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 ;)

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.

Hello Friends

 Hi Friends

The reason I am contacting you now is that I have some tracks nearly ready, and I would like to show them to you and listen to your opinions.
Who's best to do that ?? YOU!

I know it can be painful, but I can handle some earplugs just in case :)

Meanwhile, this was intended to draw your attention and keep you involved in the project's progress.
Until then, please keep reading, as I am close to the end of the first round of tracks.

Speak soon and thank you for paying some attention to the weird shit I do :)

Chapter 14 - Loops VS Kaossilator

Him and Her !!

Kaossilator and WAVDJ.
Now I have the background sounds in the buttons (by now I have 18 backgrounds)
I have six different drum loops assigned to the six drum buttons. This makes:
18 background sounds
6 drum loops
= 3 background sounds for each drum loop, so that I can change the background sound 3 times in 1 track.
They are all at the same 110BPM.

Putting all together and start to play....

After I have both playing at the same time, I start the kaossilator at the exact BPM and I make some sound effects; by now, the drums and the background are looping at the same time and the kaossilator sounds are giving a colour to the music as I add many other effects.

As I go along with the sounds and loops, I can adjust the mixer on the machine (WavDJ) and toggle the drum loop, background sound, or Kaossilator on and off.
This helps prevent the same sounds from looping for too long.

The kaossilator is a very nice complement for the wavdj.
I have been constructing this track with a vision of an Industrial Ambient style, so I have been looking for Industrial sound loops for the background. I made the Drum Loops sound Industrial, too, but the sounds of the Kaossilator make the track much softer and more Ambient.

My Drum loops are a bit too (breaks) even at 110BPM.
(Later I will write about the Track structure)

This explanation of the track construction is the result of my first experience; I will likely modify aspects such as the structure of the tracks, tempo, or other elements.

2- Drum Loops

Project Start - Drum Loops

Drum Loops
Part of the WAV file used to change the drums in the program.

I can change all the patterns in the drums, including percussions.
This feature is minimal (as with all), with the only changeable elements being the BPMs and loop patterns; however, the instrument sounds will remain the same.

This is the loop part of the wavdj machine.
(Here are the drum loops buttons on the machine. 6 different drum loops for each style)

Here is where things get complicated, as this loop machine is not synchronised with anything.
For this reason, the background sounds and drum loops must be precisely at the same BPM and started at exactly the right time..

The next mission is to get these two parts playing at the same time (drums & Background sound). This requires a lot of precision to click the effects button at the same time as the first kick of the drum. Let's see !!

Go well :)
How I started the tracks before:

1- I have to start with the drums
2- Then, I can start the background sound at the same tempo as the beat.
(This is because there is no synchronisation in the machine, but the sounds are at the exact BPM, and I start at the right beat.)

But now I do like this: 
1- I will use the KAOSSILATOR to make some noises at the start.
2- I start the drums,
3- I start the background sound.
4- I take off the KAOSSILATOR sounds and delete the first sounds to start new ones while the first drum loop and background sound is playing...
YES !!

Track is on ;)

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! :)