Synchronizing Music Technology at Slam Academy

Posted on November 1, 2012 by John C.S. Keston

I am teaching a class starting on November 29, 2012 at the Slam Academy in Minneapolis titled Synchronizing Music Technology. The first class class of the four session module is free to attend with no obligation. If you decide to take the module you are eligible to purchase a Korg Monotribe and Korg Monotron for $175. General admission and student pricing is available.

In this course we will examine ways to synchronize musical devices including vintage-to-modern MIDI compatible devices, as well as pre-MIDI analog instruments using CV (control voltage) and gate signals. We will also learn how to sequence and interface these devices with computer software making it possible to create studio and performance setups that integrate decades of music technology.

The Slam Academy is one of a handful of certified Ableton Live training centers worldwide. Most classes are around $200 or less for students and meet for three two hour sessions. I am very excited to be an adjunct instructor at this incredibly forward thinking school for electronic arts. If you’re in the area please stop in for the free intro class on November 29 or consider registering for a module or two.

Monotribe Meets Pro-One Part 8: Plus Monotron

Posted on March 17, 2012 by John C.S. Keston

This is my favorite from the series of microtracks featuring the Korg Monotribe synched with the Pro-One that I’ve produced so far. For this experiment I also plugged my Korg Monotron into the Monotribe’s audio input. This can be heard as the higher pitched drone following the bass line. At around 0:15 the Pro-One arpeggiator fades in. Finally at about 0:54 the Monotron pitch ramps up about an octave, goes a little sharp, goes at little flat, then rests fairly close to the octave as the feedback on the Memory Man saturates the Pro-One notes.

Excerpt from a Recent DKO Performance

Posted on January 2, 2012 by John C.S. Keston

This improvised piece from my trio DKO was recorded live at the Kitty Cat Klub on December 16, 2011 (live mix by Ryan Olcott and post mix by John Keston) and features Jon Davis on bass, John Keston on keyboards (that’s me), and Graham O’Brien on drums. For more music, information about DKO, and booking please visit dkomusic.tumblr.com. My rig on this track included two of my favorite standbys; the Rhodes electric piano and my newly calibrated Pro-One. I also had my Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Delay on a send and used the Korg Monotron for some atonal synthesizer textures.

Battle of Everyouth Video Documentation

Posted on July 18, 2011 by John C.S. Keston

On June 4, 2011 the Battle of Everyouth was staged and performed outside of the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA). I performed improvisational music non-stop for three hours with Luke Anderson (electronics), Jon Davis (bass, bass clarinet), and Graham O’Brien (drums, percussion). This video documentation is accompanied by bit and pieces from the board mix during the event. My instrumentation included the Rhodes electric piano, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Delay, and Korg Monotron.

Resampled Chaos over Bass and Pro-One

Posted on June 17, 2011 by John C.S. Keston

This segment from our performance at The Battle of Everyouth on June 4, 2011 has some nice chaotic drums from Graham and resampling from Luke over the top of some steady Pro-One arpeggiation and bass from Jon Davis.

Resampled Chaos over Bass and Pro-One