The great void

YouTube via attorks | July 27, 2010

"This afternoon I was watching two videos on the MATRIXSYNTH website were John Bowen demonstrates his Solaris prototype on the PNW Synth Gathering 2010 [link]. Seems like a very powerful machine but it is not likely that I can afford one. After seeing that I thought, my Waldorf Q Keyboard can't do all that but it can do some. So I ended up programming this sound and sequence which I liked a lot and I decided to video it. Connected the MIDI out of the Q to the Doepfer MAQ16/3 to be able to add synchronized sequences from the MAQ16/3 and the Synthesizers.com Q960. Row 1 of the MAQ16/3 has a double-time 8-step sequence driving the self-built Modular. The gate output of row 3 of the MAQ16/3 shifts the Q960 which has sequences on row 1 and 3 driving the Synthesizers.com Modular. I use the A, B, C and D slots of the Clavia Nord Lead 1 to vary the sounds of the solo's. Slot D contains a kind of FM'ed strings sound. The Roland XP-80 also does a solo voice.
This video show the first 10 minutes of a 30 minute video. You can see/hear/download the video and music from my website soon."

Merry-go-round

video upload by
YouTube via attorks | July 24, 2010

"It all started last Thursday evening when I saw the 'Comparing PPG 2.2 & Hermann Seib PPG WAVESIM Software' videos on the MATRIXSYNTH website. I downloaded the VSTi from a somewhat confusing website and I tried in in Ableton Live. Very soon I came up with a 4 track sequence with 3 PPG voices (Buzz, Bells and Bass) and some CR78 drums. But at the end of the evening, when trying to save the session, Live hang. The next day I tried to recover the session, which worked. But trying to save the session made Live hang again. After some investigation I found out that the PPG VSTi caused the problem but I could not fix it. This evening I added 2 MIDI tracks for the Creamware MiniMax ASB (track 6 MIDI) and the Waldorf Q Keyboard (track 7 MIDI). I had to decide what to video; me playing the strings and solo or the Live screen. Sorry, but I choose the easiest way. What you see in the video are clips in Ableton Live which are pre-recorded in a loop. I added the strings on the Roland XP-80 and the solo on the Clavia Nord Lead 1. The strings and solo are both played live and not by Live.

The video and music is about 13 minutes long. You can download them from the video section of from my website."

Making a sequence (Part 1/2)

YouTube via attorks | July 19, 2010

"This is an attempt to try to show you how a sequence can be made. I found out making an instruction video is not that easy but I just wanted to share this with you. After making the video I noticed my voice was a bit soft so I tried to emphasis it with a little EQing; hope you can understand what I am saying. I did not want to redo the video because it wouldn't be improvised anymore and I think the sequence worked out quite well. Making sequences is not an exact science so this is just an example and I do not always do it as shown. And I am not an expert in sequencing. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. This is part 1 of a 2 part video."

Making a sequence (Part 2/2)

The indecisiveness

YouTube via attorks | July 16, 2010

"Again a long improvisation of which you see the first half in this video. After the introduction you hear 2 sequences. The Synthesizers.com Q960 is shifted by the gate of row 3 of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 which has an 8-step sequence with steps 2, 4 and 8 off. The Q960 drives the Synthesizers.com Modular which is also transposed by an 4-step sequence on row 2 of the MAQ16/3. The self-built Modular is driven from row 1 of the MAQ16/3 which has an 5 step sequence but the gate comes from row 3 of the MAQ16/3. The strings are performed by the Roland XP-80 (CS imitation) and the Clavia Nord Lead 1. The Waldorf does the random tones, chords and basses. The solo is performed on the Creamware MiniMax ASB.

You can see the full 20 minute video on my website soon.

This video is dedicated to Mark and Tessa: I will always be there for you."

MOTM Buchla Lowpass Gate

via this auction

More pics below.

"2U MOTM format Buchla 292c Lowpass Gate clone. This module is built with all of the options, which include:
Resonance
Deep Mod for low frequency range
3 input Audio Mixer
3 input CV mixer
CV Inverted out
VCA, VCF and Both modes

This module can be used as a lowpass filter, a VCA, a mixer, signal inverter, and self oscillates. This is also one of the few ways to get the characteristic vactrol sound in the MOTM format without trying to get your hands on the Cyndustries Lowpass gate module. A workhorse in 2U space.

The Module is built with the PCB mounted parallel to the panel with a depth under 2” behind the panel making it suitable for shallow racking for portable rigs. Auction includes module only as seen." Two videos linked in the auction below. Both previously posted.


YouTube via attorks | June 01, 2009

"This is a short demo of the Resonant LoPass Gate which is a clone of the famous Buchla 292c LoPass Gate. Thomas White is the one who made this possible by producing the schematics and the PCB. The PCB with components already on it I got 2nd hand from someone in Belgium. The two Vactrols on it are VTL5C6, which are the fast type. I added the components for the mixer section and got the panel, pots and knobs from The BrideChamber.
In this demo the patching is as follows:
On the LPG audio input 1 is a DotCom VCO with a triangle wave.
On the LPG audio input 2 is another DotCom VCO with a triangle wave.
On the LPG Control input is the Gate of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer. You can see me adjusting the length of the gate with the knobs on the MAQ16/3. The CV of the MAQ16/3 is going to the VCO's.
On the LPG CV 1 input is the output of a DotCom Envelope Generator (settings A-0, D-4.5, S-0, R-2). So when turning the CV 1 knob up, the output of the EG is mixed with the Gate signal. Initially the CV 1 knob is down.
The LPG's output goes to the AKAI Head Rush E2 which is switched on after a while during the music bit.
I couldn't help to put a little music in the middle of this video, hope you don't mind.
The resonance in the Frequency mode is quiet strong but I wanted to show the full turn; perhaps you will hear some clipping."


djthomaswhite | October 05, 2008

"Here is the second of 2 new videos of my Buchla 292c Lopass Gate clone project. These PCB's will be available on a limited run through the www.electro-music.com forum. Check it out if you are interested or catch my at my Youtube mail here for more details. Thanks for stopping by!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Trust me (excerpts)

YouTube via attorks | July 06, 2010

"This video starts off where the last video ended with more or less with the same setting but different sequences and some different voices. The whole video is almost 25 minutes long and this video shows 4 excerpts from that. Row 1 of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 has an 8-step sequence for the self-built Modular. Row 2 is used to transpose the 2 VCO's of the Synthesizers.com Modular. Row 3 of the MAQ16/3 has a 5-step sequences and is shifting the Synthesizers.com Q960 sequencer. Because some steps are turned off and on, the shifting of the Q960 is irregular which provides and interesting feel of rhythm. Row 1 of the Q960 sequencer is driving the Synthesizers.com Modular. Row 2 of the Q960 is connected to the Q150 Transistor Ladder Filter to modulate the frequency level. The Waldorf Q Keyboard and the Roland XP-80 with Mellotron string voices provide the accompaniment and the soloing is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1. The original video and music can be viewed and downloaded from my website soon."

Viewing Paris from the Eiffel Tower

YouTube via attorks | June 29, 2010 | 10 minutes

"Its quite warm in the Netherlands these last few days and the attic, were my equipment is, is even more warmer. But I managed to video this improvisation. Row 1 of the Doepfer MAQ16/3 has an 8-step sequence for the self-built Modular. Row 2 is used to gate the Ian Fritz All-In EG which envelope is connected to the Resonant LoPass Gate clone. The Formant noise is fed to the input of the LPG clone. Row 3 of the MAQ16/3 is shifting the Synthesizers.com Q960 sequencer which has sequences on row 1 and 3 which are alternated by the Q962 sequencer switch. Row 2 of the Q960 is connected to the Q150 Transistor Ladder Filter to modulate the frequency level. In the second part of the video the Waldorf Q Keyboard joins with chords and the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and the Roland XP-80 performs some improvised solo's. The original video is somewhat more than 12 minutes so I skipped the first 2 minutes because I did not want to cut off the end. You can view the original video on my website soon.
My daughter Tessa is on a school trip to Paris for a few days and this evening she phoned from the top of the Eiffel Tower, which explains the title."

The Longing

YouTube via attorks — June 22, 2010 — "I was fiddling around with the arpeggiator of the Waldorf Q Keyboard. Then I tried to synchronize the Synthesizers.com Q960 sequencer through the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer which more or less succeeded. The Waldorf Q arpeggiator clock is fed via MIDI to the MAQ16/3. The gate output of row 3 of the MAQ16/3 is shifting the Q960 sequencer. The 5-step sequence on row 1 of the Q960 is driving the Synthesizers.com Modular. The 4-step sequence on row 1 of the MAQ16/3 is driving the self-built Modular. The bird sounds comes from voice B of the Clavia Nord Lead 1.The Mellotron flute solo comes from the Roland XP-80 and the synth solo is performed on voice A of the Clavia. I am sometimes kind of lost in the beats and bars but I hope you don't mind."

Sundays choral mass

YouTube via attorks — June 13, 2010 — "Ableton Live together with the Novation Launchpad is used for piece of music. This time no Modular was used. The three chord progressions using the Creamware MiniMax ASB in polyphonic mode forms the basis. After that 3 rhythmic tracks were added using instruments and sounds from Live. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1. Several takes where recorded and canceled before this one was approved because initially I wanted to use the arpeggiator from the Waldorf Q Keyboard to accompany the music but somehow that did not work. So the Waldorf Q does some Waldorf sounds. The Mellotron choir sound comes from the Roland XP-80. The music reminds me of church music, hence the title."

The beauty of it all, part 2

YouTube via attorks — June 08, 2010 — "Like the previous video a simple sensitive 8-step sequence on the Synthesizers.com Q960 sequencer which drives the Synthesizers.com Modular. Notice that the sequence starts on step 6. The passionate solo is performed on the Roland XP-80 and the sentimental strings on the Waldorf Q Keyboard.
I hope the music is not to depressive for you."

The beauty of it all

YouTube via attorks — June 03, 2010 — "This time a quiet piece which reminds me somehow of Camel. A simple 8 step sequence from the Synthesizers.com Q960 drives a simple sound on the Synthesizers.com Modular. Solo's are performed on the Roland XP-80 with an organ-type sound and on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 with a flute-like sound. The retro string machine sound comes from the Waldorf Q Keyboard.
Indeed, the beauty of it all...."

To the second power

YouTube via attorks — May 30, 2010

"On this occasion I am accompanied by my son Mark (Channel Metalrazor02 on YouTube) who plays the Ibanez GRG 270 electric guitar using an EBow. The EBow produces a infinite sustain for a guitar string by oscillating a magnetic field causing the string to vibrate. The electric guitar uses a Boss ME-50 Guitar Multiple Effects board. Mark wanted to accompany me if he was not filmed so that's why you don't see him.

The Nodal software sequencer is were it all starts doing the bass sequence performed by the Creamware MiniMax ASB. The Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer and the Zoom RhythmTrak RT-323 drum machine are MIDI synchronized from Nodal. The Synthesizers.com Q960 sequencer and Q962 sequential switch are shifted by gate signals from the MAQ16/3. Row 1 of the MAQ16/3 does a 4-step sequence and drives the Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero VCO which saw wave is fed to the Resonant LoPass Gate. Row 2 of the MAQ16/3 does an 8-step sequence driving the self-built Modular. Solo's are performed on the Roland XP80 doing an organ sound and the Clavia Nord Lead 1. The chords are performed on the Waldorf Q Keyboard.

The full video of almost 14 minutes will be available on my website soon."

Lady in black

YouTube via attorks — May 18, 2010 — "Another improvisation with the Synthesizers.com Q960 sequencer now connected to the Q962 sequential switch. I guess the camera angle could be somewhat wider so you could see a little bit more of the actions but I reckoned another take would not give the same music.

The Q960 is synchronized by the Doepfer MAQ16/3 and rows 1 and 2 are used which are alternated by the Q962. The Q960 drives the Synthesizers.com Modular. The Oakley Equinoxe phaser is connected between the Q150 VCF and Q108 VCA. Stage 5 of the Q960 is connected to the frequency CV input to give an accent on that stage.

Row 1 of the MAQ16/3 does a 4-step sequence and drives the Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero VCO which sine wave is fed to the Resonant LoPass Gate. Row 2 of the MAQ16/3 I vary manually between a 4-, 6- and 8-step sequence. This row drives the self-built Modular.

The music is dedicated to a lady in black."

The Eagle has landed

YouTube via attorks — May 15, 2010

"Yesterday I received the Synthesizers.com Q960 sequencer and Q962 sequential switch modules. Fitted the modules in the empty cabinet and started playing around: this is awesome! Today I tried shifting the Q960 from the Doepfer MAQ16/3 and it works great; the gate of row 3 of the MAQ16/3 controls id fed to the shift input of the Q960. Row 1 of the MAQ16/3 has an 8-step sequence for the Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero VCO which is fed to the Resonant LoPass Gate. Row 2 of the MAQ16/3 has also an 8-step sequence for the self-built Modular. Row 2 of the Q960 controls the Synthesizers.com Modular. The drum sounds are from the Zoom RhythmTrak RT-323 which is synchronized by the MAQ16/3 via MIDI. The VP-330 strings are performed on the Roland XP-80, the bass on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and some additional chords on the Waldorf Q Keyboard."

An apocaliptic theme

YouTube via attorks — May 13, 2010

"This afternoon I came up with a sequence with 3 voices on the Doepfer MAQ16/3 which sounded rather nice. The 3 voices are the Synthesizers.com Modular, the self-built Modular and the Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero VCO fed to the Resonant LoPass Gate. This evening I programmed Nodal to transpose the 3 sequences on the Doepfer MAQ16/3 and add another sequence for the CreamWare MiniMax ASB. I hooked up the Zoom RT-323 drum machine and in the video you see the result of the improvisation. The solo is played on the Clavia Nord Lead 1, the Mellotron strings on the Roland XP-80 and some additional chords on the Waldorf Q Keyboard."

An agonizing theme

YouTube via attorks — May 11, 2010

"I am aware of the risk of overfeeding you with video´s but the inspiration is there so let´s take advantage of that. This piece of music is sequenced in Nodal. It started last evening when I hooked up the Zoom RT-323 drum machine to be controlled by Nodal. The bass sequence is performed by the Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero VCO from which the sawtooth wave is fed to the Resonant LoPass Gate. Then you hear the tuned-up bass voice from the Zoom RT-323 doing a semi-random sequence. After that the Mellotron sound from the Roland XP-80 is introduced and the high-pitched sequence from the Creamware MiniMax ASB. The chords and occasional bass are performed on the Waldorf Q Keyboard and the solo on the Clavia Nord Lead 1."

An enchanted theme

YouTube via attorks — May 08, 2010 — "Again last night I was playing around with Nodal. This time I synchronized the Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer from Nodal through MIDI. Nodal plays 3 sequences. The first sequence is driving the Creamware MiniMax ASB, the second is transposing the Synthesizers.com sequence and the third is doing the bassline performed by a sine wave from the Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero VCO fed to the Resonant LoPass Gate. The Doepfer MAQ16/3 plays two 7-step sequences. The first sequence is driving the Synthesizers.com Modular which is transposed by Nodal, and the second is driving the self-built Modular."

A syncing theme

YouTube via attorks — May 05, 2010 — "Today, on the 5th of May, the 65th Liberation Day is celebrated in Holland. And I came up with this improvisation after some fiddling around. Did several takes because the lighting was horrible and could not get the picture sharp in order to read the text on the modules. Still not satisfied but it is as good as it gets with the current webcam. The Doepfer MAQ16/3 is playing two 8 step sequences. One driving the self built Modular and one driving the Ian Fritz Through Zero VCO, 5Pulser and All-in EG modules together with the Resonant LoPass Gate. The TZ VCO is synced by a VCO from the self built Modular. Turning the sync depth knob on the TZ VCO I can sort of alternate between the sequences. I have to find out if the sync depth knob is wired correctly because it seems it behaves to wrong way around."

"Tags: Modular Doepfer MAQ16/3 Sequencer Electronic Ian Fritz Teezer Through-Zero Formant Resonant LoPass Gate Martin Peters"

A tranquil theme

YouTube via attorks — April 29, 2010 — "Again I was playing around with Nodal this evening and came up with these four coherent sequences which I liked a lot. The solo and the strings were improvised on that. Three synths are used for the four sequences. At first you hear the Creamware MiniMax ASB after which the Synthesizers.com and Waldorf Q Keyboard are joining. The Waldorf performs 2 sequences. You can see the Nodal screen just before the solo is played. The solo is performed on the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and the Mellotron strings on the Roland XP-80."
You can find more info on nodal in these posts.

A canon with Nodal

YouTube via attorks — April 25, 2010 — "I was experimenting with Nodal this evening and came up with this. It is one network driving three instruments. As each instrument (voice group triangle) has a different entry in the network it sounds like a musical canon. The first instrument is the MiniMax ASB, the second the Clavia Nord Lead 1 and the third the Waldorf Q Keyboard. The Mellotron strings are performed manually on the Roland XP-80.
Try Nodal yourself, it's fun (and cheap):
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~cema/n..."