Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[monsterthompson]

Man. My brain and ears finally clicked together on the hard sync and FM functions on Medusa. I was completely missing how they worked and wasn’t getting it from RTFM. One of the demos I watched said something in passing and now I realize what is going on.

With the FM setting there’s an “amount” knob that I thought was the only control in play. It turns out what happens is that the 3rd Analog Oscillator actually becomes the modulating wave and the “amount” knob attenuates how much the 3rd Analog Osc modulated the first two Analog Oscillators. I know hear that changing the knob that controls the frequency of the 3rd Oscillator influences the first two. Of course, you can mute the 3rd Osc in the mix so you won’t hear the pitch it is set to.

I also figured out how the hard sync buttons and settings work. I was missing this before and any time I turned them on they sounded terrible. Now I realize that like the FM function, I need to adjust analog 1 to influence analog 2, and/or analog 2 to influence analog 3. Another lightbulb moment. Instant old school video game sounds too.

 

[monsterthompson]

A cute story about creating an atmosphere on Joe Satriani’s latest (even if it’s not a terribly ambient track).
Joe Satriani on Instagram: “Part 2 of Shapeshifting's final track-by-track addresses “Yesterday’s Yesterday” whistling intro, a very specific sound that starts you on…”

The full track.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Throbbing Gristle, yes
I gotta say the Aphex Twin ‘Collapse EP’ was a a huge thing to get me back into electronic music a couple years ago

I think the only release Richard D James put out that I never listen to is “classics”.
All the other stuff is just straight next dimension shizzle. It’s like he’s batting .990 at the plate.

I can listen to Ambient works II on a loop for hours on end. (Except #2, dunno why but I completely HATE that one, wish I could take it off the record. It must tickle bad synapses in my knuckle dragger caveman brain.)

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Man. My brain and ears finally clicked together on the hard sync and FM functions on Medusa. I was completely missing how they worked and wasn’t getting it from RTFM. One of the demos I watched said something in passing and now I realize what is going on.

With the FM setting there’s an “amount” knob that I thought was the only control in play. It turns out what happens is that the 3rd Analog Oscillator actually becomes the modulating wave and the “amount” knob attenuates how much the 3rd Analog Osc modulated the first two Analog Oscillators. I know hear that changing the knob that controls the frequency of the 3rd Oscillator influences the first two. Of course, you can mute the 3rd Osc in the mix so you won’t hear the pitch it is set to.

I also figured out how the hard sync buttons and settings work. I was missing this before and any time I turned them on they sounded terrible. Now I realize that like the FM function, I need to adjust analog 1 to influence analog 2, and/or analog 2 to influence analog 3. Another lightbulb moment. Instant old school video game sounds too.

At least the fever is good for something

(Sorry bad joke......for real....hope you get better asap.)

 

[lordradish]

Today in free...
‎Tape Cassette 2

 

[emjazz]

Fever’s been gone almost all day now. Back pain has been easing up. I might be back to my usual shenanigans soon.

Great news!!

 

[cosmicevan]

Question for @monsterthompson since all the people I know who had COVID it was a while ago like March / April.

No judgement...just curious about your personal practices leading up to getting infected. Have you been super careful and not sure how on earth you got it or no surprise that you got it cause you haven't really been social distancing and have been enjoying society opening back up. I ask because as I mentioned, no one near me has gotten it in about 2 months and we are all starting to feel like it isn't around anymore and as New York slowly starts to open back up, we are questioning our practices of being on a mission to not let COVID near us. I was at my Dr yesterday and my Dr advised me to not send my kids to camp and to continue to be vigilant about being careful and keeping away from others. We've definitely gotten more lax lately starting to meet up with friends at a social distance, trying to figure out if we should dial that back, keep it where it is, or even get a bit more free about things. I know everyone's environments are different, but just curious - every data point helps in making decisions.

 

[monsterthompson]

Question for @monsterthompson since all the people I know who had COVID it was a while ago like March / April.

No judgement...just curious about your personal practices leading up to getting infected. Have you been super careful and not sure how on earth you got it or no surprise that you got it cause you haven't really been social distancing and have been enjoying society opening back up. I ask because as I mentioned, no one near me has gotten it in about 2 months and we are all starting to feel like it isn't around anymore and as New York slowly starts to open back up, we are questioning our practices of being on a mission to not let COVID near us. I was at my Dr yesterday and my Dr advised me to not send my kids to camp and to continue to be vigilant about being careful and keeping away from others. We've definitely gotten more lax lately starting to meet up with friends at a social distance, trying to figure out if we should dial that back, keep it where it is, or even get a bit more free about things. I know everyone's environments are different, but just curious - every data point helps in making decisions.

Not to get too far into this topic in the TB Effects forum, but since we’re a friendly bunch...

I haven’t left my house since this started (in March?), with the exception of walking a few blocks in my neighborhood, and two situations I’ll describe below. Everything has been delivery from one food prep service, Amazon, and one friend doing grocery runs. Food containers get washed. Mail gets quarantined by the door for a few days before handling. Hands washed any time I’ve been outside to get mail, handle deliveries, or walk. I haven’t worn a mask on neighborhood walks, but my streets aren’t packed and it’s easy to keep 6 feet if not a whole street width apart.

After more than a decade in the body-modification performance-art world doing things that involve piercing the skin and exposure to blood, I’ve been through LOTS of training on hand washing, BBP, PPE, and infection risks. My awareness of clean hands and dirty surfaces is high.

To be clear, I haven’t been tested positive, mostly because physically getting to a testing location is a separate issue. What I do know is that two weeks prior to the start of my fever I had my only real social interactions.
- One - my car needed work and I had to take it to my mechanic. I won’t detail the experience, but I took appropriate precautions and also observed things that could’ve been potential for transmission (no pun intended for the auto shop).
- Two - A friend offered me an item that would be useful in my isolation, so I visited him to pick it up. It was outside when I arrived. We kept our distance and didn’t talk for long.

So if it’s actually COVID and not something else causing the fever, those two interactions are the most unusual for me and the timing lines up. Otherwise, it’s a serious fluke, or something else that caused a few days of fever and mild symptoms that overlap. I won’t know until I can get an antibody test sorted out down the road.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Not to get too far into this topic in the TB Effects forum, but since we’re a friendly bunch...

I haven’t left my house since this started (in March?), with the exception of walking a few blocks in my neighborhood, and two situations I’ll describe below. Everything has been delivery from one food prep service, Amazon, and one friend doing grocery runs. Food containers get washed. Mail gets quarantined by the door for a few days before handling. Hands washed any time I’ve been outside to get mail, handle deliveries, or walk. I haven’t worn a mask on neighborhood walks, but my streets aren’t packed and it’s easy to keep 6 feet if not a whole street width apart.

After more than a decade in the body-modification performance-art world doing things that involve piercing the skin and exposure to blood, I’ve been through LOTS of training on hand washing, BBP, PPE, and infection risks. My awareness of clean hands and dirty surfaces is high.

To be clear, I haven’t been tested positive, mostly because physically getting to a testing location is a separate issue. What I do know is that two weeks prior to the start of my fever I had my only real social interactions.
- One - my car needed work and I had to take it to my mechanic. I won’t detail the experience, but I took appropriate precautions and also observed things that could’ve been potential for transmission (no pun intended for the auto shop).
- Two - A friend offered me an item that would be useful in my isolation, so I visited him to pick it up. It was outside when I arrived. We kept our distance and didn’t talk for long.

So if it’s actually COVID and not something else causing the fever, those two interactions are the most unusual for me and the timing lines up. Otherwise, it’s a serious fluke, or something else that caused a few days of fever and mild symptoms that overlap. I won’t know until I can get an antibody test sorted out down the road.

Keep us posted about your condition.

 

[monsterthompson]

Keep us posted about your condition.

11:03 PST. Looked synthesizer.
11:04 PST. Posted about looking at synthesizer.

Edit - Doh! Just remembered I have a Novation Circuit I can rig up easily by my bed. The Medusa is nice but Novation has more variety and effects.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

11:03 PST. Looked synthesizer.
11:04 PST. Posted about looking at synthesizer.

11:05 : memes
11:07: memes
11:10: Zoia patchs

 

[monsterthompson]

11:05 : memes
11:07: memes
11:10: Zoia patchs

Ugh. No headphone out on the Zoia, so it’d need to rig a mixer.

 

[dukeorock]

I think the only release Richard D James put out that I never listen to is “classics”.
All the other stuff is just straight next dimension shizzle. It’s like he’s batting .990 at the plate.

I can listen to Ambient works II on a loop for hours on end. (Except #2, dunno why but I completely HATE that one, wish I could take it off the record. It must tickle bad synapses in my knuckle dragger caveman brain.)

Ive liked Aphex since the mid 90’s, but there was something about the Collapse EP that made me want to really get back into electronic stuff for real. Drukqs is also a huge favorite. Kyoka also got me when I first heard this


Nicolas Jaar was a big one too



And 2814 made me want to get outside of just using samplers and buy a synth or two

 

[dukeorock]

Ugh. No headphone out on the Zoia, so it’d need to rig a mixer.

speaking of...does anyone use a mixer as a hub? Since my rig is growing, I’ve been thinking of getting a nice mixer. Size is a bit of an issue in my current space. Some of the newer mixers that allow you to record jams without a computer has some appeal to me. Anyone use a decent mixer?

 

[monsterthompson]

speaking of...does anyone use a mixer as a hub? Since my rig is growing, I’ve been thinking of getting a nice mixer. Size is a bit of an issue in my current space. Some of the newer mixers that allow you to record jams without a computer has some appeal to me. Anyone use a decent mixer?

Like the digital ones? I only run my Mackie Mix 8. The Behringer units seem highly regarded. The higher priced ones let you record each channel individually one, vs a stereo bounce, if I recall correctly.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Ive liked Aphex since the mid 90’s, but there was something about the Collapse EP that made me want to really get back into electronic stuff for real. Drukqs is also a huge favorite. Kyoka also got me when I first heard this


Nicolas Jaar was a big one too



And 2814 made me want to get outside of just using samplers and buy a synth or two

I got into the hip hop beats stuff before electronic music. Premo, Rza, Pete Rock, Dilla, Q-Tip with ATCQ....plus many others......

My atomic bombs for electronic stuff.....
Squarepusher


Aphex twin......i guess yoy don't need links to any of his stuff. (Favs druqks and ambient II)

Autechre..... Tri Riptae from way back....and then everything they've ever done (I'm an autechre Stan)


And last but not least...one of the greatest records ever.....it falls between both the hip hop and electronic thing imo DJ Shadow's classic Endtroducing.
Endtroducing..... - YouTube

 

[steubig]

at least we still have our sense of humor.

mixer? how small? i have an edirol (https://www.amazon.com/Roland-M-10MX-Edirol-10-Channel-Mixer/dp/B000NJPMME), which is small and runs on 9-volt. (this was the first hit i got, just to show)

re walking around unmasked: i don't do it. i live in a nice little suburban neighborhood that has a fair amount of unmasked people jogging or walking around talking loudly on their phones. since i have no idea if *they're* infected and don't want to feel like i'm walking through a contagion cloud, i'm always masked.

how you deal with this will depend on whether or not you think this stuff can be aerosolized and hang in the air you breathe (and how long it can be there). i understand other people will not find this necessary.

 

[Spectrum]

And 2814 made me want to get outside of just using samplers and buy a synth or two

I love that 2814 album, bought a vinyl copy a few months back when they reissued it. And despite having a few synths I have no idea to do what they do. In a perfect world I'd have friends with a studio, a DAW, and the know-how to get me there, but in this world it's just me in my house making do, so my music tends to be less frilly.

If you like 2814, though, you should check out Woob. His stuff is also pretty cyberpunky. Love this album:

speaking of...does anyone use a mixer as a hub? Since my rig is growing, I’ve been thinking of getting a nice mixer. Size is a bit of an issue in my current space. Some of the newer mixers that allow you to record jams without a computer has some appeal to me. Anyone use a decent mixer?

I've been using a Mackie Mix5, but if you like things in stereo, it really should be called a Mix 2 and a half. I love that it has ins and outs for an external recorder or whatever. Thinking of upgrading to a Mix8 or whatever the next size up is, so I can run 4 synths trouble-free. Need to find space on my console for it, though. One of the reasons I went for the 5 was it was the smallest of its kind.

 

[monsterthompson]

I love that 2814 album, bought a vinyl copy a few months back when they reissued it. And despite having a few synths I have no idea to do what they do. In a perfect world I'd have friends with a studio, a DAW, and the know-how to get me there, but in this world it's just me in my house making do, so my music tends to be less frilly.

If you like 2814, though, you should check out Woob. His stuff is also pretty cyberpunky. Love this album:





I've been using a Mackie Mix5, but if you like things in stereo, it really should be called a Mix 2 and a half. I love that it has ins and outs for an external recorder or whatever. Thinking of upgrading to a Mix8 or whatever the next size up is, so I can run 4 synths trouble-free. Need to find space on my console for it, though. One of the reasons I went for the 5 was it was the smallest of its kind.

I used the Mix 5 for a while. I enjoy it. The upgrade to the 8 isn’t much and you get a bunch of extra inputs and outputs. Stereo fun!

 

[pcake]

Question for @monsterthompson since all the people I know who had COVID it was a while ago like March / April.

No judgement...just curious about your personal practices leading up to getting infected. Have you been super careful and not sure how on earth you got it or no surprise that you got it cause you haven't really been social distancing and have been enjoying society opening back up. I ask because as I mentioned, no one near me has gotten it in about 2 months and we are all starting to feel like it isn't around anymore and as New York slowly starts to open back up, we are questioning our practices of being on a mission to not let COVID near us. I was at my Dr yesterday and my Dr advised me to not send my kids to camp and to continue to be vigilant about being careful and keeping away from others. We've definitely gotten more lax lately starting to meet up with friends at a social distance, trying to figure out if we should dial that back, keep it where it is, or even get a bit more free about things. I know everyone's environments are different, but just curious - every data point helps in making decisions.

this is from yesterday in new york:
new cases: 1,464 new deaths: 91 currently active cases: 282,188
and that's only counting the people who were tested.

maybe your friends are careful, and that's why they don't have it, but lots of other people aren't careful, and they're parents, children, roommates and so on. please stay safe and be well!