Getting Reacquainted with the GMS

Posted on August 6, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

triquetra_rehearse I have had a number of problems migrating my Processing.org application known as the GMS from my old MacBook Pro running OS X 10.4.11 to my new one running 10.5.7. The first issue was alack of support for the IAC drivers in Java, next were some funky conflicts with the Java class I was using to load and save presets. With the help of Grant Muller I have solved these problems.

While I was at it I took on a couple of other issues as well in preparation for my performance on Sunday. All that’s left is for me to become reacquainted with the application in tandem with Ableton Suite 8.

This is actually the hard part because I have use the application effectively as an instrument and real-time visualizer. One problem is running out of hands and fingers while producing the visuals and capturing the MIDI clips. Another danger is the music becoming repetitive while making adjustments. Here’s a quick recording I made while practicing.

Reacquainting Myself with the GMS
Audio Player

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Ostraka with Dial System Live

Posted on August 4, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

5tgr5tdry My new duet, “Ostraka with Dial System” (John Keston and Graham O’Brien) is performing at the Kitty Cat Klub in Minneapolis on Sunday, August 9, 2009. This group combines the stochastic, angular melodies produced by the GMS with live drumming. Gestural video input is simultaneously projected onto a screen and processed into musical data. The results are captured in real-time and molded into spontaneous compositions. Special guests include DJ Zenrock and Terr the Om.

To get an idea of what you might hear, have a listen to these examples from a rehearsal recording that was made in May, 2009.
Ostraka with Dial System Jam #2
Audio Player

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Ostraka with Dial System Jam #3
Audio Player

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

365 Sounds in 365 Days

Posted on July 28, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

regis_fire_diamond Today is the official release date for Precambrian Resonance. As I mentioned, the release is timed with my 365th sound posted on Audio Cookbook in 365 days. For my 365th sound I am presenting Fire Diamond. It is track number thirteen on the album. Whereas most of this release is a departure from my usual approach, in my opinion, this track is the most similar to my previous work out of any others within this collection. I hope you enjoy it and the rest of the album. Thanks to everyone who helped me complete this work, especially Nils Westdal, who proved to me that introspective music can be beautiful through his albums, Flavor Country, and Transdimensional Bypass.

Listen to Fire Diamond on Last.fm.

Off to CNMAT

Posted on July 27, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

In a few hours I’m headed to California for a night class on MaxMSP at CNMAT, the Center for New Music and Audio Technology, UC Berkeley. I am very excited to be visiting this historic college on their twentieth anniversary. In preparation for my trip I put my favorite pair of my trainers in the dryer after a wet ride in the rain. Naturally I recorded the stumbling rhythm they produced while tumbling in the heated bin.

Trainers in The Dryer
Audio Player

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Last.fm Preview of Cuba Illinois

Posted on July 26, 2009 by John C.S. Keston

cuba_illinois Cuba Illinois is the last track on Precambrian Resonance. I produced this experimental ambient piece last September and have made very few changes from the first version that can be heard in the original Audio Cookbook post titled Cuba, Illinois. A consistent thread through piece is made up of sampled vowels sounds running through a vocoder. Here’s the full-length mastered preview on Last.fm.