pol
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Post by pol on Aug 29, 2021 19:36:52 GMT
My latest piece, an up-tempo romp in complete contrast to Taffy's Grave earlier this year. The only link to the AE is that getting some new modules and writing wiki pages delayed its completion! Soundcloud |
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Post by maydonpoliris on Aug 30, 2021 8:02:13 GMT
I like this romp. Puts me in a good mood.
You mention in the link you used lots of synths for this, did you set them up to play or concentrate on one piece at a time and what were they. I thought maybe a volca FM or dx7 at one stage.
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pol
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Post by pol on Sept 4, 2021 6:48:15 GMT
I like this romp. Puts me in a good mood. You mention in the link you used lots of synths for this, did you set them up to play or concentrate on one piece at a time and what were they. I thought maybe a volca FM or dx7 at one stage. Good  . I record all my music/playing on an Akai MPC (except my AEtherwaves offering which was 100% AE and the audio recorder). The MPC can trigger up to 64 midi sound sources/internal programs without duplication... Suffice to say I've never got close to that! I usually use about 4 or 5 things in total on any one piece. This one had 8 synths which was a record. The drums are a MPC program. It is virtually all hand played, even the drums; some tweaking may follow but I never have to play the whole song through these days, (nor more than 1 part), so I'm not as good a musician as I was. The song often doesn't even really exist until fairly near completing the writing process, as I write the sections and then join them up. I started many years ago recording live to stereo with a Mic, Korg MS20 and a couple of guitar pedals; for the last 5 years or I have gone back to live to stereo mostly because I bought a bigger mixer! Live to stereo means the MPC doing it's thing with me usually doing the mixing, any FX changes etc that I can't program. For some reason I much prefer the immediacy of "live" to multitracking, part of it is certainly the ease of chopping/changing things but mostly I think it's because you spend more time with the synths.... The synths on this one were a Novation Ultranova (brilliant, best arpeggiator I've got), Behringer Monopoly (its first use, BASS), Behringer Odyessy (would have had the Korg but minikeys....), Korg MS2000 (my favourite synth), Waldorf Strietchfett, Korg Wavestate (its first use in a finished piece, causes brain ache!), Studiologic Sledge (lovely but flawed, also use as my master keyboard) and Volca Drum. You may detect a Korg bias and you'd be right! |
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Post by maydonpoliris on Sept 4, 2021 11:13:58 GMT
Awesome pol thanks for the detailed rundown. Your track sounded similar to how I like to setup/play and I'm still trying to find my ideal set up. I've been using the Electribe Sampler to put everything together before the recording process but whilst I like it, it is an effort and the live playing switching from one Synth/Setup to another is an effort and not really there and the sample memory is rubbish which is why I was interested in your set up. The fact that you can hand play (very well I might add) everything and then let the MPC do its thing while you mix is very appealing. You have some great synths in your line up too and nothing wrong with a Korg bias either. Some I know(I wish personally) and some I will need to google like the Sledge. It must be good if using as master with all the other keyboards there. Cheers for sharing |
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pol
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Post by pol on Sept 4, 2021 14:21:57 GMT
Your track sounded similar to how I like to setup/play and I'm still trying to find my ideal set up. I've been doing this for 30+ years and not sure there is such a thing, just an arrangement you are temporarily satisfied with! |
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pol
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Post by pol on Sept 4, 2021 14:35:10 GMT
I've been using the Electribe Sampler to put everything together before the recording process but whilst I like it, it is an effort and the live playing switching from one Synth/Setup to another is an effort and not really there and the sample memory is rubbish which is why I was interested in your set up I would encourage any electronic musician down the MPC path, I'd buy one of the latest models if I had the dosh - got gate/CV as well as Midi amongst other things. With the current models you could work the way you are doing from what I understand (they record audio as a track with the midi and other sorts of tracks). I bought my MPC on interest free credit in 2005 and no regrets. It was my most expensive piece of gear until my AE began to expand..... I'd like the Electribe sampler, the MPC is fast but not not light to carry around and too valuable (to me) to take to other people's houses etc. All "spare" monies have gone on the AE and cables for the new studio this year! |
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pol
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Post by pol on Sept 4, 2021 14:44:51 GMT
The fact that you can hand play (very well I might add) everything and then let the MPC do its thing while you mix is very appealing. You have some great synths in your line up too and nothing wrong with a Korg bias either. Some I know(I wish personally) and some I will need to google like the Sledge. It must be good if using as master with all the other keyboards there. Thank you. These may be of interest:- My Music Pinterest page www.pinterest.co.uk/rogerwilsonpol/synths/Loopop (Youtube), Sonic State and SOS are my main assistants when deciding what to buy, this review was the original Sledge, they are on 2.0 but I've never bothered updating mine as didn't fix what I am bothered about. I do love its sound which it what really matters about any synth I use. I use it as the Master as it has velocity and aftertouch - my only keyboard that has both! It also is much longer than most of my synths keyboards which it what you need in a master.... www.soundonsound.com/reviews/studiologic-sledge |
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Post by maydonpoliris on Sept 4, 2021 20:59:13 GMT
Yes so true! The possibilities out there allow for our temporary arrangements to last forever. I like how our tastes change over time back and forth. maybe we become stagnant if not. That sledge is a beast. Love the yellow. because colour matters of course. would be cool to be able to actually play a keyboard for real. The MPC i've seen RickyTinez(youtube) covering it but haven't dug deeper due to price tag. Its hard to jump into something expensive but with interest free or even renting to try/buy would be a good idea to look into. I've been searching for a cheaper alternative but some things are worth the expense especially if it sets you up for 20 years and beyond. I guess even with cheaper instruments like Ae they become an expensive bit of kit after a few purchases which is my main drive now and might even change up the way I like to play. Sonic state and Loopop are great, Lp pushed me over the line recently with the norns shield as well as dizzeesatchelyou have very informative Pinterest channel too. |
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Post by keurslagerkurt on Sept 8, 2021 21:24:24 GMT
The new MPC Live II looks great, but def pricey yeah (also been watching Ricky, love him!)
I've seen a second hand MPC 2000 go for €500 lately, wish I had the space for that legendary beast..
I'd say most Mpc's, old or new, seem still worth it today. Either that, an Elektron device, or a Deluge would fit in my setup as a HUB/brain. Right now I've been using a second hand Digitakt for over a year, and been loving it. It's especially great that you can connect it over USB and record it's 8 sample tracks seperately, and two other audio input tracks. Keeps the table clean with just a few cables!
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Post by pt3r on Sept 9, 2021 5:16:09 GMT
I will never buy any of the new MPCs. Akai is merely a shadow of what it used to be. Those new MPCs firmware are full of strange quirks and bugs and instead of fixing those issues AKAI will always release new MPCs. Still love my OG grey 2KXL, which I retrofitted with an SD cardreader before MPC sold the blue ones.
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Post by maydonpoliris on Sept 9, 2021 8:15:08 GMT
Dissapointing that Akai don't fix issues if they have such a big following.
The MPC's workflow looks easier to understand though than the digitakt which looks really hard. But probably built for function rather than looks.
Getting it second hand is a good idea.
The deluge does look good too.
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Post by keurslagerkurt on Sept 9, 2021 20:12:28 GMT
It's funny because Elektron devices are notoriously labeled as 'hard' or 'weird', but while watching videos/tutorials before getting one, it all seemed pretty intuitive to me.
Started out with the model:samples, which of course is extra 'easy' with it's knob per function layout, but i just instantly clicked with the machine & sequencer. I truely think my brain and workflow is just structured like the Elektron devices 😅 for me the Digitakt feels super intuitive. (Except for the data structure and underlying database, that stuff is confusing as hell!)
I think of course that it is very personal, and just a matter of 'how you see beats/music' as a human. Finding the stuff/device that clicks is really a magical feeling!
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Post by maydonpoliris on Sept 10, 2021 1:27:46 GMT
"I think of course that it is very personal, and just a matter of 'how you see beats/music' as a human. Finding the stuff/device that clicks is really a magical feeling!"
That's awesome that you have found this with the electron.
I'm finding that more and more with Ae as I learn, really loving using it even if not understanding it fully.
It would be awesome to get that same feeling with a complementary device like the electron/MPC. Or maybe I don't need to!
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Post by pt3r on Sept 10, 2021 4:54:57 GMT
It indeed all boils down to what environment clicks with you. I have it the same as maydonpoliris , the AE is really growing on me like a 'real' instrument also because you do it all yourself; those are your sounds that you shape with the elementary building blocks in your rack and arrange together, whereas with a sample I often had this feeling that I was rehashing this is someone else's music despite the fact that the samples were nothing but the starting point of the track, that bit of audio that gets sliced/tuned/stretched and mangled beyond recognition.
Listen to the Aetherwaves releases and the sonic diversity in the tracks is so vast, anything seems possible. In my mind I will always associate MPCs with (boombap) hiphop, fruityloops with eurotrance and Ableton with quirky techno and slick modern pop, whereas modular synths I tend to think more of as an abstract sound source, I don't make this genre association.
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Post by maydonpoliris on Sept 10, 2021 9:49:10 GMT
The new Aetherwaves is going to show even further diversity within Ae I feel too.
Also with the Ae you start from scratch each time and is so immersive.
The way I see the sampler/main device like MPC being used is to record own Ae samples/guitar/other synths etc and set it up to play different sections changing it up or playing separately while playing the Ae along with it.
I do see your point with the genres, there are plenty of YouTube vids that support that too.
Ive found when using Ae or even when using samplers/devices the genre is decided by how you and the device feels on the day or even that first wire connection or sound.
Love that moment.
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Post by maydonpoliris on Sept 11, 2021 21:20:21 GMT
Speaking of moments.....it hit me like a brick sandwich while jamming that I can actually do everything I want on the Ae especially since that's the environment I'm loving so much I should use that to complete the set up as my main hub and especially with modules like the 6mute, 4I/O etc it will be easier than thought.
I just need a better start/stop so maybe something like a switch matrix will do or just use my sequencer outs better.
The only other thing then would be a bigger memory recorder which the nornes shield should cover. Overkill but I'm digging that little device.
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Post by keurslagerkurt on Sept 12, 2021 6:13:18 GMT
Speaking of moments.....it hit me like a brick sandwich while jamming that I can actually do everything I want on the Ae especially since that's the environment I'm loving so much I should use that to complete the set up as my main hub and especially with modules like the 6mute, 4I/O etc it will be easier than thought. I just need a better start/stop so maybe something like a switch matrix will do or just use my sequencer outs better. The only other thing then would be a bigger memory recorder which the nornes shield should cover. Overkill but I'm digging that little device. Have also been thinking of this! AE def has even 'main mixing desk' potential now with the slider modules, mixconsole and different add-ons. Only thing holding me back is that i don't have a permanent 'studio' space, and right before the mixconsoles got anounced, I got myself the 1010Bluebox (which is GREAT albeit a bit pricey. But it's a portable mixer and recorder for 12 tracks!) Oh and i'd also say that AE can be a bit noisey (the sliders, the knobs, background noise, the cables etc etc ). I usually don't really mind that, but i do avoid routing some things through AE because of that (a superclean, crispy digital synth sound of the Microfreak would be An example). |
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Post by maydonpoliris on Sept 12, 2021 9:19:40 GMT
Ah keurslagerkurt I'm glad you mentioned the noise thing, I thought I had crap cables which still could be the case. I do need to replace some of them. I still don't mind the noise either. More slider modules are on my list now too. The 1010 boxes are great, if I didn't have the Zoom L12 id grab the Bluebox for sure. The blackbox look fantastic too. Look like you are having a great holiday!! enjoy. |
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pol
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Post by pol on Sept 27, 2021 19:41:08 GMT
I will never buy any of the new MPCs. Akai is merely a shadow of what it used to be. Those new MPCs firmware are full of strange quirks and bugs and instead of fixing those issues AKAI will always release new MPCs. Still love my OG grey 2KXL, which I retrofitted with an SD cardreader before MPC sold the blue ones. Believe they have updated the software recently but main reason for responding is I still have a ZIP drive on my (grey) MPC2000XL! I keep meaning to investigate people who can mod MPCs . It's not my studio MPC now though, I have the 2500, love it to bits, it was recently serviced and like a new machine again. One of the reasons I upgraded was to get USB and Compact Flash storage..... Keep the MPC2000XL as I love it too,  |
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