The Problem with Partials

It would seem that with my new collection of additive synths I would go down a road before and start delving into how partials effect timbre. I guess at some level this appeals to the geeky mathematician in me. But I also concluded a long time ago that pattials where really not that important unless we speak in broader terms of shape. In fact, this is why Blade and Razor will be more successful than Cube because they focus on broader shapes of partials than the individual partials themselves.

I have a knob on my Moog Voyager for waveform and you would think that by moving the knob one would hear dramatic differences in sound. Guess again. You can hear a change but not nearly as dramatic as sweeping a filter.

I did another experiment last night on looking at the 1st twenty odd partials and the 1st twenty odd partials with only the primes. I could barely discern a difference.

I am going to make a statement that some in the world of psychoacoustics would shudder at. That what happens in the frequency domain (partials) is co- dependent with what happens in the time domain.

Let me clarify before I seem to geeky. What we hear and respond to musically is change and not just in notes but timbre. By sweeping a filter over a waveform we can experience the waveform in a way we can just by listening to it. I also suggest that where partials do matter is in broad shapes. For example, creating peaks in partials will create formants which firm the basis of all the vowels in language.

Our brains are also hard wired to hear partials. In some sense our brains are powerful spectrum analysis tools but I suggest the brain follows movement. The same is true visually. If we are standing in an otherwise motionless environment our brains will sense motion even on the periphery.

I suggest to you that the new additions to the additive world would not be very interesting if they were only about partials as much as modulating them. Both Blade and Razor do this in there own way.

I think at least the partial motivation for these synths is Dubstep. Why is Dubstep popular? One reason - Wob Wob Wob. Modulation and that is where it's at. Not that I am a Dubstep fan but it's a useful illustration.

Iris 0.5

One of the things I have noticed about product reviews is that they tend to be very positive. I know that I myself can only review products that I use and if I use them I like them.

But now I am going to do something that got me thrown of a VirSyn's board and that is make suggestions for improvements. First, let me say that I have decided to buy Iris. My honest evaluation is that Iris is a good start but Izotope should have added a few more features before releasing it.

First, Iris is not the Photoshop of spectrograms. Photoshop is tool rich compared to Iris. Let me suggest a few tools that would make Iris a better product:

1. A blur and sharpen brush

2. A feature to allow image files to be imported as spectrograms and the ability to export spectrograms to image files.

3. Identifying each region as an object and allow objects to be saved for use in other patches.

4. Develop a library of useful shape

5. Develop a tool to deform a spectrogram such as creating a fun house like mirror effect (a spectral LFO if you will)

Just a few suggestion on how Iris might be a stronger product.

Iris 0.5

One of the things I have noticed about product reviews is that they tend to be very positive. I know that I myself can only review products that I use and if I use them I like them.

But now I am going to do something that got me thrown of a VirSyn's board and that is make suggestions for improvements. First, let me say that I have decided to buy Iris. My honest evaluation is that Iris is a good start but Izotope should have added a few more features before releasing it.

First, Iris is not the Photoshop of spectrograms. Photoshop is tool rich compared to Iris. Let me suggest a few tools that would make Iris a better product:

1. A blur and sharpen brush

2. A feature to allow image files to be imported as spectrograms and the ability to export spectrograms to image files.

3. Identifying each region as an object and allow objects to be saved for use in other patches.

4. Develop a library of useful shape

5. Develop a tool to deform a spectrogram such as creating a fun house like mirror effect (a spectral LFO if you will)

Just a few suggestion on how Iris might be a stronger product.

New Adventures in Additive Synthesis

I thought I might begin a new series of blogs on a topic that has become more relevant in the recent months with the release of two new additive synthesizers on the soft synth market, Native Instruments "Razor" and Rob Papen's "Blade". A fairly short time before that Camel Audio released "Alchemy" which while not exclusively additive has a lot of additive features. One major competitor was also Cube 2 but apparently no new updates to this product are planned. There are other additive synths but my point here is to not provide and exhaustive survey but rather to comment on the recent and I believe most significant players in additive synthesis.

So that's it for now by way of introduction but expect a lot of detail in the future.

More Music Theory

It would seem that much of pop music has now been relegated to music that is little more than a jingle wrapped up in a genre. Some have told me that there is very little point in learning music theory. I very strongly beg to differ.

I have always been a fan of 20th century classical music. The leap away from major/minor tonalities, ignoring serialism (a mistake) has produced some wonderful music with tonal colors that yes, require some music theory.

So, I continue to learn and grow as a composer. I will not be using any cow bell but if you hear some unique tonal flavors in my music it's because I am exploring tonalities outside of pop music.

Wob Wob Wob

I have often thought that I could make my music more popular by adopting a dance genre like Dubstep. Do I like it when people listen to my music? Like just about any artist I am delighted when people listen to my music but I would no longer enjoy making it if I tried to follow a genre.

I just read an article about Dubstep. I know I have been critical in the past of it and I guess I still am. The article talked about a diversity of styles but let's face it, it's still defined by Wob, Wob, Wob. There are even web sites suggesting methods to create Wob Wob sounds.

In the end I guess I'm glad I have not handcuffed myself to a sound. Just my humble opinion for what it's worth. Wob Wob Wob

Update on Fire Giver

I just wanted to update anyone who is interested on my Fire Giver project an update.

I recently posted a primarily FM (Live's Operator) based work called "Into the Mist" on Sound Cloud:



I have received some positive feedback on it so this will be the basis for the beginning and end of the work. This is a work in progress and I have yet to add the sound effects of ice.

The title "Into the Mist" is an accurate description of the novel's end as with Victor Frankenstein dead, the monster's life driven by revenge for his own creation is left to disappear into the mist of the North Pole.

I also am also currently working on a part both for the monsters creation using some very organic sounds, electrical sounds and the sounds of industry that reflect Mary Shelley's time. I also want to create a piece representing Frankenstein's tortured horror and escape from his own creation.

Lastly I plan to write a part for the gathering of the body parts in the graveyard. These will form the core of the album and what I hope to perform at the Electro Music Festival if I get a set.

The rest of the album will come latter.

I welcome any suggestions or comments on this project.

The IPad and Music

When I think about the IPad I sometimes wonder if the IPad isn't a bit like the body snatchers. Ok, I'm guilty as charged. I had to have one but I was hoping that a remnant would continue to resist.

Truth be told, I love my IPad. I am listening to Bach and writing this blog with it and yes, it is now filled with music apps. A recent Twitter post (I use it for that to) just declared it is not a toy (in regard to music).

My response? Yes, it is. Ok, sure, touch screen is nice but why can't Apple put that on a MacBook? As for the apps? They are very underpowered. To break the IPad spell, simply consider if you would buy the same apps if they cost what a soft synth costs? How many use them to write music? I rest my case.

Again, I love my IPad but let it be an IPad and let Macs be Macs. As for me, I will continue to use my Mac to write music.

Practicing without a License

Many of those who follow me on Twitter will know that I am an advocate of Music Therapy. It is a task at times that I find challenging as an Electronic Music artist. As an artist I place no boundaries on what I do. Music Therapy on the other hand seems to be defined by strong boundaries. Perhaps it is human nature that to gain legitimacy there is a tendency to create boundaries that become walls.

A recent example of this are statements from music therapists I have heard more that once that only music therapists (licensed of course) should use music for therapy.

As a listener of music I find listening to music very therapeutic as do I find composing and playing it. So I guess I should turn myself into the music therapy police for self medicating?

When I compose music I also intend to evoke an emotional response. I love getting comments on the emotional feel of one of my works much more than how it sounds. The sound is a means to an end. This is why I wrote "Psychomantium". If you listen long enough to music it listens to you. In simple words, music mirrors or emotions.

So I do accuse myself of practicing music therapy without a license. I leave it to music therapists to decide my sentence.

As always I write these things with utmost respect for music therapists but I do also try to invite music therapists to see things from my part of the musical forest.

I hope to get a set at the Electro Music Festival this year. If you are in the NY area you might just want to stop by. We are nice people and you would be most welcome to enjoy, and learn, about some great music. You don't need a license only a love of music.

If you want information I can send you a link.