Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[monsterthompson]

Excellent composition. Question for you. Would you see any benefit moving to a full sized laptop with a lot of different IO ports? I know even Apple has scaled back on the ports they're offering. I'm thinking about buying an older 15" Macbook Pro laptop because it has everything, even a DVD burner built in. I'm currently using a Dell Windows 7 17" laptop but I'm very disgusted with Windows 10 and its very intrusive way it handles everything. Constant pop-ups and "reminders" and "suggestions." I don't want or like a computer constantly "interacting" with me. I want it to shut up and do what I tell it to. Sorry about the rant, but that's why I'm looking at an older larger Macbook laptop.

I’m currently looking at a 2015 NOS, since they have the old USB and SD and HDMI ports. Pricing isn’t bad on the Apple site. The 15” big benefit seems to be the 4-core chip, over the 2-core in the 13. Certain software isn’t core optimized, but Ableton is, and it is my primary host software. The 15” also has the benefit of generally coming with more RAM.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I’m currently looking at a 2015 NOS, since they have the old USB and SD and HDMI ports. Pricing isn’t bad on the Apple site. The 15” big benefit seems to be the 4-core chip, over the 2-core in the 13. Certain software isn’t core optimized, but Ableton is, and it is my primary host software. The 15” also has the benefit of generally coming with more RAM.

That confirms I'm on the right path for a new laptop! Also shows that brand new isn't always better. The new Apple laptops have dropped a lot of IO ports for the sake of size and the whole industry is driving us to "cloud" and wireless. I'll choose my own ports thank you very much Apple and Microsoft and Dell!

 

[monsterthompson]

That confirms I'm on the right path for a new laptop! Also shows that brand new isn't always better. The new Apple laptops have dropped a lot of IO ports for the sake of size and the whole industry is driving us to "cloud" and wireless. I'll choose my own ports thank you very much Apple and Microsoft and Dell!

If you go new-school, which I might, then I'd snag a few of these.
DJ TechTools - Chroma Cables: USB-C

 

[dukeorock]

Excellent composition. Question for you. Would you see any benefit moving to a full sized laptop with a lot of different IO ports?

Glad you liked the track, thanks!

I can see massive benefits to going to a full size laptop! This is just my own personal hang up, but I just don’t want to use a computer live. Even using an iPad live makes me uncomfortable, but I justify it for now because I only use my iPad ‘live’ as a sound module for some extra bass parts and either play them live, loop them, or fire off sounds from the Digitakt. Oddly, one of my favorite modern musicians is Nicolas Jaar, whose main ‘instrument’ is Ableton on a laptop...so again, it’s just a weird quirk for me that I don’t want to use one. I admire lots of folks who do though!

 

[monsterthompson]

Ableton 10 downloaded and installed

 

[monsterthompson]

I'm about to unload my Malekko Dark delay. Keep an eye on the classifieds. Useful tool for ambience. I'm making room for the arrival of the Pigtronix.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Midi Murf acquired- Really nice sequenced filter array. The sound quality you'd expect from Moog, smooth to rich when over- driven. All kinds of nice ethereal movement as well as percussive, arp- type sequences.
What is really cool, is this thing has extensive midi control- the plan is to write well beyond the internal pattern limitations using an Akai MPC Live as the sequence/ command source. That way I can save banks of extreme settings that can be recalled instantly, and can be programmed for long control movements over time- all filter frequencies, time clock divisions, lfo settings, envelope etc etc.
Not a light pedal- lots in there. It will be table top or music stand mounted though, for easier physical manipulation when desired- not on the board. When using external controls on Moog LPF pedals in the past I was able to get more extreme settings than the standard controls would, so will be curious how much impact the extra midi parameters will have, lfo control and filter resonance levels etc.
Now to do some sequence programming...

 

[dukeorock]

Midi Murf acquired- Really nice sequenced filter array. The sound quality you'd expect from Moog, smooth to rich when over- driven. All kinds of nice ethereal movement as well as percussive, arp- type sequences.
What is really cool, is this thing has extensive midi control- the plan is to write well beyond the internal pattern limitations using an Akai MPC Live as the sequence/ command source. That way I can save banks of extreme settings that can be recalled instantly, and can be programmed for long control movements over time- all filter frequencies, time clock divisions, lfo settings, envelope etc etc.
Not a light pedal- lots in there. It will be table top or music stand mounted though, for easier physical manipulation when desired- not on the board. When using external controls on Moog LPF pedals in the past I was able to get more extreme settings than the standard controls would, so will be curious how much impact the extra midi parameters will have, lfo control and filter resonance levels etc.
Now to do some sequence programming...View attachment 3039383

Sounds like you have a solid plan going! Wish I could say the same

Look forward to hearing some of your jams with that setup. Also curious if you’re happy with the MPC Live? I’m still on the fence between that, an Elektron Octatrack mk2 or an Elektron Analog RYTM mk2. They all seem to have pros and cons. Toughest part with the MPC stuff is the tutorials are mostly people using the same sample packs, playing the same boring music...wears me down! I don’t need a tutorial on how to ratchet high hats for a Trap beat

 

[D.A.R.K.]

MPC Live is great so far, sequences external modules/ program changes and automation with ease.
Despite the legacy of the machine and it's history with beat makers, it really goes light years beyond all that. Should be no problem replacing a laptop for audio needs. Not as much of a learning curve as the Electron stuff, the one key feature is the sizable, full color touch screen.
Part of the plan is to use the looper built into the MPC for quick, tight synch with the sequencer. It should be possible with a controller like a 12 step to map the record and playback functions for grabbing parts on the fly. I haven't looked deep enough to know if sound on sound is an option, so that might stay a board function.

 

[dukeorock]

MPC Live is great so far, sequences external modules/ program changes and automation with ease.
Despite the legacy of the machine and it's history with beat makers, it really goes light years beyond all that. Should be no problem replacing a laptop for audio needs. Not as much of a learning curve as the Electron stuff, the one key feature is the sizable, full color touch screen.
Part of the plan is to use the looper built into the MPC for quick, tight synch with the sequencer. It should be possible with a controller like a 12 step to map the record and playback functions for grabbing parts on the fly. I haven't looked deep enough to know if sound on sound is an option, so that might stay a board function.

Thanks again for all the info! When I tried my first Elektron box, I’m shocked I didn’t throw it out the window Once I learned their ‘language,’ things got better quick, but the Digitakt is supposed to be the easiest of all their machines. Octatrack is a nightmare learning curve. It does live looping really well, which was part of the appeal, but I’m leaning toward a new MPC

 

[Korladis]

Crappy little video I made of all my pedals on at once:

 

[dukeorock]

Very nice!

 

[monsterthompson]

I saw Sleep, last night. The opening act was Bell Witch, which is a drum and bass guitar duo. They are slow and plodding and ambient. Two hand tapping, distortion, effects, and tempos so slow that Type-O would be jealous. Worth checking out.

Today, I was playing with my 0 Coast and Nyx synths. The 0 Coast was going into a Pigtronix Echolution, and that pedal is just wonderful. The Halo effect is cool. I then ran the audio out into the reverb of the Nyx synth, which is the Crazy Tube Circuits reverb. I hate to say it, but I might sell my Dunwich reverb and get a CTC reverb pedal to replace it. I’m thinking I might “spring” for the stereo version. Not sure if I want to del with the bigger size and price. The module in the Nyx is a mono and doesn’t have all the features of the pedal unit.

 

[dukeorock]

How was Sleep?

 

[monsterthompson]

How was Sleep?

Pretty good. Not amazing, but better than E Wizard was.

 

[dukeorock]

Well, that’s better than nothing, then!
I stumbled in to this artist over the weekend. Her name is Kyoka. I think it’s beautiful, but many won’t agree

 

[steubig]

I stumbled in to this artist over the weekend. Her name is Kyoka. I think it’s beautiful, but many won’t agree

thanks for this. pretty enjoyable.

this and other things posted by people on this thread (both by them or sharing stuff by other artists) really make up for the dearth of interesting stuff on this site. i actually *learn* stuff, which is pretty nice.

 

[monsterthompson]

Well, that’s better than nothing, then!
I stumbled in to this artist over the weekend. Her name is Kyoka. I think it’s beautiful, but many won’t agree

Ooh. That’s gonna be good. I’ll listen to the full thing at work on Monday.

You ever get into Author & Punisher? His stuff gets slotted as industrial, but his thought process is impressive even if you don’t like heavier music. Here’s a great mini doc on him.


And a song example.

 

[steubig]

Ooh. That’s gonna be good. I’ll listen to the full thing at work on Monday.

You ever get into Author & Punisher? His stuff gets slotted as industrial, but his thought process is impressive even if you don’t like heavier music. Here’s a great mini doc on him.


And a song example.

never heard about this guy til now.

love him.

sort of like a weird hybrid of mark pauline, tom scholtz and al jourgensen.

 

[dukeorock]

thanks for this. pretty enjoyable.

this and other things posted by people on this thread (both by them or sharing stuff by other artists) really make up for the dearth of interesting stuff on this site. i actually *learn* stuff, which is pretty nice.

Same here! This is by far my favorite thread. I love hearing about the process of making music, texture, etc.

Ooh. That’s gonna be good. I’ll listen to the full thing at work on Monday.

You ever get into Author & Punisher? His stuff gets slotted as industrial, but his thought process is impressive even if you don’t like heavier music. Here’s a great mini doc on him.


And a song example.

Yeah! I kinda love that dude. Oddly, I enjoy his thought process and inventions more than his music, but some of his music is solid. I listened to a lot of early industrial music as a kid and Einsturzende Neubauten are still one of my all time favorite bands. It was a bit sobering when I joined the Thunderbird group here, because I couldn’t care less about a lot of the ‘rockers’ who play those basses. This was more the thing that got me into playing T Birds, if anything...