Improvisation XI – Let’s Party

This is an easy listening tune. Some modular synth drums, some Karplus-Strong sequence, some ladder filtered bass, lots of fun!

We start with „Hihats“: A-117 Digital Noise put into an A-106-5 SEM Filter (highpass mode) and then into an A-131 VCA. Both VCA and filter controlled by an A-142 VC Decay, which is triggered and controlled (decay length) by an A-155 Sequencer.

Then we have some (tuned) „Snare Drums“: A-118 Noise (coloured noise) is first put into an A-127 VC Resonance Filter and then into an A-132-3 VCA (controlled by a snappy A-140 ADSR) and then into an A-188-2 Tapped BBD. The BBD is used as a device for Karplus Strong synthesis: Delay frequency is controlled by another A-155 Sequencer (driven by an A-154 Sequencer Controller) and A-156 Quantizer. When put into feedback resonance, the BBD will produce tonal results, triggered by the noise input. The two BBD outputs are fed into an A-101-3 Modular Vactrol Phaser (controlled by two LFOs from an A-143-3).

The „Bass Drums“: White noise from an A-118 is fed into an A-106-6 XP VCF.  The 2 pole LP output is sent into an A-132-3 VCA, both filter and VCA are contzrolled by an A-140 ADSR, triggered by an A-155 Sequencer.

The „Bass“ is simply three A-110 VCOs (trinangle 1 oct down and two sqare waves) put into an A-108 ladder VCF. Both square waves are PWM modulated by two triangle LFOs (A-143-3). The 24dB filter output is fed into an A-132-3 VCA, filter, VCOs and VCA are controlled by an A-155 Sequencer and A-156 Quantizer (the same sequencer that controls the BBC frequency). The A-154 Sequencer Controller is in „pendulum“ mode, which is changed manually during the track, as well as starting and ending step (around 4:00).

Finally, there’s some FX from Ableton Live and some mastering in Cubase 5.5. No overdubs, everything is improvised.

Here we go:

Track length is 09:49.

Have fun,

Andreas