Friday, 2 June 2023

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)
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.


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


Squarepusher - Sydney Opera House - Part of Vivid 2023

Looking forward to seeing Squarepusher tomorrow in Sydney



'98 Squarepusher interview (Sonic Acts documentary)

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you can get tickets here:


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          .

Squarepusher - Terminal Slam (Official Video)


Wednesday, 24 May 2023

AKAI Force - MIDI clock

 The setup for MIDI clock.

I'm sending midi clock from a AKAI Force to a Korg SQ-64 sequencer.


Both the sq64 and the FORCE use the same MIDI system.
MIDI A

So you can connect them with a simple 3.5 stereo cable.


A 5 pin DIN isn't needed.

The KORG setup is simple.
Press GLOBAL and set the clock source to MIDI



The FORCE also needs to be setup.

1. MENU
2. Go to the gear icon
3. MIDI/SYNC
4. Enter Matrix/session view
    You dont need to load or start playing any clips.
   Just press the PLAY transport button on the force.
   Make sure that the play button is also pressed on     the SQ64.


   The SQ64 should now be running in sync with         the force.





You can now start playing clips etc etc



Friday, 19 May 2023

The Human Comparator Syncussion SY-1

I bought one, loved it so much, so decided to buy another.
Thanks to Jon, aka, The Human Comparator for these wonderful machines.


They are based on the Pearl Syncussion from 1979.
Pearl are a Japanese firm.



The Pearl Syncussion is a vintage electronic drum synthesizer originally produced by Pearl Musical Instruments in the late 1970s. It was designed to replicate the sound of acoustic percussion instruments using analog synthesis techniques. The original drum was triggered with drum pads.

The Syncussion was one of the early attempts at creating a drum machine that could generate a wide range of drum and percussion sounds electronically. 
It featured a fully analog sound engine with various parameters for shaping the sound of each drum voice.

The original Syncussion was a tabletop unit with a distinctive design, featuring a panel with knobs and slide switches for control. 

It offered six drum voices which I guess tried imitating bass drum, snare drum, low tom, high tom, cymbal, and hi-hat. 

The left most dial (OSC MODE), lets you pick a among a few oscillator presets.






A. One Oscillator. At this position, the regular drum synth sweep can be effected.
B. FM setting ... One oscillator modulates the freq of the second oscillator. 
    The latter VCO is routed to the VCF. Good for metallic sounds
C. Osc 1 + OSC 2 mixed. ... supposed to sound like a vibraphone ??
     Each oscillator is set at a different pitch.
     I think both VCOs pass to the filter but VCO1 is at reduced level.
D. Osc 1 + OSC 2 mixed. (modulated frequency) .
     EG 1 modulates VCO1, EG2 modulates VCO2. Both VCOs are passed to the filter
      Produces a low to high sweep.
     The velocity is mapped to sweep. ??
E. FM + noise.
     ie: One osc adjusts the freq of a second osc with a mix of noise. ... thin metal sound??
F. White noise is passed to a VCF. No oscillators.


Each voice has lots of controls.
This is what makes this early drum so unique.
Drums of this period like those from the Roland TR period allowed some controls for tune , delay etc
but not much else.
The Sy-1 has its own controls for pitch (tune), decay, and tone shaping. 

The synth voice consists of two VCOs, one lowpass VCF & one VCA with a envelope generator (this only has a decay control).
There is also one envelope generator for sweep effects, a noise generator, an LFO and finally a sample & hold.

The envelope generators shape the amplitude envelope of each voice, allowing for dynamic control over the sound. I  like a longer sweep for kick like sounds and shorter sweeps for snares or hi hats.


The width control is the low pass filter.


Additionally, it provided trigger inputs, allowing it to be triggered by external devices such as sequencers or drum pads.
















These are the inputs
No MIDI.... all CVs and triggers

Links:

Minimoog Model D | The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble | Archimedes Screw

ACO (Australian Chamber Orchestra) & Will Gregory Moog Ensemble

On Thursday 18th May I saw the ACO perform with Will Gregory and his Moog Ensemble
at Wollongong Town Hall.

Some pics from the concert.



Ive been to many ACO concerts over the years and Richard Tognetti never fails.
Always exploring new territory.
It was a mix of classical instruments and analog synths.

An interesting collection of synths.
Sadly no Modulars or a Yamaha CS80

Prophet 6 below

Hydrasynth
Minimoog D with a Yamaha WX7 wind controller
(Kenton ProSolo mk3 - MIDI to CV)
The Wind controller added another level of expression.


I think this is a Nord Stage ??


Two Moog Subsequent 37s ?? on the left




The program:


I enjoyed Hans Zimmer's Interstellar & Delia Derbyshire's Blue Veils.
Wendy Carlos/Bach's Switched on was wonderful to hear live.
I've only ever in the past heard old recordings.

The finish was fantastic.: Realisations from a Clockwork Orange.


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Goldfrapp rig tour with Hazel Mills

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Links