Electric City @ Society City

Thanks to Ed (Elk Elektroniks) & Josh (Society City) for teaming up for the synth meet

last Sat (23rd Sept) in Wollongong, NSW (Australia).

Society City is a place for conscious creativity. 

It's primarily a book store that doubles a a co-op collective.

The volunteer-run art-space, cafe / bar, bookshop and community venue  that is perfect for arts, music and collaboration.

Electronic music, Jazz, Poetry, book reading, movie nights.

Everyone needs to utilise this space to keep it open and running for the local community.

https://societycitywollongong.com/

https://www.facebook.com/societycitywollongong/

https://www.instagram.com/societycitywollongong/

Hopefully this will become a regular meeting.

Carsten's preparation (at my place) using the AE modular

Terry's video rig

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Love seeing the module. esp with the Ukranian Trident. Slava Ukraini. Glory to the Heroes.

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digitakt & roland JP-08 CCs and MIDI setup

 Some patch notes for my live setup.

My setup at the moment uses a OT, digitakt and Syntakt.

the digitakt sends MIDI CCs to both the 

Korg Volca FM (channel 1)

The patch notes are here: https://djjondent.blogspot.com/2023/03/digitakt-korg-volca-fm-patch-notes.html

and the

Roland JP-08 (channel 2)

program change works well.

as does PB (Pitch bend) & MW (mod wheel)

The LEDs on the two touch strips light up when you adjust this. (PB & MW)

Here are the JP-08 factory patches.

Patches 1-1 to 3-8 are from the original jupiter 8 patch sheet.

4-1 to 8-8 are new patches

Paolo of Synth Mania: Why do I think these patches are important? They have been used in so much great music of the 1980s.

Patch 31 LO STRINGS and 35 LO BRASS, in particular, are the classic - now become standard – “JP Strings” and “JP Brass” that we find in all modern-day synthesizers and samplers. 

Many of the others are also classic, evergreen sounds.

https://www.synthmania.com/jupiter-8.htm

The CCs ive chosen are:

1. CC = 26 (HP filter cut off)

2. CC= 74 (VCF cutoff)

3. CC= 71 VCF resonance)

4. CC= 28 VCF Env mod)

5. CC= 47 Env-1 attack

6. CC= 52 Env-1 decay

7. CC= 53 Env-1 Sustain

8. CC= 54 Env-1 Release

Elektron OT Mk 1 vs Mk2

The Octatrack MII has a few more buttons than my old Mk1

Deciding if I should get a MkII ??

This may help.

I understand that the firmware is identical. The screen on the Mk1 is larger,

but the buttons on the Mk2 are better lit for club work.

Maybe the fader on the Mk2 is smoother too.?

The Record buttons: 

REC1, REC2,REC3 on the MK2 replace just 2 buttons on the MK1

The Mk 2 also has Proj, Part, AED, MIX & Arr buttons

There are 1000s of shortcuts. Here is short list of some of the basic ones.

Mk1

Mk1 Project

[FUNCTION] + [MIXER] will open the PROJECT menu.

[Cue] +[Tempo] will activate/deactivate the metronome.

Mk 1 TRACK RECORDERS AND PICKUP MACHINES

[FUNCTION] + (SETUP AB/REC1) Open recorder setup menu page 1

[FUNCTION] + (SETUP CD/REC2) Open recorder setup menu page 2

[REC] + [BANK/EDIT] will open the Audio editor.

[Track 1-8] + [Bank/Edit] will also open the Audio Editor for the respective track

You can edit the sample by pressing LFO

Press [FUNCTION] + [BANK] or [ENTER/YES] 

to open a window displaying the available edit 

commands.

To delete a file:

1. press SELECT ALL. This will select the whole file

2. press [FUNCTION] + [ ► ] to Clear the recorder buffer 

or scroll to "SELECTION to SILENCE" & YES

Mk1 - PARTS

Parts store machines (+ their settings), effects (+ their settings), 

scenes and track volumes.

[FUNCTION] + [MIDI/PART] will open the PARTS menu.

► ◄  [up], [down] Select part

[FUNCTION] + [EDIT] Part Edit popup menu

[FUNCTION] + [COPY] | [CLEAR] | [PASTE] will Copy / clear / paste parts.

Mk1 Arranger:

FUNCTION + PATTERN will enter arranger mode.

Then press [FUNCTION] + [BANK/EDIT] to open the arranger menu

[F] + [down] Insert an arrangement row

[F] + [up] Remove an arrangement row

[left] [right] ► ◄ Move the focus between the columns

MIDI

Access the MIDI mode by pressing the [MIDI] key

Mk2

[PROJ] opens the project menu.

[FUNC] + [PROJ] saves the project.

[PART] opens the part select menu

[FUNC] + [PART] to edit the current part.

[AED] opens the audio editor

[FUNC] + [AED] opens the SLICE GRID menu.

[MIX] key. Opens a menu where settings for the in- and outputs can be made. 

Tracks can also be muted and soloed here.

[FUNC] + [MIX] toggles the metronome on/off.

[ARR] key. Opens the ARRANGER menu. 

Press [FUNC] + [ARR] to toggle the ARRANGEMENT mode

on/off.

Mk2 Recording

[REC1], [REC2] keys are used for real-time sampling through the external inputs. 

[FUNC] + [REC1/2] opens the RECORDING SETUP 1/2 menus.

[FUNC] + [REC3] opens the RECORDING EDIT menu.

[REC3] key is used for real-time sampling from internal sources.

Mk2 - CUE

Pressing [CUE] + a [TRACK] key will cue the track. 

The audio of the track will then be routed to the cue outputs

[FUNC] + [CUE] reloads the active part to its saved settings.

[MIDI] activates the MIDI editing mode.

[FUNC] + [MIDI] opens the MIDI sync settings.

Elektron - Program Changes

Generally, Program Change messages are used to specify the type of instrument which should be used to play sounds on a given Channel. 

This message needs only one data byte which specifies the new program number. 

MIDI Control Change messages in comparison  are used to control a wide variety of functions in a synthesizer.

In Elektron terms “program change” means pattern change. 

So, for example, an Digitakt and a Digitone can step in sync to the next pattern.

This is how I set up Program Changes on a Octatrack-Digitakt-Syntrakt system.

Many thanks to EZBOT for his great sync video.

https://youtu.be/i69tj48vfxM

The OT is the master.

Its sending Program Changes on channel 10

Both the Digitakt & Syntrak are slaves.

Make sure they both are also receiving clock, transport & Program messages.

They receive Program changes on channel 10 in this example

Now when you change a pattern on the OT, the ST & DT should change in sync.

Digitakt & Korg Volca FM - patch notes

Current Live Rig

I'm using a Volca FM 1 with Unofficial Firmware 1.09

The new firmware is excellent

https://drolez.com/blog/music/korg-volca-fm-firmware-update.php

I'm sending CC values from the digitakt to the FM

Possible CCs

TRANSPOSE 40*_Val 1

VELOCITY 41*_Val 2

ALGORITHM 48*_Val 3

CC 88: Load patch, value 0-4: patch 1, 5-8: patch 2 etc up to 127_Val 4

MODULATOR ATTACK 42*_Val 5

MODULATOR DECAY 43*_Val 6

CARRIER ATTACK 44*_Val 7

CARRIER DECAY 45*_Val 8

ARP TYPE 49

ARP DIV 50

CC 1 : (Mod wheel) assignable via CC 91, defaults to Pitch Mod Depth

CC 85: Chorus on/off. value < 64 off, value >= 64 on_Val 1.

CC 86: Chorus stereo width, 64 is default_Val 2

CC 87: Chorus speed, 64 is default_Val 3

LFO PITCH DEPTH 47*_Val 5

LFO RATE 46_Val 6

CC 89: Load pattern, value 0-8: pattern 1, 9-16: pattern 2 etc up to 127

CC 90: Tempo divisor, value 0-31: 1/1, 32-63: 1/2, 64-95: 1/4, 96-127: 1/8 (!)

CC 91: Mod wheel mapping: decides what MIDI CC mod wheel should map to. Example: value 42 sent on CC 91 -> Mod wheel now controls Modulator Attack

Remember that the Digitakt has 8 MIDI channels (A-H)

Of course you can have multiple channels running at the same time sequencing

the one Volca.

These different channels can have different CC sends.

The CCs I picked for MIDI channel A are labeled with Val 1-8

The CCs I picked for MIDI Channel B are labeled with Val 1-8

You will notice that once you have mapped a CC

to the Volca it's LED will light up everytime it receives a CC from the digitakt

(apart from transpose & velocity)

Once you have done this you can also map it to the Digtakt's LFO

This CC is useful:

CC 88: Load patch, value 0-4: patch 1, 5-8: patch 2 etc up to 127_Val 4

You can load a different patch / preset with each pattern.

Or you can control this with a LFO / randomse to change patches on the fly

Elk Elektronik live hardware sequencing with Elektron Digitakt Korg Mini...

Down Tempo Friday Jam Elektron Digitakt Korg Minilogue Novation Drumstat...

Elektron Syntakt - - getting started -new projects and short cuts

 A quick start guide.

This is the easiest way to open a new project

To open a new blank project

A. press the gear button

B. press yes on  load project

C. scroll to create new.

     press yes

 D. hit y/n 

     If you are coming from preset patterns you don't need to save

     before loading.

E. Hit No twice to leave the settings menus.

F to save this project & rename  go to "Save project AS"

G.. go to an empty slot

      hit Yes

 H. rename & save by hitting yes

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Each new project comes with 8 digital "machines" or voices

and 4 analog "machines".

Tracks 1 - 8 are digital, 9-12 are analog.

A new project starts with these voices, but you can change them

1: BD Modern sound 1

2. SD Vintage sound 2

3. CP vintage sound 3

4. CY Alloy sound 4 (metallic/ percussive voice  that's perfect for HH)

5. SY Tone Sound 5

6. SY Chord sound 6

7. SY Bitt sound 7

8. SY Toy sound 8

9. BD HardSound 9

10. SD Classic sound 10

11. SY Dual VCO sound 11

12. CY ride sound 12 (analog Cymbal Machine)

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Change pattern scaling

Press func & Page

Change to Per track scaling so each track can have its own scale, length, etc

Press Fun & Yes

change M.LEN (master length) to 64 (4 bars)

It can be longer if you wish

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Keyboard mode

Func + Track

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Happy Australia Day

Scales - Elektron favourites 2

The Elektron Syntrakt has some scale presets.

Its a good excuse to explore them and brush up on some music theory.

Unless otherwise stated, the root note is C

It's good to focus on the root note and make it clear which scale you're working on.

Starting or finishing on the root note is useful (though not essential).

There are 7 different modes in music:

Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian.

(I've discussed Ionian & Aeolian in a past post).

• DORIAN

(a less "sad" minor scale)

T S T T T S T

I think its really good for deep & progressive house.

C Dorian

E- Dorian 

(Doors" riders on the storm)

A- Dorian

Bassline of Around the world, Daft Punk

D Dorian

New Order - Blue Monday

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• PHRYGIAN 

S T T T S T T

C Phrygian

A# Phygian - - Favourite of Apex Twin

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• LYDIAN

T T T S T T S

• MIXOLYDIAN

T T S T T S T

• LOCRIAN

S T T S T T T

Probably the least often used of the 7 modes.

Björk's "Army of Me" 

It is the darkest and most minor mode due to so many of its notes being flattened.

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The Major & Minor Pentatonic scales are very popular for writing melodies.

These both just consist of 5 notes that I think sound good together.

• PENTATONIC MINOR

C- Minor Pentatonic

A Minor Pentatonic = A, C, D, E, G

• PENTATONIC MAJOR

C- Major Pentatonic

 C, D, E, G, A

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• HIRAJOSHI

This scale just sounds great.

The Aeolian pentatonic scale, also known as Hirajoshi scale.

has 5 tones

tonic (1), second (2) minor third (b3), fifth (5) and minor sixth (b6).

(This is a fav of my mate Mitch)

C, D, D#  ---- G, G# 

I like this variation:

C, D, D#  ---- F, G, G# - A#

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• MELODIC MINOR

• HARMONIC MINOR 

“Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics (key of C)

  C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B

“Smooth” by Santana feat. Rob Thomas

“Gangstas Paradise” by Coolio

• WHOLE TONE

• BLUES

• COMBO MINOR

• PERSIAN

• IWATO

• IN-SEN

• PELOG

• PHRYGIAN DOMINANT

• WHOLE-HALF DIMINISHED

• HALF-WHOLE DIMINISHED

• SPANISH

• MAJOR LOCRIAN

• SUPER LOCRIAN

• DORIAN b2

• LYDIAN AUGMENTED

• LYDIAN DOMINANT

• DOUBLE HARMONIC MAJOR

• LYDIAN #2 #6

• ULTRAPHRYGIAN

• HUNGARIAN MINOR

• ORIENTAL

• IONIAN #2 #5

• LOCRIAN bb3 bb7