This was really great!! I loved all the cool sounds and textures but what I loved the most was the random/unpredictable nature of the experience. I'm very curious about how you put these pieces together - are the sections and changes programmed in advance or triggered off camera? Or rather still, is it all purely determined by the whims of the machines?? I love the concept for the video game but I actually found myself struggling to fit it with the music, but that is maybe just because I personally didn't find it very scary or disturbing. In general though, the track reminds me very vividly of what it's like to have insomnia so you're definitely getting the vibes very right. Great artistry!
Viewing post in The World In Ashes jam comments
Thank you, I will assume you are talking about "The World In Ashes"
The How-
not sure how familiar you are with modular music, but for anyone who is not i think its fair to describe it as physical vst modules that can interconnect with each other via patch cables. Without getting too into the weeds, the case i am working with is comprised of 3 loopers. During the piece only two loopers are being used. The Drone in the beginning is coming from the top right instruo module and the high pitch singing from the second to last from the upper left row. There are other modules but i wont bore you with the details. Last module i will mention is the Quad Filter Module with the red button which is creating pure tones from the audio source file. This case was put together on the basis of subtractive synthesis, there for it needs a sound source to make music as it can product the music itself.
The process-
The jam page had a video called Sequentia: Dies Irae. I took a aux cable from my computer and recorded a loop from the first minute of the song/youtube video. One of my loopers also doubles as a granular synth so the loop was split into short cuts and rearranged at different pitches and speeds (Specifically only 3 pitches and speeds which creates the high pitch singing you hear. The original loop from a second looper is patched into the filter which is creating the pure tones you are hearing towards the middle of the song, with "count to 5" guitar pedal for additional effects. I don't think anyone mention it but there was also some very subtle panning goin on but thats something im experimenting with. Also the video has a lag from the audio unfortunately. At the end i am attempting to draw a connect between the original source material and the music that was just created.
Alltogether the process takes 4 to 6 hours to create the initial song, and then another 4 to 6 to tweak. Meaning I decide how each section is delivered, transitioned, mixing techniques, or whether to include panning. Then once i practice cleaning up the patch by adding knobs to the volume of each voice/instrument. i do a couple performance test runs, and then hit the red button on my camera for a one take recording session. I also record to seperate files incase one gets corrupted or damaged which always seems to happen. But at least its hardware which i trust way more then a daw. Before this my daw work flow was much faster but redundant and uninspiring as everything i made sound the same. I couldn't escape the limitations of my habits, skills, and knowledge . Plus, daws freeze on me constantly.
In conclusion the process is hyper exploratory and i never know what i am going to make, which i love.
Is it practical? Not at all!
Can i be commissioned? only if the client likes surprises!
but this new way of creating has returned the joy i once found in making music to me. and thats worth so much more then the perfect piece because i exist in the imperfections. If i had a slogan, it would be "Happy Accidents" or "More Happy Accidents