DIY Volta - Max/MSP + Audio interface CV output

The main reason I put together the little portable modular rig in the post below was to have something that would be easier to travel with than my tb-3031 rack but still get the live tweak-ability and sound of the 303. One of the biggest sonic features of the 303 is the envelope control over the filter and the accent circuits which are responsible for the punchy, funky acid basslines. I was using Massive through Ableton Live for my basic oscillators and then running the sound out to the waveform processor and wasp filter, with the LFO doing some modulation. I got close, but not quite what I wanted. In order to get the filter accent and envelope working I created this max patch that takes midi in and splits the notes depending on their velocity, to trigger a line~ object connected to my soundcard's output. I'm not sure if this will work with all soundcards, but I'm actually using the built in output of my MacBook Pro and it generates a nice little ramp voltage that I can connect to CV1 or 2 of the filter. End result - not a perfect 303 by any means, but punchy, funky acid basslines for sure. The large rotary control changes the length of the envelopes and the slider at the bottom controls the total amount of output.

mini modular rig

mini modular rig, originally uploaded by recompas.

getting ready for ATL/London/Utrecht/Amsterdam tour, bringing some Doepfer modules for live knob turning.

Steiner VCO + Buchla 292c LPG Clone

Steiner VC Oscillator with square wave PWM from Doepfer Variable Waveform LFO and Saw waves going into a Buchla 292c Lopass Gate Clone. LPG modulated by Serge VCS. Drums from Jomox XBase 09.

All working and sounding totally awesome!

Steiner + 292c by recompas

Watermill Center

Large Gallery, Watermill Center from Travis Thatcher on Vimeo.

Last week I spent some time working on music for a few performance pieces at the Watermill Center in the Hamptons. An amazing place, filled with an incredible art collection. Hopefully I'll have some videos of the performances soon.

Native Tekno dream machine guts