Improvising from nothing (no premade patterns, loops etc.)?

deHaan · 2013-12-04T12:00:36.000Z

""Skab"":

And these four tracks use the same improvised methods, but are much more recent.
SoundCloud - Hear the world’s sounds

Good stuff man! I especially like the horn/brass thing in Inweaves

deHaan · 2013-12-04T12:03:22.000Z

""cooptrol"":

Hey hello everyone! I am new to the forum since I just got a Monomachine. But I’ve been doing the improv thing for years, using other gear. Two sdays ago I did the same “from zero” thing at a gig just using the Mono. I thought Elektron machines weren’t suited for this but I found out otherwise.

Here are some improve sessions, mostly more than 2 hours long. Some IDM, some dub, some techno. All of them using Electribe EMX, Nord Micromodular, plus other stuff. I even had a series of shows on online radio future-music.co.uk called “Blank Sessions” based on the improv from scratch concept. As for now when I’m playing clubs I start with a pre programmed pattern and tweak it into new music for one or two hours. For experimental performances I pre rpogram patterns and improv over them. With the mono I felt something for triggering the sounds in time was lacking, like the awesome ribbon on the EMX which I use a lot, but some other features the Mono has make up for this.

This one is with video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2TWK3U8MIc

The sessions:

Live set at a club recording:
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-live-phonoteque-6292013/

Blank sessions:
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-blank-session-1/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-blank-session-2/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-blank-session-3/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-blank-session-4-birthday-edition/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-blank-session-5-cooptrol-zoidberg-company/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-blank-session-6-submerged-beats/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/blank-sessions-7-dub-hop-u-like-it/

Other also improv sessions:
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-conveyor-belt-part-1-into-techno/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-conveyor-belt-part-2-more-techno/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-conveyor-belt-part-3-go-deep/
http://www.mixcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-conveyor-belt-part-4-funky-psychedelia/

Looks and sounds like a lot of fun, and nice to see more and more people joining your party haha It would be cool to see some more closeup video of what you are actually doing!

deHaan · 2013-12-04T12:07:19.000Z

Here’s another one from me featuring music box, bells, reverb vocals and me in a swimming pool!

I’m still trying to find out how to use the MPC in impros, but here it is a least doing some drums, which I think works okay… Any one else with experience with MPC impros?

https://vimeo.com/80902509

cooptrol · 2013-12-04T21:32:34.000Z

Hey deHaan, I like your sessions a lot! Makes me wanna have an Octa too. I just got a sampler to aid my synths. In my improvs I basically create basslines with the track muted, just by playing some notes that I hear “in my head” and then turn it up and construct the rhythm and other parts over the basslines, and that’s how I go changing the “themes”. Electribes are the best improv machines ever imho.

KrisM · 2013-12-04T23:41:30.000Z

Btw, @deHaan I like the red pads on your MPC1000, looks clean next to your OT and Nord very so often I kinda want one with purple pads, but just want to look at it, I’d hardly use it lol.

If I were to use it, in your setup, I’d probably sample loops for live playing after you set the OT going, even sample what the OT spits out and chop it up and rearrange on the fly playing the pads and then you could sample the new loop with the OT and… I think you get my drift

Or even use it for chords/poly stuff as well, the OT’s weakness.

exuviae · 2013-12-05T00:20:08.000Z

I’ve been doing improved ambient stuff for many years - recently with the Ultranova and Volca keys. I was on hiatus with the Octatrack for while but have her back now and had planned to incorporate it into the improv style and get away from the “structure” again. I will share soon!

I am thankful that there are still others out there who appreciate free-form and ambient music. Elektron gear is fantastic for more than just kibbles and beats, yo

cooptrol · 2013-12-07T16:49:20.000Z

Hey, I just recorded a session with the MnM plus an Evolver and a Micromodular. Still getting my chops on the MnM and Evolver, but the good thing of this track is how well their sounds complement each other.

deHaan · 2013-12-08T23:35:58.000Z

""KrisM"":

If I were to use it, in your setup, I’d probably sample loops for live playing after you set the OT going, even sample what the OT spits out and chop it up and rearrange on the fly playing the pads and then you could sample the new loop with the OT and… I think you get my drift

Or even use it for chords/poly stuff as well, the OT’s weakness.

Do you mean sampling the OT “live” as I’m playing?
I tried using it for playing some polyphonic marimba samples with delay using the note repeat function, and I think it worked fairly well. It’s from 12:00 in this video:

EDIT: the note repeat thing is from 16.15
https://vimeo.com/81320009

deHaan · 2013-12-08T23:37:23.000Z

""exuviae"":

I’ve been doing improved ambient stuff for many years - recently with the Ultranova and Volca keys. I was on hiatus with the Octatrack for while but have her back now and had planned to incorporate it into the improv style and get away from the “structure” again. I will share soon!

I am thankful that there are still others out there who appreciate free-form and ambient music. Elektron gear is fantastic for more than just kibbles and beats, yo

Sounds good, looking forward!

deHaan · 2013-12-08T23:49:10.000Z

""cooptrol"":

Hey, I just recorded a session with the MnM plus an Evolver and a Micromodular. Still getting my chops on the MnM and Evolver, but the good thing of this track is how well their sounds complement each other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etUYgSQs7GI

Nice dirty sounds! Did you program the sequences before, or is it all done on the spot?

KrisM · 2013-12-09T18:26:01.000Z

what I meant was using the MPC to sample a loop from the OT, and then slice it across the pads and play it live for a new/different feel, or remix the order and make a new pattern/element, etc for the Octatrack to sample and play with, etc.

cooptrol · 2013-12-13T19:53:16.000Z

Thanks! In this case I pre programmed the sequences and then tweaked. On the Electribe EMX I usually program everything on the fly, but I am still new to the Mono to do this. Nevertheless, today I have a gig and have to do a 3.5 hour set, and I will be using just the Mono, the Micromodular and a sampler. I’ll start with 1 pre programmed pattern and just take it from there. Let’s see how it goes! I’ll record the set so maybe I can upload some of it afterwards.

deHaan · 2013-12-14T11:11:33.000Z

""cooptrol"":

Thanks! In this case I pre programmed the sequences and then tweaked. On the Electribe EMX I usually program everything on the fly, but I am still new to the Mono to do this. Nevertheless, today I have a gig and have to do a 3.5 hour set, and I will be using just the Mono, the Micromodular and a sampler. I’ll start with 1 pre programmed pattern and just take it from there. Let’s see how it goes! I’ll record the set so maybe I can upload some of it afterwards.

Wow that’s a long one, a recording would be great. Good luck with!

deHaan · 2013-12-14T11:15:41.000Z

Finally got some video recorded from am impro with the vibraphone player. Some weird stuff is going on, but I really like it
https://vimeo.com/81838870

poonti · 2013-12-14T17:28:38.000Z

Awesome improv session deHaan!

cooptrol · 2013-12-15T05:22:22.000Z

Hey hits last video is awesome! Here a small excerpt from the 3 hour set I was talking about:

http://soundcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-live-at-the-cce-12

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deHaan · 2013-12-16T09:57:15.000Z

""cooptrol"":

Hey hits last video is awesome! Here a small excerpt from the 3 hour set I was talking about:

http://soundcloud.com/cooptrol/cooptrol-live-at-the-cce-12

Nice, some really good stuff coming out, sounds like you had fun

deHaan · 2013-12-16T09:59:28.000Z

Here’s yet another one with mr. vibraphone. This time mixed with how our visuals sometimes look

Tip: Go to 15:30 for silly latin shaker beat!

https://vimeo.com/81951039

jmoney202 · 2013-12-16T15:35:03.000Z

Very cool! ^^^

MarkMosher · 2013-12-16T16:05:48.000Z

Loving this thread - so thanks for kicking it off Nikolaj.

I’m a bit late to this thread, but I’ve been using Octatrack since May. I wasn’t sure what I was going to use it for for initially, but was immediately drawn to this idea of sampling and sequencing ambient on-the-fly. It’s sort of the opposite of my normal show which is beat driven controllerism with Ableton Live.

I’ve only had time to watch snippets of all the wonderful videos in this thread but will try to keep up from here on out.

I’ll start off by contributing a video :^) “Excerpts from Ambient Improv 11/24/2013 (Tenori-On + Waldorf Nave Custom Presets + Octatrack”. So no pre-programmed sequences and Octatrack has no samples in it at the start.[url=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATSlz-79AAE&feature=share&list=UUm36lYPbh4W464V_6XPu-ow”]

Tenori-On and Waldorf Nave (play with multi-touch and via CME XKey) on an iPad are food for Octatrack. I’m using all custom presets I’ve made on Nave for this piece plus processed Tenori-On (using only Octatrack FX). Just to add some mood lighting I’m using Resolume on a laptop with some video footage in 2 layers. I’ve mapped the MIDI form Octatrack’s cross-fader to do double duty to morph Octatrack parameters and cross-fade between the layers. iPad is on a TheGigEasy mount with sidearm. I bought the XKey at the merch table at a Thomas Dolby show in Denver. You can just make out Thomas Dolby’s signature on my CME XKey.