll need for the next batch of five prototypes, and I hope to order of the prototypes within a week.

The GC provides most of the melodic and chordal work here, with key changes coming from the M8. The Phantasmal Force is simply controlling the volume levels on the M8, which is itself providing the bass and drums."

A spot on the beach at night - Phantasmal Force, Dirtywave M8, Great Conjunction, TX-6

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Almost summer. Microscopic particles of pollen. Aliased waves hit an 8-bit shore.

 Sometimes things come together.

Phantasmal Force controls, mute on the M8. The Great Conjunction produces generative rhythms, and bleeps."

Prismatic Spray - rotary control overview

video upload by Arman Bohn

"In this video I go over the general function of each of the nine knobs on the Prismatic Spray.

The Prismatic Spray is available for purchase here:

https://www.tindie.com/products/distr..."

Great Conjunction FM fragment synth development - polyphonic MIDI note mode

video upload by Arman Bohn

"An update on the development of the Great Conjunction 2op FM synth based on the YM2413 sound chip from the 1908s.

I’ve been working on a new mode where any or all of the three sequencers can respond to meeting notes on specific channels. Sequencer one and sequencer two are both monophonic, but sequencer three has seven notes of polyphony.

Playing in MIDI note mode sounds pretty bizarre when running against some of the sequencers. I’m pretty much trying this for the first time here so the sounds are abrasive and weird, but I’m sure with some fine-tuning the sequencers can become incredible modulators."

Prismatic Spray firmware 1.3

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Here we discuss Prismatic Spray firmware version 1.3.

Prismatic Spray firmware 1.3 includes the following features:

1) improved knob precision
2) preset save confirmation
3) now responds to MIDI CC 123 “ALL NOTES OFF”

Firmware updates can be found here:
https://armanbohn.com/blog/support/"

Chill synthetic synthwave Great Conjunction, Bluebox and OMX27

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Starting to get MIDI sorted out on the Great Conjunction. The OMX27 is sending notes and each of the three sequencers is set to receive them on the same channel, essentially coordinating key changes in the generative pattern. 

The bluebox is doing some heavy lifting here, with a very thick reverb and slight delay.

Two of the sequencers are set to instrument 77, while one of them has a more dramatic flute like tone going on.

I have almost all of the parameters of the Great Conjunction connected to MIDI CC. Next, I’m going to work out some kind of mode where you can actually play the synth directly via a keyboard."

Great Conjunction - random musings about Euclidean sequencing and other stuff

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Just talking about some of the features of the Great Conjunction FM synth I’ve been working on for about six months. I end up talking about the Euclidean sequencer and touching on how the descent can evolve parameters. #fmsynthesis #synth #electronicmusic #generativemusic #tinystudio #diy #walkthrough"

Euclidean sequencing on the Great Conjunction FM synth - quick demo

video upload by Arman Bohn

The Great Conjunction FM synth is based on the YM2413 chip.

Clockwork Infinite Deep-space Rhythms - Great Conjunction, Wingie MKii & Dirtywave M8

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Development of the Great Conjunction hit a rough spot about a week ago when I changed microcontrollers from Promicro to Teensy 4.0. I had to rewire many pins on the board, but I think I’ve sorted most of it out, and I actually got MIDI running earlier this evening.

The M8 is primarily a mixer here, adding reverb and random delay. It’s also controlling the Wingie with a couple of LFO‘s set to vary the mix and decay rate of the resonators.

The Great Conjunction is the primary sound source. It’s producing FM sounds with three sequencers running.

This is my second M8 + Wingie jam with the Great Conjunction. This one’s a little more straightforward(?).

I’m still having some trouble locking the eight parameter knobs down when changing screens, so that’s on my to do list this week, along with sorting out a huge number of MIDI controls."

Smooth flowing rivers of beats w/ Great Conjunction FM fragment synth & M8 tracker

video upload by Arman Bohn

"M8 Tracker on the left is playing some soft pads underneath the constantly evolving Great Conjunction.

This is an early prototype of the YM2413 based synth which runs three sequencers concurrently (one pseudo random & 2 Euclidean).

There is no programming of specific notes. What control you have over specific sounds quickly yields to the motifs of interactions and conjunctions between the sequencers."

Great Conjunction FM Fragment Synth Prototype

video upload by Arman Bohn

Great Conjunction FM synth prototype - it’s working! #synthwave #chillwave


"This is one of my favorite pieces I’ve made for a long time. I had it running for around 40 hours this week. The Norns is running my 'pixels' script, which is generating some sine wave blips. It is also sending mini note data to the Prismatic Spray which Casts a haunting melody over the top. Everything is running through the lemondrop, which chops and slices and dices."

Chill granular meditation music w/ Prismatic Spray, monome norns, Phantasmal Force, 1010 lemondrop

video upload by Arman Bohn

"This is one of my favorite pieces I’ve made for a long time. I had it running for around 40 hours this week. The Norns is running my “pixels” script, which is generating some sine wave blips. It is also sending MIDI note data to the Prismatic Spray which casts a haunting melody over the top. Everything is running through the lemondrop, which chops and slices and dices."

Chill generative synthwave beats w/ Roland J-6 and M8 tracker

video upload by Arman Bohn

"This week’s generative jumble has more of a beat than the last few weeks. Trying to pick up a little energy for the approaching spring.

The M8 is in charge here … sending MIDI note data to the J-6 which is supplying the backup chords."

Melancholy ambient tones w/ monome norns & Roland J-6

video upload by Arman Bohn

"My norns script 'pixels' drowning on some long notes and plaques. The rolling J6, providing some randomized backing chords. It’s nice to get back to the roland and it makes me think that I should work on a chord generating device. #tinystudio #generativemusic #ambientmusic #electronicmusic #synth #ambient"

Phantasmal Force - micro MIDI controller - Now Available!

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Available here:
https://www.tindie.com/products/distr...

Phantasmal Force is a 16 button, 1 knob, micro (reeeaaally small) MIDI controller that sends messages via USB-C and TRS-A. It can be completely customized from the device itself (no external editor required).

Want to send 16 different CC messages with random values? Fine.

Want to send different chords with the top eight buttons and single notes with the bottom eight? Okay!

Need a little DAW controller to throw in your bag that send PLAY/STOP and some Program Change messages? Why not?

The CLICKY tactile buttons are NOT velocity sensitive, but can be configured to send random values between specific ranges. For example you can send a MIDI note randomized between a velocity of 70-90 to give the notes a more human feel. Or maybe send some random CC values to your synth's filter and then reach up and turn the knob to dial it back to a specific value.

FEATURES INCLUDE

- 16 programmable, clicky, tactile switches
- 1 programmable knob (functions based on the last button pressed)
- OLED display
- Note, Chord, CC, Transport, Program Change via MIDI
- MIDI out over USB C and TRS-A
- 26 save slots
- Configurable default settings
- RGB LED status indicator
- A complete, printed Users Manual"

See the Phantasmal Force label below for more.

Shores ambient generative soundscape w/ monome norns “pixels” and Bastl Kastle drum

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Sine waves splashing over a 'pixels' beach with the @bastlinstruments Kastle drum providing pseudo random percussion.

Tried to create a more easy to listen to vibe for work."

Great Conjunction 2op FM generative synth prototype. Sega Master System (Japan) chip

video upload by Arman Bohn