Patch 026 - adk v1.0 (adk)

Today I am posting the first iteration of my adk rhythm patch which refers to the kick3, snare1 and hihat1 program patches posted earlier. Note that you will need these patches loaded into your program for this rhythm patch to work.

adk v1.0

NOTE
I am a bit disappointed that the live controllers m1, m2, x, y and z cannot be assigned for rhythm patches. The only workaround would be to add each drum part as a separate synth program within a set-up, which is less than ideal.

Patch 025 - kick3 (adk)

I started to build my first rhythm set last night based on my earlier kick, snare and hi hat patches but upon trying it out I thought the kick was too overwhelming, in large part due to the lengthy decay. So kick3 is yet another variation on the other kick patches that sounds snappier.

Tomorrow you'll get the "adk v1.0" rhythm patch!

kick3

Mappings:

m1, m2 - unassigned, for now!
x - filter 1 cut-off
y - filter 1 resonance
z - decay time

Patch 024 - hihat1 (adk)

Next up for the adk series - hi hats.

Kept this fairly straightforward for now, no oscillators, just noise running through a hi pass filter. Slightly different release and decay so u can simulate the open and closed hats based on note length. Made the amp envelope velocity sensitive as well as filter frequency.

hihats1

Mappings:

m1, m2 - unassigned, for now!
x - filter 1 cut-off
y - env 1 decay
z - env 1 release 

Patch 023 - kick2 (adk)

This is a variation on kick1. The main change is that I added some crunch through the fuzz pedal drive effect to sit better with snare1. I also fixed the category of the patch, to "drum", obviously!

kick2

Mappings:

m1, m2 - unassigned, for now!
x - filter 1 cut-off
y - filter 1 resonance
z - decay time 

Patch 022 - snare1 (adk)

Next up in my analogue drum kit series is a snare. This one comprises a pitch modulated (via an envelope) triangle wave together with some noise. A bit of crunch was was added from a tube amp drive effect. Sounds pretty good to my ears.

The only problem is that it doesn't really go with kick1. So I think you can all guess what is coming tomorrow...

snare1

Mappings:

m1, m2 - unassigned, for now!
x - filter 1 cut-off
y - filter 2 cut-off
z - decay time

Patch 021 - kick1 (adk)

I have decided to draw a line under my "birds of prey" themed (in name only) synth patches for now and move onto something new. Back in 2012 I prepared a drum kit using my microKorg as part of my microKorg Analogue Drum Kit series (adk). I found this a great learning experience and it was also pretty cool loading my samples into my sampler of choice (ReDrum in Reason at the time) knowing that this kit was unique to me (and anyone else who downloaded it from my blog!!). The main problem was that the samples were locked in time, given the monotimbral nature of that synth.

I think you can surely guess where I am going with this... Yep, I am recreating my analogue drum kit series, adk for short, on the Micron! The benefit of course is that once complete I can load my kit into a Rhythm patch and tweak away.

And on to the first patch, a kick drum, based on two oscillators - a sine wave and a triangle pitched an octave below running through the moog low pass filter. There is a subtle percussive beater noise added by some noise run through filter 2 (again, low pass) with a snappy envelope. Check it out and let me know what you think.

kick1

I can see each of these patches evolving as I prepare all the parts of the kit, hence why I have numbered this patch. For example, I can imagine reassigning m1 / m2 to pitch and filter combos for example for each of the patches. Or adjusting the pitch so that the kick and snare sit well together in the final adk kit.

Mappings:

m1, m2 - unassigned, for now!
x - filter 1 cut-off
y - filter 1 resonance
z - pre-mix noise level

"hoverkraft"

I am meant to be doing the RPM challenge again this year, my first since 2011, although I am fast running out of time. Last night I quickly pulled together a simple electronica track, based on the kestrel arp and osprey patch, posted recently.

I am pretty satisfied with the result:

Hardware bug?? - Audio thru on the Micron

I use a Belkin Rockstar as a basic passive mixer for all my synth gadgets such as Volcas, Monotron Delay and so on, ideal for mobile music making. And what a clever little device it is with each 3.5m jack acting as an input or output depending on circumstance.

When I used it recently with the line outs on the Micron (via a suitable audio cable) I noticed that the level from the Micron was low. Even more bizarrely I noticed that all the other audio feeding into the Belkin was being passed through the headphone output on the Micron, albeit passively.

What a handy feature! There is nothing about this in the manual but with the right cable you can use your Micron to accompany other audio gear without the need for a mixer.

Or so I thought... Unfortunately when used as a "mixer" like this the Micron's level is reduced to such an extent as to be barely audible. Alternatively, if you unplug one of the line out cables you then hear the audio thru in one ear and the Micron sounds in the other. But to hear them both together you'd need a mixer. Which brings us back to where we began!

Patch 020 - osprey

Osprey is a square wave pad with a long attack and release. Movement is provided by the detuned oscillators and some S&H modulation of the Osc 1 pitch. Adjust the filter to taste.

osprey

Mappings:

m1, m2 - unassigned
x - filter 1 cut-off
y - filter 1 resonance
z - noise level

Patch 019 - kestrel / kes arp

Something new today - a pattern / program sysex bundle for you to enjoy.

The program itself is fairly straightward, a electronic harp type twang with a bit of decay / release and no sustain. Perfect arp fodder. I am just getting to know the patterns feature, it seemed a bit strange sast first to assign the program to the pattern rather than the other way round but I've gotten used to it. The pattern editor is very powerful beast indeed.

kestrel / kestrel arp

Mappings:

m1, m2 - unassigned
x - filter 1 cut-off
y - filter 1 resonance
z - temp synced delay time

Patch 018 - eagle

Next up is a bass patch. One of my favourite synths is the Volca Bass, the bottom end is just so warm and deep, and the starting point for almost all my jams is a simple sequence from the Bass running through a digital delay. This patch is an attempt to recreate that sound, at least in spirit. It's called "eagle":

eagle

Micron Editor for OSX - micronAU

I occasionally use micronAU as a Micron program editor and must admit, it's a lot easier than the using the hardware interface:

After the misfortune of having a damaged motherboard I recently had to reinstall OSX on my laptop and could I find micronAU again? After a lot of searching, dead links and dead ends I stumbled upon a copy in a dark corner of the world wide web and to save you all the bother of looking yourselves, I thought I would post it here. I can confirm it works on OSX 10.5 in Logic 8 and Renoise (my sequencer of choice these days), not sure about the more recent macs.

The software is donationware, and so if you use it then you should really reward the author although the link in the enclosed Manual is dead. So, if you wrote this great piece of software, drop me a line and I can provide a new link!

micronAU

Patch 017 - buzzard

So I'm back synthesising on the Micron. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that jazz, and they would be right! I have decided to keep my posts snappier so it doesn't become a chore, if you are after more details you'll get less patches! Feedback on this policy welcome.

So here I started with an Init patch and come up with a nice string patch with detuned saw and square waves feeding into a low pass then phase warp filter in series. The frequency is controlled with x, and the resonance of each filter is mapped to y and z. Get tweaking!

The patch is called "buzzard", check it out:

buzzard