FACT TV at MUTEK: TM404

Published on Jun 6, 2014 FACTmagazine·291 videos

"All week, FACT's US team (Chris Kelly, John Twells, and Bryan McKay) is in Montreal for the festivities, interviewing some of the most talented artists in the experimental electronic music world.

Next up: we sat down with Swedish glitch pioneer Andreas Tilliander (aka Mokira and TM404) to talk about the inception of the TM404 project, Richie Hawtin and his plans for the future.

Interviews by John Twells & Chris Kelly
Filmed by Bryan McKay

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A tribute to Roland 80's synths.

FACT TV: Against The Clock - Luke Abbott

Published on Jun 18, 2014 FACTmagazine·299 videos

"Against the Clock is a series on FACT TV where we give an artist 10 minutes in the studio and see what they come up with.

Taking the challenge this week, Luke Abbott. After cutting his teeth on Trevor Jackson's Output label in the mid-'00s, Abbott found a home on James Holden's Border Community, sharing Holden's love of emotive, ecstatic dance music and releasing two albums on the label, Holkham Drones and Wysing Forest. Abbott also has one hell of a live set-up, as he demonstrated to FACT TV when touching down in London for a pair of recent live shows.

Filmed by Luis Muñoz and Pawel Ptak.

Subscribe to FACT on YouTube to stay updated on our original video releases: http://www.youtube.com/Factmagazine
Videos, daily editorial and more: http://www.factmag.com
Like FACT on Facebook: http://fb.com/FACTmagazine
Follow FACT on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FACTmag"

UNO Synth hands-on: Patch editing

Published on Oct 27, 2018 FACTmagazine

"Patch editing with IK Multimedia's UNO synth."

UNO Synth hands-on: Performing and sequencing

Published on Oct 27, 2018 FACTmagazine

Taraval - Against The Clock

Published on Jan 15, 2020 FACTmagazine

"San Francisco-based DJ, producer and Caribou collaborator Taraval has spent the past few years developing his spry and striking sound on seminal labels such as Four Tet’s TEXT and London’s Hypercolour.

This week we join him in California at local music hub Crowbar Corner Studios where he whips some spacey modular synth loops, 808- and 909-inspired TR-8S drum pads and misshapen ’70s funk samples into a giddy and jocular groove.

Filmed by: Dor Wand"

FACTmagazine Against The Clock posts

Steffi - Against The Clock

Published on Oct 12, 2017 FACTmagazine

Some nice synth spotting in this one. Sequentix P3 sequencer appears to the brain.

"The Dutch house and techno explorer creates an intense track in 10 minutes.

Steffi keeps busy. Since moving to Berlin in 2007, the Dutch-born producer has – deep breath now – released three sublime solo albums on Ostgut Ton, founded not one but two successful labels, promoted hundreds of underground parties and kept the city's iconic Panorama Bar booming as one of its resident DJs.

With her most recent album World of the Waking State continuing to make waves a month after its release, we added another item to her already-frantic to-do list – our Against The Clock challenge. Crafting a beat in 10 minutes using a seriously enviable array of gear, the cult hero didn't disappoint. Watch above."

Update:

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Against The Clock Lab w/ AMyn, Colin Benders, & Sjamsoedin

AMyn - Against The Clock Lab Published on Oct 25, 2017

"Last weekend, we took Against The Clock to Amsterdam Dance Event’s Sound Lab and the results were spectacular. During the event, we had three artists create a track completely from scratch in front of an audience.

First up, Belgian producer AMyn steps up to the plate and creates a soulful hip-hop instrumental."

Colin Benders - Against The Clock Lab

Published on Oct 25, 2017 FACTmagazine

"A modular synth maestro.

After AMyn’s soulful session, modular synth wizard Colin Benders showed us his impressive setup, creating a powerful performance with a wall of modular synth gear."

Sjamsoedin - Against The Clock Lab

Published on Oct 25, 2017 FACTmagazine

"After two great sessions from Colin Benders and AMyn, Dutch producer Sjamsoedin takes the spotlight.

During his 10 minutes, Sjamsoedin creates an experimental jam using an MPC, a vintage synth and a small modular rig."

Patch Notes: TM404

video by FACTmagazine

"Swedish producer Andreas Tilliander started out as one of the ’00s glitch scene’s most notable artists, but for the past decade he has created dub techno-inspired music with his extensive collection of modern and vintage hardware under the TM404 alias.

Tilliander’s latest album as TM404, Syra, is a combination of high-energy techno for the club and the kind of dreamy acid dub tracks that characterised the project’s self-titled debut from 2013, due to Tilliander being restricted to a small collection of equipment as it was partly recorded in a studio flat in Berlin as part of an artist residency.

On this week’s episode of Patch Notes, filmed at his studio in Sweden, Tilliander has access to his full range of equipment and records an experimental dub techno set that makes use of everything from an EMS Synthi A to Elektron’s Analog Rytm.

Syra is available now on Bandcamp: https://kontra-musik.bandcamp.com/alb...

Filmed by Lisa Ulfves and Kristofer Ulfves"

Lady Starlight - Against The Clock

Published on Jun 7, 2017 FACTmagazine

"Techno in 10 minutes from one of Berlin's rising stars.

Lady Starlight's journey has been anything but ordinary. Formerly a tour DJ for Lady Gaga, Starlight found herself meeting UK techno veteran Surgeon after a show in his hometown of Birmingham and the pair have been collaborating ever since, regularly appearing at clubs and festivals across Europe.

Last month, she released her debut solo EP on respected techno label Stroboscopic Artefacts. Spanning four tracks of relentless 4/4, it got us eager to see what kind of music the producer could make with just 10 minutes in the studio and her formidable collection of gear."

Steffi - In The Studio

Published on Oct 24, 2017 FACTmagazine

Follow-up to her Against the Clock performance here.

"Steffi shows us her slick studio full of unusual vintage gear

Dutch techno icon Steffi made her massive Against The Clock session look easy, effortlessly gliding from synth to synth in her compact studio to create a tightly-wound electro track in just 10 minutes.

After the time was up, the Ostgut Ton regular and Panorama Bar resident talked us through what she did and how she did it, giving us a guided tour of her enviable gear collection at the same time.

Steffi’s got all the classics you’d expect in her studio – a TR-808 drum machine, a Minimoog for basslines – but also a few unusual items, like the Waldorf synth she uses for string sounds and a Sequentix Cirklon sequencer. Check it out above and watch her go Against The Clock."

Mumdance demos his jungle-inspired Eurorack filter module, MUM M8

Published on Feb 27, 2018 FACTmagazine

You can find details on the ALM MUM M8 here, and a demo from Perfect Circuit Audio here.

"We visit Mumdance's studio for an exclusive look at his exciting new module.

Mumdance’s musical influences are many, but top of the list are two things: modular synths and hardcore. He's managed to combine his love of both with his latest release, a Eurorack filter module designed with UK boutique studio ALM Busy Circuits, the MUM M8.

The inspiration for the MUM M8 is Akai’s S950 sampler from 1988, whose unique filter sound is behind many classic jungle and hardcore records of the era. We visited Mumdance at his home studio to get an exclusive inside look at how the module – right down to the "rave baggie" the screws come in.

For more on the making of the MUM M8 read our interview with Mumdance and ALM's Matthew Allum. If you want to know where to start with building your own modular synth, check out our Eurorack beginner's guide."

Step inside DMX Krew’s amazing studio full of vintage synths

Published on Oct 13, 2017 FACTmagazine

"Synth crazy.

Best known as DMX Krew, Ed Upton has been making electro, acid and IDM-laced techno since the early ‘90s for labels such as Aphex Twin’s Rephlex, Legowelt’s Strange Life and, more recently, Hypercolour. He’s also a gear fiend, with a studio full of vintage synths and drum machines.

While we were visiting Upton to check out his custom-made drum machine, the Opal Rhythm Computor, we had time to check out everything else in his studio, including his TR-606, SH-101 and Ensoniq ESQ-1.

Watch above, and check out his new album Strange Directions at Bandcamp."

The Mike Dean Moog DFAM Jam

Published on Feb 8, 2018 FACTmagazine

"The legendary producer shows us how it's done.

Mike Dean knows his way around a beat. The Houston native has been is a veteran hip-hop producer, who's worked with not just with the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z and Travis Scott, but who has a long CV teeming with legends like Scarface, UGK and E-40, among other.

After Moog invited us to their synth shangri-la, House of Electronicus, to see their new semi-modular analog percussion synth Drummer From Another Mother, we got to see Dean take the DFAM for a spin in his own studio where he showed off the rest of his hardware collection and showed us exactly what happens when you get him on the keys."

Artist DIY: Vicky Clarke

FACTmagazine

"Artist DIY is a series of videos made by artists in collaboration with FACT in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FACT edits each episode remotely, while the artist shoots at their home or studio with whatever equipment they have available. In this episode, Manchester sound artist Vicky Clarke talks us through some of the DIY instruments and techniques she uses to make music.

Prior to the pandemic, Clarke worked on a project called Materiality, in which she combines physical materials and digital processes to build sound sculptures, and a collaborative project, Noise Orchestra. More recently Clarke has built an interface for Ableton Live using a revolutionary material called graphene, which she demonstrates in this episode.

Whilst in lockdown, Clarke has taken inspiration from a recent project in Russia focusing on machine learning to develop SleepStates, a browser-based artwork exploring feelings of online perpetuity and the sleep-like limbo of quarantine.

Clarke is part of Manchester’s music, art and technology scene, working to help communities and young people. She works with emerging musicians charity Brighter Sound and is part of local audiovisual community Test Card.

Clarke is also a creative associate at Future Everything, an organistion that has been exploring the intersection of technology, art and culture since 1995. She’s currently working on her first release – follow her on Twitter and Instagram for updates.

https://vickyclarke.org"

Alessandro Cortini - In The Studio

Published on Jan 8, 2020 FACTmagazine

"Alessandro Cortini may be known to millions of fans around the world as a touring member of Nine Inch Nails, but it’s as a solo artist that the Italian musician has carved out his own space in ambient and synth music over the past decade.

In this episode of FACT’s In The Studio series, we visited Cortini at his space in Berlin, where he talked to us about his life in music and making of his recent album Volume Massimo, as well as his love of Buchla synthesizers and unusual vintage instruments.

Volume Massimo is out now on Mute Records.

Filmed and edited by Frank Zerban
Nine Inch Nails photography by Corinne Schiavone"

Patch Notes: INIT

video by FACTmagazine

"INIT is the collaborative project of Berlin-based producers Nadia D’Alò and Benedikt Frey. The duo’s first album, Two Pole Resonance, was released back in October 2015 on John Talabot’s Hivern Discs label, showcasing the pair’s love of moody, krautrock-influenced synth compositions, which featured vocals from D’Alò.

INIT returned to the label in late 2020 with their second LP, Gravity. The album saw the duo adopting a more playful approach to songwriting, combining house, techno, post-punk and electro to create a lighter set of tracks than their debut. This eclectic style drives INIT’s Patch Notes session, which melds D’Alò’s lyrics with experimental sound design.

The session sees the duo make use of classic gear like Roland’s TR-808 drum machine and SH-101 synth, with contemporary hardware including a x0xb0x and SOMA’s Pulsar-23 semi-modular drum machine providing eerie textures.

INIT on Bandcamp: https://iinit.bandcamp.com"

Acidlab M1AM1/Miami. Haven't seen one in a while.

Efdemin - Against The Clock

Published on Jun 13, 2018 FACTmagazine

"Berlin minimal veteran Efdemin goes Against The Clock.

Efdemin has been a staple is the Berlin minimal scene since the turn of the millennium. Releasing music on labels like Dial and Curle Recordings, the Panorama Bar DJ hasn't showed any signs of stopping since.

FACT visited Efdemin in his Berlin studio to see what he could do in 10 minutes. During the session, he loaded up a barrage of sounds using a vintage sampler and engaged his variety of different drum machines and bits of modular gear.

Trust us, you don't want to miss out on this one. Press play and enjoy."

Ampify shows off its new Groovebox music studio app at Sónar 2017 - Gear Guide

Published on Jun 23, 2017 FACTmagazine

iTunes: Groovebox - Beats & Synths Music Studio - Novation

"A new all-in-one music studio for iOS.

Sónar’s 24th Barcelona festival took place last weekend, and on top of a stellar line-up of artists that included Princess Nokia, Anderson .Paak, The Black Madonna and many more, there was lots of exciting music gear on show in its Sónar+D area.

Novation's app team Ampify was there to show off its new music-making app, Groovebox, which was released earlier this month on iOS. It includes two synths and a drum machine - all you need to start making music from scratch on your iPhone."

Against The Clock: Tangerine Dream

FACTmagazine

"Against The Clock is a series where we give an artist 10 minutes in the studio and see what they come up with.

Tangerine Dream is one of the most enduring electronic acts of the 20th century. Formed by Edgar Froese in 1967, the act went through multiple iterations but came to define a generation of ambient and new age music whose influence can still be heard on film scores and synth albums today.

Although Froese died in 2015, the band still performs under the stewardship of Thorsten Quaeschning, who joined the band under Froese in 2003. On this episode of Against The Clock, Quaeschning is joined by Hoshiko Yamane and Ulrich Schnauss, who combine synth, violin and guitar to make a track in 10 minutes.

Tangerine Dream’s latest album, Recurring Dreams – a collection of new versions of classic Tangerine Dream tracks – is available now.

Filmed by Frank Zerban
SHOW LESS"

How To Make A Joe Goddard Track

Published on Jul 19, 2018 FACTmagazine

Synths come in after 2:00: Yamaha CS80, ARP 2600, Oberheim OB-Xa.

"Studio secrets from the Hot Chip member and producer.

London producer Joe Goddard has quite the career under his belt. A founding member of Hot Chip – who he’s been performing with for 18 years – Goddard has made six studio albums with the band, released two solo albums, DJs regularly and even runs his own record label, Greco-Roman.

But how does the man that helped to write countless Hot Chip hits and produced the 2011 classic ‘Gabriel’ make a track? We visited his production space in east London to get an insight into his creative process, where he gave us a step-by-step guide to making music with vintage synths, classic rack effects, Just Blaze drum samples and Cubase. Listen to the finished track below."

Against The Clock: Cromby

FACTmagazine

"Against The Clock is a series where we give an artist 10 minutes in the studio and see what they come up with.

Cromby is an Irish producer based in Berlin who specialises in crafting house with a classic feel, big, bold basslines and joyous melodies, skills that have seen him release records on labels including Sulta Selects Silver Service, Feel My Bicep and Unknown To The Unknown.

In the studio, he makes music with hardware such as Korg’s Minilogue, Moog Minitaur and Novation Peak, controlled via Ableton Live and Push. In this episode, he shows us how quickly he can use it all to lay down a track.

Cromby will be launching his own label later this year, which will focus on his own productions made with the dancefloor in mind. 'I have a ton of new music that I’m excited to share,' he says."