DISQUS

chaircrusher · 5 months ago

I don't know anything about Bandcamp, but you can certainly download the Lame Encoder and build it on OS X easily enough, and it is arguably one of the best sounding encoders available. I own Sound Forge (on the PC) and they have the licensed Frauenhofer encoder built in. Comparing the two (lame and frauenhofer) I can't say that either one sounds better than the other.

stretta · 5 months ago

The issue is Bandcamp creates the MP3s from lossless files, and they sound like ass. If I could upload my own MP3s, I would.

Ben · 5 months ago

Thanks! Will d/l and listen.

Any advice/links to on building a modular synth rack for the beginner? I have some electronics/electrical experience (built and AM radio and an FM transmitter once), but plug and play would be best probably. Maybe a list of the minimum modules to start a rack that can be expanded?

I love the idea, but I'm kinda ignorant on where to spend money the wisest.

stretta · 5 months ago

I'd start a small euro system and grow it slowly. The idea is to start with something that will give you a flexible monosynth

TipTop Audio
2x Z3000 Osc
1x Z2040 Filter

Doepfer
1x A-141 Env
1x A-140 Env
1x A-132-3 VCA
1x A-121 Filter

Then source a cheap power supply and bus board and you can get started. You might not even start with a case, just screw the modules into whatever you have around until you have a more clear idea where you want to head.

The best resource right now is the muffwiggler forums (http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum) I'd start checking out what people are up to there first.

Ben · 5 months ago

Thanks a lot! I'll look in to that and start scheming. :)

isotopeofme · 5 months ago

I like the variety of tones and textures that you achieve within each piece. One of the traps that I end up falling into while writing with my (far smaller than your's) modular is that when I program the sound that I'm after for a particular track, I feel obliged to keep using it throughout the track. This is an inspiration to move away from that habit. Do you do a lot of recording, cutting and pasting, or do you write the part for each patch, record then re-patch?

Oh, and there are times in element 112 which are quite reminiscent of Rabies/Too Dark Park era skinny puppy but with less... aggression.

stretta · 5 months ago

I'll record many different variations of a patch throughout the piece. Then I'll create many different processed variations of submixes of the combined tones. Then I'll edit between the various processed and unprocessed variations. I do this for each part. This is one reason why the process is so time consuming.

Cyril · 5 months ago

Hello Stretta.

If i buy this EP, could i download all the format i want ? I'm interested by the MP3 and the FLAC.

Ben · 5 months ago

I say buy the FLAC and convert it with your own software. Prolly get better results. :)

stretta · 5 months ago

I'm not sure. The best approach would be to download one of the available lossless formats then re-encode at whatever specification you prefer.

wwbjd · 5 months ago

050209.. simply beautiful. It really captures that "sound" I'm so fond of. Very gentle, fraglie.

I don't know if you've listened to Ochre / Chris Leary (www.ochremusic.com), but do check him out some time!

tetramorph · 5 months ago

Fantastic. I was eagerly awaiting this release. Thanks

tetramorph · 5 months ago

Fantastic. I was eagerly awaiting this release. Thanks.

Gordon · 5 months ago

I got here by way of a synthgear twitter. My process for downloading the free version on a Mac went wonderfully smoothly. I decided that I'd take advantage of the new zeitgeist for artists to offer free stuff then further options of stuff to purchase if you like it. I see this is the approach you've adopted and... it's worked for me! See, I was in the middle of listening to Basil Henriques (Hawaiian easy-listening music) at the time and didn't want to stop that to preview your tracks. Nor, upon hearing a fine recommendation from synthgear and the info that it was 'all-modular' did I want to loose the link in todays veritable ocean of new links to new musics. So only now have I listened to your EP. Into its third play. Hours later. And very good it is too. A precision to it; an intentionality that convinces. It's not 'dance' or 'new age pastoral' or 'something in-between' but... simply music :-) I say this because electronic music is a bit like the vast variety of merchandise for sale in city centre shops. There may be millions of variations of items for sale but... nothing 'special' - 'false choice; its illusion. Your music, on the other hand, distinguishes itself by being its own thing and not a mere minor variation on everything else.

stretta · 5 months ago

That is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever written about something I created. Thank you!

Peter · 5 months ago

Fantastic sounds, Stretta!! Very inspiring to know that they are all modular-made.

redvoid · 2 months ago

fantastic work. I have been out actively seeking good modular synthesis work that is current, and there isn't nearly enough of it, and what is available is often too simplistic. I came across your work from the July article in SynthGear, and the more I hear, the more I like. I am in the process of planning out a modular purchase for myself, and what most confuses me, is not the VCO, ADSR, LFO, VCF, VCA stuff, but more the trigger, gate, clock divider, multiplier stuff. Are you doing your sequencing on the modular, or with a computer? and if it is with the modular, what is your approach to putting together analog sequences?

stretta · 2 months ago

Great questions, meriting a blog post of a response. Thanks!

http://stretta.blogspot.com/2009/10/analog-sequ...