Remember the old cliché in movies, tv shows, and skits where someone asks a robot some irrational or illogical question and the robot starts to freak out exclaiming, “does not compute! does not compute!”? Here’s the sound I imagine that makes programmed on the Roland MKS-80.
Computer Freak Out and Crash
Having finally started using the Roland Super Jupiter MKS-80 for the last two Ostracon performances my next goal is to utilize hardware synths for the majority, if not for all, of the instrument sounds during these shows. I have another repair necessary on the MKS-80 to make it performance ready, but other than that I should be in business soon. In preparation I have started weeding out some of the sounds in the MKS-80 internal memory, replacing them with my own programmed patches. Here’s an example of a nice harp-like patch I came up with during my last session. I created the passage by routing MIDI to the MKS-80 from Ableton‘s arpeggiator.
Dreamy New Age Synth Harp
The In/Out Festival of Digital Performance is happening soon and the organizers have recently opened their call for submissions. Last year when Ostracon performed at the festival we had a great time and really enjoyed the speakers and performers curated for the event. Here are the details from the In/Out site.
Performers
In/Out is searching for musicians, visual artists, dancers, and performers who have integrated digital technologies into their work. From building custom controllers or software to the users of new technology, we want to hear from you! Submit a brief description of your performance along with a sample of your work.All written materials must be in PDF format. Also, if available, please include hyperlinks to all multi-media materials (ie: videos of performances, demos, audio samples, etc…)
Workshops + Lectures
Help motivate the vanguard by leading a workshop in new media for audio/video performance. Past workshops have included: works in Jitter and Reaktor, building soft circuits, code driven music composition with Processing, a lecture on glitch and it’s use in art, how to run an open source business, and more. In/Out is especially interested in hands on, kit based, and introductory workshops. Please submit a brief description of what you would like to teach or share, along with any work you have done, are doing, or will do in the field.All written materials must be in PDF format. Also, if available, please include hyperlinks to all multi-media materials (ie: videos of performances, demos, instructionals, etc…)
Deadline for proposals: July 25, 2011
All submissions can be sent to: submissions@inoutfest.org
Here’s a segment of sound from the Ostracon set at last years in/Out festival.
Segment of GMS from In Out
The debut Ostracon album, Unauthorized Modifications, that we release last week has been reviewed quite favorably on the popular music blog, Reviler.org. Click the link for details. Here’s another sample of music from our release show last Friday.
Ostracon Release Show Segment 1
In this segment from the Ostracon release show I have a watery portamento lead going while Graham is making some nice atemporal sounds with what he calls a “cow necklace” and other parts of his kit. The cow necklace is made made from cow hooves strung in a loop. I searched the web for a similar instrument but found nothing but disturbing images of animal parts. In any case it sounds great.
Watery Lead with Cow Necklace