Get Flash to see this player.
Description
I was noodling around on the keyboard one day, trying out sounds and built-in arp patterns, and recorded a couple of minutes of something. I duplicated it and changed the instrumentation. I duplicated it again and once more changed the instrument. Essentially, I duplicated the same midi file 5 times, although some were modified later. I then layered them and staggered their start times. One was assigned to the Orchestral Percussion Kit, four are played by different synths, analog and digital, and one is doubled by the same synth but each track is lowered in pitch, one by 24 semitones and the other by 36. They also have different automation and different effects.
Two FMpunchyBass synth tracks start first and play for about 8 seconds when they're joined by two more (STbreathingMW and glassyPad) for another 8 sec, when they are joined by the percussion and a 5th synth, Crystal. These all play for about 45 seconds when another synth (DigitalStepperVoxyPad) begins playing the melody and is later joined by a seventh, analog, synth. The piece ends with the train rumbling off into the night. I played a lot with the effects settings to reinforce the train image, once it occurred to me.
I also played with the tempo in this to simulate the experience of a faint train rumble approaching from a distance, getting louder as it gets closer, then maximum volume and velocity as it whips by, and then gets more quiet as it speeds away. It starts out at 99bpm, rises to 110 in the middle and then back down to 99. As with the volume changes, the tempo changes were symbolic rather than realistic.
The image is of a train at night ;-) and the dynamic energy of it, along with the wonderful colours, made it a natural fit. It was taken by David Sambells (Komatoes) on Flickr, at Teignmouth, in the UK.
I hope you enjoy it.
Two FMpunchyBass synth tracks start first and play for about 8 seconds when they're joined by two more (STbreathingMW and glassyPad) for another 8 sec, when they are joined by the percussion and a 5th synth, Crystal. These all play for about 45 seconds when another synth (DigitalStepperVoxyPad) begins playing the melody and is later joined by a seventh, analog, synth. The piece ends with the train rumbling off into the night. I played a lot with the effects settings to reinforce the train image, once it occurred to me.
I also played with the tempo in this to simulate the experience of a faint train rumble approaching from a distance, getting louder as it gets closer, then maximum volume and velocity as it whips by, and then gets more quiet as it speeds away. It starts out at 99bpm, rises to 110 in the middle and then back down to 99. As with the volume changes, the tempo changes were symbolic rather than realistic.
The image is of a train at night ;-) and the dynamic energy of it, along with the wonderful colours, made it a natural fit. It was taken by David Sambells (Komatoes) on Flickr, at Teignmouth, in the UK.
I hope you enjoy it.
Leave a Comment
You must be registered and logged-in to comment.
Calchas
that grows out of mere "noodling," eh?
Nice post Richard!
Be well friend!