Glacial Communications

I’ve just had an idea for a little experiment.

I’ve got this SoundCloud account, and for the next couple of weeks I’ve got tons of storage there (the RPM Challenge did a promo code thing with SoundCloud, and that promo upgrade expires on the 22nd.)

So, I’m actively requesting samples to be used on a future project. It will come out later this year, as part of my one release per month schedule. The exact timeframe and scope will depend on how much material is submitted – if I get ten seconds of stuff, it could come out this month, whereas ten hours gets us some time in late December…

All you have to do is go to my SoundCloud dropbox and upload a sound file sometime between now and March 22nd, 2010. That gives you about two weeks.

If you send something, you will be credited on the release that comes from this unless you specify otherwise(i.e. in the comments, state “DO NOT CREDIT ME” or some such). I’d also much prefer you send something original (speaking, making a weird noise, etc.) rather than somebody else’s song, but if that’s all you’ve got, I’ll work with it.

Now that the album is finished, it’s time to get back to doing other stuff. Building gear, in particular.

A summary of things occuring in the near-term:

1) Website changes – I’ve changed the theme (yet again), and installed the BuddyPress plugin, so now everything’s all social and stuff. There will probably be some adjustments here and there as I get stuff the way I want it. Enjoy!

2) Modular Synth, Phase II
Phase II consists of the next 6U(or more?) of Frac modules going into the system. The first steps of this have begun, though I’m sure the hardcore DIY purists may give me grief for it- I’m buying some pre-built modules. I’ve been finding some amazing deals on used Blacet gear. The first of these (a Filthy Filtre) is already installed, replacing the Dual Filter. Coming soon will be an EG-1, mixer, dual VCA, rack enclosure, and a power supply. Step 2 of Phase II started a few nights ago when PAiA announced their new series of 9700 modules. I ordered their dual VCA, mixer, noise source, sample & hold, and two CV source/mixer/attenuators. A future order will probably include the mic preamp and envelope follower. Step 3 is to try to clear out some of my backlog – I’ve got a few things that just need panels, so they’re good candidates for that.
Somewhere in the middle of this, some of my existing modules will be getting some refurbishment (i.e. the “Taming of the Q” operation on the Dual Filter, adding additional inputs to theLPGs, adding a second Real Ring Mod to my existing one.)

3) Other gear
I’ve got loads of things in various states of done-ness, ranging from ‘just needs an enclosure’ (the FV-1 reverb I mostly finished Jan. 31st) to ‘almost finished’ (Arduinome, MIDIbox SID, dual tube mic pre) to ‘haven’t started yet’ (the 1176 compressor clone).

Well, before any serious work begins, I’ve gotta clean up the work room again. I’d better get cracking.

My RPM Challenge 2010 Album is done. Here’s a streamable version on SoundCloud:

(Here’s another link to the set in case the embed isn’t working…)

Yes, all the titles are mathematically oriented. There will probably be some further explorations in that direction later in the year. Stay tuned.

There will be a handful of free CDs given away to people who become a fan on Facebook. I might even include a copy of the GLAC-18 cassette as well – the whole glacial DIY experience for free, for a select few! Giveaway will occur in a few days.

Recording progress is moving along nicely. I think I’ve almost hit ten tracks in various states of completion, ranging from “this needs a bunch more done to it” to “this is pretty much ready to go”. Stylistically it’s all over the map. Finishing by February 28th should be no problem. I’ve still yet to solder anything, though I almost need to – the input jack of my trigger-to-MIDISync converter kind of broke, but I haven’t needed it in a while.

If you want to get a flavor of what this is going to sound like, check out my Soundcloud page – any of the tracks uploaded this month are either close to finished product or jams where I worked out the parts of the song.

In non-album-recording news, I’ve been up to a few things:

1) In conjunction with The Makers Alliance (the Cleveland hackerspace effort), I’ve started an effort leading towards a Handmade Music event in Cleveland. If you’re interested, please check out the Handmade Music Cleveland Facebook group.

2) I’ve been doing some editing and backfill on the Catalog page – so now things are set so that the next release will be GLAC-19, and there are no empty spots in-between. The page still needs some work, but it’s getting there.

3) I’ve made some preparations to allow for some nicer-looking CD-R productions if folks want that sort of thing. More on that soon, maybe?

As I’ve sort of mentioned before, I’m taking a ’sabbatical’ from most of my DIY activity next month in order to record an album for the RPM Challenge(my third). It won’t be completely ‘cold turkey’, so don’t worry about me – I will allow myself a little hack time at the project nights popping up with the Cleveland Hackerspace community that’s starting to come to fruition. But no PCB soldering – that’s right out…

Rules for the album that I will be recording:
1) Basically all DIY gear. That means built, repaired, or modified by me. Since I’ve fixed my DR-110 and my MG-1, they’re fair game. The DR202, which has had nothing done to it, isn’t, so I can’t use it.
1a) Non-DIY microphones are allowed this time. Signal Intercept only used a DIY’d contact microphone for bizarre reverb purposes, but I’m going to allow real mics this time, if for no other reason than to use my newly finished PAiA Tube Mic Pres…
1b) I will allow myself the use of one MIDI controller keyboard – the Alpha Juno-1, and only used for MIDI notes – not as a synth.
1c) computer-based patch editing on the MIDIBox SID is allowed, since I don’t have a control surface for that done yet.
1d) computer-based recording is allowed, if for no other reason than digging up blank tapes for the four track is a pain. I’ve also built my own USB interface, so that’s a good reason too. No plugins though. Just use the computer as a straight-ahead multitrack recorder.
2) Since I have a DIY sampler now (the WTPA), in theory I could just sample a non-DIY instrument and call it a day. I think that for non-DIY instruments or samples from somewhere random, that the sample shall have to be captured into the sampler using a microphone, just to add some complexity. Sampling the modular or a DIY instrument can be done direct.

Any other rules I should impose upon myself?

And finally, in other news, the Arduino module I’ve been prototyping for a few weeks is now somewhat operational – in a “still on the breadboard, getting power from the laptop” kind of way – but operational enough to use it next month.