Gray on 26/8/2019 at 20:08
Thank you. I intend to work a bit more on PrimitivHus, it's not done yet, I have a few more ideas on where I want it to go, but I was too excited about it at the time and had to post it before it was finished. Having said that, even when it's finished, it will not be a great work of art, just some bouncy crap you'll forget the next day. I'm quite pleased with the piano break near the end where the dist drums kick in, I want to milk that a bit more if I can. I'll try to write that thing back in, I'm just currently stuck on a bass break that isn't working.
This very minute, I'm tinkering with another horrible EBM piece of noise, but that might never surface. Maybe I should stick to the noise house. I do love distorted drum machines, syncopated or not.
[Edit]
About the technician bit, that is exactly how I think as well, I just have to get these noises out of my head, and maybe someone else might find a use for them.
[Edit again]
Your stuff is really very enjoyable. I'm currently playing the same track for the fifth time.
qolelis on 27/8/2019 at 09:18
Sorry for not being more constructive. Reasons etc... I write whole paragraphs and then I delete them. Also something about Meshuggah finally dressing in pink and glitter.
Gray on 28/8/2019 at 01:12
One day when I grow up, this is the level of noise I aspire to be able to create.
[video=youtube;bUuiaKClGe4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUuiaKClGe4[/video]
Yes, yes, I'm nearly 50, but I'm still dumb as a teenager, and I'm not getting any smarter, only older and fatter. This level of noise appeals to me. If I can learn to make something similar, I'll be happy. Briefly.
demagogue on 28/8/2019 at 01:29
I can make a jazz track much easier than an electronic track. The reason is because jazz improvisation is so systematized. I'll have a pre-programmed drum and bass track play the backbone of a tune in Band in a Box (I've tried to play my own drum and bass on the keyboard; it's possible to sound good, but I'm not there yet). And as a pianist I'll comp over it and play a solo, and often I'll add another solo instrument (via my keyboard), tenor sax being my favorite. And it will work.
For an electronic tune, there's not the same kind of software where you can pre-program a drum and bass that plays the chords autonomously and sounds good. Or if there is I don't know about it. I usually just play with synths, tweaking with the parameters until it sounds interesting, and just start pure improvising, and recording it until something interesting comes out.
But that's something being composed as I go. I like it because it sounds raw, like pure inspiration, but there will be flubs, it's not really thought out where I'm going with it, and it doesn't lend itself to layering it with other tracks, like drum and bass. Although sometimes I'll start with a drum or rhythm sample and play a simple bass line, and then improvise over that. But that sounds flat. So I end up spending more time just making a synth sound interesting.
I guess the punchline is electronic music is both easier and harder than jazz. The harmony and lines aren't as sophisticated, but there aren't any clear rules where to go with it either. I'd like to make better recordings but it's been a challenge and I need to figure out a better process that works for me and ends up with something that sounds good. I think the real secret to any great tune is having a good process in mind to make it.
Starker on 28/8/2019 at 03:46
Waiting for the next Giant Steps soon. No pressure.
PigLick on 28/8/2019 at 04:31
The only problem with using band in a box type stuff for jazz is that the drums dont "swing".
Gray on 6/9/2019 at 12:33
I'd like to get back to the topic of buying new hardware.
Yesterday I went into a local shop and had a look around, and found something that almost made me wet myself. It was a Roland System-1. Only two octaves, lots of knobs, awesome sound. Does anybody have any experience with this toy? It's roughly £400 and probably out of my price range, so please give me excuses to not buy it. I didn't want to stay in the shop too long and fiddle with it, I have very bad memories of overdoing that in the 80s. Any thoughts on this machine, or something that is better/cheaper? (When I say "only two octaves", that's a good thing, I want a small keyboard with onboard synthesis that is also a useful control keyboard).
Just for reference, my very first synth was a Roland Alpha Juno-1, back in 1986, so my impression may have been, um, affected by that.
Any thoughts welcome.
Gray on 16/9/2019 at 22:10
I take it then that nobody knows first hand of this little machine. Any other two octave keyboard controller with onboard synthesis you can recommend then?
[Edit]
Just for reference, this is the (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMd41antBp4) Roland System-1. It seems to be quite versatile. I'll probably go into the shop again and give it a go, but I'm still looking for reasons to NOT buy it. Aside from the obvious, like lacking the money and talent to use it properly, of course.
[Edit again]
I nearly wet myself again just watching (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mO2vrDB2X0) this video. I want this machine. I am a gullible idiot too easily seduced by noisy toys. It just sounds awesome. And £400 is roughly what I spent on my Juno-1 in 1986. And I own about a dozen synths, some more expensive, not counting drum machines, except they're all in boxes in a different country. Hmm. Am I trying to talk myself out of or into buying this..? It just sound like I'm full of crap and trying to rationalise a decision I've already made but don't want to commit to just yet. I need to try this machine in person again, but that will probably be harmful to my wallet.
Gray on 17/9/2019 at 01:04
Ooh, that looks tempting as well. I am so easily mislead!
[Edit]
It sounds great, but it seems more geared towards performers. I'm a shit keyboardist, I'm not a performer, more of a sound technician and programmer. I can only pretend to be an actual musician for so long, but give me a noise machine with knobs and I'll twiddle away until I starve to death. Unless the Hydrasynth is significantly cheaper than the System-1, I'll probably go for the latter, it appeals more to my particular flavour of sound nerd. But thanks, it's still a very viable option.
I can tweak VCF envelopes all day, but I can't play anything beyond G minor or C major. I'm that stupid.
Having heard your stuff, which I very much enjoy, I can see why you'd like this machine. But you're a much better keyboardist than I am, perhaps it's not for me. But just as I was typing that, the video made some very cool noises, so much in my wheelhouse, I can not discount it yet. I like what I hear. Those sample-and-hold bleeps just speak to me. Awesome resonant filter. That's exactly my nerd level. Dammit, now I'm undecided again. But thanks for giving me this option.
[Edit again]
Bloody hell, it's £1,299. That is out of my price range. Very nice sound, though. I very nearly used several F-words when I saw the price, but I stopped myself because I didn't want to offend such a beautiful machine.