Radio From a Tree! Ether Adventures

Published on May 24, 2020 DECIMA1

"This video is not endorsed or sponsored by SOMA Laboratory.

From the SOMA Website about the ETHER V2:

ETHER is a kind of anti-radio. Instead of being tuned to a specific radio station, it receives all the interference and radiation that a traditional radio tries to eliminate in order to create a clean signal. It captures the radio waves “as is” from hertz to gigahertz because it doesn’t contain the tuned input circuit that filters out all frequencies except the narrow band of a specific station. This allows ETHER to perceive the invisible electromagnetic landscape that humans created unintentionally, making possible live electromagnetic field listening and recording.

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Synthberry Pi: Tutorial II - OSC Remote control

Published on Mar 7, 2020 Artis Lab

"SynthBerry Pi is the prototype of a standalone synthesizer based on the Raspberry Pi mini computer and the Pure Data development environment. The prototype is equipped with a control surface made up of eight potentiometers connected to the computer which allow to modify, in real time, the control parameters of the sound generation processes. Furthermore, by using the wireless connectivity of the mini computer, the Pure Data patches can be controlled by sending Open Sound Control (OSC) messages from devices such as tablets or smartphones.

For more information on SynthBerry Pi visit this link: https://www.artislab.it/it/synthberry...

The video shows the remote control of a Pure Data patch based on Open Sound Control messages over the wireless network. On the phone we have chosen to use an application called Control which provides graphic interfaces equipped with objects which, in response to user actions, send OSC messages through the wireless connection.

For this demo we used a Pd patch that is based on a subtractive synthesis system. The patch consists of a white noise generator and four fourth-order bandpass filters. The eight potentiometers of the control surface allow to control, for each filter, the center frequency and the quality factor (Q). The filters have been tuned to operate in different frequency regions from the lowest, the pair of potentiometers on the left, up to the highest on the right.

Two interfaces have been developed in Control to change the parameters of the Pd patch which creates the subtractive synthesis system. The first interface is something similar to a mixer, since it makes possible to separately change the volume and position of the stereo panning of each of the four filters through the use of a widget that implements a multitouch interface. The vertical dimension of the graphic object has been associated with the volume control of each filter, while the horizontal direction allows the user to control the panning between the left and right channels.

The second interface has four buttons that allow the user to choose four different settings for the range of variation of the filter frequencies. The frequency value of the four filters is controlled by the position of the corresponding potentiometer by means of a mapping process in a well-defined frequency range defined by a maximum and minimum value. Each button of the Control interface recalls a different configuration in the patch for the extreme values (maximum and minimum) of the frequency regions in which the interpolation is carried out. Furthermore, by positioning the potentiometers all up or all down, it is possible to obtain precisely the values of the filter frequencies set for the different presets."

See the Artis Lab below for more.

ELEKTRON DIGITAKT // First Quick Test using Original Samples

Published on Jan 4, 2020 Genshi Media Group

"::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::

First quick test of the Elektron Digitakt Drum Computer/Sampler using my own original samples which I sampled from a variety of sources (my Eurorack, objects from around the house, orchestral sound libraries, etc.) I forgot how completely unintuitive Elektron boxes are... after transferring my samples over from my computer, it took me almost an hour just to figure out how to edit and load the first sample into a track! Hopefully, I'll get much better and faster with this."

WMD Eurorack Drum Machine With The New Crater Kick Drum + Tiptop Audio Effects Modules

Published on Dec 27, 2019 Perfect Circuit

"This jam pairs WMD's Metron, their full arsenal of drum modules, Mutable's Plaits, and Tiptop's new ZVERB and ECHOZ effect modules to create a heavy-hitting drum machine in just 104hp of space. With the recent introduction of WMD's Crater, we needed to see just how huge a WMD drum machine could sound.

WMD's four drum modules work in tandem to produce an entire kit's worth of unique, articulate, and highly detailed percussion sounds. Chimera produces metallic sounds using a purpose-built granular engine pre-loaded with samples of everyday objects; Fracture uses a similar engine for scattered, particulate tones. Crucible is a physically-modeled cymbal module, capable of producing sound ranging from realistic ride cymbals to impossibly large metal sheets. Crater, the newest member of the WMD drum family, utilizes a combination of analog and digital components to produce huge, powerful kicks with the impact of a 909 but the body of an 808.

Tiptop's ZVERB and ECHOZ provide tailored versions of effects from their years of development on the Z-DSP multi effect module, while the Metron keeps everything moving while the MSCL glues the mix together."

https://www.perfectcircuit.com/

Ambient Chaos at Spectrum (Brooklyn, New York)

Published on Dec 5, 2019 CatSynth TV

"We visit Spectrum, a home for experimental and adventurous music in Brooklyn, for the November edition of Ambient Chaos.

Portions of video by Jewel Chaudhary.
_________

Ambient Chaos Returns with four very special acts and Sofy Yuditskaya on live video!

1) Public Speaking/Gabriel Zucker Duo

Brooklyn's Public Speaking is the soulful noise project of sound artist and songwriter Jason Anthony Harris. Live, he uses voice, found objects, radio, synth, and tape recorder, poring over pedals to loop, warp and augment these sources.

https://www.facebook.com/publicspeaki...

Gabriel Zucker is a pianist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from New York, whose work combines maximalist compositions with the progressive improvisation of New York’s creative music scene. His music has received two ASCAP composition awards, and has been praised in Downbeat (4.5 stars), All About Jazz (4.5 stars), Stereogum, Jazzwise, and the New York City Jazz Record. A Yale graduate and Rhodes Scholar, Zucker has performed throughout New York at such venues as Carnegie Hall, The Stone, Roulette, and the Jazz Gallery, as well as in 22 countries around the world.

http://www.gabrielzucker.com/home.html

2) The Tony Curtis Experience

The Tony Curtis Experience is
Damien Olsen's approach to Lounge and Exotica from the old school tradition of electronic music.

Influenced by the music of Let's Baxter, John Barry and 60s and 70's TV shows, elaborating a romantic and intricate sonic poem,.
Joined by the talents of Neb Ula the Velvet Queen on Theremin and Jeremy Slater on various electronics.

https://damienolsen.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/jeremyslater-1
www.soundcloud.com/Nebulaandthevelvetqueen

3) Amanda Chaudhary

https://amandachaudhary.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fab7...

4) 4 Airports

4 Airports is a collaboration between guitarist Craig Chin and synthesist Nathan Yeager. Together they create improvised electronic soundscapes, exploring weird sonic terrain and deep ambient textures.

https://4airports.bandcamp.com"

E-MU EMULATOR II Sampling Synthesizer (1984) Steppin`Out & The Story Behind Retrosound

Published on Nov 20, 2019 RetroSound

"(c) 2019 vintage synthesizer demo by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

all synthesizer sounds: E-MU #EMULATOR II #Sampling #Synthesizer (1984)
drums: Roland TR-707 (1985)
recording: multi-track, also I used the EIIs internal sequencer for recording
fx: reverb and delay

instrumental cover of Joe Jackson´s wonderful track Steppin`Out from the year 1982"

---

I've been waiting for Retrosound's next video to share the following sent my way via Soviet Space Child. I'm not on Instagram myself, so I missed it. The cover above "Steppin' Out" is just a nice coincidence. :)

View this post on Instagram

The Story behind RetroSound: Most of you know my synthesizers, but very little about the person behind them, today there are some personal sentences from me. I grew up in the former GDR. Until I was 18 years old, I only knew synthesizers from the western tv. As teenager, I heard the music of Depeche Mode, Human League, Yazoo, Pink Floyd and Genesis. But the soundscapes of Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre also found their way into my ear. The first synthesizer sounds I probably perceived while secretly listening to the ELO album from my dad. As kid and teenager, I always dream of a bunch of synthesizers like my musical heroes did. There were no pictures of Playboy on my wall, like some of my age, but badly copied photographs of synths from western tv. I knew that it would only be a dream, because there was no legal way to leave the GDR. And I did not want to leave her either. Everything changed in 1989 and what nobody could ever expect became reality. Suddenly the objects of desire moved within range, but the necessary money was missing. It was not until 1998 that I bought my first synthesizer from my long and hard saved money. It was the Clavia Nord Modular. I plunged madly on the device and programmed sounds day and night. Then Clavia became aware of me in Sweden and so one thing came to another. From then on, countless of my sounds were found among the Nord Modular / Micro Modular factory sounds. That motivated me to do more. Then the Roland Juno-60 came into the house, my dream synth of the 80s and still my favorite. I had not much money, so I bought old synthesizers and restored them. Well at some point I had realized my childhood dream yet. Today I work as a freelance sound designer for UVI. I compose soundscapes for documentary films and advise musicians all over the world. And maybe some of you know my RetroSound Vintage Synthesizer Channel on YouTube. Since 2007 with demo tracks, sounds. What happened exactly 30 years ago has taken my whole life in a completely different direction. I'm very happy about that. 🙌 . #mauerfall #30jahremauerfall #neunternovember #DDR #wiedervereinigung #retrosound #synth #synthesizer #GDR #germany #1989 #mauerfall30

A post shared by RetroSound (@retrosound72) on Nov 8, 2019 at 12:20am PST

Crank Sturgeon Contact Mic Tutorial

Published on Nov 6, 2019 Perfect Circuit

"What is a contact mic? What is a transducer? Can packing tape replace a violin or a cello? Is your neglected Slinky a dormant laser factory? Crank Sturgeon answers all of these questions and more, providing colorful insight into his own music making practice and the instruments he produces.

Crank Sturgeon's instruments are all based around lo-fi transducers: devices that convert acoustic energy into electrical energy. By creating general-purpose devices for amplifying all sorts of sounds, everyday objects suddenly take on entirely new musical meaning: rubber bands, spoons, string, and all manner of appliances suddenly produce sound that could bring new character to your own music...or take it over entirely.

Crank Sturgeon instruments available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/crank-...

#PerfectCircuit #ContactMic #Tutorial"

Knobcon 2019: New Products from Roland, Modal, Buchla, Erica Synths, ASM & Curious Sound | Reverb

Published on Sep 9, 2019 Reverb

"The eighth annual Knobcon synth convention was recently held outside of Chicago, and we took a peek at all the [bleep]ing cool gear and new releases.

Products Featured: Curious Sound Objects Bitty, Modal Argon 8, Erica Synths Pico System III, ASM Hydrasynth, Buchla 208c and Easel Command Module & Roland Jupiter-XM"

Drawing with Sound (Oscilloscope Music) - Smarter Every Day 224

Published on Aug 31, 2019 Drawing with Sound (Oscilloscope Music) - Smarter Every Day 224

"What I really like about this project is that it taught me to think about the world differently with respect to physical objects. I now sometimes think about the outline of physical objects as if it's a line. The specific area of math that you use for things like this is called 'Parametric Equations'. I had a lot of great conversations about this stuff with Hansi and Jerobeam. I was very impressed by their intelligence, and also very thankful that they took their time to share these special things with me. I know they'd really appreciate it if you'd reach out to their website and purchase OsciStudio as well as some of Jerobeam's music. Even if you don't have an oscilloscope, purchasing the software will obviously help them continue to do what they love doing. Hansi showed me a very interesting thing he's working on involving ray tracing. It was fascinating.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUPPORT THE ARTISTS!

Here's the website you want to go to:
https://oscilloscopemusic.com/

Direct Links:

Download OsciStudio Here so you can draw 3D objects in Blender
https://oscilloscopemusic.com/oscistu...

Download some Oscilloscope Music here:
https://oscilloscopemusic.com/watch.p...

Check out Jerobeam's channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/jerobeam..."

Blocs

Oscilloscope Music - Jerobeam Fenderson


Previous posts featuring Jerobeam Fenderson. Also see: Vector Synthesis: a Media Archaeological Investigation into Sound-Modulated Light

The Mojave Desert Modular Experiment: Dustin & Takako

Published on Jul 8, 2019 Perfect Circuit

"In the Mojave Desert Modular Experiment, we worked with local artists to create modular systems suited to their own styles and workflows...despite the fact that none of them had ever used modular synths before. Each artist/group had two weeks to get to know their system and prepare a performance.

The second participants in the experiment were Dustin & Takako (Dustin Wong & Takako Minekawa). These two have years of experience improvising together and often combine musical instruments like guitar and keyboards with more experimental sounds from effects and looper pedals used with found objects and other odd sound generators. We built a eurorack system with each of them, both featuring playable touch interfaces, while Dustin's system focused on FM synthesis, and Takako's on physical modeling.

Come by our showroom to try out these systems for yourself, and keep an eye out for more results from the experiment each Monday this month! Read more about Dustin & Takako’s system and get links to his music here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal..."

Bitty - Drones and Sprinkles & Flying

Published on May 28, 2019 Curious Sound Objects

"Having some fun with a drone and arpeggiator patch on the Bitty."

Bitty - Flying

Published on May 28, 2019 Curious Sound Objects

"It was such a beautiful day last Saturday. Took out my favorite Bitty melodic patch and zoned out into the sun."

See this post for details on Curious Sound Objects Bitty.

KISS2019 - Kyma International Sound Symposium in Busan, South Korea Announced

The press release follows:

Kimchi and Kyma — KISS2019: Resonance

Sound designers, electronic musicians and researchers to meet in Busan South Korea 29 August through 1 September 2019 for the KISS2019 international symposium and music festival

Busan, South Korea (12 May 2019) — Sound designers, musicians, researchers and students of sound will meet in the coastal city of Busan, South Korea from 29 August – 1 September 2019 for the 11th annual Kyma International Sound Symposium (KISS2019) — four days and nights of hands-on workshops, live electronic music performances, and research presentations on the theme: Resonance (공명).

CLICK FOR MORE »

Bitty - Pocket-sized Drum Machine and Synthesizer by Curious Sound Objects

Published on Apr 30, 2019 Curious Sound Objects

Currently on Kickstarter

via Arduino.cc

"There are a wide variety of ways to create electronic music. For a capable machine that fits in the palm of your hand and is loud enough to use outdoors, however, it’s hard to imagine a battery-powered device cooler than Bitty from Curious Sound Objects.

The pocket-sized drum machine and synthesizer, currently on Kickstarter, was prototyped using an Arduino Nano and will be fully Arduino-compatible when released. This means that in addition to changing the sound and interface around with readily-available sound packs—which include Theremin Bitty, Techno Bitty, Basement Bitty, Trap Bitty, Lofi Bitty, and Beach Bitty—it can be programmed with the Arduino IDE. The device can even run sound software written for other Arduino boards.

Bitty features four sample trigger buttons, a pair of knobs, and a speaker. Designed for entry-level EDM enthusiasts and studio musicians alike, you can play the drums and melodies manually, as well as trigger patterns to produce dance music or hip hop beats. These can be chosen via the left knob, while the right knob handles pitch, note selection, and arpeggiation."

::vtol:: last breath

::vtol:: last breath from ::vtol:: on Vimeo.

http://vtol.cc/filter/works/last-breath

Recently I have been actively developing the concept of “passive instruments”. I understand passive instruments to be different multimedia objects that do not require management so much as co-existence with them based on relations born of a mutual “hybrid” symbiosis.

“Last breadth” is an example of such an instrument. The operating principle of the object is fairly simple – the exhaled air (its pressure and flow rate) activates the generative process, which depends on the exhalation parameters and is managed by the air movement in the organ. The object does not require any special game technique, although any change in the breathing (either premeditated or caused by physiological factors) is directly dependent on game dynamics and also on all the other parameters used to generate the sonic flow.

The idea of this project came to me during an emotional upheaval and concerns about my health that occurred all of a sudden. It is not as I had real grounds to worry about my life. On the other hand, however, the outcome is well-known and could happen at any moment. I don't feel any existential fear of death. On the contrary the “transition” is a wonderful topic for studies as part of art practice. I consider this object to constitute a deathbed mask – a ritual instrument of dying that can be played with when I no longer have any strength to use any other instrument. Until my last breath. And the final representation of the object was formed on this basis: sterile cyber-gothic, new rituals, the organs that support the functioning of the organ.


soft:

- pure data

hard:

- custom electronics
- diy breath controller
- multichannel sound system

video, photo - Anna Kortyukova, Moscow, 2019.

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::vtol:: poise→[d]

::vtol:: poise→[d] from ::vtol:: on Vimeo.

"more about - http://vtol.cc/filter/works/Poise-d

Poise→[d] is a hybrid installation that uses chemical and physical reactions to control its behaviour and sound synthesis. The installation consists of the main control unit and three balancing robots. The main control unit has three core systems where the reactions occur, with everything analysed by a computer algorithm using cameras.

This project is based on self-organising structures viewed from several different angles. All the three robots are connected to the main control unit and represent through sound and movement one of the three processes that are happening. The first robot is connected to a sound/mechanical process, the second one to a thermodynamic reaction, and the third to a chemical reaction. Taken together, they create a new and more complex system, as they affect each other through the movements of robots and the main algorithm. To a certain extent, this hybrid system consisting of robotised kinetic objects and chemical/physical reactions is symptomatic of pre-biotic chemical evolution. Another important aspect is the use of Belousov-Zhabotinsky’s chemical reaction - owing to its complexity and singularity, fascinating studies were conducted on cybernetics and some scientists were even enthused to create a chemical computing machine. In this project, the reaction is the most important component of the algorithmic process of the entire installation."

hard:

- arduino mega
- 2 usb cameras
- 4 channel sound system
- custom electronics
- heating mechanism
- servo-motors
- led lights

soft:

- pure data
- max/msp

CLICK FOR MORE »

CASIO PT-7 w/ Original Box

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

2nd one this month

"Near Mint Condition Casio PT-7 with Original Box, Operation Manual and Brand New Batteries Included (instrument with tiny polyphonic touch sensor keypad & analogue rhythm)

This is clearly one of the most bizarre and innovative instruments created by Casio, because this tiny thing has a detachable keyboard with 29 soft touch foil keys, and this is not just a monophonic toy tablehooter but a real 8 note(!) polyphonic instrument with analogue rhythm and a small but high quality loudspeaker that makes a very respectable organ sound.

This strange Casio invention permits special play techniques with very rapid glissandos and was one of the forgotten milestones in the struggle of overcoming the clumsy piano key relic on electronic consumer instruments.

CLICK FOR MORE »

ETHER by SOMA laboratory

Published on Feb 20, 2019 Vlad Kreimer

"ETHER is a wide-band pocket receiver that turns the electromagnetic landscape around you into a live soundscape that you control and manipulate by walking around and moving ETHER with your hand."

via SOMA laboratory

The net price of ETHER is 120 euros. The total price including shipping to most countries, PayPal transfer fees and VAT will be around 150 euros. We will specify the exact price when we receive your shipping address.


"ETHER is a kind of anti-radio. Instead of being tuned to a specific radio station, it receives all the interference and radiation that a traditional radio tries to eliminate in order to create a clean signal. It captures the radio waves “as is” from hertz to gigahertz, because it doesn’t contain the tuned input circuit that filters out all frequencies except the narrow band of a specific station. This allows ETHER to perceive the invisible electromagnetic landscape that humans created unintentionally, making possible live electromagnetic field listening and recording.
As the inspiration for this project, I took the design of the very first radios (early 1900s) that had no tuning wheel. At this time there weren’t many radio stations, and all of them used Morse code. It was possible to distinguish each transmitter by ear, as each one had its own specific timbre or “voice”.

ETHER is pocket-sized (105x65x20mm) and light-weight (93g). It consumes very little power and runs on two AAA batteries. How long it can run on two batteries is unclear, because I still use the very same set of alkaline batteries I put into the first ETHER prototype 6 years ago! (yes the project has taken 6 years). All I can definitely say is that battery life is more than 300 hours if you using alkaline or lithium batteries.

CLICK FOR MORE »

TEST SERIES MiniHarp Autoharp Ciat-Lonbarde Cocoquantus Paul Vo Wand

Published on Feb 8, 2019 Outsider Sound Design

"Experiments with Miniharp, Ciat-Lonbarde Cocoquantus, Paul Vo Wand, and various objects.

The purpose of 'TEST SERIES' is to focus on the sound design possibilities of various gear combinations. This series is not musical nor does it serve as an instructional video. It is all about sound potential.
Please consider supporting this channel by purchasing a sample pack or music download from www.outsidersounddesign.com"

Monome Norns

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Monome's killer app - standalone, battery-powered hardware with community-driven scripts, apps etc. for use with MIDI controllers, Grid, or by itself. Worth it alone for the MLR sampler, tbh.

--- From monome:

changes. travels. is open to possibilities.

norns is many sound instruments. it connects to grids, MIDI and other objects. norns lets you define its behavior with scripts and DSP.

past. present. future. norns is many tomorrows.

WHAT IS IT REALLY?
norns is a small, portable sound computer that dynamically runs scripts and DSP, such as:

sample-cutter (using a grid, aka mlr)
polysynth (connect a MIDI keyboard)
algorithmic drum machine (MIDI CC-mapped)
drone box (no input)
granulator (controlled via OSC using a phone or tablet)
asynchronous looper (stompbox-style)
polyphasic sequencer (using a USB-CV interface to control modular synths)
these are just a few examples. scripts can be created or modified to completely alter the functionality of the system. we maintain a growing repository of scripts which means the machine will continue to have new possibilities.

norns is designed to be changed, encouraging customization and invention."

CLICK FOR MORE »

SKYPAD Multitouch iOS & Android Controller for ORBIT and ECLIPSE

Uploaded on Oct 11, 2018 Wide Blue Sound

"Wide Blue Sound spreads ORBIT and ECLIPSE wings with SKYPAD controller alongside APEX and AETERNA expansions

LOS ANGELES, CA, USA: musical synth designers Wide Blue Sound is proud to announce availability of its SKYPAD controller app alongside APEX and AETERNA — the first official expansion packs for its award-winning ORBIT and ECLIPSE flagship software synthesizers — as of October 15…

SKYPAD is a boundary-pushing remote and creative automation tool that runs on any iOS or Android tablet with Liine’s Lemur (MIDI/OSC controller) app installed. It adds hands-on control of every parameter in ORBIT and ECLIPSE, and, more importantly, adds many brand-new features to Wide Blue Sound’s software synthesizer flagships.

Firstly, SKYPAD’s Generator builds upon ORBIT and ECLIPSE’s Intelligent Randomize feature to create new patches based on musical and emotional keywords. It is the fastest way to make custom presets that simply sound fantastic!

Furthermore, the Multiball page controls any parameters in the entire synth with a fun physics-based interface. Here SKYPAD users can quickly move objects around the screen with multi-touch, then record the result in their DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)!

The Spatial Mixer is an intuitive 3D space mixer. Here users can place each of the synth’s four sound sources in virtual space with their fingers or enable the Earth Gravity mode by moving the tablet itself. Indeed, this creative tool uses a hand-crafted combination of panning, filters, reverb, and delay to create a sense of distance and depth.

SKYPAD’s FX XY macro pads combine ORBIT and ECLIPSE’s essential effects parameters together. This time users can quickly shape sounds using simple gestures, generating dramatic sweeping motions between different distortions, spaces, and more.

Maintains Wide Blue Sound founder Nathan Rightmour: “The Wide Blue Sound team is really excited to release SKYPAD. We’ve dropped the keyboard and mouse completely here at WBS HQ, and now only use SKYPAD to interact with ORBIT and ECLIPSE. It’s so much more than a remote; for us, it’s been a new way to connect with sound and music.”

Meanwhile, Wide Blue Sound has also released the APEX and AETERNA expansion packs for ORBIT and ECLIPSE, respectively. Created by one of the industry’s most revered sound designers, they represent the latest trends in electronic and cinematic music.

SKYPAD now comes included with every purchase of ORBIT and ECLIPSE — priced at $199.00 USD and $149.00 USD, respectively, and available directly from Wide Blue Sound (https://widebluesound.com)."