And that's a wrap! So much for vacations… as this project ended up not skipping a single beat, resulting in 52 solid songs in as many weeks.
Nice.
What sort of new things did I try out for our finale? Let's take a look:
A unique melodic pattern coming from the Reaktor ensemble 'Molecular Music Box' - a free sequencer that follows a clever note-generation algorithm by the same name - triggering the Air Piano instrument, with effect sends routed to the ValhallaRoom reverb and Cubase's PingPongDelay.
Continuing our algorithmic experiment, the Axon Neuron Sequencer plays another melodic passage via its FM synth engine in the key of D, with its volume slowly automating in and out throughout the piece.
The gritty analog sound of the Retrologue synth with its filter cutoff and resonance modulating up and down, and its output passed through the FreqEcho's "Bode-style frequency shifter" and analog delay effects to form a psychedelic outro.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Donald Phillips's Molecular Music Box Reaktor ensemble
- Boscomac Air Piano Reaktor instrument
- Audio Damage Axon synth/sequencer plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaUberMod effect plug-in
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaFreqEcho effect plug-in
- Sugar Bytes Looperator effect plug-in
- 99 Sounds Clap Machine plug-in
Key: D Major
BPM: 93
Time Signature: 4/4
Only one more week to go!!!!!!!!!! Not that I want this year-long challenge to be over, per se, but I have to admit a break would be… nice. But still, let's try out some new cool things this time around:
Drums from a combination of Maschine's Funksta kit, Abbey Road 70s Tight Direct kit, Dusty Circuit kit, and a custom glitch kit - layered together with yet another snare loop effected by the KTGranulator, with extreme pitch and panning automation.
My Fernandes guitar recorded direct to Cubase and processed by its VST Amp Rack using a high wattage amp, Vox-style cab, and finally the ValhallaRoom reverb.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- KTGranulator effect plug-in
- Psychic Modulation Phonec synth plug-in
- Steinberg Retrologue synth plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: F# Major
BPM: 94
Time Signature: 4/4
You know I love spending some quality time with a new audio effect, and this week caught me off guard with a new one from Sugar Bytes - one of the coolest developers out there. Let's get to work on these new sounds:
Maschine's Mighty Bassdrums kit programmed with a simple yet dense pattern, processed by a number of different Looperator effect presets and bounced down to 8 unique loops stringed together.
The haunting 'Symptoms' arpeggiating Phonec patch modulated by its warbling Circuit melt effect, and subtle volume and ValhallaRoom reverb automation throughout the arrangement.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Sugar Bytes Looperator effect plug-in
- Steinberg Prologue synth plug-in
- Steinberg Retrologue synth plug-in
- Native Instruments Massive synth plug-in
- Psychic Modulation Phonec synth plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: D Major
BPM: 134
Time Signature: 4/4
Back to one of those busy weeks again, with a 100 hour film race project on my plate, wherein I score a short film over the course of a few days. But before that weekend madness kicks off, let's get this week's song put together using these new elements:
Maschine's new arpeggiator feature triggering the Monark synth's '2Pranged' preset, played in via the Maschine Studio pads to form the groove for our initial verse.
A slightly off-kilter synth melody from the Reaktor Prism 'Partial Piano' patch processed by the ValhallaRoom Large Room engine.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Native Instruments Prism synth plug-in
- Native Instruments Monark synth plug-in
- Psychic Modulation Phonec synth plug-in
- CamelAudio Alchemy synth plug-in
- Steinberg Retrologue synth plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- ValhallaDSP Room & Shimmer reverb plug-ins
Key: F# minor
BPM: 62
Time Signature: 4/4
There's something about going back to a normal week after a crazy one filled with planning, stressing, and plenty of sweating. It's nice to return to the studio with a clear head. The highlights of this one were:
Drums from Maschine with swing at 8%, starting out with a nice groove that suddenly switches to a half-time beat, layered with glitch noises generated in Ableton Live with the M4L Comber and Granular-To-Go effects.
A sparkling arpeggio from Phonec's 'Submarine' preset, triggered by Cubase's Arpache 5 MIDI insert processing chords I recorded live from my controller keyboard.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Ers LazySnake electric piano plug-in
- Psychic Modulation Phonec synth plug-in
- iZotope BreakTweaker drum plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: D Major
BPM: 83
Time Signature: 4/4
This week saw my efforts channeled equally (and oddly) to both playing a Pinscape show and - the following day - running live sound for Showgirls: The Musical at a local theater. Very different events - and rather strange, in their own rights - but each a fine addition to my musical resume.
So what did I come up with for inspiration in these hasty studio sessions for the ever-present weekly song? Some somber reflection, by way of:
Phonec's 'Harbors' preset processed by the built-in Cubase 'DaTube' saturator effect, followed by the ValhallaRoom reverb
A layering of both regular vocals and a second copy passed through the TAL-Vocoder 2, with its internal carrier controlled by MIDI notes and the synth set to about 35% portamento.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Boscomac Air Piano Reaktor instrument
- Psychic Modulation Phonec synth plug-in
- TAL-Vocoder 2 effect plug-in
- Steinberg Retrologue synth plug-in
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: G Major
BPM: 99
Time Signature: 4/4
Still going strong over halfway through this final quarter, with the holiday season nearly upon us. Let's check out the sonic weapons that really inspired me for this week's song:
Absynth's 'Apportioned Piano' preset, adjusted to taste, and processed by the excessively-lush ValhallaRoom LV246 reverb mode.
The unique BreakTweaker drum sequencer/synth as heard through The Finger's 'Echoverbs' preset, controlled by MIDI notes and mod wheel automation.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol / Absynth plug-in
- Native Instruments The Finger Reaktor effect
- iZotope BreakTweaker drum plug-in
- WretchUp iOS app
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: B Major
BPM: 75
Time Signature: 6/8
An introspective week and some time on the piano, comprised of the following elements:
Boscomac's (http://boscomac.free.fr/) beautiful Air Piano instrument lending itself to our primary melody, processed through the Valhalla Shimmer reverb via slowly-increasing automation.
Vocals, though not a common feature in Exit Signs productions, make an appearance here, heavily-processed by EQ, gate, compressor, and the ValhallaRoom reverb.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Boscomac Air Piano Reaktor ensemble
- Psychic Modulation Phonec synth plug-in
- Steinberg Prologue synth plug-in
- Steinberg Retrologue synth plug-in
- Steinberg AmpSimulator effect plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: Ab Major
BPM: 141
Time Signature: 8/4
Sometimes it's nice to have a week to catch up. And sometimes it's nice to have a new app called WretchUp. See what I did there? Let's see which apps and effects helped this song come to life:
Steinberg's LoopMash FX (included with Cubase) is one I hadn't previously explored, but which quickly proved itself when placed on my Maschine drum channel while automating its time stretching and stutter effects.
WretchUp - the brand new iOS app - provides a backdrop of subtle yet noisy feedback as modulated live on my iPad and recorded directly into a stereo channel; with panning automation applied in post.
The Ondes app is one of my new favorites on the iPad with its lovely modern take on the old Ondes Martenot synthesizer. Played live through the Eventide Space reverb pedal, we end up with a haunting lead melody floating on top of the mix.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Steinberg Retrologue synth plug-in
- Steinberg LoopMash FX effect plug-in
- WretchUp iOS app
- Ondes iOS app
- Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol / Reaktor Prism synth plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- Eventide Space effect pedal
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: D minor
BPM: 70
Time Signature: 4/4
Did I mention busy weeks? This one saw the release of my debut Pinscape album on Tuesday, which has been a long time in the making. Exciting! But nevertheless, time was made for an especially dramatic Exit Signs song comprised of:
A Reaktor Prism preset called "It Only Ends Once" processed by the ValhallaRoom reverb effect, generating our main synth chord progression.
The Korg MS-20 mini synth - as heard through a rather cheap ART tube preamp - on bass duties.
My favorite Phonec synth plug-in running as an effect on the master bus, utilizing its "tape melt" parameter for that glorious warble sound.
Key equipment/software used for production:
- Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol / Reaktor Prism synth plug-in
- Korg MS-20 mini analog synth
- Psychic Modulation Phonec effect plug-in
- Native Instruments Maschine Studio
- ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom effect plug-in
Key: D minor
BPM: 70
Time Signature: 6/8