User:Lemonaut

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Revision as of 15:04, 9 April 2022 by Lemonaut (Talk | contribs) (Week 1)

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Music 220C - Spring 2022

Week 1

4/9/22 Messed around with the Moog grandmother a bit more and got REALLY inspired by this video. I want to spend a lot more time on the Moog Grandmother and figure out if I can get a synth odyssey that sounds kinda like him. Maybe semi-modular synths are my new jam? I can picture myself making some cool tunes with them. Something to think about.

4/5/22 This week I've been setting up the Moog Grandmother borrowed from a classmate and going through common patches with that. I will have to borrow an audio interface so that I can record this physical semi-modular synth into my computer. I am entirely open to the idea of combining the sounds of a physical synth with the virtual synths of VCV rack.

For the VCV Rack world, I've been thinking about base patches that might help me accomplish my musical goals.

My personal goals for this quarter:

  • find modular workflows that work for me
 * collect 10+ small vcv rack patches that each help me accomplish a particular goal
 * become proficient in basic sound/rhythm design with Moog semi-modular synths
  • find + utilize interesting sounds
  • make "good" computer music

Project Goals for this quarter:

  • put out 3 tracks using modular & semi-modular synths that I vibe with. Tracks must feature semi or fully modular synths almost exclusively; using a synth to control an Ableton instrument is fair game.

Some creative possibilities for working with VCV Rack:

  • Instrument design (synths, drums...)
  • Note control (can mess with scales/pitches, or even alternate tunings like microtonal)
  • Rhythm generation & modification (there are many modules to explore that work with clocks)
  • Effects chain (reverb, delay, distortion, spatialization...)


I don't know if I will come out of this with listenable music, but this is going to be fun.

Codysgrandmother.jpg

Week 0

This project was inspired by the software VCV rack, which is a free & open-source modular synth emulator that lowers the barrier-to-entry for anyone interested in experimenting with modular synthesis. I am fascinated by the world of possibilities with modular synthesis and would like to learn from the greats while forging my own path with this. I also got funding to purchase VCV Rack 2 Pro, which will allow me to integrate the software directly into Ableton, making recording and composition that much easier.

Modular synthesis was one of the primary reasons I became a computer music student, and I am incredibly excited to use it this quarter. For some reason the ability to play with buttons, knobs, and wires really appeals to the experimental child in me who wants to create chaos and destruction, as well as the harmonic engineer who just wants to build something ephemerally beautiful. I've been messing around with VCV Rack off and on for about 2 years but never had the chance to dive head-first into it. I'm grateful for finally having this opporunity to dedicate my time to exploring modular, and am quite excited to see what I have gained when I come out of the other end of this quarter. VCV Rack website