Quick tip/tutorial for GREAT CONJUNCTION MIDI control

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Answering a question from a user and showing you a quick GREAT CONJUNCTION tip!"

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.

Harmonic halls of noise - Prismatic Spray, norns “pixels”, 1010music lemondrop and TX-6

video upload by Arman Bohn

"The Prismatic Spray provides most of the sonic textures here. The notes it plays are controlled by a single pixel grooving along on the screen on the norns. The sound is then chopped up by the lemondrop and played back at various octaves. The Norns also provides five channels of sine wave drones. Everything is mixed in the TX-6.

You can pick up the Prismatic spray on my tindie shop:

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

Broken beats w/ Pikocore, Dirtywave M8, Roland J-6, TE TX-6

video upload by Arman Bohn

"More experiments with the pikocore. Random chord triggering sent from the M8 to the J-6. The Pikocore is synced to the J-6 which is clocked to the M8.

I’m syncing key changes to the random chords as well. I think I’ll continue down this path towards actual pseudo random song creation … so possibly more M8 + J-6 combos in the near future. The modulation options on the J-6 are nonexistent sound design is incredibly limited. I could use another mini synth instead, maybe the great conjunction, or the kasser arcade. but that would take more cord wrangling in the m-8."

This is the first post to feature the pikocore.

via infinitedigits.co

pikocore
april 2nd, 2023 / #wares
a small rp2040-based music mangler. $62 / $89.

pikocore is…

a lo-fi music mangler based on the raspberry pi pico (brother of the nyblcore).
capable of holding 8 minutes of 8-bit 33 khz monophonic samples.
powered by a single aaa battery for up to 3 hours or by powered by usb-c.
tempo-synced with a selectable bpm between 60 and 300, with samples mangled by beat-synced effects (stutter, retrig, gate, tunneling).
loaded with real-time effects like a resonant filter, timestretching, volume, and wavefolding.
sequenced with a 128-step sequencer with recording/playback
saved and loaded via eeprom for instant patch recall.
able to load custom firmware, new samples, all through usb-c.
sync-compatible with pocket operators.
open-source, wonderfully hackable.



video upload by infinitedigits

"more info: https://pikocore.com

pikocore is a lo-fi music mangler based on the Raspberry Pi Pico. It can hold 8 minutes of 8-bit 33 kHz monophonic samples, is powered by a single AAA battery or USB-C, and can be tempo-synced with a selectable BPM between 60 and 300. It also has beat-synced effects, real-time effects, a 128-step sequencer, and can load custom firmware and new samples. Pikocore is sync-compatible with Pocket Operators and open-source, making it wonderfully hackable."

Spherical Sound Society Ono-Sendai, Phantasmal Force, Korg NTS-3 crispy beats

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Phantasmal Force can be purchased here:
https://distropolisgoods.com/ [Ono-Sendai here]

Exploring the Ono-Sendai from @spherical_sound_society.

Crazy futuristic voices and chirping bitscapes.

About halfway through, I engage the Phantasmal Force to automate the XY pad of the NTS-3 so I can go back to turning knobs on the Ono."

GREAT CONJUNCTION tutorial: CUSTOM INSTRUMENT pages

video upload by Arman Bohn

"In this GREAT CONJUNCTION walkthrough, I stumble through the CUSTOM INSTRUMENT pages. Detailed changes to the YM2413 sound engine can be made in here. The MODULATOR & CARRIER have many parameters available to tailer the 2-op engine to your liking.

Feel free to ask for clarification in the comments. A spider dropped on my head and I lost my focus for a bit."

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/"

Prismatic Spray chaotic chords an melodies.

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Prismatic Spray through the 1010bluebox for delay/reverb. Playing around with some notes/chords. The Prismatic Spray will be back in stock in about a week or two. #jamuary2023 #diy #synth #bytebeat #tinysynth #tinystudio #generativemusic"

Generative CLOSE ENCOUNTERS road trip with norns “pixels”, Wingie MKii, Bastl Kastle Drum & TX-6

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Devils Tower is on the horizon. Pixel static notes and MIDI data. The Kastle excites the Wingie.

Alien welcome melodies played backwards and forwards, but probably never in the right order. Only 1970s practical effects here. Or is it all just CG?"

Guitar noodles with Phantasmal Force (beta firmware), MT32-pi, norns shield XL

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Phantasmal Force micro midi controller is available here:

www.distropolisgoods.com

New PF firmware soon!

Testing out the new ARP/sequencer functionality in the beta firmware for the Phantasm Force. There are a number of new features and a lot of functional improvements and changes in the new firmware which I hope to release in about a month or so.

Here, we have eight of the sequencers sending notes on four different midi channels going into the MT 32 and triggering a soundfont of jazz guitar. The top row of four buttons are sending midi LFO signals  that are slowly changing the vibrato on the guitar sound.

The second row of buttons on the PF have sent program change messages to the MT to instruct it to load the jazz guitar sound before I started recording this video. The PF is really useful for sending program change messages to some of the synths that I have that require them to load new sounds such as the Kasser Arcade."

Prismatic Spray - algorithm #24 test

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Batch #3 of the Prismatic Spray is going up tonight 12/11/2022:

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

Prismatic Spray - algorithm #24 test.

Glitching Gifts
Dizzying Displays
Infinite Incantations"

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."

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 Tutorial: Sequencer

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Purchase GREAT CONJUNCTION here (very soon):
https://www.tindie.com/products/34315/

This is not a demo of the overall sound quality or capabilities of GREAT CONJUNCTION. It is a sonically mundane walkthrough of how to use the three onboard sequencers.

Each parameter and sub parameter of the SEQUENCER page of GREAT CONJUNCTION is described in detail."

Prismatic Spray - algorithm #5 test

video upload by Arman Bohn

See this post for additional details and demos.

GREAT CONJUNCTION firmware 1.09 is out now!

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Firmware updates for GREAT CONJUNCTION are available here:
https://armanbohn.com/blog/support/

Just posted 1.09! Full release history in the readme file."

Prismatic Spray - bytebeat adventure synth!

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Tabletop bytebeat synth w/ 9 knobs, 6 buttons, code looper, analog filter, time skip, slomo, visuals & full USB/TRS MIDI implementation.

I’m making small batches of these in various colors available here:

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

The manual can be downloaded here

Prismatic Spray can be purchased here"

Additional demos followed by pics and details form the Tindie page:

"Prismatic Spray is a deeply explorable bytebeat synth that implements many novel features. It includes a multitude of physical controls, mesmerizing visuals and full MIDI implementation. Highlights include but are not limited to:

A Full User's Manual

Yup. You won't just get a link to a github repository and some hex. Prismatic Spray comes with a multi-page instruction manual to guide you in your explorations (it is approximately 8.5" x 5.5" if you are searching for frames). This manual is written in the tongue of old and should be incomprehensible to anyone not familiar with first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

Chromatic Tuning

Prismatic Spray is tuned to a western 12 tone chromatic scale. You can play it like any other synth. No horsing around with cycles and Hertz. Prismatic Spray is adjustable through about 6 octaves from the dark blue knob on the front panel. The full range of MIDI notes is available when using MIDI via USB or TRS-A.

Looping

Prismatic Spray can be set to loop over any region of a bytebeat equation. The start and end points are adjustable after the loop has been set. At the tightest settings, Prismatic Spray becomes almost granular sounding. Irritatingly granular.

Visualizations

Prismatic Spray can display a visual representation of the current bytebeat audio output in real time on the 1.5" color display. Alterations to the bytebeat equation using the knobs will effect the patterns and colors of the visualization. There is also a regular menu with actual useful data to look at if you hate cool graphics.

Analog Filter

Are things sounding too wonderful? Can't take any more bristling fizzles? Prismatic Spray has an analog filter to roll out as much high end as you'd like. Like pretty much all of it.

40 Bytebeat equations

Prismatic Spray has 40 bytebeat equations to explore. Each equation has three variable to adjust (along with pitch, time skip and a kind of 'time stretch-ish' effect). You can get lost. I heard a voice talking in there once. It was saying "YaaaaYaaaaYaaaaYaaaa".

Over 30 presets

Okay ... that's not a lot to brag about, but the non-volatile memory inside the Prismatic Spray is limited. You get ~30 preset slots for saving your favorite crusty, ear splitting zapazoids.

A Case

Yay! You don't have to worry about shorting anything out, snapping the PCB in half or breaking off a protruding component! Prismatic Spray comes fully enclosed in a 3D printed case (available in various colors). The glowing innards of the Prismatic Spray are clearly visible (mostly with the clear case) while the unit is in operation.

Prismatic Spray has the following controls:

CLICK FOR MORE »

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."

Shibasaki MOD - Tokyo set song #4

video upload by Arman Bohn

"My synths and device can be found here:
www.distropolisgoods.com

Song #4 from my set at Shibasaki MOD in Tokyo, April, 2025.

This one starts up with GREAT CONJUNCTION playing a repeating bass line. I bring in the Prismatic Spray MKii for some washed out textures. The GC also provides a slowly evolving melody and some percussive elements.

I dig into the PSMKii for a bit ... exploring some bytebeats.

The GC percussion ends up becoming some generative FM chords and then it is pared down to a simple randomized outro."

#1: 4/4 A# Lydian GREAT CONJUNCTION, Phantasmal Force, M8, NTS-3

video upload by Arman Bohn

"If you happen to be west of Tokyo in Chofu, around 9ish on April 14th, 2025 … you might hear something similar to this bubbling up near Shibasaki Station.

I hope I can work out all the details in the next few weeks!"