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Compilation #6: HERW Modular Mini
Rules:
- all audio material must be generated in reaktor using the HERW Modular Mini ensemble (whichever version you prefer). it's fine to use an audio editor (like sound forge) to cut/paste and an audio sequencer (like sonar) to mix. in terms of mastering, if you feel it's necessary, use whatever program you'd like, but only the basics: compression, limiting, a bit of eq and spatial enhancement, etc. anything that undermines the integrity of the original Modular Mini sounds ist strengstens verboten! ;-)
Results (with composer notes and listener comments):
urusakte tanoshii desu ... perfect song in the morning when no coffee is available. Feels as if every single neuron gets electrified. I hope rachmiel will choose "Love songs" as one of the next compilations. Definitely want to hear chietronix´ glitch-love-song version. - bokuchan
Again, a structured piece which is a lot more 'industrial' but maintaining a listenability as I find it not too harsh Lots of varied sounds: percussion, rhythm timbres and pads, staccato leads and arpeggios, all flowing hypnotically into crescendos and lulls, again maintaining interest all the way through ... Ooohh ... this is really nice stuff. - cayenne
First I thought this must be one of those Absynth patches where you just press one key and then the envelopes do their work for the remaining five minutes. But this here is much better. A powerful, wisely handcrafted meditation. - bokuchan
I had to listen to this one twice before I could make any comment. It seems to be a crossfade of separate pieces, though I'm sure that's being unfair. The initial 'twinkling' lead becomes overlayered by a very powerful drone which builds up a lot of tension. Then there sounds like something trying to break through into the piece. Breakthrough accomplished, the work continues into a more pulsated timbre until the fadeout. Again, a completely different construction and feel to the other tracks so far, but still keeping up the standard, interest and skill of the other tracks. - cayenne
Presets and modified presets were used. The piece is a pretty straight ahead 12-tone composition. No additional treatment of sounds except for a little mastering of the final mix. This one is more about the composition and not so much about taking the possibilities of the synth to some extreme. That would have taken much more time than I had available at the time of composition.
After a simple and seemingly structured start (the sounds of which remind me strongly of a 70s-80s band called Gentle Giant ... brilliant!).. the work begins to unfold into a more chaotic feel. There are loads of different sounds and timbres here - organs, ringmods, bells, pads... all sending me away into yet another place and time ... This is crafted stuff, and no mistake! - cayenne
herw: Bolero and Fünf and Angriff aus dem All
Bolero - just had fun with MM2 so i pressed record knob of REAKTOR and created this simple piece. I used only one snap : bank 4: snap 77 (weit weg 2).
This one sounds almost live! the bouncing bass part(s) sound like it has been put down 'live' and played in time with the echo ... then the lead/melody played/improvised live over the top. This piece has a completely different feel to the other pieces so far. No quantisation or pulling the timing or notes into metronomic line with the sequencer. This would take me yonks to do as I am a crap keyboard player. There is a sense of real fun in this track, due to the feeling of freedom I get from its structure. Of course, I could be completely wrong ... but it's how it seems to me! - cayenne
Fünf - ich bin heute in Spiellaune ;-) ein einfaches Stück mit einem Bassloop mit nur fünf Tönen. Wiederum habe ich nur einen snap benutzt (bank 5 : snap 17 : FM 5 - noch nicht veröffentlicht). Er benutzt nur einen (!) Sinusoszillator, der sich selbst moduliert. Sehr einfacher Snap, wirkt aber durch den 4-Pole-Filter (moduliert durh einen ADSR).
Ahh! ... back to a more classic 'moogy' feel. Lots of filter sweeps.Again, feels like a performance rather than a sequenced piece, which seems sensible considering the fast runs and 'licks' which pepper the piece. The bassline sets rhythm and subtly changes throughout the work, whilst the lead part(s) stitch their montages in and out of focus. Lovely stuff ... - cayenne
Angriff aus dem All - the title is from a german TV series from the sixties, Raumpatrouille
(first episode). i played live and used a new MODULAR ensemble MODULAR MINI 2 X 2 with
four racks. the main part is played with eight parallel saw oscillators and four filters. enjoy!
Tarantellas are fun and seemed a nice vehicle for exploring this synth.
A lovely, dark (but fun) composition that gives a great introduction to the compilation. A clearly structured piece that immediately says 'moog' with every sound. Lots of sonic movement and timbres that keeps my interest for every bar ... A great start. - cayenne
monaural: Action
all sounds are from the mm2. just doubled some of the drums and the bass with kontakt. effects are flangula dualsyncdelay and a homemade filterphaserdelayreverbunit.
A chill out track which has me wandering off somewhere by a headland ... sea and rocks..???.... it certainly shows off the very varied sounds that are possible with the .ens . Very nicely mixed and good use of the phasing in the background, which keeps the 'droning' part vital and in and out of focus (for me anyway) ... Keeps the standard very high ... - cayenne
Phil Durrant: Waytogo
This is a retro homage to the days when modular synths were used to compose music for sci-fi movies. The piece uses one self-made patch in Modular Mini. I use 3 oscillators in combination for complex pitch modulation possibilities. These 3 oscillators go (via a filter) to one side of a ring modulator. The other oscillator goes (via another filter) to the other side of the ring modulator. Additional modulations are supplied by the LFOs and ADSRs. The signal goes via the chorus to
the outputs where I have used quite a bit of "tape flooding" inspired techniques.Sci-fi movie: "In 2366, Wesley Crusher conducted experiments in nanite interaction. These studies went awry, resulting in the creation of self-replicating, sentient nanites. [..] ." This piece sounds like the communication between nanites shortly before they decide to attack the Enterprise. - bokuchan
Very organic sound to this one ... reminds me initially of the rainforest. Really atmospheric insect-y sounds which effortlessly devolve into other, more electronic, concrete effects. Lots of use of delay/echo/reverb. I think this is a very technical piece which has required a fair amount of 'flying' the module? Held my interest (as have all the pieces) from start to finish. - cayenne
I had three goals in mind when composing this piece: simplicity, showcasing the sounds of the instrument, and polymeter. The first two are, I hope, clearly audible. The polymeter might be a bit trickier to hear; it's most obvious in the three shaker lines that start the piece, which all run in different meters, but it extends to the chordal progression in the rest of the piece also.
Ahhh, yes! a bit unfortunate following the previous track. Almost sounded like a continuation of it for a while...er.. until I realised and started the track again (Sorry rachMiel). Big, layered, droning pads, like a looming storm, begin to build the atmosphere a quarter way through the track, following on from the varied-timed? 'fizzers' which introduce the track. Again, I am transported to another place.. night on a pebbled lakeside, mountains and dark, gathering clouds. Excellent! - cayenne
r.domain: Feline Stalker
Here's my first submission for reaktions. Hope you enjoy it!
Disregarding the title, this track unmistakebly give a image of dark streets and alleys and a forboding tension which sets the atmosphere of the track. A myriad of different sounds yet again, all of which seem carefully thought out and chosen or designed to add to the feel of the piece. So far... extremely high standards and great entertainment. - cayenne