Master Class: Arturia MiniBrute 2

In this Music Radar masterclass, we’ll look at some interesting sounds you can create using the MiniBrute 2’s patchbay. But first, we’ll look at ways to overcome a few of the instrument’s idiosyncrasies.

For example, the MiniBrute 2 lacks a dedicated mult/splitter, making it impossible to route certain modulation sources to multiple destinations—a requirement that is a staple of many common sounds—without additional gear. A simple fix is to use a stackable 3.5mm cable, such as the Tiptop Audio Stackcable or the Modular Addict Stacking Eurorack Patch Cable.

Despite lacking a few features from the first Mini-Brute (such as the sub-oscillator), the MiniBrute 2 has a  more advanced set of synthesis tools. Recreating familiar patches from the original model, however, requires an altered approach. This tutorial covers the essentials for configuring both the sounds of the original and a few iconic analog standards.

Link: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-master-the-arturia-minibrute-2

Listening with Francis Preve

Recently, I had the honor of appearing on The Listening Podcast—a weekly series sponsored by Liquid Cinema. In the podcast, renowned composer Jeff Rona and I discussed my relationship with sound design, DJ culture, synthesis, and the horizons of instrument design.

Below are links to Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Enjoy!

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CIqUGcGwYGUo6W44v4eIv?si=yLkokLwASSiwUD1J55cgBg

Apple Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-with-francis-preve/id1476332977?i=1000455970308

Free Xfer Serum Pack (Winter 2018)

Since last year’s free Serum pack was so well-received, I asked the students in my Synthesis 2 course (at Austin Community College) if they’d be interested in contributing a few sounds for the 2018 pack. There are some truly gifted designers at the school and I really wanted to highlight their talents.

Fortunately, many of them agreed - providing presets for each of the following categories: Bass, Pad, Lead, and Pluck.

With their full permission, I'm sharing the results as a free download for Serum fans. The pack consists of 25 presets covering a wide variety of genres and design approaches. I also included a bonus holiday preset of my own design, “Super Snowman”.

As with the last pack, the student’s name is included in each preset — but I’d also like to post an alphabetical list of the designers, to highlight their contributions. For this, several students also opted-in to include links to their social media.

• Jay Alba

• Siegen Bretzke

• Daniel Buckingham

• Jacob Cho

• Ali Darwiche [Instagram]

• Mike Stellman [Soundcloud]

• Troy Umran [Instagram]

The pack is a free download that you can grab at the below link.

Download: Xfer Serum Preset Pack (Winter 2018)

Happy Holidays!

Master Class: Vocoders

Wendy Carlos recorded the first mainstream performance of a vocoder for her soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, using a 10-band version she developed with Bob Moog in 1970. From there, it was quickly established as a featured component for countless pop, funk, and dance hits—and is often confused with an effect known as the talk box, which is an entirely different method for embossing the characteristics of the human voice onto a musical performance.

Over the past 45 years, there have been many successful vocoders—both hardware and software. The earliest hardware units from Bode, Roland, Moog and Korg found their way into top artists’ studios. Nowadays, software versions are baked into leading DAWs from Ableton, Apple, and Propellerhead, to name a few.

Although vocoders are typically used for creating “robot vocals,” they are capable of generating a wide variety of effects. But to get the most from this unique processor, it is essential to understand how a vocoder works. Here’s my essential guide for Music Radar.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-vocoders-a-complete-guide

Master Class: Roland TR-8S

With the introduction of the TR-8S, Roland not only advanced the popular TR-8’s sequencing tools and iconic sound, but added sample import (via SD card) and expanded its editing features to a point where it truly is an instrument in its own right. Between performance-oriented patterns and sophisticated sound design amenities, you’ll get the most from this beast once you understand how to mold its sonic resources to match your artistic identity.

I'm also testing the waters for expanding this blog to include downloadable presets and examples for selected educational material. If you already own a TR-8S, below is a link to two original kits (with patterns) based on custom analog drum samples I created last month.

Master Class Link: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-master-the-roland-tr-8s

Download the TR-8S kit/patterns  [Instructions included]

Master Class: Korg Gadget

In 2017, Korg expanded Gadget’s range by introducing an identical version for Mac OS, bringing its intuitive approach to the desktop. The full install of Gadget for Mac is bundled with more than 30 plug-ins, including the recording gadgets Zurich and Rosario, as well as a virtualized collection of their most iconic hardware synths.

Though many of Gadget’s synths are so immediately approachable that there’s no real need for tutorials, others can look a bit cryptic to new users. Even if you’re an experienced synthesist, there are nuances in each of the instruments that go beyond the obvious functionality. So, for this Music Radar master class, we’ll dig deeper into the more sophisticated gadgets, exposing possibilities that may not be immediately apparent.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/the-definitive-guide-on-how-to-use-korg-gadget-for-mac

Free Xfer Serum Pack (Winter 2017)

This year, the final project for my Synthesis 2 course at Austin Community College focused on preset design for Xfer Serum. For the assignment, students developed presets for each of the following categories: Bass, Pad, Lead, and Pluck.

With their permission, I'm sharing the results as a free download for Serum fans. Of the submissions, these are the best examples - assembled in a downloadable pack consisting of 25 presets covering a wide variety of genres and design approaches.

Additionally, each student’s name is included in every preset, so if you like any of the patches, you’ll know who created it.

I also added two original presets based on wavetables created from snowflake and xmas tree graphics, because holidays.

The pack is a free download that you can grab at the below link.

Download: Xfer Serum Preset Pack (Winter 2017)

Update: The Winter 2018 Xfer Serum Pack is now online.

Season’s Greetings!

Environments

When launching the Scapes project in August, I invited readers to offer insights into previous examples of synthesized environments and environmental recordings.

One of the responses startled me, as I certainly recall seeing the Environments album series at the library when I was a kid.

I say “startled” because in researching the enhanced field recordings of Irv Teibel, I discovered that he was also from Buffalo, NY, then later relocated to Austin, TX.

Synchronicity is curious stuff.

Here’s a link to the story of Teibel and his recordings:
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-man-who-recorded-tamed-and-then-sold-nature-sounds-to-america