"In philosophy, systems theory, science, and art, emergence is the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergence

This EP is a compilation of largely self-generative works created using a Eurorack-format modular synth. The tracks "Focus Reset Scan", "Beltway 2024", and "Saturnide Tides" were entirely self-generative, with no human intervention during recording. Other tracks involved only minimal human intervention.

All tracks were recorded in one take, with no multi-tracking, editing, or external sequencing or processing, bar some reverb from an Eventide FX pedal on "Beltway 2024" and "Atomic Edgar".

The tracks were inspired partly by theories of artificial intelligence and how consciousness might emerge in unexpected places that are explored in Brian Christian's book "The Most Human Human": http://brchristian.com

The "Emergent Properties" EP is also available to download at Bandcamp: http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/emergent-properties-ep

Emergent Properties EP

Two radically different alien species converge on Heathrow Terminal 5 in the year 2024.

Influences: 36, Abul Mogard, clock radio speakers, "Essence" by Blame & Justice, Horus Heresy, Paysage D'Hiver, Purcell, Stalker, Vladislav Delay.

All tracks were recorded on a modular synth one take, with no multi-tracking, editing, or external sequencing or processing, bar some light EQ.

Buy at Bandcamp

Arrivals EP

All tracks recorded on a modular synth one take, with no multi-tracking, editing, or external sequencing or processing, bar some compression.

Astral Wave Functions

Kingdom Sands EP

Some molten modular-synth dub harnessing the fantastic subtleties (and not-so-subtleties) that arise from the interactions of some of my favourite modules: the Erthenvar Patch Chord, the Cwejman RES-4, the Tiptop Audio Z-DSP and the Harvestman Malgorithm MkII.

Saturnine Tides

100% eurorack modular synth-only, no external sequencing or processing.

Aldaron Sloth

First track on my new EP "Emergent Properties". 

More info here: http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/emergent-properties-ep

Focus Reset Scan

Dr Berndt Hoffmann - Arrivals EP - 04 2D Medi Ohn

Dr Berndt Hoffmann - Arrivals EP - 03 ARX Arpanoid

Dr Berndt Hoffmann - Arrivals EP - 02 Lakrom IV

Dr Berndt Hoffmann - Arrivals EP - 01 Exultor V0e-

rcbm 9.2

rcbm 3.4

rcbm 4.2

rcbm 5.6

"The low sun glowed yellow-green over the frosted plains. At the mouth of the caves, priests struck ancient rock gongs, their worn and scarred appearance seemingly at odds with their purity of tone. Drones beamed pulses at sacred points of resonance so that coded harmonics might echo and resound. Occasionally, a player would strike a discordant note to signal their ambivalence to the passing of the season, to the passing of time."

Quasi-autonomous percussive dub-dronalism for the stranded descendants on long-abandoned terraformed worlds. All performed by my eurorack modular synth in one take, with no human intervention, external sequencing or processing, bar some light dynamics in Ableton and Audacity. 

The creation and replay of these long and repetitive, yet endlessly subtley varying, generative works bring me peace and calm. Hence making this track available to stream here and as a free or pay what-you-want download at Bandcamp: https://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/track/solstice-on-eisplann-iv 

All proceeds from Bandcamp sales will go to the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a charity uniting the UK against suicide: https://www.thecalmzone.net/

Solstice on Eisplann IV

Felt the need for something more raw. (And yes, I have been listening to a lot of Yellow Swans recently).

Nothing Good

First (moderately) successful self-generating patch in absolutely ages... All Eurorack modular synth, no external sequencing or processing. 

Axion Sled

Modular synth-only, no external sequencing or processing, bar some reverb from the Eventide Space.

Travelogue

A lament for a robots' graveyard. 

Modular synth-only, no external sequencing or processing, bar a small amount of reverb from my Eventide Space.

Abandoned formats

Live modular synth freakout with my 67 year-old dad on guitar. 

Guitars aren't my thing and synths certainly aren't his (he's more of a Shadows man), but we found some Krautrock-ish middle ground.

Pretty simple patch and downright terrible mixing, but my mum and dad only popped in for a cup of tea, so I hope you can look past it!

Vater rock

Just a simple techno jam, modular synth-only, no external sequencing or processing, bar reverb and chorus from Eventide Space and Modfactor effects pedals. 

Shark tank

I'm using the release of my second album, The Dark Light, http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/the-dark-light (plug, plug!) to draw a line under certain practices I'd got too comfortable with, namely the (over)use of delay and reverb. 

So, this is my first attempt to return to sound design without those crutches. As usual, Eurorack modular synth-only, no external processing or sequencing, but this time without heavy use of the Eventide Space or ZDSP delays. 

I hope you like my new direction... As always, feedback is welcomed and encouraged!

PS. Apologies for not listening to the tracks of the many people I follow recently; I've been working round the clock as of late, hence why my many of my recent tracks have been sketches rather than fully formed compositions.  



Antarran skiff

A little post-holiday patch. 

Still sticking to my no-reverb-no-delays rule, but arguably cheating by using a clocked down stereo resonator on the ZDSP, which creates a delay/reverb-like effect. 

Eurorack modular synth-only, no computers.  

Memory cubes

Watch your bassbins, I'm telling ya...

The latest in my series of no-reverb-no-delay tracks. This time with a dubby feel. The bass is pretty heavy, so be carfeul with your speakers!

100% Eurorack modular synth, no computers or external effects. 

Kingdom sands

Implanted memories of a winter walk on a deserted beach...

100% eurorack modular synth, no computers or samples. No reverb or delay, just waves, filters, a bit crusher and a frequency shifter. 

Available as a name-your-price download as part of the "Kingdom Sands" EP: http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/kingdom-sands-ep-2

Noordhoek

More for my own listening pleasure, really: a self-generating patch using some of my favourite techniques and just left to run and run.

Eurorack-modular-synth only, no external sequencing or processing, bar a healthy amount of modified "Echospace of God" reverb from my Eventide Space pedal.

Please don't feel you have to listen to all 35 minutes in order to leave a comment! 

Corbin 652

Another 100% generative modular-synth patch (bar some Eventide Reverb), no human intervention.

Beltway 2024

I've been sitting on this for a while, half thinking it could form part of a project I'm working on, but have realised that it will work best as the second in a "Inner lives of construction droids" series that starts with "Atomic Edgar": https://soundcloud.com/drberndthoffmann/atomic-edgar 100% Eurorack modular synth, no external sequencing or processing. 


4D Krone MkV

I threw my computer out of the window and bought a modular synth because I wanted to do something real...

"Emergent Properties" EP https://soundcloud.com/drberndthoffmann/sets/emergent-ep
"Onkalo" EP: http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/onkalo-ep
"Kingdom Sands" EP: http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/kingdom-sands-ep-2
"The Dark Light" album: http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/the-dark-light
"Taikonics" mini-album: http://drberndthoffmann.bandcamp.com/album/taikonics

Dr Berndt Hoffmann

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