The 8th B-Day party concert was really fun and loaded with great performances. Special thanks to Christoph for being our virtual stage manager.
My Performance
This is recording of my 10 minute set from the Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meet 8th birthday party concert. Music and visuals are performed in real-time.
I start by playing a song called “Light Runner” performed on an Elektron Digitone playing notes via MIDI from a Novation Launchpad Pro MK3. I then improvise and mangle a sample from the 50’s using an Elektron Octatrack. This is followed by followed by an improv jam with core patterns on Digitone with lead synth and arpeggios from an Elektron Analog Four MKII being played via MIDI from a Novation Luaunchkey Mini MK3.
Entire Performance
Here is the full concert performance (including the video above) with all 7 artists.
I’ll be performing a short set along with all the other Beat Cypher’s at Madelife. It will be the first flight for my new custom Ableton template with Push 2 and AudioCubes. I’ll be playing an extended version of my new song “Disconnected“.
For those not familiar with Beat Cypher. “All styles welcomed and
invited. The purpose of this event is to gather music
producers/performers in the Boulder/Denver area and build community.
Each performer gets a 10 minute time slot. Sign up is FIRST COME FIRST
SERVE so get here on time to get a spot. ”
The event is always a lot of fun with some super interesting sets – so come on down.
Freq Boutique is a monthly event…like an open mic night for synth heads. Performances will start at 8 pm. Performers should arrive anytime before then so we can set up and make any last minute changes we need to.
I’ll be performing a Musique Concrète/Synthwave/Glitch Set Tonight (8/14/2017) in Denver/Synthwave/Glitch Set on Elektron Octatrack + Analog Four + Tenori-On.
Synthesizer Sunday, a Union of Architecture and Sound
The city of Denver has invited me and four other local electronic music artists to perform Sunday April 30th. This is part of the larger Door Open Denver Event.
Like architecture, which starts from basic elements – glass, sand, and stone to create a building – synthesizers start from basic sine waves modulated to produce sound into music. Join us for this open-air concert at one of Denver’s most prominent cultural facilities where five musicians taking turns playing synthesizers will dedicate their performances to the distinctive glass roof of the Galleria.
Particulars
When: Sunday April 39th 12 PM – 3 PM Admission: Free Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1866714256917847/ Where: Denver Performing Arts Complex, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe St, Denver, Colorado 80204. We will be under the glass arch of the Galleria in front of the Buell Theater.
Performers
Dane Terry 12:00 noon – 12.25
Victoria Lundy 12:30 – 12:55
Mark Mosher 1:00 – 1:25
Chris Frain 1:30 – 1:55
Kuxaan Sum 2:00 – 2: 25
Video from Preview Event
Story: This soundscape is the soundtrack to an imaginary experience where, using a special morphing environment suit, the wearer can instantly transition from a land to sea simply by walking into the surf. The piece begins with you observing a figure walking down the steps on to Chatham Lighthouse Beach late at night. The figure is silhouetted by the beam of the Chatham Light. As the figure walks past you and on to the beach you switch to the figure’s point of view. You then walk towards the ocean with the beam of the Chatham Light swinging out over your head and enter the surf. As you enter the surf, your environment suit extends and wraps you like a second skin. You hear the mechanics of the metamorphosis as the suit jacks in to your mind and adjusts your buoyancy allowing you to keep walking down on to the sea floor. Under the ocean the sensors isolate and amplify sounds from the environment. You close your eyes and listen – and return once again to the land. Artist Notes: Based on a field recording I made at night on Chatham Lighthouse Beach, MA. I recorded myself walking down the metal stairs to the beach and right up to the surf and back. I used digital effects such as comb filters and synths to make the more synthetic sounds. Date & Time of field recording: January 13th, 2012, 10pm Location: Chatham Lighthouse Beach, Cape Cod, MA Recorder: Zoom H2 Format: 44.1kHz/24bit 120 degree stereo Instruments and Instrumentalities: Ableton Live Ableton Sampler U-HE Zebra 2, Zebra HZ Izotope Iris Rob Papen Predator Keyboard Automation envelopes
Story: This song is an ambient sonic journey starting with natural sounds which morph into the hidden inner world of trees and back again. Artist Notes: The piece starts off with a 120 degree stereo field recording of wind blowing through aspen trees and surrounding trees in Louisville, Colorado just outside of Boulder.
Last week, Kuxaan Sum and I paid an early morning visit to the Galleria with our rigs for a preview performance for CBS 4 News. Afterworld, we had an opportunity to play short improvised set with an almost empty Galleria. The natural reverb was AMAZING. Check out this video.
Show Notes for My Set
For my set, I’ll be doing structure improvisation using real-time synthesis using my favorite two hardware instruments – the Nord Lead 4 Synthesizers and the Elektron Octatrack Dynamic Performance Sampler
Elektron Octatrack Performance Sampler
The Elektron Octatrack Dynamic Performance Sampler is an incredibly deep instrument from Sweden that allows me to do real-time sound design with effects and morph between different instrument “states”. Prior to the performance, I’ve prepared a series of samples derived or inspired by the Galleria architecture, materials, and space.
Source 1 – Converting Images of the Galleria into Complex Audio Waveforms
I converted images of the Galleria into audio waveforms by resynthesizing the pictures using an additive synthesizer. Each pixel in the photo is converted into image planes with audio gain and pitch.
I then manipulated a play head which travels across these panes. As this happens, this additive synthesizer uses 520 oscillators produce partials of frequency, amplitude and waveform phase in real time. I programmed a series of sounds using this technique and recorded 2-29 second audio samples which I then transfer into the Octatrack for use in live performance on Sunday.
As you can see form the above spectral analysis, this process creates amazingly complex harmonic content.
Source 2 – Ambient recordings of the sound of the Galleria
My second set of sources for the Octatrack are recordings of the ambience of the this massive space as theater goers start arriving for a shows one evening.
Source 3 – Field Recordings of the Materials
Lastly, I spent some time to record a session where I played the Galleria itself. I used a drum stick, felt mallet, and drum brushes to gently play metal beams, door handles, and other parts of the Galleria bones. I’ve built a custom drum kit for the Octatrack using these elements.
Nord Lead 4 Performance Synthesizer
Part of the show concept is “like architecture, which starts from basic elements – glass, sand, and stone to create a building – synthesizers start from basic sine waves modulated to produce sound into music.” To this end I’m using custom presets on the wonderful Nord Lead 4 Performance Synthesizer (also made in Sweden) inspired by the Galleria. I’ll be improvising and morphing these original sounds live.
I Hope To See You At the Show
As you can see this is going to be a truly amazing community event. I’m optimistic that this is the first of many such events where the city partners with local experimental music artists. If you live in the Denver or along the Front Range, I hope will be consider coming to the show to enjoy the music and sound in this wonderful space and support the concept.
The carbon dioxide ensemble’s set was exceptionally killer. My teenage sister got to see your performance and was shocked/amazed/mind-warped.
I’ll take that!
When you get to the performance video where Taylor is improvising with 16mm film loops, check out how her performance is lighting up the ensemble like we’re using a strobe light!
A behind-the-scenes video with the Carbon Dioxide Ensemble with Taylor Dunne at Time + Space Fundraiser for A Process Rehearsal Fundraiser in Denver, CO. Taylor Dunne improvising with us using 16mm film. The video also gives you a sense for this event.
The Carbon Dioxide Ensemble is: Thomas Lundy on Copper Heart with Dry Ice, Victoria Lundy on Theremin and Reaktor, Mark Mosher on Elekton Octatrack and Novation Circuit.
Process Reversal’s mission is to promote the continued use of photochemical processes by filmmakers, artists, hobbyists, and the public at large by providing the training, the exposure, and the opportunity required.
The Carbon Dioxide Ensemble (with Thomas Lundy on Copper Heart and Victoria Lundy on Theremin) has been invited to perform in collaboration with film maker Taylor Dunne the TIME+SPACE fundraiser.
TIME+SPACE FUND RAISER Saturday, April 8, 7PM
PlatteForum
2400 Curtis Street, Suite 100
Denver, CO 80205 Google Map Directions
This is a live music and film event at local Denver art space PlatteForum to raise funds to “preserve, promote and harness the expressive potential of photochemical image making.”
Live Music by:
The Kevin Costner Suicide Pact
Entrancer
Beatscream
The Carbon Dioxide Ensemble
Erzi
The musical acts will be performing 20-30 minute sets. All the musical artists will be paired with a film maker so each set will be a combined music and film experience.
CO2E + Taylor Dunne
Taylor Dunne – Film
Thomas Lundy – Copper Heart w/ Dry Ice
Victoria Lundy – Theremin and Reaktor
Concrète Mixer Denver with Carbon Dioxide Ensemble
We’ll be paired with Taylor Dunne (http://taylordunne.com) who received her Media Studies Certificate at University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; received her B.A. in Media Studies at Eugene Lang: The school, NYC; and got her M.F.A in Film/Film Studies at University of Colorado Boulder.
More Rehearsal’s Fund Raising Objectives
During its first fundraising cycle, Process Reversal (PR) aims to develop the resources needed to achieve four major goals. These objectives are integral to PR’s mission to preserve, promote and harness the expressive potential of photochemical image making.
Education –
Process Reversal’s education initiatives have two major tracks
Photochemical Image-Making – Process Reversal is committed to facilitating and demystifying technical processes of these practices. This is and will continue to be achieved primarily through extensive workshop programming. In concert with these workshop sessions, PR develops innovative new tools designed for small-scale production. These devices are used in workshop environments to advance a new technological paradigm in image making that is well suited to this post-industrial age. These activities serve a primary aim of our mission: to promote the continued use of photochemical processes by filmmakers, artists, hobbyists, and the public at large by providing the training, the exposure, and the opportunity required.
Media Literacy – In an increasingly image-driven era, Process Reversal is committed to promoting media literacy in all age groups. To be literate is to be able to read and write, so it follows that media literacy includes the ability to make as well as to interpret. Photochemical processes are the antecedents to contemporary image making, and to be exposed to these techniques is also to better understand other technologies, including digital tools. Rather than offer image making experiences that are defined by the content needs of media industries, Process Reversal provides a critical and historical context that fosters agency and understanding across the entire gamut of image making. To this end, PR seeks to launch a K-adult outreach program dedicated to filling the photochemical media literacy gap. Continue reading and donate here
Atlas Institute Black Box performance as a special guest of the Boulder Laptop Orchestra
I mentioned a few weeks back that I had the incredible honor of being invited to perform with the Boulder Laptop Orchestra on March 18th (Related Blog Post). For those that couldn’t make it her is a live video recordingfrom the “Boulder Laptop Orchestra BLOrK performs with guest Mark Mosher” event (Facebook Invite).
The video features my original solo improvisational piece “Tonalities from Orbit” which I was invited to perform to close out the night with the ensemble. Earlier in the program I performed interactive visuals for 7 pieces for the ensemble.
The video is live and audio from a Zoom Q4N.
Program Notes
Tonalities from Orbit” is an original structured improvisational piece inspired by the ground breaking work of Louis and Bebe Barron – who in the 1956 provided the soundtrack to the seminal Scifi film Forbidden Planet.
The hand-built circuits they used to create the “electronic tonalities” of this film pre-dated the modern synthesizer and were limited to oscillators (producing mainly square, sine, & triangle waves), ring modulators, overdriven tubes, reverb, and delay (done with tape manipulation).
Informed by these limitations, and using only a Nord Lead 4 synthesizer, Mark created 14 original and expressive “circuit states”. In this performance he will play and morph between these states as a framework for the piece as he brings his version of the Krell to life.
The performance will be complimented with Mark’s real-time visuals using only live camera input as a source with audio-responsive automation.
Boldly going where no laptop orchestra has gone before, BLOrk integrates technology with performers in an ensemble setting, providing live interaction between the two. Techie performers equipped with laptops, tablets, smartphones and a variety of control devices, play alongside live vocalists as well as alongside musicians playing acoustic instruments. The ensemble, which is housed at CU Boulder’s Center for Music, Art, and Performance, performs original music as well as seminal works in the history of electronic music.
BLOrk will be joined by special guest Mark Mosher, a sound designer, experimental multimedia artist, and music technologist from Louisville, CO. While performing locally and at events across the country, Mosher has been demystifying synths & inspiring people’s “inner sound designer” for over 10 years though his blog.
Mosher will be providing live interactive visuals for BLOrk using real-time synthesis with live camera input as well as performing a solo musical piece of original Krell-inspired electronic tonalities.
Founded in 2008, BLOrk uses hemispherical speakers which project the sound in a way similar to that of an acoustic instrument, creating a unique sonic experience. The ensemble builds on the research of the Princeton Laptop Orchestra (PLOrk) and the Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk).
Directed by:
John Gunther, associate professor of jazz studies at CU Boulder
John Drumheller, director of music technology at CU Boulder
More info on Mark Mosher at http://MarkMosherMusic.com.
The Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meetup (which I founded in 2012) has crossed 550 members!!! The next meetup is March 8th at 7pm and is the return of Modular Synth Lightning Patch Walkthroughs event. I’ll also be performing with the ensemble the Carbon Dioxide Ensemble at this event. RSVP https://www.meetup.com/Rocky-Mountain-Syn…/events/237318799/.
This is the 55th meetup and my 54th time hosting :^)
Friday Oct 28th, 3-5pm: Denver Central Library Trick or Treat Street –
We’ll be performing as part of the Denver Central Library Trick or Treat Street. We’ll have a real-time camera on the passerbys to add spooky effects to their image.
Here is a map. You can park on the street at 2 hour meters, or at the Civic Center parking facility located south of the DPL and just east of the Denver Art Museum.
Sunday Oct 30th, 7-10pm: Textures Ambient Showcase, Mutiny Information Cafe, Denver
Darwin Grosse and I performed another (no)poem set the Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meetup on January 12th. (no)poem is our original experimental ambient duo. We improvise using graphical scores. We also use generative feedback-based visuals via Max Patch that Darwin developed. This performance was in the wonderful Walnut Room in Denver which has a fantastic PA.
Below are photos from the show. A big thanks to Chris Sessions and Jeff Navarro for contributing photos.
Gopro shot from back of stage looking out torwards audiance
Biostatic, the host of Denver’s Textures Ambient showcase, invited me and other amazing Denver synth artists kuxaan-sum, Sean Patrick Faling,Wes Milholen to join him as the Synth_Drone Collective for Sunday’s show. We performed over 2 hours of continuous synth drones. Below is a recording of the live performance and a photo album.
In part 1 I perform an extended version of “Gonna Rise Up” from the album Fear Cannot Save Us” markmosher.bandcamp.com/album/fear-cannot-save-us. For this piece, I was doing live arrangement on the Octatrack plus playing lead synth on the Waldorf Blofeld. The lead patch is an original patch from INIT using OSC2 & 3 for sync with mod wheel. The original lead patch on the album version was done with Zebra 2. To retain some of its character, I used Extreme Sample Convert to multi-sample the Zebra patch then import into the Blofeld for the source for Oscillator 1.
Rig Notes:
This set was performed only on Octatrack dynamic performance sampler with original field recordings and sonic elements from albums plus a Waldorf Blofled keyboard with original presets.
Recording Notes:
Live audio was recorded on a Zoom H2n fed by my sub-mix to house via Mackie 402VLZ3. Main footage is from a GoPro with secondary foot from my friend Chris Frain.
Visuals Notes:
The ONLY video source is from live camera input being run through layers of custom Resolume presets controlled by an Arturia Beatstep live.
When: April 26, 2015, 7PM
Where: Mutiny Information Cafe, 2 S Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80209
Admission: $5 suggested donation for the artists
ALL-AGES beverages are available
Dino J.A. Deanne
Multi-instrumentalist, sound designer, conductor http://jadeane.com
I’ll be performing a brand new piece called “Marooned”. It is a 25 minute long-form improv piece in 7 movements. This music will be in the same universe as my three albums Reboot, I Hear Your Signals, and Fear Cannot Save Us.
It’s the soundtrack for an imaginary film about an earth ship on a mission to investigate an alien outpost on a massive moon. The ship crashes on approach and the only hope for the crew’s survival is making it across a harsh landscape to the alien outpost.
Rather than use my normal elaborate controllerism show rig with interactive visuals, this piece will be special in that it will be performed on a stripped down more intimate rig. I’ll be using only one hardware synthesizer (Nord Lead 4) using signature sounds, one hardware sampler (Electron Octatrack) with field recordings with no sequenced elements prepared ahead of time, and a Tenori-On grid.
I will also be be doing a short collaboration with another artist in this lineup, Dino J.A Deanne.
I’ll be performing a solo set plus a set with the Carbon Dioxide Ensemble at the Concréte Mixer V – featuring Mark Spybey of Dead Voices on Air show on April 5th 2015.
