First steps with Nodal

YouTube via attorks — April 23, 2010 — "Last Tuesday I saw this Nodal 1.7 announcement on the MATRIXSYNTH Blog [all Nodal posts]. This morning I visited the Nodal website and looked at the 2 videos there. I thought it looked interesting so I downloaded a demo which was still version 1.6. This evening I have tried it and bought the license for some less than 30 euro's because I wanted to be able to save. Here you can see the first results. My attempt is very basic though. There are three sequences. The first driving the Creamware MiniMax ASB, the 2nd the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and the 3rd the Waldorf Q Keyboard. Try Nodal yourself, it's fun (and cheap):
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~cema/n..."

A progressive theme

YouTube via attorks — April 09, 2010 — "This sequence developed while I was experimenting with my newly built Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero VCO. Also the Buchla LoPass Gate is used to mix various sources. The Doepfer MAQ16/3 has an 8 step sequence on row 1 which is driving the Synthesizers.com, the TZ VCO and the Blacet MiniWave. Row 2 has an 8 step sequence which is driving the self-built Modular. Row 3 has a 16 step sequence driving the Roland XP-80 with a bass sound. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and the high string sound come from the Waldorf Q Keyboard."

A modest theme

YouTube via attorks
"A more straightforward setup is used for this theme. The Doepfer MAQ16/3 has three 6-step sequences: row 1 controls the Synthesizers.com Modular which also uses the Blacet MiniWave as sound source, row 2 the self built Modular and row 3 controls the wave of the Blacet MiniWave (you can see this in the beginning of the video). The Mellotron flutes are performed by the Roland XP-80, the minimal melody is also performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and some accompanying sounds come from the Waldorf Q keyboard. All in all a true modest theme."

A warriors theme

YouTube via attorks.

BTW, any video that mentions MATRIXSYNTH gets an automatic post.

"I always wonder where the inspiration come from but again I think this video is different then all the previous ones. It began this evening when looking at new items on MATRIXSYNTH website when I looked at this video of the FabFilter Twin 2 virtual synth. I liked the demo and downloaded the trail at there website. I began to play with it in Ableton Live as VST and when browsing through the drums presets, I found an interesting snare drum. I altered the sound somewhat and the idea was born. Apart from the 5 MIDI tracks for controlling the Doepfer MAQ16/3 using the Novation Launchpad in Ableton Live, there are only 2 MIDI tracks with 3 clips each: one for the FabFilter Twin 2 drumsound and one controlling the Creamware MiniMax ASB with the bass sound. Then I dailed in two 8-step sequences on the Doepfer MAQ16/3 and it sounded very interesting. Added some Mellotron strings from the Roland XP-80 and there you have it. The full video is about 13 minutes which I will upload soon to my website."

Launchpad controlling a MAQ16/3 using Live

YouTube via attorks
"Thanks to YouTube user audibleobsession I managed to program Ableton Live to be able to control the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer with the Novation Launchpad. There are still 2 problems with that:
1- When I push the buttons in user1 mode I can hear the MAQ16/3 going a little out of sync with the Live tempo. I managed to work around this by disabling the MIDI output to the Launchpad in Live. Disadvantage is that all the LEDs are disabled in the user1 and user2 modes so there is no visual feedback.
2- When I push a button (e.g. first step = 2) for sequencer row 1 and then switch to sequencer row 2, when pushing the same button the MIDI message does not seem to be sent. I first have to push another button (e.g. first step = 3) which then transmit OK and then push the button I intended to push which then also transmits OK. I guess it has something to do with AutoMap.

Another limitation is the Ableton Live version that comes with the Launchpad which has a maximum of 8 MIDI and 8 audio tracks. I used 5 MIDI tracks in Live to control the MAQ16/3 in nearly the same manner I did in the last video. I am only using the top 4 rows in user1 mode. The buttons on the first row turns step 1 to 8 off and the second row turns step 1 to 8 on. The third row sets the first step of the 8 step sequence and the forth row sets the last step of the 8 step sequence. Also the top 4 arrow buttons on the right are used. The first one turns all the steps off and the second all the steps on. The third one chooses the first row on the MAQ16/3 sequencer and the forth one chooses the second row on the MAQ16/3 sequencer. You first have to choose the row on the sequencer whereafter the buttons apply for that row.

The first row on the MAQ16/3 sequencer drives the Synthesizers.com Modular and the second row the self-built Modular. The MAQ16/3 is also synchronized with the tempo from Live. Vertical row 7 controls the Creamware MiniMax ASB which does the bass notes. The other rows contain samples from Live and some of my own.

I intended to also capture the Ableton Live screen to give you a view whats going in Ableton Live but that AVI file turned out to be corrupt after the recording was finished. The full video is about 13 minutes which I will upload soon to my website."

Launchpad controlling a Doepfer MAQ16/3

YouTube via attorks
"Last week I bought a Novation Launchpad to experiment further with Ableton Live. But I also wanted to see if the Launchpad can be used to control the Doepfer MAQ16/3. I discovered the AutoMap software provided with the Launchpad is a bit of a disappointment. As far as I know now you cannot send a Program Change message with the buttons. And the MAQ16/3 needs them. I also did not get the MIDI learn function to work but maybe I missed something and the documentation is not much help.

Anyway, I used the MIDI-OX software to translate the MIDI notes, which the Launchpad sends, to Program Change commands with the Data Mapping option. I am only using the top 4 rows. The buttons on the first row turns step 1 to 8 on. The second row turns step 1 to 8 off. The third row sets the first step of the 8 step sequence and the forth row sets the last step of the 8 step sequence. Also the top 4 arrow buttons on the right are used. The first one turns all steps on. The second one turns all steps off. The third one chooses the first row on the MAQ16/3 sequencer and the forth one chooses the second row on the MAQ16/3 sequencer. You first have to choose the row on the sequencer where after the buttons apply for that row. It would be easier if the first four button rows could be used for row 1 on the sequencer and the second four button rows for row 2 but I could not map one note command to two program change commands.

The first row on the MAQ16/3 sequencer drives the Synthesizers.com Modular and the second row the self-built Modular.
This video is a demonstration and not intended to provide you music of a certain quality ;-)"

A smooth theme

YouTube via attorks
"Kind of inspired by DoctorVague and Ian Boddy (when in Red Shift), I am experimenting with Ableton Live to see if it can be a help in analog sequencing. And tonight this lovely sequence came up so I thought, lets make a video. I have 2 MIDI tracks and 1 track with a drum loop. One MIDI track controls the self-built Modular and the 2nd MIDI track the Creamware MiniMax ASB. I couldn't connect the DotCom because I have only 1 MIDI/CV converter. Both MIDI tracks have several clips with looping 8 step sequence in different keys. But I have not found out how to change the clip of the 2 MIDI track at the same time and at the right bar so I click the clip on each track which causes the odd discrepancy in clips/keys and changing too soon; sorry for that. The melody is performed on the Roland XP-80 with a Mellotron voice. The Waldorf is doing what a Waldorf is good at; making these Waldorf sounds. The soloing is done on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 with an organ-type voice."

A misty theme

YouTube via attorks
"The basis of this theme is the 16 step bass sequence which I made up last night while walking the dog. The bass sound is a patch I used the last days to make a fat bass sound. It uses the saw waveform of the two Q106 VCO's and a waveform from the MiniWave. To make it more organic I used the Lopass Gate clone which is slightly modulated by a LFO to vary the volume.

Today I received a Roland SR-JV80-03 Piano expansion board for my XP-80 because I don't like the standard piano sounds in it. And I need some good piano sound for the band I occasionally rehearse with. On this board is a patch called 'Morning Mist'. And with C2 slider turned up and all the effects turned on it gives this ghost-fading-like sound. Those two ingredients together formed the improvisation you see and hear in this video.

The transpose of the 2 sequence rows is performed by using a Behringer BCN44 which is on my left and not visible in the video; you can see the long MIDI cable from the sequencer over my legs which goes into the BCN44. The self-built Modular begins with a 4 step sequence and later on it changed to 6 and 8 steps. The Waldorf Q Keyboard is imitating a EMS Synthi AKS with these typical Jean Michel Jarre sounds. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1."

A birds theme

YouTube via attorks
"My fiftiest video already. And we have a midget module in our midst! I bought a second hand Blacet MiniWave at the end of last year. I always wondered what the possibilities were with this module. I found the ModCan version somewhat expensive. The module was delivered last Monday. After fixing some problems with it, last night it was working. This evening I started the Doepfer sequencer with a 6 step sequence on row one and out of nothing the first sequence you hear was running out of the MiniWave using the standard bank 14. Row 3 with a 16 step sequence controls the variation of the wave of the MiniWave. Adding a high pitched 8 step sequence on row two for the self-built Modular resulted in a bird-like sound. Adding the Mellotron strings part on the Roland XP-80 was easy. Solo's on the Nord Lead 1 and the Waldorf Q Keyboard to add some variety."

Yet another symphonic theme

YouTube via attorks
"The theme of this video somewhat resembles the theme I uploaded on 16 October of this year.
The first 2 rows of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer drive 2 voices with two six step sequences. The first voice you hear is from the Synthesizers.com which 2 VCO's are somewhat overdriven before they are processed by the Q150 VCF. The second voice is from the self built Modular with a bell-like sound. The brass-like bass and chords are done on the Waldorf Q Keyboard. The Mellotron strings are played on the Roland XP-80. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1. I noticed the solo could be somewhat louder; sorry for that."

A chaotic theme

YouTube via attorks
"The sequences in this theme seems to be fairly random but there is some structure. The Synthesizers.com Modular is driven by an 8 step sequence on row 1 of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer. The Self-Built Modular is driven by a 6 step sequence on row 2. Row 3 controls the timing of all 3 rows. Adding some delay on both Modulars adds to the random feeling of the sequences. I couldn't leave it without a melody so I added one at the end using the Mellotron flute voices on the Roland XP-80."

A simple arpeggiated theme

YouTube via attorks
"A simple and short arpeggiated theme this time. Only 3 keyboards are used. The Waldorf Q Keyboard plays note 4 arpeggiated chords. Halfway I use the Xphorm function to morph from one sound to another sound. The melodies are played on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and the Roland XP-80."

A rocking theme

YouTube via attorks
"This rocking theme took several takes before the number of mistakes were acceptable ;-)
The 3 rows of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer drive 4 voices. The bass line consists of 2 voices; one Q106 VCO through the Q150 transistor ladder filter and one Q106 VCO through the CGS Steiner Synthacon VCF and the Oakley Equinoxe phaser. These first 2 voices have the same 8 step sequence running on row 3. The self build Modular (row 2) and the Creamware Minimax ASB (row 1) both have different 6 step sequences. The chords are performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1.
The solo's on the Roland XP-80 with a synth lead sound and the Waldorf Q Keyboard with a church-organ-like sound."

Another symphonic theme

YouTube via attorks.

"This theme is somewhat like the symphonic theme I uploaded in February of this year, yet it is also quite different ;-)

The 3 rows of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer drive 4 voices. The first voice you hear is one Q106 VCO through the CGS Steiner Synthacon VCF and the Oakley Equinoxe phaser. The second voice one Q106 VCO through the Q150 transistor ladder filter. These first 2 voices have the same 4 step sequence running on row 3. Then you hear the self build Modular running on row 2 and after that the Creamware Minimax ASB running on row 1. These 2 voices start each with a 4 step sequence which after a while is varied between 5 and 8 steps manually. Then the bass and the theme are played on the Waldorf Q keyboard with a PPG-like sound. The Mellotron-like strings are played on the Roland XP-80. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1.

I noticed the video is gradually getting out of sync with the sound; I don't know what caused that and I also didn't know how to fix that when editing the clip. So, sorry for that."

A stressed theme

YouTube via attorks
"This theme is inspired by an arpeggiator from the Waldorf Q keyboard which I programmed as sequence to be performed by the Q. At first you hear a bass-like sound from the Creamware MiniMax ASB. After that the Synthesizers.com Modular and the self built Modular are added. At last the sequence from the Waldorf Q Keyboard is added. By varying the decay on the Q the sound becomes more lively. The accompaniment is played on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and the Roland XP-80."

A borrowed theme

YouTube via attorks
"ouTube user Justwaving made a video in februari 2009 with a theme and sound I like very much. Last night I was looking in my YouTube favourites and played the video again. I decided to program the theme into my sequencer and play around with it but I did not try to reproduce the sounds. Also altered the main sequence a little bit to match the chords. And this is what has become of it. The handcam actions are not to steady but I thought I show you around to see what is happening.
The sequencer clock is from the Waldorf Q keyboard which drives the Doepfer MAQ16/3. The Doepfer has 2 sequences; a 32 step sequence on the first 2 rows with the main theme on the Creamware MiniMax ASB and an 16 step sequence on the 3rd row driving the Synthesizers.com. The 8 step sequence on the Waldorf Q Keyboard does the string sound on the Q with the chords C, Em, F and Am. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1. The choir sound, which is a little bit loud at the beginning, is from the Roland XP-80."

An experimental theme

YouTube via attorks
"I have got to apologies for the camera position; I don't expect you are eager to see my hairy arms. But it was around midnight when I decided to make this clip and I also had to let the dog out before going to bed. So I had no second chance and just tried to capture the moment.
What you hear and see is basically some experimental music. Two 8 step sequences on the Doepfer MAQ16/3 are driving the self built Modular and the Creamware MiniMax ASB. Some strings from the Clavia Nord Lead 1 to get a layer; sometimes modulating the 2nd VCO's pitch to get some nice variation. And the odd bass from the Roland XP-80 to spice things up. Upon all that I am fiddling around with the Doepfer R2M Ribbon Controller which is connected with the CV outputs to the Synthesizers.com Modular. The resonance knob of the Q150 Transistor Ladder filter is on 10 and during the 'solo' I vary the frequency knob from 0 to around 5. I hope you like it."

A sliding theme

YouTube via attorks

"I wanted to show off with a second hand Doepfer R2M ribbon controller I bought 2 days ago. I hope you excuse me for the odd false note because it is not easy to get the pitch right. I have put some marks with a pencil on the side to have some guidance.

In the beginning you hear the 8-step sequences from the self-built Modular and the Creamware MiniMax ASB (not visible). After that the 3rd sequence is added which drives the Clavia Nord Lead 1 generating a brass-type sound. This is a 12-step sequence but the timing is different as for rows 1 and 2.

The Solina-like strings is produced by the Waldorf Q keyboard. The solo comes from the Synthesizers.com Modular which is driven by the CV1, CV2 and gate outputs from the Doepfer R2M. The CV1 is for the pitch and CV2 (pressure) is for the pulsewidth of the pulse wave. The bass in the last part also comes from the Nord Lead 1."

Looks like I posted this one already here.

A sliding theme

YouTube via attorks

"I wanted to show off with a second hand Doepfer R2M ribbon controller I bought 2 days ago. I hope you excuse me for the odd false note because it is not easy to get the pitch right. I have put some marks with a pencil on the side to have some guidance.

In the beginning you hear the 8-step sequences from the self-built Modular and the Creamware MiniMax ASB (not visible). After that the 3rd sequence is added which drives the Clavia Nord Lead 1 generating a brass-type sound. This is a 12-step sequence but the timing is different as for rows 1 and 2.

The Solina-like strings is produced by the Waldorf Q keyboard. The solo comes from the Synthesizers.com Modular which is driven by the CV1, CV2 and gate outputs from the Doepfer R2M. The CV1 is for the pitch and CV2 (pressure) is for the pulsewidth of the pulse wave. The bass in the last part also comes from the Nord Lead 1."

A melancholic theme

YouTube via attorks
"This is a somewhat melancholic theme so I hope you won't get depressed ;-)
The ring modulator sounding 8 step sequence is produced by the Synthesizers.com Modular using a MFOS Dual VCA and the faster 16 step sequence comes from the self-build Modular. The Waldorf Q Keyboard produces an AKAI-AX80-like string sound. The first solo comes from the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and after that the volume is turned up for the Creamware MiniMax ASB which is also controlled from the Clavia keyboard. The Roland XP-80 produces a Mellotron Violins sound."