I am excited to announce that Duets for Synthesizer and _________ is now out on the Berlin based label ElektraMusic.eu. These composition feature live performances with binaural recordings of the surrounding environments. Listening with circumaural headphones will provide a three dimensional sonic image of the ambience in most of the pieces. More details are in the liner notes below.

One-part binaural field recordings and one-part synthesized sound, Duets… treats the ambience of urban spaces as if they were conscious participants in an improvising ensemble. Using analog synthesizers Keston alternates between performing accompaniment for these environments and allowing the ambience to accompany him.

The environmental sounds form drones and rhythmic patterns while Keston responds with fundamental waveforms. The synthesized timbres are modulated and filtered to create complex textures that blend or contrast with the ambient sound. The field recordings were largely captured with binaural microphones. While wearing circumaural headphones the listener is inserted into a 3D soundscape with the synthesized sound placed in the center of the spatial image.

First-time poster so I now seems like the best time to introduce myself. My name is Erik Tinberg – I’m a synthesizer enthusiast and sound design experimenter from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After spending a year with the Polyend Trackers and a few weeks with a Dirtywave m8 I wanted to write up an impartial comparison between the Tracker Mini and the m8 – which I originally posted on my website here. John asked if I’d post it here as well. I’m looking forward to continuing to experiment and participate in the AudioCookBook.

Polyend Tracker Mini and a Dirtywave m8, side by side.

Recently I became enamored with two portable hardware Tracker machines: the Polyend Tracker Mini and the Dirtywave m8. The Mini is the smaller successor to the Polyend Tracker and the predecessor to the Polyend Tracker+. I originally purchased a Polyend Tracker when they were significantly discounted when the Tracker Mini was announced. While I was aware of the Dirtywave m8, I decided to purchase the Tracker for the following reasons:

• The cost of the m8 was significantly more expensive.
• The Tracker features a far greater number of dedicated buttons – making it appear more immediately usable.

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This is the first in a series of live audiovisual collaborations with Chris LeBlanc and Shawna Lee. The performance was captured at at the Lakely in the Oxbow Hotel, Eau Claire, Wisconsin on September 30, 2023. Chris and Shawna produced live visuals using their integrated, modular video synthesis systems as I performed. This as yet untitled piece is driven by morphing drums and sequences on the Dirtywave M8 tracker. I also live looped a Rhodes pattern on the Numa X Piano GT. The formant-filtered-voice-like-lead was played on the Osmose Expressive E.

I’m thrilled with the analog visuals that Chris and Shawna produced. The image above shows Shawna’s (left) and Chris’ (right) video systems. Please take a look at their Instagram feeds to see more of their work:

Chris LeBlanc (@blindprophet)
Shawna Lee (@iamadot)