Macbeth Studio Systems Moroco Filter

Macbeth Studio System's Moroco Stereo Filter. I've actually done one previous post on this unit before, but in that post I only sent ambient sound through it. This time I made the filter process simple sawtooth and square waves instead. Just to recap, this is a stereo filter that Macbeth once made. Each filter can be LP, BP, or HP. There are four LFO's onboard - two for each filter. Some cool modulation sources include sample & hold, and red noise!


If you click for a close-up on the third photo, you can see there are various individual input and output connections such as LFO outputs and CV inputs. I think the filters are supposed to be some sort of variable SEM 12db, but I can't really remember the specs anymore. All I know is it still sounds superb - syrupy, thick, old. It's a pretty different game from the Sherman. I've never had a chance to check out Carsten Schippmann's Ebbe Und Flut, so I can't compare. But I'm sad to hear that might now also be discontinued? The world needs more filter boxes in my opinion. Sample away! P.S. It's interesting to hear what's going on with the Soundcloud encoding in the 'Sweeps' audio file. That's what 128kbps will do. I've made the original WAV's downloadable.

UPDATE: someone asked about the source oscillators - they are Omega 8, with filter wide open set to the 12db. But check out my previous Moroco post on here, there are some clips with the Virus as source oscillator. IMO, once I use the Moroco, it's less about the source. Its tone is always prevalent.

Hey Baby, Merry Christmas! (It's Not About The Presents)

"Hey Baby, Merry Christmas! (It's Not About The Presents)"

This is my new Christmas song! It is currently available for sale on iTunes and CDBaby. Please click and purchase the track! The Vimeo clip above is a large preview of the song - the full audio version is the one that's available from iTunes.

Although it doesn't sound like there's a lot of synths in it, there's actually the Omega, Prodigy and a Nord Electro 3. We handmade the penguin, snowman, and Christmas tree, and then put it on a turntable so that there'd be some fun stuff to watch.

The track is currently trying to make the rounds on radio. Just a couple of smaller Canadian stations have picked it up so far. Stay tuned for more updates. Enjoy the song, and Happy Holidays!

Please visit: heybabymerrychristmas.com

Sherman Filterbank 2

Sherman Filterbank 2. This is the dual rack version. Here are more simple sounding samples of what the filter sounds like. The only sound at the input is just a single oscillator coming from the Voyager. I also used the Moog VX-351 expander and the CP-251 to add some extra LFO's in the action. I don't remember exactly what was going on in the patches, but I mixed it up all over. Sometimes it was 2 parallel BP filters going into 2 parallel BP filters. Sometimes it was 2 filters in serial going into another 2 filters in serial. One of the clips didn't even have an oscillator - it was just the resonance cranked up and feedback. Download and enjoy using the clips!

Trying to Capture Autumn

This little piece of music first began as a synth demo clip. But I kept hearing it in my head, so I took out the again Vermona Perfourmer and recorded a slightly longer version. Then I added a snare with brushes, and also some slapping (my hands on my legs) for the rhythm. Top it all off with some reverb and that's about it. By the time I was done, I realized this loop has a very hollow and empty feel - so I shot some simple Autumn footage to help convey what I feel this music might look like.

Extra thoughts: the snare drum with brushes makes me think of crunchy leaves. Also, I like the fact that as I played the melody on the Vermona Perfourmer, it has to cycle through each voice from 1-4. Since each voice is tuned slightly different, it's rare that any 2 chords sound exactly the same even if they are indeed the same notes.

Novation V-Station

Novation V-Station audiounit soft synth. I think it sounds pretty good, and when I compare it to other virtual-analog synths such as a Nord Lead or Access Virus, I've always found that Novation instruments have a unique sound of their own. If I just add some clicking noises of old keys and a dusty old vintage smell, I'm sure I could fool myself into thinking it's some kind of hardware instrument.

Novation V-Station Demo by Calvin Cardioid

It's got three oscillators going into a mixer that feeds a 12db or 24db filter. Only one filter here, no band pass or high pass, and certainly no filter FM. There is oscillator FM where OSC2 modulates OSC3. Two LFO's, two envelopes, ring mod, noise, usual suspects. There's nothing really that special going on with this instrument. But it does have that "plasticky" sound which, to me, is very much Novation-sounding, and I find this can be very useful for certain types of music.

I've had this one for a long time - it wasn't even a boxed version. Just a manual with a code and an old disc. Anytime I change anything on my computer, it always asks me or the code again. While making these sounds, it crashed on me twice, but no big deal. The presets finally save properly in Logic now. Before, it would still save my presets, but it would always load at sound number 293 and I'd have to scroll through a whole bunch to get to my own.

After-Dinner Walk. NYC October '09

This is just footage I shot while taking an after-dinner walk. Since I had no method of stabilization whatsoever, everything was super-shaky. But I think it looks OK at the increased speed even at 1600 ISO, despite some noise. It's not supposed to mean anything - I like all the sparkly lights in the evening through the Canon EFS 10-22mm lens. For the music, there are looped snippets from audio I've posted on this blog, as well as the Omega 8 playing on top of a snare drum rhythm. Try watching the whole thing without blinking, enjoy!

Quick AES NYC Photos

I happen to be in NYC at the same time, so here's a few quick AES '09 photos. The show seemed a bit smaller than I remember, but it still has some very cool stuff. New goodies include that Lexicon plugin reverb, Great River Harrison EQ, Korg SV-1, etc. I didn't take photos of everything - just whatever I felt like.