New Music: With one old rock MIDI file, sliced by Synfire and dragged into place with sounds by Reason we have Tuesday on the Levee:
Maschine: Version 1.6 of the software is released and it is working really well. The big item is the ability to include AU/VST plugins and what is really good is that the controls of the plug in are mapped to Maschine knobs. This makes Maschine a great controller as well as being an excellent drum machine.
This works really well with “The Finger” since all the controls are mapped and you can twist the night away. Some really interesting effects chains can be created with plug ins and internal effects with inserts and sends.
There are also workflow improvements and with the ability to rename more items handy.
Native Instruments also added Komplete Elements which I have most of the things with Komplete but now I am evem more complete with added ensembles and Kore things.
Congratulations to Native Instruments who have shown a real ongoing commitment to Maschine.
iPad MIDI controllers These are a mixed bag:
Hexachrome is my favourite way for some quick harmonic note and chord entry.
StepPolyArp is a handy arpeggiator.
Amos cannot establish a connection so does not work at all
Koushion is like the Tonori-on but has timing issues. It requires a DAW to start and stop.
What is also a bit messy is there is no standard WIFI midi connection software used on the Mac. Hexachrome uses OScullator, StepPolyArp and Amos use DSMIDIWIFI and Koushan has its own piece of software. There should be a standard.
Programming Notes Some experiments with creating random bass line sections in AC Toolbox lead to some fairly predicable results.
The rhythm sections should be non random if you want to maintain the standard bass line feel. The pitch values need to be constrained though I tend go for more variable pitches than the single note bass lines. The AC Toolbox random distribution functions generally have a low and high limit values, these and to be kept with in one octave or less, and a value for variability which should be kept low.
Pitch examples:
(1/f-value 5 32 48) – 5 is the variability, 32 is the low pitch 48 the high pitch
(cauchy-value 38 20 32 46) – values around pitch 38 with a spread of 20. Low value is 32 high value is 46
(weibull-value c2 9 1 c3) – C2 is the threshold, 9 is the spread, 1 is the shape and c3 is the maximum value
To get some movement, a shape (actually a line) converted to a stockpile can be used instead of values eg
(1/f-value 5 updown-stk 48) – updown-stk is a rising then ascending list of values between 32 and 46.
Reaktor: I was trying out iZotope’s “Stutter Edit” which I realise is a lot like the Reactor ensemble “The Finger” which I already have. I don’t like using either which got thinking out distortion and drums and had me trying out “Ohmicide” by Ohm Force. The distortion is great but in Reaktor 5.5 there are some good effect plugs including distortion with the Electronic Instruments Vol.1 collection.
This in turn took me to “Lurker” which not distortion but delay lines mixed with additional samples to modify the audio and it sounds great. I tried hand crafting presets but the easiest way is to use the snapshot random, morph or merge functions top create usable snap shots. You can also grab additional samples and add them to the table for merging with the external audio. (Just remember to turn up the external audio which often off by default)
iPad Controller: The Hexachrom iPad app is fun to use once you establish a connection using Oscullator, which is an additional purchase if you don’t already have it. I seemed to have problems with the connection to start with and then it just worked. Oscullator does open up a new world of controller possibilities with iPAd WiFi of which Hexachrom is one. Nice and harmonic.
