Setup for improvised synth jam

[TwilightOdyssey]

I have been kicking round the idea of doing a song which is played live using realtime synths and phrase loopers ... not sure if I have the chops to pull it off, but I did have a total blast setting up my rig and testing everything today. I should have connected one thing a different way, but I will get to that at the end.

The setup was complex and took about an hour to get everything connected. Then I tested it with my 3-year old in an extended jam -- was loads of fun! Children have such a great, intuitive way of making music when its freeform play.

After that was over, I got serious and started experimenting with how I would approach a live, improvised piece. The conclusion I have come to is that unless I get much better with using a step sequencer and synth programming, it will not be possible. I will keep trying, though, and maybe not this year, but next ... who knows.

The setup was like this:

MIDI SIGNAL FLOW:
Arturia Beatstep Pro [OUT] > [IN] Roland JV1080 > [THRU] > [IN] Arturia MiniBrute > [IN] Dave Smith MOPHO.

Alesis Q49 [OUT] > [IN] E-MU Classic Keys

AUDIO SIGNAL FLOW
JV1080 Output 1 [from MIDI Channel 2 of BSP] > BOSS RE-20 Space Echo
JV1080 Output 2 [from MIDI Channel 10 of BSP]
Arturia MiniBrute > 1776 Multiplex delay
Dave Smith MOPHO > [AUDIO IN] Arturia MiniBrute

Music Man SUB4 bass > MXR di+ > Pigtronix Philopher's Tone > TC Electronic Ditto

These all fed into inputs 1-8 of my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 interface

My only regret is that I didn't feed the MIDI out of the Roland through the MOPHO, and then into the MiniBrute, and had separate audio feeds for the analogue synths.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Setup for improvised synth jam

Another good jam today; the MiniBrute works well in some ways with the BeatStep Pro ... it receives clock data, and note data when the BSP is in Control mode. I did a test by setting the BSP so that it is now sending MIDI out on channels 2, 3, and 4 as opposed to 1, 2, and 10 since the MB takes data on channel 1.

That worked GREAT, basically giving me 4 synths simultaneously. I can play the MB as a standalone synth along with the BSP, or it automatically syncs the arpeggiator and LFO if I keep the tempo knob at Noon; I can swing the arpeggiator into and out of sync by turning the Tempo knob -- as soon as the knob is at Noon, it resyncs automatically to the BSP. Cool!

So, now I have the BSP sending sync data to the MB and I can send note/sequences through the JV1080 on MIDI channels 2, 3, and 10 when it is in Performance mode. I have drums usually have SEQ1 playing a bass line, SEQ2 playing a higher melody, and drums/percussion on SEQ3. Add the Q49 feeding MIDI to the E-Mu and MOPHO, and I have a pretty vast array of options!

Whew ... time for a brain break!!