Shelford Hill

Getting back into Ableton Live and the Madrona suite of instruments. Kaivo is particularly inspiring right now. It is difficult to avoid, on the one hand, just making noise, and on the other, coming too close to cheesy and overdone sounds. I need to work on my understanding of these instruments, while taking the time to play. Using a velocity-sensitive keyboard has made it much more expressive: there were indeed moments when I felt what I was playing. Thinking of looking into a Soundplane (from Madrona) when the new model is released. At the same time, burdened with a desire to shed some more weight in terms of equipment. I am starting to consider how to rationalise (at least, in procedural and meta terms) my music practice.

Overthought and overwrought, but I think I am getting somewhere.

      
  d1 $ slow 4
   $ jux(rev)
   $ n "[2*2 [7 5/2] <[9 7] 12_>, -10 <-12 -3>]"
   # s "supersaw"
   # lfo "0.5 0.1 1"
   # ring "1 0.5"
   # freeze "0 1"   
   # distort "0 0.5 1"
   # crush 16
   # waveloss (range 50 100 $ sine)
      
    

      
s = sequins

function init()
  clock.tempo = 40
end

-- macro

macro = s{ s{1}:count(48), s{2}:count(12),s{3}:count(24)}

-- f-maj scale =
-- {-7, -5, -3, -2, 0, 2, 4, 5}
-- {5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17}
-- {17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 29} 

-- starters
a = {}
b = {}

a.notes = {}
a.dynamics = {}
a.rhythm = {}

b.notes = {}
b.dynamics = {}
b.rhythm = {}

-- macro 1
a.notes[1] = s{ s{ 5, 9, 12}:count(9)
              , s{ 5, 9, 14}:count(3)
              , s{ 5,10, s{14,16}}:count(9)
              , s{ 7,10, s{14,16}}:count(3)
              }

a.dynamics[1] = {}
a.dynamics[1].att = s{0.1, 0.2, 0.3}
a.dynamics[1].rel = s{0.1, 0.05, 0.1}
a.dynamics[1].lvl = s{7, 4, 5}

a.rhythm[1] = s{1/2}

b.notes[1] = s{ s{ -2, 2}:count(8)
              , s{ -2, 2}:count(4)
              , s{ -2, 5}:count(8)
              , s{ -2, 7}:count(4)
              }

b.dynamics[1] = {}
b.dynamics[1].att = s{0.1, 0.2}
b.dynamics[1].rel = s{0.1, 0.05}
b.dynamics[1].lvl = s{7, 4}

b.rhythm[1] = s{1}


-- macro 2                 
a.notes[2] = s{ s{16,19}
              , s{19,22}
              }
-- a.notes[2]:settable{ s{21}
--                 , s{24}
--               }

a.dynamics[2] = {}
a.dynamics[2].att = s{1, 0.3}
a.dynamics[2].rel = s{0.3,1}
a.dynamics[2].lvl = s{7, 4, 5}

a.rhythm[2] = s{1, 3/4, 1, 1/2, 1, 1/8}

b.notes[2] = s{ s{ -5}:count(4)
              , s{ -2}:count(4)
              }

b.dynamics[2] = {}
b.dynamics[2].att = s{0.1, 0.2}
b.dynamics[2].rel = s{0.1, 0.05}
b.dynamics[2].lvl = s{7, 5}

b.rhythm[2] = s{1/8}


-- macro 3
a.notes[3] = s{ s{7, 10, s{14,16}}:count(9)
              , s{7, 10, s{16,17}}:count(3)
              , s{7, 12, s{16,19}}:count(9)
              , s{9, 12, s{16,19}}:count(3)
              }

a.dynamics[3] = {}
a.dynamics[3].att = s{0.1, 0.2, 0.3}
a.dynamics[3].rel = s{0.1, 0.05, 0.1}
a.dynamics[3].lvl = s{7, 4, 5}

a.rhythm[3] = s{1, 1/2, 1/4}

b.notes[3] = s{ s{ 24}:count(1)
              , s{ 29}:count(1)
              }

b.dynamics[3] = {}
b.dynamics[3].att = s{1.2}
b.dynamics[3].rel = s{0.5}
b.dynamics[3].lvl = s{7}

b.rhythm[3] = s{4}


-- play a (starts on load script)
clock.run(
  function()  
    while true do 
      local ma = macro()
      clock.sync(a.rhythm[ma]())
      local playnote = a.notes[ma]()
      output[1].volts = playnote/12
      print(playnote)
      local att = a.dynamics[ma].att()
      local rel = a.dynamics[ma].rel()
      local lvl = a.dynamics[ma].lvl()
      output[2](ar(att, rel, lvl))
    end
  end
)

-- play b 
clock.run(
  function()  
    while true do 
      local ma = macro()
      if not b.notes[ma] then
        print('no notes here')
      else
        clock.sync(b.rhythm[ma]())
        local playnote = b.notes[ma]()
        output[3].volts = playnote/12
        print(playnote)
        local att = b.dynamics[ma].att()
        local rel = b.dynamics[ma].rel()
        local lvl = b.dynamics[ma].lvl()
        output[4](ar(att, rel, lvl))
      end
    end
  end
)


-- transpose
function transpose(vox, macro, meso, st)
  if meso == 'all' then
    for k,v in ipairs(vox.notes[macro]) do
      for i,j in ipairs(vox.notes[macro][k]) do
        vox.notes[macro][k][i] = j + st
      end
    end
  else
    for k,v in ipairs(vox.notes[macro][meso]) do
          vox.notes[macro][meso][k] = v + st
    end
  end
end

-- fnl 
function fnl(fn, origin, dest_ms, fps)
  return clock.run(function()
    fps = fps or 15 
    local spf = 1/fps
    fn(origin)
    for _,v in ipairs(dest_ms) do
      local count = math.floor(v[3] * fps)
      local stepsize = (v[2]-origin)/count
      while count > 0 do
        clock.sleep(spf)
        origin = origin + stepsize
        count = count - 1
        fn(origin)
      end
    end
  end)
end

      
    

      
s = sequins

function init()
  output[1].scale{14, 17, 21}
end

scales = { {14, 17, 21}
         , {14, 18, 21}
         , {14, 18, 22}
         , {15, 18, 22}
         , {15, 19, 22}
         }

notes = s{ 2, 9}         
count = s{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

function voice1()
  output[2]( { to( 5, 2)
             , to( 0, 15)
             })
  output[1].action =
    loop{ to( dyn{height=1}:step(1)
                           :wrap(1,4), 2)
        , to( 0, 0.01)
        }
  output[1]()
end

function voice2()
  while true do
    clock.sync(1)
    output[3].volts = notes()/12
    output[4](ar(0.1,0.5))
  end
end

function progression()
  local num = count()
  output[1].scale = scales[num]
end
      
    

      
s = sequins

a = {}
a.t = s{1/4}
a.n = s{24,28,31}
a.cv = 1
a.env = 2

b = {}
b.t = s{1/2}
b.n = s{12,s{16,19}}
b.cv = 3
b.env = 4

up_count = s{3,1,2}
down_count = s{3,2,1}

function voice(id)
  while true do 
    clock.sync(id.t())
    output[id.cv].volts = id.n()/12
    output[id.env](ar(0.01,0.5))
  end
end

function play(id)
  id.coro = clock.run(voice,id)
end

function stop(id)
  clock.cancel(id.coro)
end

function up()
  -- on the first pass, add one to third note
  -- on the second pass, add one to first note
  -- on the third pass, add one to second note
  local num = up_count()
  a.n[num] = a.n[num] + 1 
  if num == 1 then 
    local new_b = {a.n[num]-12,s{a.n[num]-8,a.n[num]-5}}
    b.n:settable(new_b)
  end
end

function down()
  local num = down_count()
  a.n[num] = a.n[num] - 1 
  if num == 1 then 
    local new_b = {a.n[num]-12,s{a.n[num]-8,a.n[num]-5}}
    b.n:settable(new_b)
  end
end  
      
    

Modulating "shape" with outs 2 and 4 of Quadrax.

      
s = sequins

meta_a = s{1,2,3}
a_prog = {{12,16,21},
          {12,16,20},
          {12,16,19}}
a = s{12,16,21}
ta = s{4}
aa = s{0.01,0.3}
ra = s{0.5}
la = s{5,4,5}

meta_b = s{1,2,3,4}
b_prog = {{-3,4},
          {-3,5},
          {-3,6},
          {-3,5,}}
b = s{-3,4}
ab = s{0.01}
rb = s{0.5}
tb = s{2}
lb = s{5}

function play_a()
  while true do
    clock.sync(ta())
    output[1].volts = a()/12
    output[2](ar(aa(),ra(),la()))
  end
end

function play_b()
  while true do
    clock.sync(tb())
    output[3].volts = b()/12
    output[4](ar(ab(),rb(),lb()))
  end
end

function move_a()
  a:settable(a_prog[meta_a()])
end

function move_b()
  b:settable(b_prog[meta_b()])
end

function start_a()
  coro_a = clock.run(play_a)
end     

function stop_a()
  clock.cancel(coro_a)
end

function toggle_a()
  if coro_a then stop_a() coro_a = nil else start_a() end
end

function start_b()
  coro_b = clock.run(play_b)
end

function stop_b()
  clock.cancel(coro_b)
end

function toggle_b()
  if coro_b then stop_b() coro_b = nil else start_b() end
end

function transpose_a(st)
  local temp_a = {}
  for k,v in ipairs(a) do
    temp_a[k] = v + st
  end
  a:settable(temp_a)
end


      
    

      
s = sequins

meta_a = s{1,2,3}
a_prog = {{12,16,21},
          {12,16,20},
          {12,16,19}}
a = s{12,16,21}
ta = s{1}
aa = s{0.01,0.3}
ra = s{0.5}
la = s{5,4,5}

meta_b = s{1,2,3,4}
b_prog = {{0,2,4},
          {0,2,5},
          {0,2,12},
          {0,2,7,}}
b = s{0,2,4}
ab = s{0.01}
rb = s{0.5}
tb = s{1}
lb = s{5}

function play_a()
  while true do
    clock.sync(ta())
    output[1].volts = a()/12
    output[2](ar(aa(),ra(),la()))
  end
end

function play_b()
  while true do
    clock.sync(tb())
    output[3].volts = b()/12
    output[4](ar(ab(),rb(),lb()))
  end
end

function move_a()
  a:settable(a_prog[meta_a()])
end

function move_b()
  b:settable(b_prog[meta_b()])
end

function start_a()
  coro_a = clock.run(play_a)
end
      
    

Unrecorded.

Modified druid with keybindings, crow + quadrax on the Modular

Quite satisfied with how this little hack worked out. The code is quite ugly, but this opens the doors to a lot more expressiveness even in livecoding. The concept is simple, but I think it helps a lot as a helper in livecoding.

      
s = sequins

t = s{1}
notes = s{0,2,5,7,9,11}
attack = s{0.01,0.1}
release = s{0.3,0.5}
level = s{5,3,4}

function init()
  clock.tempo = 110
end

function vox()
  while true do
    clock.sync(t())
    output[1].volts = notes()/12
    output[2](ar(attack(),release(),level()))
  end
end

function transpose(st)
  for k,v in ipairs(notes) do
    notes[k] = v + st
  end
end


clock.run(vox)
      
    

Unrecorded.

Arpeggios via crow on the Modular, and Cheat Codes 2 on norns.

Need to find a way to be more expressive. Have found a number of sweet spots in terms of notes that I like, essentially Glass. Feeling slightly stuck with the live-coding aspects of crow. Need to consider what else can be done other than simply using sequins. One idea is meta-controlling. Limited palette given that only Quadrax is the voice, hopefully will be able to find a way to remedy this.

    
s = sequins

function init()
  clock.tempo = 80
end

-- {12,16}, {12,17}, {12,21}, {12,24}, {12,36}, {12,28}, {12,29}

a = s{}
ta = s{1/2}
b = s{s{2,9,4}:count(12),s{7,4,9}:count(12)}
tb = s{1}

function arp()
  while true do 
    clock.sync(ta())
    output[1].volts = a()/12
    output[2](pulse())
  end
end

function bass()
  while true do
    clock.sync(tb())
    output[3].volts = b()/12
    output[4](pulse())
  end
end

clock.run(bass)

    
    

Tape 0103.wav

Zippers, crow on the Modular, and Cheat Codes 2 on the norns.

Lessons: (a) the bassline was too repetitive and needed some more dynamism; (b) some of the transitions were not smooth enough (for the context); (c) the sounds were ultimately quite stale after a while (need more modulation on the timbre).

Unrecorded.

Zippers: see Maps, S2E1.

	  
s = sequins

function init()
    clock.tempo = 80
    output[1].scale({0,4,5,7,9})
end

bn = s{4,7,9}
bt = s{1,1,1/2}

function play_bass()
    while true do
        clock.sync(bt())
        output[3].volts = bn()/12
        output[4](pulse())
    end
end

bass = clock.run(play_bass)

--see s2e2 of maps
stages = s{
        {2,2}
       ,{1.8,0.2}
       ,{1.3,0.5}
       ,{0.8,1}
  }

-- use melody(1,math.random(1,4))

function melody(octave,stretch)
    local o = octave or 1 --not quite octave but close enough
    local st = stretch or 1
    output[2](ar(0.1,7.4*st))
    clock.run(function()
        for i=1,8 do
    local stage = stages()
    output[1].slew = stage[2]/2 * st
    output[1].volts = stage[1] * o
    if stage[3] then
        output[1].shape = stage[3]
    else
        output[1].shape = 'linear'
    end
  clock.sleep(stage[2] * st)
  end
    end)
end
    
  

Unrecorded.

Lessons in (a) music theory (scales, arpeggios); (b) use of true and false to create timing; (c) attempts at modulation.

Quadrax Channel 1 voice, Channel 2 envelope, into VCA, into FX Aid. PNW modulating Shape 1 and Fall 2.

	  
s = sequins

clock.tempo = 180

-- scale reference: {0,2,3,5,7,9}
-- s{s{0,3,7}:count(9),s{0,4,7}:count(6)}
-- s{s{2,5,9}:count(6),s{2,4,9}:count(3),s{2,6,9}:count(6)}
-- s{4,6,7,9,11,13}
-- s{4,6,11}
-- s{4,6,s{11,13,15}}

a = s{s{2,5,9}:count(6),s{2,4,9}:count(3),s{2,6,9}:count(6)}
b = s{0,4}

X = true
O = false
p = s{X,X,X,0}

t = s{1/2}

function play()
    while true do
        clock.sync(t())
            if p() then
                output[1].volts = a()/12
                output[2](pulse())
            end
    end
end

function mod()
    output[3].slew = 0.5
    output[3].volts = b()
    clock.sleep(8/3)
end

clock.run(play)
	  
	  

Tape 102 and many more unrecorded

Sessions with

• crow
• the modular (yet to be named: as of 9 October 2021)
• the old T420, given new life

Tapes 0072, 0074

Sessions with:

• norns+ grid
  • cheat codes
  • granchild
  • subsets
• Field recordings
• Voice live input

Tapes 0052, 0060, 0062

Sessions with:

• norns + grid
  • cheat codes
  • granchild
  • subsets
• Field recordings

Tapes 0028 to 0040

Sessions with:

• norns
  • twine (granulator)
  • subsets
• Field recordings (water down a drain)
• Samples - glia's yelidek

Layering using tape:

1. Subsets piano
2. Field recordings through twine
3. Samples through twine

Session with:

• norns
  • twine (granulator)
• Hologram Microcosm (Mosaic mode, mostly)
• Field recordings (water down a drain)
• Samples - glia's yelidek

Sound vs music; textures; micro-sounds; sounds within sounds. Bubbling waters, underwater, submerged, filtering, clicks.

Session with:

• norns
  • twine (granulator)
  • subsets
• Field recordings ('field' meaning the bathroom -- there was a most amazing sound when the water was emptying from O's bathtub)

Thinking about: (a) how to combine sounds & music; (b) what is the significance of discovering sounds within sounds; (c) how to listen, how to perform, how to listen when not performing.

Gurgles - rivulets - water - streams - depths - underground - life

Session with:

• norns
  • twine (granulator)
• Field recordings (water_under_the_fridge_edited.wav)

Session with:

• norns
  • subsets
• ableton
• prosody
• confetti, "chopper"

Session with:

• norns
  • subsets
• ableton
• prosody