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

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.

MarkMosher · 2013-12-16T16:17:49.000Z

I forgot to mention I’m working on some Musique concrète with Octatrack using field recordings.

deHaan · 2013-12-16T19:38:10.000Z

Wow, great stuff Mark, that video is way too short! Makes me wanna buy a Tenori-On. Clever idea too control the video layers with the cross fader.

MarkMosher · 2013-12-18T19:54:16.000Z

""deHaan"":

Wow, great stuff Mark, that video is way too short! Makes me wanna buy a Tenori-On. Clever idea too control the video layers with the cross fader.

Thanks! Yeah it’s an excerpt from a long session intended for show organizers and promoters :^)

I also have TNRi. I just used in a jam last night with OT, Blofeld, + iPad.

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KrisM · 2013-12-22T21:31:13.000Z

Just found this place today (via post on KVR), thought it might be of interest to some people in here:

Ambient Online Forums

Forums - Ambient Online Forums

vBulletin Forums

Seems like a pretty cool place dedicated to doing the ambient thing, though most people there use software, there’s a few hardware heads (and a few Elektrons).

deHaan · 2014-01-13T08:36:30.000Z

""KrisM"":

Just found this place today (via post on KVR), thought it might be of interest to some people in here:

http://www.ambientonline.org/

Seems like a pretty cool place dedicated to doing the ambient thing, though most people there use software, there’s a few hardware heads (and a few Elektrons).

Interesting, thanks for sharing!

deHaan · 2014-01-13T08:38:00.000Z

Here comes another one - I think we’re slowly getting better and better Hm, there’s a little latency on the video, have to fix that some time…

https://vimeo.com/83997615

deHaan · 2014-01-15T16:34:44.000Z

Aaand one more
https://vimeo.com/84205543

MarkMosher · 2014-01-26T23:49:04.000Z

A few photos of me playing Playing Concréte Mixer: An evening of solo and collaborative musique concréte Denver, CO last night. I used only Octatrack for audio + Resolume for interactive visuals based on live-camera input (controlled by Livid Base).

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