Forbin Accenta Electronica
Background info:
Forbin Accenta Electronica is an entirely electronically-produced experimental composition using the KX-Synth X16software synthesizer. The KX-Synth X16 is a successful and extremely flexible software re-creation of the famous EMS VCS3 Putney or various Synthi models, using a virtual pin matrix to inter-connect the various oscillators, filters and modulation effects together. For this work, twin KX-Synth X16 synthesizers were connected in parallel within the VST host. Both synthesizers responded to playing, making the sounds truely bi-timbral, with both outputs able to be recorded by the host software for later integration into a multi-track environment. Various presets were used and modified to create etheral tones. Most of the patches employ ring modulation , or were configured by the virtual pin matrix to add ring modulation and extra feedback delay to create metallic and etheral melody lines. Those who every wanted to play an EMS VCS3 or Synthi synthesizer can have a feel for what it is like playing a KX-Synth X16 VST synthesizer on their own computer.
The experience is extremely satisfying and open for much exploration and experimentation. The first mix comprised a reverberant tonal line with two tracks of a lone reverberant synthesizer line with heavy short feedback delay. These tracks were mixed down to one stereo track and slowed down significantly to create a more dreamy combination. Added to this was a metallic vibration tone with very short delay and heavy feedback. This was faded in and out as appropriate to the first mix. At the end are two time-shifted tracks of a sample of the ending, looped, then progressively slowed down until a very low frequency combination is heard receding into the distance. This then concluded the composition.
The final mix was twice-compressed to level out the dynamics, then this version was used for the video. The visuals comprise vintage digital and analogue computers from the last 50 years – including UNIVAC, ORACLE and other systems, including SketchPad by Ivan Sutherland and various radar systems such as SAGE. These images were colourised with painting software, then keyed over modulating derivatives of a striped pattern, or motion-tracked versions of other images. The music reminded one of the feel of the music score in the film The Forbin Project; so the title of the work pays homage to this science fiction classic. The vintage computer images help to connect the music to previous generations when the technological landscape of computer science was of a different order.
google doodle guitar – Les Paul
Google Doodle remembering Les Paul, the pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar. Yet another amazing google doodle.
Using the free and open source tool SuperCollider (Mac, Windows, Linux), composer and coder Nick Inhofe scripts Google’s interface, using the ability of SuperCollider to talk to keystrokes. You can download SuperCollider for free and try it out – it’s an insanely powerful real-time synth and processing engine – or just hit the Google shortcuts to hear the results. Full details:
Google Doodles with SC [SuperCollider mailing list]
140 dB
“140 dB” is experimental film about interaction between sound and physical bodies. The main idea is to show how sound can change objects form and structure including human mental state.
Crazy 258v Cross Mods
Beautiful noise coming from the 258 
Modulating the two channels or the 258 with each other opens up for a lot of new and interesting timbres as I recently learned. I liked the 258v as I played it before but this is really cool.
Sometimes I dream that I’m flying
“Sometimes I dream that I’m flying, not like a bird, more like I’m floating in air.
Few days ago it was very windy outside and for a moment the image of those dreams came to my mind.
I always wanted to capture that feeling I experienced in those dreams, and so without too much thinking I grabbed a guitar, a double bass bow and went outside recording.
All the sounds are generated from the trees, the wind, wind chimes and bowed acoustic guitar harmonics, processed with granular synthesis. I’d suggest listening to this piece with a good set of speakers, possibly with a subwoofer. I hope you’ll like it.”
Finally approaching the future of music – ROBOT CONTROLLER + 3D VIDEO
Is collaboration between humans and robots possible in music?
Now the answer is yes.
This is a live performance-demonstration of an innovative research project made by Italian Institute of Technology (IIT – Advanced Robotics Department), mixing electronic music, a robot arm as a music interface, and the experience of interactive 3D projections. The robot interacts with the artist to create and modify musical parameters during the performance. On the background, 3D figures represent the robot trajectories, figuring musical parameters.
Artist: Valerio Solari (K)
soundcloud.com/veryelectromusic
Credits: Victor Zappi – Antonio Pistillo – Sylvain Calinon – Andrea Brogni – Darwin Caldwell
iit.it
Project Abstract: “The availability of haptic interfaces in music content processing offers interesting possibilities of interaction between human users and novel instruments and controllers for musical expression. The capability to precisely modulate haptic feedback on the user establishes a direct connection with the sonic output, which enhances the modalities of artistic content creation. The use of robots as both manipulators and actuated interfaces o ers new perspective in a combined context of human-robot interaction and music playing. With this project we investigate
the use of a compliant robotic arm as a bidirectional tangible interface for musical expression. We exploited the robot capabilities to con gure a system in which a human user and the robot interact for the creation of recursive modulations of music parameters. An experimental session has been carried out with the collaboration of a musician, who performed with the robot as part of his live stage setup.”
Anti Retro
Nice slick video, enjoy
Background info:
Director: Jonathan Gurvit
Production Company: primobuenosaires.tv
Executive Producer: Caro Cordini
Producer: Victoria Piantini
Producer: German Lentini
AD: Juan Pablo Verdaguer
DOP: Cristian Cottet
Art Direction: Soledad Calvano
Post Producer: Seba Lopez
Editor: Alejo Hoijman
Sound Design: Notdeaf Sound Design
Client: Citroën
Product: CS3
Agency: EURO RSCG Buenos Aires
ECD: Gustavo Reyes
CD: Maximiliano Sánchez Correa / Fernando Arrossi
Producer: Patricio Browne
Head of Production: Marcelo Ramos
Pencil Fields – analog gestural interface controlling Bugbrand Modular
This is a live performance by Palle Dahlstedt on a custom built instrument, using a simple pencil drawing as a gestural interface for controlling complex analog synthesis (on a Bugbrand Modular). The instrument works by creating a voltage potential field in the graphite/pencil markings on the paper using custom movable electrodes made from coins. Then, various control voltages are extracted from other points on the paper, controlling various aspects of the synthesized sound.
“A big thanks to Tom Bugs for very valuable electronics advice! The sound is recorded directly from the BugBrand Modular (with a slight reverb), and from contact mics on the pencil sharpener. There is no normal microphone, which explains the slightly awkward silence in the beginning, while I’m drawing. Recorded at the second performance (of two), May 6th, 2011, Gothenburg, Sweden. Concert arranged by Levande Musik (www.levandemusik.org) This work is part of the research project Creative Performance at University of Gothenburg, funded by the Swedish Research Council.”
Into the experimental world of apples and pads
“I’ve been sneaking around Apple’s garden for a long time, dating back to the Apple II motherboard hacked into my code-munching poly-synth of the early ’80’s. I’ve modded iMacs, towers, endless accessories, and I’ve drastically bent mac-centric code with wonderful result. This movie loosens another brick in Apple’s wall, and opens the iPad’s usability tremendously.
I know I’m not the only individual appreciating the experimental music apps available on the iPad. I’m anxious to support the developers’ fine work. But for musicians, the iPad’s interface can be frustrating. Do you really want to use dongles, mini-jacks and flimsy wire to get in and out of the thing?
This audio breakout solves these problems, is easy to do, and is inexpensive.
No bending here, just a quick, theory-true hack based upon iPad docking charts I found online. Not a superdock. No competition for the Alesis breakout. But if you want a slick, basic and functional DIY audio desk, on the cheap, check this hack out!
The breakout board is available at kineteka.com
Be sure to see the photos and REVISIONS, and pick-up the printable schematic at my iPad Audio Desk flickr gallery:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonbear3325/sets/72157626688587705/
This audio desk is really fun to use. Hacking the apple is always a good thing. I hope you’ll enjoy the movie! (Let it download for full-screen 1080).
-Reed Ghazala
The first Location-Aware music album
Approach that crazy-looking thing while listening to “The National Mall,” and you’ll hear a keyboard weep. Get closer and digital cellos begin to trace a regal melody. Closer. There’s percussion. Keep going. The volume creeps up. The drums push toward anarchy. Walk right up to the monument, press your hand against the cool, smooth stone and listen, as if the obelisk were a giant radio needle receiving some riotous transmission from deep space.
‘The National Mall’ is the first ever location-aware album, created by music duo BLUEBRAIN. Available as an app for the iPhone, the music changes and evolves based on the listeners chosen path within the National Mall park in Washington DC. It is the first in a series of site specific compositions the duo plans to release. For more information, visit bluebra.in **Android and iPad versions coming soon**
Bluebrain is Hays Holladay and Ryan Holladay
Follow on Twitter: @BluebrainMusic
Brandon Bloch – Director and Editor – brandonbloch.com
Fernando Ortega – Director of Photography – vgfilms.com
Featuring – Victoria Milko
Production Assistance – Chris Winter
DATAMASKIN
