Sunday 29 October 2017

Plugged-In


You know I am not the biggest fan of in-the-box (i.e. plugin based) stuff, but I have really got excited by this new virtual modular system. Its an open platform that seems to be taking off offering totally free access to the modular world. YES ITS FREE. Check it out here. This video is fairly self explanatory but I set this up in about 15 minutes including downloading the software and some 3rd party modules. Its amazing, and even though I can't see myself selling the ARP2500 anytime soon, I'm going to be messing about with it whenever I am away from the studio. Even if you have never dabbled in synthesis before its an incredible way to learn and discover the joys of the modular without having to spend any money whatsoever. If this had been available 20 years ago I could have saved a bloody fortune, which I would be able to spend on.... vintage modular synths

About the patch - there is some crackly noise in there which I think was from one of the delay units - its creating some sort of bit-crush distortion but I quite liked it, it gives it some dirt. Anyway to make a new patch you can just start again and throw some more modules together any way you want, its pretty cool!

Buried


Strangely, having posted a few weeks ago about wanting to play in a cathedral - we found ourselves playing in a huge church in Bury! What a great experience - thank-you Curated Place. (2nd photo by Gary Sonic)

Wednesday 11 October 2017

Summation Operation


My new Korg Sigma, a totally bonkers and short-lived mono synth from 1979. I wanted to try sequencing it, and as I don't have an appropriate Hz-to-Volt analog sequencer (mine are all Volt-per-Octave) I had to rig up a really cumbersome workaround. This involved using the Moog 960 sequencer to output V/Oct CV out to the Kenton CV-to-MIDI converter which output MIDI to the Future Retro Mobius sequencer MIDI input which converted to Hz/V to be sent to the CV input of the Sigma. PHEW! The drums were patched on the Moog Modular. I used two gate outputs of the sequencer to trigger the bass drum and snare sounds, which I had to sum with a mixer. Turns out this summation operation uses the Greek letter ∑ as its mathematical symbol - thats right folks, SIGMA!

Cathedral Dreams


Ben Eyes sent me a link to this awesome film of Tangerine Dream live in 1975. Love the video effects! I dream of doing a tour of modernist cathedrals one day

Blanc Speak




And a lovely Neil Arthur one Here, via M-Magazine

Archived below for posterity

Monday 2 October 2017

Foxx Speak




And a cool John Foxx interview over on Rockult.ru here

..Archived in english below..

Machine Speak




Great interview with Tara Busch over on arcana.fm where she is talking about our Zombies1985 album

..Interview archived below..