AndreasKrebsBlog

Here’s something new and weird:

http://www.andreaskrebs.de/assets/media/improvisation-20111227.mp3

This is a piece with a fixed rhythm but also some degree of randomness put into 6 “instrument” voices (done with resonating BBDs).

First, we have a simple bassdrum (A-121 Multimode Filter / lowpass out through an A-131 VCA, both controlled by an A-142 VC Decay) and a simple snaredrum (white noise from an A-118 Noise Generator through an A-106-5 SEM filter in highpass mode, both controlled by another A-142 VC Decay). The snare’s decay time is contrtolled by an A-149 Quantized  Random Generator. Each Decay Generator is triggered by an A-155 Sequencer in 16-Step mode (with A-154 Controller and A-150 Switch).

Then we have 6 more or less “tonal” voices:

An A-188-1D sent through an A-101-3 Vactrol Phaser and an A-105 SSM lowpass filter.

An A-188-1C sent through said A-101-3 Phaser (other half of the module, i.e. 6 stage phaser) and an A-102 Diode lowpass filter.

An A-188-1B sent through an A-187-1 VC DSP (chorus & delay mode, right channel) and an A-106-1 Xtreme filter (lowpass mode only).

An A-188-1A sent through the left channel of said A-187-1 and another A-106-1 (lowpass mode, too).

An A-188-1Y sent through an A-189-1 VC Bit Modifier (modes 13 and 14) and an A-107 Multitype filter (no morphing, just filter mode 9 which is a broad bandpass with a narrow notch at the center frequency).

And finally an A-188-1X sent through an A-188-2 Tapped BBD and an A-106-6 XP filter (2H1L mode).

Each of the BBDs gets some noise as input: digital noise from an A-117 or (manually switched via A-182-1 switched multiple) colored noise from an A-118. The noise is processed by six VCAs: three A-132-3 dual VCA modules controlled by six A-140 ADSR generators. The triggers for each ADSR are created with individual outputs of an A-149-2 digital random module. The frequencies of the BBDs are synchronized (the A-188-1X is used as master BBD clock) and are manually controlled with a quantized ribbon controller.

The random triggers as well as the two A-155 sequencers are controlled by an A-146 LFO as a master clock source. To make it “swing”, the pulse output of the LFO is split into two triggers for rising and falling edge  with an A-165 Trigger Modifier.

Have fun,

Andreas

Just found a very interesting site on the net:

http://patchpierre.blogspot.com/

The blog is dedicated to analog synthesis and Doepfer A-100. Lots of module reviews and other useful information!

Andreas

Nach vielen Monaten Arbeit freue ich mich, hier ausnahmsweise ein “kommerzielles” Projekt ankündigen zu können: Mein Buch zum Doepfer A-100 Synthesizer wird ab Ende 2011 erhältlich sein. Aufgrund der überschaubaren Zielgruppe wird das Buch voraussichtlich nicht im Buchhandel zu finden sein, sondern ausschließlich über den kompetenten Fachhandel vertrieben werden. Mehr dazu:

www.ideenhase.de

Viel Spaß damit!

If you thought the last improvisation was not weird enough … try this one. Lots of noise, drone-alike things, distortion, lack of structure, everything seems to be “organic”. Like all other improvisations, this was recorded “in one go” without any overdubs.

http://www.andreaskrebs.de/assets/media/improvisation-20110613.mp3

This piece of music will take 28:38 of your patience. 

We start with two sequence lines (panned left and right), driven random notes quantized to G major chord notes. We soon hear a drone sound (somewhere at center position with some added stereo rotation) with some sweeps through distorted delay feedback loops.

Around 7:30, the sequence lines are faded out, leaving some space for a “drone solo” in heavy feedback and finally some juicy filter modulation.

Then (beginning at 12:10) we hear something that could be another two sequencer voices. Actually, these are ultra low frequency singnals of Oscillators triggering two delay circuits. As octaves are increased (around 13:30), the sharp signals are transformed into another two drone voices (panned left and right). Changing delay times reveal some complex beauties here. I like the part between 16:20 and 17:00 very much.

At 17:10, I’m starting some doodeling improvisation with an Arturia CS-80V (everything else you hear is a Doepfer A-100).

Around 19:50, the two (pseudo-)sequence voices from the very beginning reappear. Some more CS-80V melody. The sequence voices are modulated, become sharper and more distinct. More modulation and sound changes, later on also including the background drone.

At 26:25, sequence voices are stopped, everything else will fade out slowly (with a final “eruption” between 27:30 and 28:00).

Technical details:

Left sequence voice: A-111-1 (sawtooth) VCO through an A-137-1 VC Wave Multiplier I, an A-102 Diode Ladder filter, an A-101-3 Phaser and an a-126 Frequency Shifter. “Down” and “Up” outputs into two A-132-3 VCAs.

Right Sequence voice: A-111-1 (pw modulated pulse) therough an A-127 VC Resonance filter, an A-105 SSM filter, an A-188-2 Tapped BBD and an A-132-3 VCA.

The two “sequence” voices are controlled via A-149-1 Random Generator sent through two A-156 Quantizers. Triggers for ADSR, random generator and quantizers are generated with an A-154 Sequencer Controller, two A-155 Sequencers (manual changing of trigger switches) and an A-113 Subharmonic Generator (”mis”used here again as programmable clock divider).

Center drone: A-111-5 Mini Synthesizer Voice through an A-137-2 VC Wave Multiplier II, mixed with white noise from an A-118 and the original A-111-5 signal (A-138 Mixer) and then put into an A-106-5 SEM filter, an A-188-1D BBD and (coupled with the BBD CV) an A-106-6 XP VCF.

Left drone: three A-110 VCOs (sawtooth waves) mixed with digital noise from an A-117 and sent into an A-188-1X BBD and (coupled with the BBD CV) an A-108 VCF.

Right drone: another three A-110 VCOs (pw modulated pulses) mixed with colored noise from an A-118 and sent into an A-188-1A BBD and (coupled with the BBD CV) another A-108 VCF.

Have fun!

Andreas