Stacked Polysynths Part 1

Posted on April 4, 2011 by John C.S. Keston

Today I updated my studio with the inexpensive yet feature rich MOTU Audio Express interface. I haven’t had time to put it through its paces yet, but I did manage to get it configured in time to use it for the synthesizer sound of the day. Creating this sound would have been more difficult prior to owning this interface because I did not have as many available inputs with my M-Audio Firewire 410. To create this sound I stacked two polysynths – the Roland D-50 and the Roland MKS-80. With the Audio Express I was able to plug in both instruments in stereo and play them simultaneously using the D-50 as the controller, then record them on separate tracks. Here’s the first out of a series of these stacked polysynth experiments.

Stacked Polys Part 1

Resonator Study

Posted on April 3, 2011 by John C.S. Keston

I built this Ableton resonator study around the same time I posted Synth Bass Through Resonators, but didn’t post it because I’m not satisfied with the drums that I put in as a temporary placeholder. If this gets used l’ll be replacing the drums with something more fitting and less conventional.

Resonator Study

Quickly Dialed in Lead Patch

Posted on April 2, 2011 by John C.S. Keston

I dialed in this lead patch on the Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter in a matter of a few seconds. I set the pitch and mod wheels how I like them, then quickly tested it through some delay and reverb.

Quickly Dialed in Lead Patch

John Foxx on Electric Independence

Posted on April 1, 2011 by John C.S. Keston

A fantastic new episode of Electric Independence features an interview with synth-pop pioneer John Foxx in his amazing East London studio. Some of the gear he demos in his studio includes an Arp Odyssey a Moog Modular, a Korg Mono/Poly, and the Roland CR-78 drum machine.

New Track Segment and Ostraka Performance

Posted on March 31, 2011 by John C.S. Keston

Here’s a segment from a new track that will be included in my performance at 9:30pm on Monday, April 4, 2011 at the Kitty Cat Klub in Minneapolis. Sputnik Viper with Centrific and newly formed BETAWOLvES are alo on the bill. Aside from the drums the new Ostraka track (working title, Monkey Dog Specimen) is made exclusively of sounds from the Roland D-50 and the Roland MKS-80.

Monkey Dog Specimen Segment