3rd Normal Form :: Dream Space :: Eurorack Modular, Roland SH-4d, Sequential Pro 3

DREAM SPACE
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Live-to-stereo recording produced for Colorado Modular Synth Society “January Skies” 2024 ( • January Skies - Space... .
Possibly interesting is the fact that aspects of the piece were inspired by music from a dream. I awoke with a bass and melody sequence in my head. I actually took the time to hum them into my phone’s voice recorder. The next day I transcribed them into my Roland SH-4d (and was super surprised to find that I’d hummed them in concert-pitch Cm, though I don’t consider myself to have perfect pitch!).
I worked on the details of this piece and performance for quite a while and it morphed quite a bit. I have to say that in the end the bass line in the “Arrival” phase is all that survives of my dream, and even that is more “inspired by” the dream than a direct transcription.
The vagaries of live recording led to my solo in the Arrival phase being a bit hot (I think it was the 5th take, and I had turned the Waldorf back up too high when I was resetting all the things). So I pulled the recording into GarageBand and tried to equalize just a bit, and applied a limiter to try to get it a bit more under control. You can only do so much, though. I also added a bit of Platinum Reverb as “reverb glue” while I was in there.
PATCH NOTES
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In order of appearance…
Drone:
1. MN Spectraphon in SAM mode, with vocal sample from 2HP Play as modulator. FM’d with second oscillator, and Partials modulated by smooth random from 2hp Rnd. Occasionally I’ll grab the Partials knob and manipulate by hand.
2. Multiple outputs of Pitts Primary Oscillator through WMD Subway modulated by smooth random from 2hp Rnd. PO fed to WMD C4RBON filter, with frequency modulated by stepped random from 2hp Rnd.
Plinky Off-Kilter Intro:
Sequential Pro 3 “Cortmini” factory patch, sequenced by the Pro 3. The patch itself is off-kilter sounding, but initially, my sequence had an overall more on-kilter feel, but somewhere along the way that went awry. Decided to just stick with it sounding quite odd.
“Flying” Phase:
1. Bass Ostinato from MI Plaits in FM mode, sequenced by Qubit Octone. Endorphin.es Ghost for delay/filtering.
2. Fast Qubit Bloom sequence of MI Elements into Qubit Data Bender with lots of Elements modulation from Intellijel Planar 2 and O&C Lorenz (hemispheres version). Data Bender manipulated live. Result fed into Intellijel Sea Legs in digital delay mode with some hand-manipulation of feedback, etc.
“Arrival” Phase:
1. Majority Roland SH-4d, sequence and sounds. My own bass patch and modified drum kit, factory string patch. Arp is sequenced by SH-4d, driving Pro 3 “Generative Poly” factory patch.
2. Keyboard lead is a Waldorf kb37 filled with Behringer System 100 modules.

[@jericho2x2]

Mike is back! nice Jam! There is a lot going on and everything fits together nicely. Very well done.

[@mike.thomas]

Thanks, man! Appreciate you listening.
Let's have a catch up chat sometime 👍.

[@Probbie]

So glad I caught you on the CMSS show so I could sub to your channel. Love the story behind this piece. 👏👏👏

[@mike.thomas]

Thank you for listening … and reading the description :-). I’m not sure how many people actually do that! Thanks for the sub. I feel like we’ve exchanged comments over the years, but I wasn’t subscribed to your channel, either. That has been remedied!

[@gabrielthomas1748]

Whoa! Cool vid! You have nice set up over there.

[@gabrielthomas1748]

It's true.. I have seen it in person

[@chillhouse6968]

Hey I play around with this stuff too and my name is also Mike Thomas!!!
😅🤣😂🤣😅

[@mike.thomas]

🤯😀