IXI Quarks Performance.

I made use of a randomised synth instrument called Predator. Predator gives you a screen with a number of small dots known as prey  and you can add as many prey as you like. You then press the start button at the bottom of the synthe and a number of predators come onto the screen. You can start with 3 and increase the amount. The predators move around the screen attacking the prey, each time a single note is triggered. The sound of the note can be chosen at the bottom and I used the Sine wave sound. You can control how aggressive the predators are on a scale of 1-100, the closer to 100 the more notes you’ll hear triggering as the predators attack faster and faster although unfortunately you have no control over the timing so it is hard instrument to improvise with.

While working together as a group,  we learnt that co-operating was essential in making a successful piece. We found this helped with making the structure, improvising, sound selecting and instrument selecting because we all decided on each track and we discussed how we would put them together constructively.

Here is the performance finished:

SuperCollider Composition.

//Here is my Super Collider composition linked to Logic. I used a warped electric piano effect to give the sound more effect. I started off in the Ionion mode Phrygian mode.

s.boot

MIDIClient.init(0, 1);

m  = MIDIOut(0, MIDIClient.destinations[0].uid);

//Here is my first scale which is in Dorian mode and I have set to play random notes with a few rests in between. I have added a bass sound during them all.

(
Pdef(\myscale1,
Ppar(
[
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\scale, [0,2,4,5,7,9,11,12,]-1,
\degree, Pxrand([1,2,3,\rest4,5,6,7,\rest,8]-1, inf),
\dur, 1/6, \db,0),
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\dur,1/6,
\octave,3,\db,0,
\degree,
Pseq ([1,2,4,1]-1, inf))
],1
)

).play
)

(
Pdef(\myscale2,
Ppar(
[
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\scale, [0,2,4,5,7,9,11,12,]-1,
\degree, Pseq([1,2,\rest,2,2,1,7]-1, 4),
\dur, 1/6, \db,0),
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\dur,1/6,
\octave,Pxrand([2,1,2,1,4,5],inf),
\degree,
Pseq ([2,2,8,7]-1, 2))
],1
)

).play
)

//Here I have changed the scale to Phrygian mode.

(
Pdef(\myscale3,
Ppar(
[
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\scale, [0,1,3,5,7,8,10,12,]-1,
\degree, Pxrand([1,2,3,\rest,4,5,6,\rest,7,8,9]-1, inf),
\dur, 1/6, \db,0),
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\dur,1/6,
\octave,3,\db,-2,
\degree,
Pseq ([1,2,8,7,\rest,1,2,8,7]-1, inf))
],1
)

).play
)

(
Pdef(\myscale4,
Ppar(
[
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\scale, [0,2,4,5,7,9,11,12,]-1,
\degree, Pxrand([1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]-1, inf),
\dur, 1/8, \db,0),
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\dur,1/6,
\octave,3,\db,0,
\degree,
Pseq ([1,6,6,8]-1, 1))
],1
)

).play
)

(
Pdef(\myscale5,
Ppar(
[
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\scale, [0,2,4,5,7,9,11,12,]-1,
\degree, Pxrand([1,2,1,2,1,6,7,8,9]-1, inf),
\dur, 1/6, \db,0),
Pbind(\type, \midi, \midiout, m,
\dur,1/6,
\octave,3,\db,0,
\degree,
Pseq ([1]-1, 1))
],1
)

).play
)

ixiQuarks & 2x Performance Feedback. . .

ixiQuarks is a software environment designed for live improvisation that allows for user interaction on hardware, GUI and code level. The environment enables innumerable setups with flexible loading of tools and instruments. The ixiQuarks consist of different types of tools: basic utilities, instruments, effects, filters, spectral effects and generators.

Here are some of the tools;

Basic utilities: AudioIn, Recorder, Player, BufferPool, PoolManager, FreqScope, WaveScope, EQMeter, MixerNode, Amplifier, ChannelSplitter, TrigRecorder.
Instruments: SoundScratcher, StratoSampler, Raindrops, Mushrooms, Predators, Gridder, BufferPlayer, GrainBox, PolyMachine, Quanoon, ScaleSynth
Audio effects: Delay, Freeverb, AdCVerb, Distortion, ixiReverb, Chorus, Octave, Tremolo, Equalizer, CombVocoder, RandomPanner, MRRoque, MultiDelay, Cyberpunk, Moog
Filters: Bandpass, Lowpass, Highpass, Resonant Lowpass, Resonant Highpass, Resonant, Klanks
Spectral: SpectralEQ, MagClip, MagSmear, MagShift, MagFreeze, RectComb, BinScramble, BinShift
Generators: Noise, Oscillators

Our class got divided into 5 groups of people to create an ensamble using ixi Quarks. Once we had a mess around on this software and got to know the many different ways of making sounds, we created our piece and played it to the class where then after we got feedback. Here are my opnions of the groups and our own ensamble.

FIRST ENSAMBLE.

Group 1.

This group listened well to each others individual sounds they were making, which created a good dialogue.  I think listening to each other really helps as it means you have control over your own sounds allowing others to let theirs fit in well with the whole thing. They played similar sounds and had various pausing during it. They also used a panning effect. It had good structure but I feel they could have worked on it a bit more.

Group 2.

This group used process based music and also listened to each other, which allowed the sounds to work well with each other. It sounded simple but very effective. It didn’t sound jumbled at all. Very well planned and I just wanted to keep listening to it!

Group 3.

Good use of processes and improvisation like group 2. They allowed pausing to disallow any clashing of sounds. This group’s members came in at different parts then all faded out in turn near to the end.

Group 4.

This group relied more on a drum beat to get themselves a good piece going. They also used other sounds ontop of this to make it sound too layered. This is when they started to improvise. It seemed like too much was going on, which didn’t really fit the criteria. I feel they needed to work more as a team together.

Group 5.

Our group used a drum beat also, but changed the rate of play from the start, so then once we got a regular but slow beat going, I could then add ‘Scale Synth’ sounds. Elliot scratched a sound effect from a sound recording using ‘Soundscratcher’ while Sammy used a Drone effect and was also using the Scale Synth. Dan added the beat to get the ensamble going.  All though we made it sound random, it was carefully put together to create a calm musical piece. If we had met up more than one time, I think we could have planned it more carefully and messed around on it more.

Listening to what other people have come up with has helped us because it gives us the chance to hear what other groups have created and gives you new ideas for your future tasks.

SECOND ENSAMBLE.

Group 1 (our group)

This week we had more communication than last week which helped us structure the piece better. We all had ques of when to come in and start our individual sounds. Our group decided to keep the drum loop warp and drone effect. The drone sound still prominent, giving the piece a harmonic glue to bind to.

Group 2

This group had good use of sound and had rythmic structure throughout the performance. The piece had a successful build up which helped by each person giving eachother space when playing their own thing.

Group 3

Although this group had 2 people down they still managed to create a good limited formation of sounds going. Some very good dynamic crescendo’s provided by a sound triggered at a certain point which gave the main melody something to work with. Good use of bells, and random sounds. Included elements of dramatic sounds bursting in half way through, then went. Very expressive sound.

Group 4

Although this group had 2 people down they still managed to create a good formation of sounds going. This time round we heard more sounds, with a better structure. It was a clever idea to add bursting of sounds half way through, it made you wanna listen to it more as you don’t know what is coming next. It was dramatic and unexpected.

Group 5

At the start is sounded very ‘sci-fi’ and random. A good build up of sounds but not too cluttered. They improved during the middle but sounded much more constructive. It made it sound colourful as they had various samples.

YouTube has the best videos!!

This is Calvin Harris… its so impressive!! I saw him DJ live in Liquid Romford last week. He didnt use headphones… amazing!

Getting To Know SuperCollider

I have been introduced to a real time audio synthesis programming language called SuperCollider. I had never heard of this before or knew what it could do. It provides an interpreted object-oriented language which functions as a network client to a state of the art, realtime sound synthesis server. Many people use this programme from Musicians, Scientists to Artists. SC  has been around for 10 years!!

The first time used SC I really did not understand it at all. It helps to know the notes in a scale as this will come in handy when knowing what numbers link with what note etc.

This is a video clip from YouTube of what you can do with SuperCollider.

After a few lectures on this SuperCollider I have come to learn some commands often used.

Basic Key Commands:

CMD N – This opens a new window (once you have ‘Booted the Server’

{     }.play  or (   ).play   –     This is a code structure called ‘Function Play’. You put what ever codes you want            inside the brackets then hit ‘fn and enter’ to play.

CMD full stop  - This command stops whatever you are playing to stop.

Shift CMD + – This enlarges the text

CMD ‘ – This is Syntax Colorize

Introduction…

Ok, so I should have blogged weeks ago… I will just cram it all in now!

Heres a little bit about me and how I got here…..

For the past 5 years I studied Art and Design at high school, 6th form and college. I have played a bit of guitar, keyboard, flute, recorder and now learning to play piano. I started to get bored of studying Art (altho I am pretty good at it, no honestly!) so I then decided to go down a different creative route. I chose this course because since a young age music has been one of my passions in life. A music making software game called ‘eJay’ got me into music from about the age of 8 as I use to make many many music tracks and learn the various instruments and synths etc.

In the past two years of studying Art, I completed and passed a Btec National Diploma in Art and Design, as well as needing to make a demo CD to get onto this course. I am good friends with a DJ who knows Guy Harris (voice for e4), so I got him to do some audio in my demo over the tracks/beats I made using Logic 9 and Pro Tools. This was a success of corse!!

Before this course I messed around on ‘Garage Band’ and ‘MixMeister’ but that was mainly for making random club beats and tracks.

Now, I have been introduced to Logic 9 and Super Collider and some more softwares which I am very excited about learning and using in the next 3 years and discovering the world of music, new creations and experiments we will come across.

ARGH!

This is so much harder to use than facebook!

 

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