Roland JD-800 | The Industrial Pulse Width Pad

video upload by MIDERA

"I think people believe the JD-800 doesn't have the ability to do Pulse Width Modulation - but I think it does a pretty good job of approximating it using multiple waveforms that overlap to create that distinct sound.

Unfortunately, after finishing the recording, I found that my camera had stopped filming half-way through, so I had to collect some extra footage I had lying around towards the end.

Eventide Blackhole VST used for extra reverb."

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Frpq...

https://midera.bandcamp.com/album/the...

Roland JD-800 meditative ambient pads

video upload by MIDERA

"Support my music:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Frpq...

https://midera.bandcamp.com/album/the...

Just trying to get a feel for the JD-800 still. Honestly, it's just too big. I am trading some gear for a JD-990 and wondering what I'll think of that. I feel like I could probably get similar tones from my other gear. So - the JD-800 is on my short list to get rid of, given its size especially. Great synth, but I like the gnarly sounds the D-50 does a little more. Although, I do quite love that the JD-800 has the "Dire Dire Docks" sound from Mario 64. That part is sweet.

Roland JD-800
Eventide Blackhole VST for reverb"

Red Rainfall | Electronic IDM music

video upload by MIDERA

"Check out my Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Frpq...

Support me here: https://midera.bandcamp.com/album/the...

I originally made this track using a ‘strings’ pad on my JD-800, but I sat there feeling like “couldn’t I just do this with the Virus – and so I did. I don’t know whether they were similar enough because this is now the final copy. I like the JD-800, but it’s so big and feels unnecessary in my studio. Swapping out the gear like this makes me think that it’s even more true.

The drums were made by filtering all samples into the analog 24db LP filter and then into the fixed filterbank. Maybe I can make a video where I show how that changes the sound of the samples… It’s a pretty basic track and video though, so there really isn’t much to what I made here.

Spectralis 2: Sequencing, drums, bass
Virus TI: Pads
Reverb using Eventide Blackhole"

MIDERA | Vessel - Electronic IDM

video upload by MIDERA

"Find my other projects on my website:
https://www.midera-artist.com/

Support me and my music here:
https://midera.bandcamp.com/

Today (7/22/23), when I made this track - was the 13th Anniversary of my Dad's death. My mom and I talked at length today about it. It's crazy to think about all the things I remember from that day and from the funeral - from watching his last breath to sitting in silence with my mom after everyone left after the funeral. We were just sitting there and it almost felt like it never happened. It was so strange.

13 years. It just kind of doesn't feel like the movement of time makes any sense. Those things feel like a few weeks ago, I have very vivid memories about them. But I don't actually remember things that happened a few weeks ago, normally. So odd what can stick in your head and why it does.

It certainly has been a wild ride this last month, my wife losing her job, our dogs fighting so bad that it required a $1200 emergency vet visit, and more.

And in my studio I've just not had much success. Moving gear around, hating everything I write. I think 'maybe I just need it set up like this...' and a few days later I tear it down too. I used to do so much more, but I only had a few things. I expect 2012 results in 2023 - where I didn't have a family, kids, dogs, a house, a career... I am not complaining that I have them, but my expectations of what I'm capable of haven't changed, even though everything else has.

Now - I'm also stuck with so much gear I don't even like... Jupiter 6, Poly Evolver, JD800... they're cool, but do they add anything, like REALLY add anything to what I already have? No. They don't. The day I got the Prophet 10 in my studio was the day my music suffered. It was just a big, big synth that didn't take me where I wanted. I still have it, but even that is among the synths I'm not completely fond of, but feel like I should be. I think it's mostly in how much space some of these things take up relative to how much space I actually have. I sometimes think if I had more room, I'd make better use of them, but I don't actually think that's true. I just think I'd have more stuff stuffed in a bigger room.

Well, anyway, I managed to write something in the last two days. Here it is."

Uncertainty | Virus TI and Rhodes Piano somber meditative soundscape

video upload by MIDERA

"Today my oldest daughter turned 6. I don't think there's any joy greater than being with my kids, as hard as it is watching them grow and age. It's a lot more fun watching them age than it is watching myself age (greying hair and losing hair, sun spots, wrinkles, ease of sustaining injuries which do not go away). But it's certainly more bearable aging when I see them.

I showed my daughter a photo of the first time that I held her, the uncertainty, the feeling that "wait, this isn't magical... why don't I feel like it is?" and then the feeling of "This is a huge responsibility." I told her how I felt, but that it was more than worth it. She gave me a great big hug, and two kisses. Somehow, I know I got the greatest gift on her birthday. Although, she'd probably argue the Wendy's kid meal junk was her favorite gift of the day. Go figure."

Sequential REV2 | Revelations Patch Bank

video upload by MIDERA

"I had access to the Sequential REV2 for 1 month and decided to make a patch bank with it. In 2019 I had a REV2 desktop and made some patches that I really liked, so I decided to finish the bank of patches and sell them. Please visit here for details on how to purchase these patches: https://www.midera-artist.com/synthes...

I chose to not use any external effects for these patches. Everything you hear can be achieved using the REV2 by itself. These patches will install on Bank 1 of your REV2. I do not think it is backwards compatible with the Prophet 08 unfortunately.

I wrote my review of the REV2 here as well:
https://www.midera-artist.com/sequent..."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The evolution: Poly Evolver upgraded encoder edition ambient soundtrack

video upload by MIDERA

"Last weekend I managed to replace every single encoder on my Poly Evolver. It has now evolved. It uses 24-detented encoders, which work much better than the originals. After 3 months of ownership my encoders that I applied deoxit to, needed it again. I wasn’t going to keep going with that so I bought the encoders and replaced them all.

Day 1: This took me 7 hours to complete. Not only did I take forever, I managed to ruin two pads in the process and panicked about it. I managed to repair the leads, thankfully, but it was a terrible experience, most of which happened within the first hour of work. I knew I still needed to do the rest of that board and the other two boards. This board was the right most board. It was also the hardest because of the 16 step sequencer section which had LEDs right next to the encoders.
Day 2: This took me 3 hours to complete. There were no issues.
Day 3: This took me 1.5 hours to complete. This was the left-most board. The problem with this board was that once I reinstalled it – a few of the encoders didn’t work. I panicked and took the board out and found all of the traces to be intact. I plugged it in again and they still didn’t work. It turns out these were the encoders that only worked when oscillators 3 and 4 were pressed. So obviously they didn’t work.
Was it worth the effort? I don’t know. I still feel like I have too many synths and this is just another one. It sounds really good, it does – but when you have so many, and have so many that sound so good, it is hard to justify everything I do have. It sounds so close to the Matrix 1000 – but yet, I find myself still believing that is one of my favorite sounding synths :/ And the lack of 6 voices makes the PE just a little underwhelming in that sense. But either way, I hope you enjoy my first noodling with it after the evolution."

DSI Poly Evolver - a few patches

video upload by MIDERA

"Well, I haven't been inspired to do anything recently (as is obvious from my lack of videos). I don't know if it's because I have too much stuff, haven't felt like writing, too busy with other things, or whatever it could be - but I guess I figured I'd do a few things after posting my Poly Evolver for sale and making sure everything functions. All of the knobs are off because I was planning to replace all of the encoders for detented encoders, but haven't done it yet. I think it needs it though, as some of the encoders already skip after applying deoxit (back in October 2022). But that's an extra $200 + $300 in labor (well, my own labor I suppose).

Anyway, It's a fun synth. And it sounds fantastic... I guess I'll see if anyone is interested in buying it - I could potentially buy a Moog One with the funds, but I'm not sure it's worth it. I've never once heard a demo I liked... but I also don't need all the synths I have so if I could consolidate to one, I might do that.

For drums you'll hear the Tempest. The Spectralis II sequenced the notes on the Evolver. Eventide Blackhole VST used for reverb."

Separated | Roland JD-800 ambient soundscape improvisation

video upload by MIDERA

"Another round with the Roland JD-800 . Someone recommended that I try making a sound and copying it to the other 3 parts and using an LFO on the filter and adjusting the individual LFOs per part. That’s basically what this patch is.

I’m not sure if this is growing on me yet or not. I think I have the basic navigation down and I’m liking it. Again, I compare it to the D50 and I feel it just doesn’t quite have the character or charm that the D50 has. And I must admit I really like the D50’s filter and FX section. I really love the Chorus in the D50 quite a bit. And why is the ‘chase’ function missing? Why’d Roland get rid of that? It was pretty nice and fun to use.

That said, I’m starting to like the tones I’m getting out of this. I made a few other patches as well that I really liked, although I didn’t record them here.

If you have other suggestions on how to use this thing, I have so far found the internet to be somewhat quiet on the JD-800. I don’t know why that is. The D50 is everywhere, so are the other Roland synths. But for the JD-800, I just am not seeing much of anything, apart from a few posts here and there about people wanting to sell theirs."

Under the abyss | Roland JD-800 ambient improvisation soundscape

video upload by MIDERA

"The Roland JD800. This is a synth that has interested me for years and it came yesterday. It feels like a D50+PG1000. But it doesn’t sound like one. I can hear a lot of similar sounds in here. Honestly, I really don’t know what to make of this synth. There is no honeymoon phase. It looks great and it feels great. Even the keys are surprisingly nice, given what I’ve read about them being awful. Yes, I will need to open this up and remove the red glue which hasn’t been a problem on this unit yet.

I think I would love this thing more honestly, if I didn’t have so many synths and no good way to store them. I had bought a Jaspers stand but sold it within a few days because it made my room feel like a tomb and I just hated being in here. But now, I have too many synths and shouldn’t have even bought the JD800.

For me, I’m not yet understanding how this synth is really worth its price. Sure, it has 4 parts, but each part is fairly static (no FM, AM, Cross Mod, etc). Each part has its own envelopes and LFOs and that is pretty nice, but I’ll never get unique timbres that one gets with other synthesis models. For now I feel like it sounds like a less interesting SY77 or D50.

Maybe I’ll change my mind. I don’t know.

This sound was made using 2 (or 3?) parts with internal FX only."

Another wrong path | Roland System 8 JX3P Plug-out ambient pads

video upload by MIDERA

"Why is it another wrong path? Well, I obviously have too much stuff. Every time I think 'I should sell XYZ...' I play it and really enjoy it. I bet I've written this a couple of times elsewhere. I've thought about selling the System 8. It just doesn't feel or look very nice and I have other instruments that do similar sounds better. Then I sit down and just play it and it has its own thing going on. So much that I can't say I'm even bothered by the green lights when I'm playing it. I forget about how ugly it is and just have fun.

So I'm left thinking... I can't sell any of it. If only I had a solution I liked for storing a lot of these synths. I rearranged my whole studio in hopes that I could set things up nicer. That was a failure.

No added FX except internal from the System 8.

#Roland #ambientmusic #JX3P"

Roland Jupiter 6 and DSI Tempest downtempo electronic track

video upload by MIDERA

"Here's a quick track I made using the Roland Jupiter 6 and a drum loop I made on the DSI Tempest. I had about 45 minutes to do this - so it's a bit rough around the edges. But to make this track I used the Split-1 mode on the Jupiter with two separate patches.

It's kind of fun to use, but I see it as a live sort of thing, kind of finding two patches that work well and then just jamming with it rather than using it in general. So I probably won't use it often. I like to have the whole panel as one patch. Anyway, it's Valentine's Day - so hopefully you have something fun to do - or you had something fun to do, whether it's by yourself or with someone else. I am going to go hang out with my wife.

#Tempest #electronic #Jupiter6"

Sci-Fi Sound FX DSI Poly Evolver Pads

video upload by MIDERA

"You may be wondering why all the knobs are missing on my Poly Evolver. Well, I ripped them off so that I could see what they looked like on my Roland System 8. They looked ok. But the problem with the System 8 really isn't in the knobs, but in the poor keybed (which I even opened up and lubed and it still doesn't feel nice). Well, I decided to keep them off and I think I'm going to upgrade my encoders to the 24-detented versions. That will be a lot of work if I do it.

Anyway, I am sitting with the Poly Evolver and wondering whether it's something I should keep, being only 4 voices. That frustrates me quite a bit actually. I feel like at 6 voices it would have been amazing, and, I suppose it is only at 4 voices, but I find 6 is really the sweet spot. It's such a great synth though. I do have a mono evolver to add a voice, but it has a bug whereby the two won't always sound identical. Plus, you can't use the Audio inputs on the Poly Evolver to take the extra voice of the Mono Evolver. Just don't know what DSI was thinking. Only the PE Rack has that combination. Missed opportunity.

Well, I guess as I played the Poly Evolver, I realized just how crazy this thing gets. I don't know any other synths that really get this crazy. I don't think any that I have really do this sequencing like that. Maybe the Korg Radias, but it doesn't really sound as nice (and doesn't have analog voices and filters).

So - what you have is me going through and just messing around with a patch I made. I started it mid-way through my journey. I added the beginning portion to the end so you're welcome to get there if you want - although I find that people only watch the first few minutes of my videos anyway, so I doubt anyone will even get to that part!

Used Eventide Blackhole VST for reverb."

Breath of the clouds | Peaceful ambient music with UDO Super 6

video upload by MIDERA

"Today I had a chance to test out a UDO Super 6 when a friend (Avery) visited. They wanted to check out my Jupiter 6 and borrow a friend's synth which was stowed away at my place for a while. They were kind enough to bring the Super 6 along for the ride.

So what did I think of the Super 6? It's a bit hard to say honestly, if only because it was in my studio for about an hour and I only really messed with it for about 20 minutes total, including playing this.

I found the naming convention similar to that of the DW8000 - where things were sort of not easy to understand right away - like MG for LFO (on the DW and I'm sure other Korg's of the era). Whatever, it's more on me for not understanding that aspect.

I did have this weird sort of thinking that... I actually think the System 8 held up really well - and strangely, I actually am starting to think maybe I like how my System 8 looks. How can this even happen... I don't know. I think once you start bonding with things, even if they don't look great they still are really unique in other ways.

That said, obviously the System 8 is sort of on a lower tier than the Super 6 in terms of build quality and everything else.

I will say that I could understand someone parting with a Jupiter 6, Juno 6/60/106, and System 8 in order to grab the Super 6. It really does a lot of those things well. I am actually wondering why not sell the Jupiter 6 for the Super 6.

So now that's point number 2 - how does the Jupiter 6 compare? Well... I think I'll need to sleep on that. Maybe I'll write something similar with the Jupiter 6 and see how I feel about it. I will say that there is an incredible amount of overlap on the two.

I think the Jupiter 6 looks cooler though :P

And something that I tried to hide (because it showed up at the beginning and I removed it) and did hear somewhat throughout this video... I could hear clicking when I pressed the keys even when the attack was set to very slow. I wonder what that's about or if it's some weird thing with the delay? I don't know."

Only grief weathers time | Downtempo electronic synth instrumental

video upload by MIDERA

"I think I have never sat here longer, not knowing a thing to write about, or how to title this track. I've thought about the day, the week, and all my music ever makes me think about is just how fleeting time is - I don't normally feel that way towards anything I listen to, just my music. I wonder if that's how others view their work? Or maybe it's just the focus of what I do? Which reminds me - when I ask if my music invokes 'sadness' I'm often hearing that, no, it doesn't sound sad, which is bizarre, because that is almost always the mood I'm going for.

Ok - I guess that helped me figure out my title. Now I wonder whether I need to add a string of instruments in there... It's what I always do, but I don't like it. So, I guess I won't.

But I better list out what I had because I recently went back to a track and masterfully did not include everything and now I've forgotten.

Roland Jupiter 6 - pads at the beginning and throughout
Roland SH-101 - bass
Sequential Prophet 10 - Arp
DSI Tempest - Druims
Squarp Pyramid - Sequencer
All sounds routed to AUX to Strymon Volante then to Eventide Space"

Pivot

video upload by MIDERA

"Today I got the call from my veterinarian. I was expecting the call. My cat Pivot was diagnosed with a skin cancer. I guess I knew it was coming. I half expected to hear 'cancer'. I know she's only a cat. But she's been with me since 2008 when she was about a year old, a crazy little kitty.

Now, her own body has gone rogue against her and I will watch as it all unfolds. I don't know how long she's got. She is already 15, so she's had a pretty good long life, but I think maybe I could have done more earlier and I didn't.

So far - she's 'healthy' and just has these lesions that aren't comfortable. From what I've read, these cancers don't always or necessarily move to other organs, so hopefully we have a decent amount of time left with her.

When I told my daughter about what we should expect. She took it well. She had no questions... I'm guessing she just doesn't quite yet grasp what it means.

Not that I really grasp what it means either.

Roland Jupiter 6 (through Boss MD500)
Roland JX3P
DSI Tempest
Eventide Blackhole VST"

The One Ring Theme on Roland RS-202 stringer

video upload by MIDERA

"Some friends are swapping gear and using my place to swap as neither live near each other... so right now I'm sitting with a Roland RS-202 for a bit (don't worry, I was allowed to test it out and provide feedback).

As you may know - I also have a Yamaha SK30 that I can't seem to bring myself to part with. And of course I figured why not see how they compare. Once they were next to each other, I could really tell where they differed. I would say the Roland RS-202 is 'silky' and has a very pleasing sound to it. The Yamaha SK30 is a bit harsher I guess. But they're very very different in almost every other way.

The RS-202 has basically no controls except 'tone', a few switches for brass or string sounds, vibrato, and sustain. It does have a wonderful sounding ensemble effect with two settings.

The SK30 has an envelope for the shared single filter on the polysynth, an organ section, tremolo and ensemble effects (they don't sound as good as the RS-202 ensemble), a fairly complex and robust routing system, detuning, and my personal favorite, the solo section which is a really nice sounding single VCO monosynth.

Also, the SK30 is like 3X bigger than the RS-202. I really dislike how large the SK30 is.

Well, here's all I could think to write, and it's not even mine. It's from the Lord of the Rings... but I'm guessing you knew that.

I used the Strymon Volante pedal and Eventide Blackhole VST."

For what is missing | A melancholy improvisation with the Rhodes and AN1x

video upload by MIDERA

"Tonight I was moving stuff around in my studio and came across an old photo of me when I was 1 or 2... But I noticed that there was another photo behind it. I took it out and saw myself, at what must have been 6 months? I can't really tell. I was a baby. Seeing this photo made me feel strange in a way that's hard to explain - part of me felt bad for my parents, who don't have that little baby anymore, which I understand - as I watch my own babies grow into their older selves. You just see time ripping it away from you. So I see this picture of me and think that I went through that process. I guess time is to blame, not me. And then I just look at that photo and think a whole series of timelines could have happened - I wondered where it possibly could have gone based on all sorts of inputs (whether we moved or did not move to different places), I just had this potential that, as I get older, fades away.

I think that's what spurred my sentiment as I wrote this song."

Afterglow | Downtempo electronic jam with Jupiter 6, Prophet 10, SH-101, DSI Tempest, and Pyramid

video upload by MIDERA

"I finally got my studio reorganized. I had spent about 3 weeks fixing up my Jupiter 6, but everything else became disheveled. I realized how much time I spend 'noodling' and how it's just not rewarding, not like writing music. I realize for the most part, my 'noodling' videos tend to do better - probably because people are specifically interested in what the instrument does.

But I don't really get much out of those videos... except it keeps my channel 'active.' I'd take a written song any day over the nothing videos that I post. It feels good to get back into it.

Track uses the Roland Jupiter 6, Sequential Prophet 10, Roland SH-101, and DSI Tempest. Eventide Blackhole VST for FX."

Roland Jupiter 6 | Thirty minutes of nothing

video upload by MIDERA

"10 days. It took me 10 days to figure out how to fix my Jupiter 6 from the issue that presented itself in my last video. That is, a bad oscillator on voice 3 that prevented the pulse wave from working. I spent a lot of time, and with some help (or a lot of help) from a few friends, I managed to figure it out. I also managed to fix some of the sliders. So now my Jupiter 6, for the time being, seems to be in 100% working condition. It feels really good.

To celebrate, I thought I would make a video exploring the Jupiter 6 more - although, unfortunately, I didn't really feel 'on', making mistake after mistake... but I just need to keep going, because it's all I can do.

I think the second half is more interesting, but maybe you'll find something you like throughout.

For FX - I used the Eventide Blackhole VST."