Modern Sound Pluto, Ciat-Lonbarde Cocoquantus 2 and Palmelund Controller

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Wrapped in the deep fragrance of the forest, I listen to the flapping of the birds' wings, to the stirring of the ferns. I'm freed from gravity and float up--just a little--from the ground and drift in the air. Of course I can't stay there forever. It's just a momentary sensation--open my eyes and it's gone. Still, it's an overwhelming experience. Being able to float in the air.
(Haruki Murakami, Kafka On The Shore)

About the setup:
Pluto into Cocoquantus 2 that acts as a delay (continuous recording). Palmelund Contoller set to change the delay rate and source stereo field."

Modern Sounds Pluto

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"First jam with the Pluto and its five modulating moons (all sounds from this little cute box)."

You can find details on Modern Sounds Pluto here.

Elektron Octatrack, Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field, Chase Bliss Reverse Mode C

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Lay down your mind and peace will come. A peace deeper than anything you have known.
(Haruki Murakami, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World)

About Octatrack setting:

Track 3: Piano sample recorded on the Octatrack
Track 2: glitch drums
Track 6: OP-1 tape live through a THRU machine
Track 1: Same piano sample distributed on a slicing grid to be used as a melody through manual use of the fader (scene change).
Fast movements of the fader create further glitches in the feedback of the Reverse Mode C which reacts like a sort of arpeggiator."

Chase Bliss Audio Reverse Mode C and Teenage Engineering Op-1 Field and TX-6

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Time moves in it special way in the middle of the night.
(Haruki Murakami , After Dark)

If you were wondering what the new Reverse Mode C from Chase Bliss audio sounded like, here's a little example.
The simple sequence played by the OP-1 is first only effected by the TX-6's reverb. Then the Reverse Mode intervenes, reproducing one of the three voices of its delay (reverse in octave). Then the second voice (normal reverse) and then all three voices with modulation in synch and the volumes managed by the same pedal which 'sequences' the entries. Press and Hold on the right button to immediately have the delay action at half the tempo.
Enjoy this little night spell!"

TipTop Audio ART Octopus (alternative Firmware), ATX1, Vortex and Teenage Engineering Op-1 Field

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Simple yet complex
Testing an alternative firmware for the TTA Octopus module: basically, this way the Octopus doesn't need any midi controller to play the ART VCOs but it becomes an arpeggiator with chords sequences itself.
P.s.
Math is a good way to wake your brain up in the morning 🧠"

TitpTop Audio Art Octopus, ATX1 and Vortex, O/C module and Error Instruments White Rabbit

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Another short session with the new TipTop Audio Art modules.
I was exploring the Poly Voice Management of the Octopus, the module that ‘conducts’ the three ART oscillators. In the first part, the simple arpeggio played on the Arturia Keystep is reproduced in order by the first ATX1 (Midi channel 1), the second ATX1 (Midi channel 2) and the Vortex (Midi channel 3). It is easy to follow the change by looking at the red LED that lights up on the modules or the ADSR that is activated on the O/C in the case of the first two oscillators. Things get interesting when you manually switch from Mono 8 mode (one midi channel for each oscillator) to Poly 3, Poly 4, etc. These modes are designed to use oscillators in polyphony, playing chords as you do on a polyphonic synth. By sending a sequence instead, the notes are distributed one after the other among the different oscillators which, with different settings, create an ever-changing melody. A very unique way to make a sequence more interesting I think.
P.s.
The drone you hear comes from the TX-6 while the delay is the White Rabbit by Error Instruments."

TipTop Audio ART Octopus, ATX1 and Vortex, MI Ripples, Warp, Torso T-1 and Teenage Engineering TX-6

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"A simple sequence as an exercise to become familiar with the new TipTop ART modules.
The most immediate thing I can tell you is that pressing a simple button to easily have the 3 oscillators perfectly tuned was a great feeling.
The three voices (2 ATX1 ART Analog VCOs and 1 Vortex ART Wavetable VCO) are controlled by the Torso T-1 via Midi through the Octopus (USB/Midi to Art Interface+Voices Manager), Ripples as filter on all three voices and delay by the Warps (alternative firmware). Reverb and mono-to-stereo magic from the TX-6."

Sedimented

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Impermanenza is the title of my new album (to be released in the first half of 2024). The album describes a precise way of writing music based on the unrepeatability of some details, on the discovery of new possibilities of one's setup, on experimentation based on practical intuition . A sort of 'method' that has matured and unconsciously settled during the last year of work. This song was conceived, written and recorded this way this morning. And exactly like the concept of the unexpected, I decided that it will be a bonus track of the album (but also the first single dropped without warning today only on my social channels).

On setup:
_ drone from OP-1 using the Hold sequencer;
_ Awake from Norns into Crow that manages Just Friends. Arpeggio created by setting the Time knob in order to rhythmically phase out the two melodic lines of Awake;
_ Dradd provides via granular synthesis to 'cover' the arpeggio making it a chord progression in the first and last part of the piece.

Enjoy!"

OXI Instruments Coral, Korg SQ-64 and Teenage Engineering TX-6

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"42º Revolution
If you want to use the Coral as an eight-voice polyphonic synth, Part is the watchword. In the case of this sequence, all eight voices share the filter, envelope and parameters of the synth engine (the same for all) because they are set on the same midi channel which groups them together in one big Part.

P.s.
The Strings engine might my favorite one"

Imaginando FRMS, Birdkids OffGrid and Cocoquantus2

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"I put together a very special live set that will debut very soon.
Looking forward to tell you more about it."

Soma Cosmos and Teenage Engineering Op-1

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"This pedal is an instant machine for ambient music"

Modular and Torso Electronics T-1

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Forma Mentis"

Arturia Microfreak, Landscape HC-TT, Cocoquantus and Strymon Nigthsky

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"A Failure for Civilization: a maditation for retrograde words

I have quite confused ideas about what could be the right behavior in a situation like the one we are living today: one can stop petrified by horror to reason, to try to understand; we can take refuge in unconsciousness and pretend that that same horror is far away, that it does not touch us closely. What is the right thing to do in order not to wobble that glimmer of lightness that was glimpsed on the horizon after these two hard years?
Today I am lost like this."

Novation Peak and Torso Elecrtronics T-1

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"First sessions with the @torsoelectronics T-1 and let's say it is a lot of fun!
The sequences you listen to have been generated by the algorithms of
the machine: it would perhaps have been more surprising to show the
process with which it happens, but I reserve that for the live shows.
For the moment, some synth groove to wash your ears from the first
two Sanremo evenings.
P.s.
Other T-1 owners: do you also have those annoying random notes on play and stop?"

Teenage Engineering Op-Z and Monome Norns (Tapedeck Script)

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Summer 1980"

Elektron Digitone, Tasty Chips GR-1 and Strymon Nightsky

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Ma poiché quella promessa non metteva vere radici nella sua coscienza, alla prima pioggia veniva trascinata via dalla corrente e si perdeva chissà dove.
(H. Murakami, 1Q84)

Technical notes:
In this video I live-looped the Digitone sequence with GR-1 which runs a granular patch I made for this dronish track (LFO on Position and Spray).
The live recording runs on 3 different voices: one is in the original key, the second one is an octave above and the third one is a 5th above. I use them to build to track together with the Shimmer of the Nightsky.
Routing: Digiton into GR-1 through USB (audio-interface), GR-1 into Nightsky."

Monome Norns Fall, Dave Smith Evolver and Strymon BigSky

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"A Chromotherapy Session For Miniature People

I particularly love the kind of sound that came out of this setup. The Norns running the Fall script and the Dave Smith Evolver are playing in unison via midi.
The sound of the Norns is filtered by the Input Hack of the Evolver while its 4 LFOs create a movement of the 4 oscillators that generates a melodic looping line.
The Strymon Bigsky adds the right space for the warmth of the analog circuit to express itself at its best."

Sedimentazioni

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"This composition consists of a main sequence (Make Noise Strega), recorded live for the collective project Declinazioni promoted by POST Factory, a pre-recorded loop on the Op-1 and four notes played by the Tombola sequencer that add an element of randomness.

The track, together with the images of the neighborhood in which I live, taken during the second lockdown in Italy, tell about the process that elaborates the idea to the point of capturing its primordial elements."

Cocoquantus 2 and Plinky

video upload by Luca Longobardi

Mutando riposa.
(Eraclito)

Monome Norns (Orgn script) + Grid, Cocoquantus 2 and Red Panda Particle

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"In verità cantare è altro respiro.
È un soffio in nulla. Un calmo alito. Un vento.
(Rainer Maria Rilke)"