Styles / Music / Samples

I need to come and write more specific stuff about the music styles I choose for this project (mainly ambient), but inside of the Ambient is many other styles, so here are some of the styles I have lined up for this music project:

AMBIENT
ELECTRONIC
TRIP_HOP
INDUSTRIAL
DUBSTEP
ETHNIC
DANCE (including Goa / Psy)
FLUTE PROJECT (a little project for a flute player ;)

For now, I need to organise these samples and start working on them
Next more info ;)

Not dead project

Hello, 2012 !!

I know... it's now the end of the year and I haven't written anything since 2011.
Not because I didn't work on this project, but because I have maturing ideas and making different plans.
So.. I decided to make many changes and move forward to bring this project out of the studio. How?

Since I bought the Docking station for the laptop, I believed the machine would work with it, but unfortunately, there was too much delay between the sound backgrounds and the drums, and the beat was running out on the 8th bar.
If you lost this chapter, read here:
http://wavdj.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/update.html

What to do !? If I can not use the Drums of the machine, I will not use but I will not drop this project and abandon everything only because the drums are going out of synch, so I decided to not use the drums of the machine and this will let me with only the background sounds wish now... are complete tracks made on Ableton projected to be overdub with the sounds of the kaossilator into a mixer ;)

I have many ideas, but I am writing this now to let you know that this project has only just begun.

Next, I have 108 new tracks (backgrounds) to work on in Ableton and set up to upload into the machine. From there, I will return to leave more information. Until then,
Keep it experimental and ... mental ;)

Settings...

Machine settings

If you read the chapters before, you know that I lost all the settings of the machine and all the loops and samples I had uploaded to the software before, so I had to recreate everything from scratch. However, this time I approached it differently.

I did (again) new tracks on Ableton to work in a machine as sound support, but this is all about evolution, so I have made things different now.

Instead, I made background sounds (sound textures) in Ableton and uploaded them into the software. This time, I started to create proper music styles and produce tracks with spaces in between, so I could use the Kaossilator sounds without them crashing.

I still need to make the new drum patterns in the machine. The first row is already made because I was producing some Dubstep last time and I wanted to listen to how it would sound, so I made some changes in the drum patterns on the machine in the first row, the other ones will come with time ;)

This setting will be changed, but for now, this is how I have the machine set up:

These are the styles I have decided to make...

1- DUBSTEP ----  (I can do 30 tracks of each music style, and I can do 6 different drum patterns for the 30  music styles in the machine only. ) Still, the only ones I have worked a bit with are the drum patterns of the machine

2- INDUSTRIAL

 Most parts of these samples and loops are taken from the first textures I did in Ableton on the first experiments with the machine ;)

3- PSY TRANCE

 Thanks, Mark Grey (Soundmagus), my friend, for the samples and QPA Qubensis psy audio. You guys are brilliant, but I have work, and I know now that I have a very unique psy trance sound thanks to your loops and samples.
This is a process ongoing ;) Thank you ;)

4- FSOL

 This sample was taken from some EPs. I cut the samples from the tracks and uploaded the best parts.

 ( for me)In the machine to loop and work on top.
HAA, Yes, you can call remix ;)
Samples were taken from various sources.

5- TRAX

This is experimental, industrial, mental, etc, and something more ;)
All the tracks I have uploaded (approximately 6) are my original compositions, produced using Ableton and intended to be part of a live mix with the machine. (You will know more in the video.)

6- AMBIENT

This is what I'm still working on, and I am not sure what I will do, but time will tell me... will he?




******************************************************************

1 * DUBSTEP

1-PUMPING-  125BPM
2-VACUM-    120BPM
3-COOL-     140BPM
4-FOOTSTEPS-140BPM
5-VOCUSTEP- 140BPM
6-RINGRING- 140BPM

******************************************************************

2 *INDUSTRIAL

1-IND18- 110BPM
2-IND16- 110BPM
3-IND21- 110BPM
4-IND9-  110BPM
5-IND8-  110BPM
6-IND10- 100BPM


******************************************************************

3 *PSY TRANCE

1-PSY-BASIC-2-       148BPM
2-PSY-FRED-            148BPM
3-PSY-FREDBNK2- 148BPM
4-PSY-FREDBNK3- 148BPM
5-PSY-FREDBNK4- 148BPM
6-PSY-FREDBNK5- 148BPM
7-PSY-FREDBNK-  145BPM

******************************************************************

4 *FSOL

1-FSOL- 120BPM
2-FSOL- 120BPM
3-FSOL- 120BPM - MOVE 2 DRUM 5
4-FSOL- 120BPM
(REMOVE)
5-FSOL- 119BPM
6-FSOL- 120BPM-EXP
7-FSOL- 120BPM-EXP

******************************************************************

5*TRAX

1-COMUNICACA-        110BPM
2-FIRE PLACE-              110BPM
3-HOSPITALMENT-      110BPM
4-LIQUID MORPHINE- 110BPM
5-TICK TOCK-              110BPM
6-DEAD INDUSTRY-   100BPM
7-CHRISNAS-             100BPM - PLAY W DRUM 6
8-KIKA-                      120BPM - PLAY W DRUM 5 (SPEED UP)
9-TRANSMISSION MISSION- 120BPM - PLAY W DRUM 5 (SPEED UP)

******************************************************************

11*AMBIENT

1- AMB1- 128bpm
2- AMB2- 120bpm
3- AMB3- 120bpm
4- DRON1-116bpm
5- DRON2- 86bpm


 Ok, next I will start the video chapters.

Update....

Disaster...

After all the work I did, I lost all my music settings and samples after a virus on my PC.

 For that reason, I didn't come back early.

Yes, I lost all the samples I had and all the drum patterns... everything!

Luckily, some loops I have saved in my Studio PC (where I make master and work with Ableton)

Doesn't matter, cry now... It's all gone.
All the backgrounds and textures, as well as the drum patterns and some tracks I had uploaded to the software, were gone.

I did get disappointed, but I didn't give up. I have been looking to get an old laptop (IBM) only to work with this machine and finally be mobile to make live shows, but... I HAVE A STORY FOR YOU:

Since I lost all my work due to the virus on my PC, I reinstalled the software and started from scratch.
I want to take things one step forward, so I decided to look for an (OLD IBM LAPTOP) because the old IBM laptops have the right connections to use with the machine (as you know from chapters before, this machine only works with tower PCS because they have a PS2 connection and a regular soundcard connection. Without these connections, the machine does not work, even using adapters.

However, after searching for a while, I found a solution to connect my laptop (Dell) to the machine, so I purchased it on eBay...

Brilliant, is it ???

It was... if the machine worked on it :( :( :(

It does work, but for some stupid reason, the drum loops don't keep the exact BPM.

The BPM fluctuates, so it's not possible to get the loops playing at the same tempo.

I don't know why... Everything looks and plays fine, but the Drum loops don't stay stable in BPM.

I know it's ridiculous, but I really don't know why this happens!

I installed and reinstalled multiple times, but the issue persisted.

I LOST MY DREAMS OF PLAYING LIVE WITH THIS MACHINE!!! 

(Unless I can take my PC to the stage, but that will look like a Jean Michel Jarre in concert)

No more live sessions !!

I did lose my expectations... I really want to make (WHATEVER)  from this machine.

I can always make home sessions 0, and that is what I want to show in the next chapter.

I will create a professional (Studio/Music) video.

This will be :

*VIDEO  0 - Sound introduction

* VIDEO 1 -  Play the track live

* VIDEO 2 -  Recording the individual sounds (drums/ percussions/ FX/ track)

* VIDEO 3 -  Add the sounds to Ableton

* VIDEO 4 -  Track construction

* MP3    - -   Track already made

Let's wait for the best.

Keep an eye on the DaDa Project Blog, I will be updating this shortly.

Project Zoom in

 Zoom into the Track Project

I'm going to take a close look at what I do to construct a track.
(NOTE: This may change until I have the first track ready to show) But anyway, these are the main buttons I use to construct a track.
Composition:
1 Drum loop
3 backgrounds
3 different sound patterns on the kaossilator

Drums

The first 2 lines of 6 buttons are the styles. The third line of buttons is the drums for each style. If I click the first button in the first line, I will have six different drum loops in the third line of buttons. This happens with all the style buttons.

So, I now have 6 drum loops set in the 3rd line. I click the first button of the 3rd  line and the drum loop starts.

Background

Once I have the drum loop playing, I need a background. I click the first button in the first line of buttons in the wavdj FX board, where I have uploaded the background sounds I want. This is not synchronised. I have to click the button at the same time as the crash in the drum loop, because they play as if they are synchronised. (precession.)
The first 3 buttons are 3 different backgrounds, set to play with the first drum loop button. Now I have the drums and the first background playing simultaneously (tempo - BPM).

Kaossilator

I have chosen 6 or 7 sounds that complement the drum and background. The sounds of the kaossilator really transform all the feeling of the track once I start to apply sound FX. Sure, I can put more drums with the kaossilator.

Mixer

The mixer is where everything comes together. It's all connected on wavdj channels, I can drop the sound of any one of these loops in and out without needing to turn off the sound himself. If I stop 1 of the loops playing, he will desynchronize from the others, but with the mixer, I can switch on and off the loops without needing to turn off the loop totally; he will be synchronised again when I drop him in.)



After playing around for some time, I changed to the next background.
In this case, I stop the first background loop completely and leave the drums and kaossilator running. together.

Now, I start the second background. Sometimes I need to start the background sound and stop a few times because I cannot always get the sound to start precisely at the same tempo as the drums. However, I usually get it right after 2 or 3 attempts, which makes for a nice intro to the sound as well.

Next, I hope I can post a track :)
I am delaying this because there are many things that can be explored and utilised in WavDJ that I want to try before presenting the final result.

Will be here at some point !

Chapter 18 - Resume

 Track Structure Resume

Expanding on this, it is challenging for some people to understand what I am really talking about.
That's why I like resumes!
It's where you read the important things at once and dont need to go into the whole story.

This is the resume of the Track Structure.

1- Drums
2- Background
3- Kaossilator

Drums

1 drum loop (64 or 128 bars)
These drum loops all include percussion and were created using the software program.
* Read more about the drums here
http://wavdj.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-4-drum-loops.html

Background

This consists of a sound or noise looping at the same tempo as the drums.
This background is totally independent of the drums and can be used with other drums (how far the drums are from the exact bpm)
Because this part of the WAVDJ machine does not loop, I have to import the sounds into Ableton and then place them at the same BPM, include more sounds, add voices, and loop the sound for around 10 minutes to provide enough space for improvisations.
* Read more about the FX part of the WAVDJ here, where the background loops are stored
http://wavdj.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-8-sound-fx.html

* Read about the backgrounds here
http://wavdj.blogspot.com/2010/01/chapter-14-background-sounds.html

Kaossilator

I pre-choose a group of 6-7 sounds that are similar to the background music playing.
Now I just start creating :)

Having the 2 parts of the wavdj (drums & FX - background sounds) and the kaossilator working at the same time, I  can take sounds off and put them on again, through the mixer of the wavdj

Many things have changed, and new ideas have emerged since I started writing this blog.
I created two tracks in Ableton with no drums and imported them to WavDJ. Then, I made two drum loops to accompany the tracks, but this time, I used the WavDJ software to produce the drums.

Questions ??

Next, I will post a detailed Zoom of these three elements and explain exactly how I am working and what I am doing with the WaveDJ and the Kaossilator.

3- Backg. VS Drum Loops

Project Start - Backgrounds VS Drum Loops

I did talk about this in the chapter before but I still looking the best way for start the tracks.
The Kaossillator is good to start with sounds but the drums never start on time because wavdj have a big delay, this make the first sounds of the track to be off tempo.
On other hand ,this make a very interesting sound pattern in the melody and is always an improvised sound that will be arranged during the track

After I did some backgrounds and try, I realize that the backgrounds with rhythmic (nuances) sounds are more hard to get at the same drum tempo when I try to mix (background + drum loop) in the machine.

This difficulty didn't happen before with the first background sounds I did ,because they are not so much Industrial .
The first lot of backgrounds I did was more melodic , with long pads and they always go fine with the drum loops at first.
Basically, backgrounds have to be stable sounds and long, not short and rhythmic but I have choose some very rhythmic backgrounds for this Industrial tracks :(

1- Background sounds

Project Start - Background Sounds

Background Sounds.
As part of WAVDJ (software), I used to modify the sound effects (background) in the program.

This part of the software allowed me to change and upload 900 (background sounds) from one button to another in the (wavdj machine) = (These buttons have no latency)

To start this work, I need background sounds that are industrial and minimal, but I also want to make something softer and more ambient.
To obtain samples and loops, I search the web and find some good resources for free loops and samples.

I found numerous free sample and loop websites, but it's challenging to find the specific type of sounds I'm looking for.
I did download some perfect loops (industrial) and  I will make a page just with links to mention these websites.
I have been searching since I started this DADA Project (wish will have a different name for various reasons)

I take the Background sound (loops) to Ableton and I stretch it, as long as I want, and I can add other sounds or voices in the background as I change the tempo (bpm) of the sounds for they cam match with the drum loops of the machine, as I dont have synchronisation possibilities on this machines.

I am doing the drum loops at 110BPM, so I want the loops I am doing in Ableton to come as 110BPM and I can stretch the loops for 30 min.. This is because the EFFECTS BUTTON do not loop the sound.
(The only looping part in wavdj is the drum machine.) wish to repeat the pattern over and over until I stop them.

So, here is the first job... get nice loops and make long backgrounds in Ableton, next, save as a WAV file and upload to the program software (*first image)
Each sound I upload into those spaces will be playing in the (wavdj machine buttons) (*second image)

Backgrounds on'e  go.)

Chapter 13 - Project Start

 Project Start - The Intro

After all the story and all the WaveDJ and Kaossilator presentations, I will now be more specific about the project and what I am doing.

First, I need to make:
1 - Background sounds
2- Drum loops
3- Ad 3 background sounds for each drum loop
4- Make short keyboard melodies
5- Make the background sounds at the same tempo as the drum loops in Ableton
(No sounds synchronised here.)
6- Found the best sounds in the kaossilator to use in each track.
(I will specify all this later)

This sounds easy, but it is not!
The wavdj software has too many bugs and dont work as a professional music program.
The wavdj (machine = console) makes a delay in the sounds.
(NOTE)  Delay is the time it takes for the sound to actually be heard on the speakers after I press the buttons of the wavdj (machine)

For a delay example:
If I press the keyboard, the sound takes about 2 seconds to be heard in the speakers. (delay)
If I press the FX buttons, the sound takes about 1 second to be heard in the speakers. (delay)
If  I press the drum loop button, the sound takes about 3 seconds to be heard in the speakers (delay)
This makes it a hard job to get the music all synchronised (drums + background sounds + keyboard)
In this case, I have to know precisely the tricks of this machine, but the most important thing is to have the sounds and drum loops at the same tempo.
IF I press the FX button (background sound) just 1 second before or after the beat of the drum loop, the sound will start out of tempo... I really need to be precise here or all the music will go into a mess!
Luckily, I can stop the sound if I press the button at the wrong time and restart again, which plays a sound intro while the drum loop continues to play.

Experiments to start.
My first experiment was to create Minimal Ambient music, but I soon realised that the drums of the wavetable don't allow me to make much, as the sounds are the same and only the loops can be changed (as I mentioned earlier). However, I did give it a try anyway.

My second experiment (still ongoing) is to make Minimal Industrial. A'm a bit more satisfy with the results but still a long way to go as I have to search a lot in the web to find some good free sound loops and after that, I have to put the loops on Ableton to make some arrangements and get the background sounds at the same tempo (bpm) of the drum loops of the wavdj.

My last experiment will be minimal Ambient, but this time without drum loops, just sounds.

I would never have got into this if I hadn't found the Kaossilator to be a good supplement for the WaveDJ.
One time, I had the WAVDJ looping the sounds and the drums at the same tempo, I would have time to go into the Kaossilator and add more sounds.
After I have enough sounds playing in both machines, I can return to the wavdj and adjust the background sounds, create short melodies, pause the drum loop, and drop in another sound or any other playing sound, because the wavdj features a 6-channel mixer where the sound can be turned on and off.

In fact, I can go mad and connect all this to my CD decks mixer, which has a surround button and will give me the possibility to equalise the sound while I am playing (low, med, high).
But I am not that mad... am I !?
If so, it's just a music issue! :)