Endless Processor Dronebox - live

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"I thought it would help to document the process of building a complex, evolving drone from scratch on the Endless Processor.

I'm using the wave player algorithm in Disting Mk4 which is loaded with a mixture of spoken word files and various melodic/instrumental samples as the source material for the EP which here is using the alternative firmware that crossfades between layers.

The input from Disting is normalled to both EP inputs so both channels are receiving the same input.

The yellow button samples the input into the current layer of the EP. The Memory pot sets the duration of the sample period. The Layer pot and the Channel switch determine which layer is active. When the layer changes you can see the flash from the small yellow led above the pot.

For much of the time I'm not monitoring the inputs, I'm just catching audio at random. If what I grab doesn't feel right for what I'm doing at that point, I just keep on grabbing until I find something that works. If I want a layer to fade out gracefully to silence I can use the clear button (eg at the end of this recording).

The ENOsc adds some drone reinforcement along the way and the final FX are from the FX Aid.

So, in just 48hp, I think this is a rather formidable, self-contained dronebox that is ideal for spontaneous, live exploration."

You can find additional posts featuring the Blukač Endless Processor here.

Endless Processor - first run

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"A quick run-through for the Endless Processor from Blukač using the updated firmware.

The beta firmware allows you to chose between stacking or crossfading between sampled layers. Here I'm crossfading between layers sampled from the ENOsc on channel 2 and Strega on channel 1. Using CV from a fader from 16n to select the layers because its a little more comfortable than the pot on the module.

I think this crossfading option suits me better than the standard, stacked approach. I like how the layers interact when I scan through them. It also allows me to leave blank layers to add breathing spaces within a drone."

Graintopia

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Exploring the superb Graintopia script for Norns by infinite digits (https://github.com/schollz/graintopia)

Navigating around 3 audio clips drawn from my outtakes library with the help of the 16n faderbank.

Audio recorded direct to camera with no external FX. Everything you hear is taken straight from the Norns.

(Apologies for the screen flicker. Could not get it to match any of the frame rates I tried. This was the best compromise)"

Forwards by one

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Longform transmission from the Drone Table.

Radio reception from WebSRD.
Participants: Norns (Dronecaster script), Drone Commander, WIngie, Aurora, Strega and RetroVerb"

Bifurcate

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Continuing to explore the Wingie Blippoo firmware, this time trying to find a slightly more restrained way of working and allowing something to develop over a bit more time.

Paired with a BC9 on the line input for extra unpredictability. And sending it all out via a QuBit Aurora (standard firmware) for atmospherics.

I am loving the soundscapes this thing creates. Really regret not picking up an original Blippoo when I had the chance years ago."

Wingie Blippoo + TouchOSC

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Quick runout for the alternative Wingie firmware, inspired by Rob Hordijk's original box of controlled chaos.

Control of the beastie is greatly enhanced by the superb TouchOSC template created by Mod Wiggler member bcomnes

Here I'm running the Wingipoo out through Lancet Retroverb spring reverb for extra metal drippiness.

This video is often loud and has a very wide frequency range so choose your playback device accordingly"

SIG/EX fingerpick (Bronn Wennili Stomp)

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Replaced the SIG front panel for the more informative version and updated Disting EX to the latest firmware which includes a port of Mutable Instruments Rings.

So it would have been rude not to pair them for a little play around, this time as a pseudo fingerpicking combination.

Joystick controlling Rings structure parameter (in sympathetic string mode) and Plaits adds a simple kick anchor."

RYK VectorWave New Firmware. Multiple Amp Envelopes

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"A very speedy if rough demo of the most recent firmware beta for the RYK VectorWave.

Each of the 4 voice banks now has a dedicated ADSR, assigned to control the voice amplitude. So the module is now truly 4 voice multitimbral when in multi mode.

The same envelope can also be assigned to any of the other destinations available in the modulation slots at the same time.

So here, I’ve quickly set up SIG to provide pitch and gates x3 to drive 3 voices on the expanded VectorWave running the new firmware set up in a way that ( hopefully) makes it clear that each voice has a different amplitude contour going on.

This was set up literally within 10 minutes of updating the firmware so it’s not very sophisticated. But I just wanted to demo what a difference this makes to what was already a very powerful module. I’m sure I’ll be making more considered use of this combo later…."

Lost Radiophonics

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"I was given the opportunity to sample audio from a very early example of a domestic radio receiver, built in around 1925, probably designed receive some of the earliest broadcasts by the BBC.

The recordings were made using both a contact mic on the radio headset and Soma Labs Ether 'anti-radio' (which felt kind of poetic).

I curated the recordings into usable samples, converted to SF2 format and imported into Wotja to generate the soundtrack to this short video.

Huge thanks to Lostwithel Museum for indulging me despite their bewilderment.

https://www.lostwithielmuseum.org"

The doubted go electric

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"A longer form drone work derived from the Grendel Drone Commander processed through the Meng Qi Wingie and Qu-Bit Aurora. Final reverb courtesy of Happy Nerding FX Aid."

Wingie automation

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Digging deeper into the midi implementation of Wingie v2 led to this little proof of concept.

As in the previous video, Wotja is providing the audio for Wingie to feed on and is generating midi to control the pitches of its two voices.

This time, Wotja is also using midi CC0 to change at random the voice types used by Wingie's two channels. The changes are flagged by colour changes of the LEDs on the right side of Wingie's front panel.

I limited the change options to exclude 'cave' mode on this occasion."

See the Meng Qi label below for more.

Twotwotwotwotwo

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"An extended, one take, set of the amazing instrument that is Make Noise Strega plus 0-Ctrl. Its paired with an (off screen) looping delay. The audio is recorded directly from the mixer with no editing or post processing. Together, this duo are utterly compelling to me as a performance instrument."

9º Mostly Cloudy

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"An exploration of Strega and Wotja concerning the gentle art of sonic deterioration."

Wingie SIG jam

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"Little jam session with SIG and Wingie.

SIG triggers are pinging both channels on Wingie. Upper manual is set to Bar mode, lower is set to Poly. SIG clock out is syncing the background drone modulations coming from the 4ms Ensemble Oscillator. Lead voice from Plaits also triggered by SIG."

Wingie nocturne

video upload by UncertainMusicCorps

"First test of a newly arrived Meng Qi Wingie resonator.
Gave it a [Chimera] BC9 to chew on.
I can't say I know exactly what I'm doing - the Wingie is deliberately cryptic so to encourage happy accidents. But I'm accidentally happy all the same.


Beware, there is quite a large dynamic range to the audio on this video."

Heat haze

video by UncertainMusicCorps

"What else to do on a hot day?
Mostly this is all about the drones, with 4MS SWN and ENOsc tag teaming to create shifting, shimmering moods. Soft piano highlights come from DistingEX driven by Wotja 21 via midi (unseen as its on the other side of the room). Gentle manual curation on modular and mixer to follow wherever all this might lead."

Pear

video by UncertainMusicCorps

"A duet between MI Marbles and the Stochastic Inspiration Generator (https://www.stochasticinstruments.com...​). Two quite different approaches to achieve generative outcomes.

Marbles pairs with Plaits. SIG controls Disting EX Wavetable oscillator. SWN does drone duties"

The Stochastic Inspiration Generator was first posted here with a blue face panel by Omsonic Lab. This one appears to be re-branded under Stochastic Instruments, which technically makes this the first Stochastic Instruments post.

Info on the module:

"Each event the Stochastic Inspiration Generator creates has its pitch, octave, duration, onset, offset, portamento and ratchet set by probability controls. You can exert as much or as little control over what the next event will be as you wish. This could be very simple (e.g. raise C, E, G and 1/16 to 100% and you have a random arpeggiator kicking out constant 1/16 ) or something much more interesting…

The Inspiration Generator leverages tonal harmony by exploiting its statistical hierarchy of pitches: some notes turn up a lot, some not so much, some not at all. Being ‘in’ C Major means having lots of Cs, quite a lot of Gs and Es, a few Fs, some Ds, As and Bs, but no C#s, D#s, F#s, G#s, A#s. Set the note probabilities accordingly and Stochastic will spontaneously jam in C Major. Shift the probabilities, and you morph the tonality, key or mode they define into new tonal landscapes.

It knows all the musical parameters that shape a line: you can probablise the overall octave range over which it improvises (‘register’) and the octave offsets of each note. Bass notes define harmony and inversion, so you can imply a change of C Root to C 1st Inversion by initially dropping only the Cs by 2 octaves and then swapping to drop only the Es, all in live performance. You can even set the likelihood that melodies will be stepwise or more angular. It also knows about rhythm: you can set the likelihood that each subsequent note will be any value from an 8 bar drone to constant 1/16 pulses. And Stochastic can loop: if it suddenly strikes melody gold, hit Loop, define your loop length, release, and it will loop the phrase until you suspend loop. Hit Loop again to return to the saved loop, or hold to overwrite a new one."

Quads

UncertainMusicCorps

"Short ambient test drive of the new dual wavetable algorithm for Disting EX.

Disting EX is set with dual wavetables on both sides, giving 4 voices in total. Right side provides a drone base, left side provides melodic lines determined by Marbles.

The Disting Mk4s contribute a low-fi delay and a rotary speaker effect. Both applied to the melodic voices.

The mix is done in the case (TomaTek 4x2 matrix mixer) and recorded as a stereo pair direct to camera."

Ulicrai

UncertainMusicCorps

"Distings and Marbles generate a thing.

Disting Mk4(a) is the clock master Disting Mk4(b) creates Euclidean pulses.

DistingEX delivers the tabla samples. Plaits and Marbles combine to generate the lead. The SWN layers some shifting drone. And the Ensemble Oscillator delivers a mighty bass pulse (which you won't hear in any detail unless you use decent headphones or speakers)

It wasn't until later that I realised there are no filters used on this track. Can't say I missed them much."

Drumkid jam

UncertainMusicCorps

"Jamming with Drumkid (https://hackaday.io/project/164521-dr...) driving Nord Drum 2 and providing a clock source for the modular.
Eowave Ribbon, Brains/Pressure Points and STG Graphic sequencer also come along for the ride."

See the Nerd On The Wire label below for more.