Monday, 9 March 2015

The Boss DR-660 (Dr Rhythm drum machine)

This drum is very under rated.... and cheap too.
It hails from 1992 ... so it's over 20 years old.
Roland/Boss were by then using digitally sampled sounds.
Gone are those analogue days.

This was I feel the first digital drum where the sounds actually started to sound realistic.
Remember the DR 220 - I have both the acoustic & electronic versions.
Neither sound like the real deal. This was a weakness in 1986 but today I love their cheezyness.
The DR-660 has the same appeal.

The DR-660 has 16 velocity/aftertouch sensitive pads.....It's very easy to use.

There are 39 drum kits; 250 patterns; 100 songs.
The songs are created by combining patterns. Each kit was targeted at a particular style of music.
There are also memory spaces for the user to put together his/her own new kits.... Yes you can create your own new drum sounds.:-)
 For example, you can combine samples using the pad layer function.




There are 255 16-bit sounds. (The DR-220 was just 12-bit).
There are TR-808 and 909 samples (which in my opinion aren't spot on).
Most of the samples are however still pretty useable, with the 808 bass being fabulous. The snare is good. But the 909 kick in the 660 is pretty darn weak. You can though tweak this little puppy to create totally new sounds which is where I'm at these days.

So I wouldn't recommend the 660 if you want to emulate a 909.
On the positive side, the 660 has a built-in digital reverb, delay, chorus and flange.
The reverb & delay is pretty darn good.  The chorus and flange aren't too bad either.... a bit noisy maybe. Each of these effects are assignable per drum.



There are stereo outputs plus two individual outputs.


Though this does have its own sequencer its a bit fiddly to program. Using the RealTime Write function where you tap the rhythm in time to a metronome can be fun..... though if you make a mistake, editing is a pain in the arse. Luckily there is also MIDI in and out which make this very easy to sequence via your  DAW.





So probably the easiest way to see this is as a piece of history. ... a snap shot of the early '90s.
I generally avoid using the built in sequencer, and regard this as a tweakable bank of tones.
Its not a 909 or 808. If that's what you want, then buy a real 909 or 808. Nothing beats the real deal.
But if your looking for something different, then this could be what your looking for.

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For more info on the history of Roland Drum Machines click here

Sunday, 8 March 2015

Korg PS 3200 sequenced by a SQ-1 (patch 1)

What a awesome sequencer is the SQ-1
I'm totally in love with it.
This is the first in a series of videos using these two classic pieces of gear. Hopefully we
can come up with some finished pieces.

The unedited video is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXw92TosJPw






Saturday, 7 March 2015

Fatehpur Sikri - India

Fatehpur Sikri was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor Akbar.
It's in the state of  Uttar Pradesh. It's a short 40 km drive from Agra
The Emperor (1556-1605) decided to construct it on the same site where
the birth of his son was predicted by the wise & holy man, Shaikh Salim Chisti (1480-1572).
It's regarded as Akbar's crowning architectural legacy. The palaces, public buildings, gazebos, mosques, pavilions & halls were planned with great care for he intended FS to be his capital.

This only lasted between 1571 & 1585. Lack of water finally forced Akbar to move the capital to Lahore (in present day Pakistan) and then back to Agra (1598).

Akbar planned the complex around Persian principles that were derived from tent encampments.
The complex consists of independent pavilions arranged around central squares.


But the beautiful thing about all this was the fusion of styles. His adopted land of India, can be seen throughout.
Inner view of Buland Darwaza (Bulland Gate)

All the buildings here were made of the local red stone. And he used indigenous craftsmen throughout in the construction. One can see Hindu & Jain architecture mixed with Islamic elements.
The monuments at Fatehpur Sikri thus reflect the genius of Akbar. He successfully combined diverse regional architectural styles. This layout definitely influenced later town planning which can be seen in cities such as  Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi).

(Buland Darwaza) Bulland Gate, Fatehpur Sikri
Built to commemorate Akbar's victory against the Kingdom of Gujarat.

Bulland Gate (Buland Darwaza). This gateway is 55 metres tall. Completed in 1575, it's according to the locals the largest triumphal arch in the world. The Arch de Triomphe is 50m high. The Brandenburg Gate is 26m. The arch of Titus in Rome is 15m. One "gate" that is taller is the Arch of St. Louis, Missouri. It's 190m though it's debatable as to whether it's a triumphal arch or just a gateway. ???

Bulland Gate (Buland Darwaza)


The Horseshoe Gate at Fatehpur.
This is the central gate of the  Buland Darwaza. The horseshoes are nailed for good luck.


Tomb of Salim Chishti
A marble encased tomb for the saint who foretold the birth of a son  for Akbar. Beautiful Jali screens encircle the central room that houses the body of the saint.

The Tomb of  Shaikh Salim Chisti (1480-1572)
These screens are cut from single sheets of marble.



Anup talao (pond), the platform to the right was used for singing competitions

Anup Talao Platform

Panch Mahal
This is one of the most unusual structures of Fatehpur Sikri. It's a 5 tiered palace.
Also known as "The Pavilion of the Winds". This was used by ladies of the Royal Harem who were given privacy with Jali screens.

Diwan-I-Aam

Diwan-I-Aam - interior
The "Hall of Private Audience". It is here that Akabar had representatives of the different religions discuss their faiths in peace & friendship. The central pillar has 36 voluted brackets.

EMS Synthi - The Envelope Generator

In the EMS world what we normally refer to as the Envelope Generator is called a "Envelope Shaper". There is a good reason for this as it's definitely not your usual ADSR. 

The envelope can take the shape of a trapeziod, so is often referred to as a "Trapezoidal Envelope Generator."



It's actually a Envelope Generator + a VCA rolled into one.
The Shaper operates by generating a CV & using it to control a VCA.

The Synthi's Shaper has 6 knobs (4 red & 2 silver) & 2 outputs (Trapezoid Out & Signal Out).

The last two silver knobs (5 & 6) are called Trapezoid & Signal.
These set the level (amplitude) of the two outputs.(more about this later).

The first four red knobs are the Envelope Gen itself.
They are named: Attack, On, Decay, Off.

1. Attack is what you'd expect.(2ms to 1sec)
2. On = the time the envelope stays at the top level reached during the attack phase.(0-2.5secs)
3. Decay - again what you'd expect (3ms - 15secs)
4. Off = This is like having a built-in LFO. The length of time the envelope is off (between the end      of  the last envelope & the start of the next env)


The knob associated with this "off section" (see picture below) is unusual as it has two ranges/stages.
4a. While in the range of 0-6 we have an automatic retrigger ---
    it will lengthen the automatic off time between 0.5ms to 5 secs


4b. After about level 6 the cycle starts go into manual mode.... to trigger
    the envelope we can use the trigger button that sits next to the joystick.

Dials 5 & 6 control the
5. Trapezoid Level: This is just the CV level - what you'd expect from a standard Env Gen.
6. Signal level: This uses the Synthi's built in VCA.
   The useful thing about this is you can just patch a oscillator into the Env Gen and obtain a sculptured output without the need to patch a VCA

The two envelope shaper outputs : Trapezoid (row 11) & Env. Signal (row 12)

Voltage control options for the envelope shaper is limited to the decay. 
To do this place a pin in row L.
 

The synthi E also has a trapezoidal EG. 
The shapes are displayed  on the synth itself.
 

Links:
2. Video (Youtube)
3. Muffs
4. Sound On Sound

EMS Synthi - The Battle Patch.

The EMS Battle Patch is a classic EMS "preset".

Here is the patch:
Once you hear this patch you will come to understand why the name "battle" is so fitting.
The unedited video is here.
http://youtu.be/WTDsh43Uzws
The dial settings for the 3 Oscillators, noise, filter, Reverb, etc etc.


So what's inside the prestopatch card?
I couldn't believe how simple it all is.

This is all so familiar.
Doesn't it remind you of the Buchla Music Easel's program/preset card. 
Buchla Music Easel - The Program Card Evolution