A layered, rhythmic, harmonic work across one octave on a single track created with a Rucci 8-bit synthesizer, a Rucci clock manipulator, a Moffenzeef MSG-II Sound Generator, a Rucci Passive Mixer, a Bastl Instruments Dude Mixer. I used Bandlab DAW on Chromebook. Raising the volume on the Moffenzeef brought up some artifacts that popped in here and there. The Rucci clock manipulator has three clocks adjustable for the amount of delay randomly applied to clock pulses, likelihood that a clock pulse will be held back, or the delay will swing every other pulse to change the feel. All three clocks were used in this composition. Enjoy! 

The gear was connected together as follows: 
Moffenzeef MSG-11 output to CV-In on the 8-bit synthesizer. Clock Manipulator clock-out to clock-in on the 8-bit synthesizer. 8-bit synthesizer audio-out to channel 1 input on the passive mixer. Passive mixer output to channel 1 input on the Dude mixer. Output on the Dude Mixer to input on the USB Audio Adpater plugged into the Chromebook. I used Bandlab DAW online and the following effects: 7-band graphic EQ, Dimension B Chorus (preset 04), Phase 45 Modulaiton, Filter Echo Delay. I set the mic/line input to use Bandlab's Voice & Audio input. 

Photo by Olya Prutskova "Thoughtful female put face in glass container with water". Pexels License.Three way split image modificatin by jtechno using PixlrE.

This song is copyright by jtechno. Ask for permission to use by contacting jtechnoelectronicmusic@yahoo.com

The Octave Project

UFO Lift Off 

Concept: Create sounds of a UFO lifting off to fly out to space. 

Gear used:  Make Noise O-Coast Semi-Modular Synthesizer, Korg NTS-1 Synthesizer (effects only), Rucci Passive Mixer, Bastl Dude Mixer, Audio Adapter, Chromebook, Bandlab DAW.

Make Noise setup: patches: square osc to overtone, sum right to dynmc. I turned the overtone and CV Input Attenuator, also Multiply and CV Input Attenuverter, also pitch during the recording to produce the smooth increase of lift-off sounds. Cycle was on, associated rise, fall and log/exp set (didn't write down exact settings for each). BALANCE turned all the way to the right to OVRTN. Turned Dynamics to about one-half and Line Out set to about half.

Korg NTS-1 settings: Effects (modulation (ensemble), delay (ping pong) and reverb (submarine)) on NTS-1 were set before recording. 

Signal path: O-Coast to NTS-1 Audio-in to NTS-1 headphones-out to Rucci Passive Mixer to Bastl Dude Mixer to Audio Adpater Line-in to Chromebook to Bandlab DAW. 

Bandlab effects (before recording): Teclab BA-2A Compress, D-Delay (dry and wet each set just past half), Chorus Ensemble (depth, effect level, speed, bass, treble), Stereowise (low, size, high). Effects set before recording. Post processing to clean up sound, cut high frequency a little, cut noise down, add overall depth... all to improve low frequency dynamics and increase growl of the engine sounds. Feedback killer was added and adjusted in post processing. 

120 bpm, 4/4. 
Used Guitar input. No keyboard used. No guitar used. 

Photo/image by Avalon Art, Pixabay License. Photo/image editing by jtechno. 

This song is copyright by jtechno. Ask for permission to use by contacting jtechnoelectronicmusic@yahoo.com

UFO Lift Off

An ambient noise work of drone sounds passing by a wall of mixed grey and white noise. 

Instruments used: 
* Benidub Filtro 4-Pole VCF (resonance, LFO depth, cutoff, LFO Rate, Rate multiply, LFO Waveform (used the square wave), Bypass button on the whole time, Bypass knob just past half way toward the right. 
* Rucci Maximal Drone - used three oscillators for low and three for high

Bandlab effects:  Gain, Feedback Killer, Stereowise, ST Chorus (49% depth, 60.0% speed), EQ3-M for settings on low, mid, high and mid sweep. 

Signal path:  Rucci Maximal Drone Audio-OUT to Benidub IN, Benidub OUT to channel 5 IN on Dude Mixer, Dude Mixer OUT to MIC/LINE IN on USB Audio Adapter to USB IN on Chromebook to Bandlab DAW web version. 

File format:  WAV, 16-bit, 44.1KHz
Photo by Matthew DeVries, Pexels License

Passing By The Noise

Concept:  Create an experimental industrial techno work that causes one to feel as if they are rising further up out of the water by each beat hitting it. 

The work was created using the Make Noise O-coast semi-modular synthesizer. I used a lot of patches, but didn't write them down. The O-coast was connected to a Bastl Instruments Dude Mixer, then to a USB Audio Adapter MIC/LINE-IN, then to a Chromebook, then to Bandlab. 

Bandlab effects:  Gain, Feedback Killer, Stereowise, BL1179 Compressor, EQ3-M. 

120bpm, 4/4 timing. 
File format: WAV, 16-bit, 44.1KHz

Photo: Micro Photography of Body of Water, Pexels and Pixabay License.

This work is copyright by jtechno. Email for permission to use.

See also this work used in a collaborative effort with Melrose Techno Vocal Trance who added vocals to the piece. Many thanks to their label Techno Lab and to Cyrille Poquet for doing the mix and mastering. 
https://soundcloud.com/melrose-207768409/tjhe-dark-rapid-drops-jtechno-feat-melrose

Rapid Drops

Concept: Create an experimental melodic arp techno work. This work is in the key of Bbmaj7 and includes inversions. This particular key enhances poly of the JX-08 to create the blending sounds. The focus was to maintain overall timing where the arpeggiator plays the part of the beat running with the melody. This work was created on a Roland JX-08 Boutique Digital Synthesizer after spending months learning how to fit the JX-08 into my creative workflow. 

Signal path: JX-08 out to the Bastl Instruments 5-chnl Dude mixer out to line input of the Plugable USB Audio Adapter into the Chromebook to the Bandlab online in-browser DAW. 

Timing: 120bpm, 4/4
File Format: WAV file, 16bit 44.1kHz

Bandlab effects: Feedback Killer, Gain, Dimension B set at 3 (chorus modulation and stereo spread of signal),Teclab BA-2A limiter (gain and squeeze), 6-band Graphic EQ (100hz at -1.1dB,200Hz at 0.0dB, 400Hz at +0.2dB, 800Hz at +0.4dB, 1.6KHz at +2.0dB, 3.2KHz at 3.8dB, 6.4KHz at 4.7dB). I used the bass guitar input. I used gain automation to intro fade-in and ending fade-out slopes. 

Roland JX-08: I used the A16 Brass Pad preset, set arp rate at 16, up/down and shfl at22. The synth is set to poly mode. No other settings needed on the synth on any of the sections (knobs, switches and sliders). The sequencer is not used. The melody is played on the two-octave Roland K-25m keyboard.

Photo: Labyrinth, Milton Keynes, England, UK by Altaf Shah, Pexels License.

Grassy Maze is protected under U.S. Copyright by jtechno. Email jtechnoelectronicmusic@yahoo.com for permission.

Grassy Maze

Concept: Create a hard industrial experimental techno work along with overdriving the input and controlling it with gain, the BL1176 dynamic range compressor in and out levels, a peaking filter and with 7-band EQ settings. 

SIgnal path:  QuNexus to MIDI IN on O-coast to Bastl Dude Mixer to USB Audio Adapter to Chromebook to Bandlab. 

O-coast patches:  MIDI CV  to Multiply, MIDI Gate to Overtone, Sawtooth to slope (which goes to Multiply). On QuNexus put D (two octaves down from middle-C) on Hold throughout the work. 

Bandlab Effects:  7-band EQ, Multi-Filter (1454-Hz freg, resonance half way point, gain just past half, filter type: Peaking), BL1176 (ratio 8:1), Gain at -4.1dB, Feedback Killer 2.1 setting. Used Guitar input. 

120bpm, 4/4 timing, WAV file format 16-bit 44.1kHz

Photo by Mali Maeder, Pexels License. 

This work is U.S. copyright by jtechno. Contact for permission to use.

Hard Stairs

Concept:  Create a brazenly hardcore eclectic experimental techno work (without percussion) connecting the Bastl Kastle 1.5 synth to the mixer on the Make Noise O-Coast synth. 

Signal path:  Kastle to O-Coast to Baslt Dude mixer to USB Audio Adapter to Chromebook to guitar input on Bandlab. 

O-Coast patches:  
Clock to Time
Kastle out to mixer chnl 2 input
PGM A on
PGM B on (arp)
RED light by CV to Multiply
Gate by MIDI B to Slope
Mixer out to Dynmc
Saw to Balance
1/Oct to Decay
EOC by Time to Overtone

Kastle Patches:
OSC out to Waveshape
Waveshape to Stepped
I turned Waveshape throughout the work

Bandlab Effects: 
Gain, 7-band EQ, Gain Automation, BL-1176 Compressor, Dimension B Chorus Moduation and Stereo Spread with Preset 01, Stereowise, Teclab BA-2A compressor. 

120bpm (obviously running much faster), 4/4 timing
WAV format 16-bit, 44.1kHz

Photo:  Gas Mask in Nightclub by Emmaannuueelle
Pexels License

"Eclectic Techno" copyright by jtechno. Ask for permission to use.

Eclectic Techno

To experiment creating a work with a humanized clock controlled 16-step sequencer connected to I/O of Bastl Kastle Synth to create experimental drone techno-like work first at 120-BPM and changed in post processing to stretch it to 140-BPM. The focus was to create mesmerizing sounds one might think they are sensing with their ears while trail running down switchback trails high in the mountains.

Note: Humanized refers to setting the amount of delay randomly applied to clock pulses. I adjusted it to give consistent pulses to effect sounds from the Kastle. 

Signal Path:  Rucci Clock Manipulator clock-out to Rucci 16-Step Sequencer Sync-in. Rucci 16-Step Sequencer CV-out to Bastl Kastle Synthesizer I/O. Kastle out to Rucci 4-chnl Passive Mixer in. Passive Mixer out to USB Audio Adapter Line-in to Chromebook to Bandlab DAW. The sequencer step to step is arranged like switchbacks.

Bastl Kastle patching: I/O L and R out to Waveshape In. 

Bandlab effects: 
Feedback Killer, Gain, EQ3-M, Chorus Ensemble (depth, amount, speed, bass, treble), Univerb - Atrium type (to add reverb and echo off the hard materials often found in an atrium). 

Use Guitar input on Bandlab. 4/4 timing.

File format: WAV 16-bit, 44.1kHz
Photo by Martin Portas, Pexels License. 

Switchbacks is copyright by jtechno. Email for permission to use.

Switchbacks

Concept: Create a 140BPM hardcore, hard pounding, destructive industrial techno work. 

Best on high quality and studio headphones.

Gear and signal path use:  Moffenzeef Modular Sound Generator connected to a Sonuus G2M MIDI Guitar Universal Converter (pitch to MIDI conversion, set to B5) to a Meeblip Geode Monophonic Synthesizer out to Line-in of a USB Audio Adpater connected to a Chromebook. I used the Bandlab DAW to record and add effects. 

Bandlab Effects:  Guitar input (tho no guitar used), feedback killer, gain, Classic Brit Guitar Amp (drive, bass, mid, treble, presence, volume), dimension B chorus modulation and stereo spread - selected 01, univerb - selected Innovation Hall, EQ3-M. 

File format:  WAV 16-bit 44.1kHz
Recorded at 140BPM, 4/4 timing

Photo:  "boy is dancing" by Foerder Zone, Pexels License.  

This work is copyright by jtechno. Email for permission to use. 
Created in Oct 2023.

Deep Scrap

Concept: Create an edgeplay techno work that's hard pounding, squelchy, growling. 

Instruments:  Rucci 8-bit Power Synthesizer, Korg NTS-1
Signal Path:  Rucci synth to Korg NTS-1 audio in and out to Bastl Dude Mixer to USB Audio Adapter, to Chromebook, to Bandlab DAW for recording and effects. 

Percussion provided by Rucci Synth drum loop mode. 

Bandlab effects: used audio input, feedback killer, gain, gain automation, space maker reverb long plate type, stereowise, 7-band and 3-band EQs with mid-sweep. Did pre and post processing.

File format:  WAV 16-bit, 44.1kHz

Photo: Woman with Blade by Ivan Babydov, Pexels License. 

"Edgeplay" is copyright by jtechno electronic music. Email for permission to use.

Edgeplay

Concept: Create an industrial noise music work. 

Instruments:  Rucci 8-Bit Power Synthesizer, Korg Delay Monotron Analogue Ribbon Synthesizer.

Signal Path:  8-bit power synth to Korg Delay Monotron to Bastl Dude Mixer to Boomstick Psychoacoustic DAC to USB Audio Adapter to Chromebook to Bandlab DAW.

Bandlab Effects: Input Guitar (tho no guitar used), Gain, Gain Automation, Feedback Killer, EQ3-M, House of Metal pedal (distortion, volume, bass, treble), Space Maker Reverb - Medium Ambience, Univerb - Innovation Hall, Dimension B 01 (chorus, stereo spread), Stereowise.

Format:  WAV, 16-bit 44.1kHz

120 bpm, 4/4 time signature

Photo by Mikhail Nilove, Pexels License.

"House of On" is copyright by jtechno electronic music. Email for permission to use.

House Of On

Concept:  Create an experimental progressive trance work using Make Noise O-Coast Synthesizer to explore bass, mid and high pitches as opposed to just bass lines. 

Focus: "Breaking Through" is about busting through the norm to a different sound. 

O-Coast info and patches:  
PGMA on
PGMB blinking
MIDI B blinking red
CLK to TIME
Triangle to Balance
Chnl 2 Out to DYMNE
CV to Slope

I turned the knobs a lot - mostly the Multply knobs, Pitch and Overtone. 

Signal path:  O-Coast out to Bastl Dude Mixer to Line-input USB Audio Adapter connected direct to USB on Chromebook to Bandlab DAW for recording and effects (pre and post). Used Guitar input tho no guitar used. 

Bandlab Effects:  
Gain, Feedback Killer, Teclab BA-2A Limiter, Stereowise, Univerb (Women's Institute), Space Maker Reverb (Long Plate), D-Delay (more Dry than Wet), Gain Automation, Graphic 7-band EQ.

120-bpm 4/4 timing signature
File Format:  WAV, 16-bit 44.1kHz

Photo "A man with paint on his body holding his ear" by Imustbedead, Pexels License. Perhaps too is also hearing a difference rather than the norm. 

"Breaking Through" is copyright by jtechno electronic music. Email for permission to use.

Breaking Through

This is just a test of my bandlab effects setup and setup on my Stylophone Gen X-1 in the effort to create and play an electric guitar sound.  I have some further work to do on overdrive, echo, gain and delay. Mixdown to 320Kbps HQ mp3. None of this is an electric guitar. It's all played on my Gen X-1. Image from Pexels  - photo by Suvan Chowdhury, CCO license with added layer of custom text using Pixlr Editor. Monitoring done only using headphones. This was created while in a Starbucks in Snohomish, WA in the morning of Sept. 2nd, 2018. Bandlab effects include Echo FD, BL30 high gain, Cab Pro BL87 2x2 J-Std, EQ3-M, Spring Pro Reverb and BL Driver Overdrive. Gen X-1 settings: delay off, envelope off, used the triangle wave, rate off, depth off, filter: cutoff 4.3, resonance 3.1.

Update 9-4-18:  When I did this recording I had it set up such that the Gen X-1 was connected from LIne OUT to Mic IN to Bandlab Guitar IN. That's a bit noisy, tho the sound grindy and dirty which has its value. However, some experimenting proved Bandlab Mic INPUT isn't as noisy - in fact, quite clean - and yet produces a better sounding electric guitar sound. Adjustments to effects in the Guitar IN didn't do much, but there was a big difference when connected to Mic IN on Bandlab.

This song is copyright by jtechno. Ask for permission to use by contacting jtechnoelectronicmusic@yahoo.

Electric Guitar on a Stylophone Gen X-1

Created with a Bastl Instruments Kastle 1.5 synth connected to a Boomstick DAC to an Audio Adapter to a Chromebook to the cloud-based Bandlab DAW. 

Concept: Create a momentum piece that includes revving engines of street car racers. 

This is a single track. Adjusted knobs on Kastle during recording. No keyboard used, no mixer used. All sounds come from the Kastle 1.5 synth. Pre and post effects used. Final file format: 320kbps 44.1KHz HQ mp3. Did not write down cable patches used on Kastle 1.5. 

Effects on Bandlab used:
gain, gain automation, feedback killer, studio reverb, st chorus modulation, multi-cab (2x12 seattle SP cab, BL57 Mic, on axis), d-delay - more dry than wet, eq3-m. 

Used Guitar input on Bandlab. (no guitar used tho - just the Kastle 1.5 synth)

Photo "Two Fast Cars" by Vova Krasilnikov, Pexel license.

This song is copyright by jtechno. Ask for permission to use by contacting jtechnoelectronicmusic@yahoo.

Street Racing

Experimental tribal techno percussion/drums/beats composition created with Stylophone Beatbox connected to Stylophone Gen X-1 Synthesizer. Every strike done on Beatbox by hand using the stylus. Beatbox #3 sound bank. 

Concept: Create percussive techno piece that sounds a bit tribal and suggests this couldn't have been done on the beatbox and synth I used to make it. My goal was to make it a dance trance piece that sounds like rim strike sounds, hardened bass sound, a flair of sticks hitting cut bamboo. 

Recorded using cloud-based Bandlab DAW on a Chromebook. 
HQ mp3 320kbps 44.1kHz
Bandlab effects used:  Feedback Killer, Stereo Chorus, American Spring Reverb, Noise Gate, 1x12 J-Alnico Guitar Cabinet, gain automation. 
Used Bass Guitar input on Bandlab. 

Bastl Dude Mixer used. Also Mogami cable from mixer to USB audio adapter to Chromebook. Livewire cable used for other connections. Better quality cables and use of Noise Gate made a huge difference in cutting down noise. The cables really improved the sound. 


Photo: "Brown Wooden Percussion Instruments", CCO License, Pixabay

This song is copyright by jtechno. Ask for permission to use by contacting jtechnoelectronicmusic@yahoo.

Capture The Drums

Currently, I listen to tons of techno, trance and EDM. I grew up tho with 60s and 70s rock and jazz fusion. I took piano for five years. My dad played piano, accordian, xylophone, bongos and little bit of guitar. Mom was an oil and acrylic artist. In college I practiced piano in the listening rooms and hung out in the music degree buildings and went to bunches of concerts in the SF Bay Area. 

In 2018 I landed a writing gig with DJD UK Global Music and wrote 74 listener reviews of songs for their artists. The label owner later retired after a long career in music production and marketing and closed his label.

I released my debut digital album on the DJD UK Global Music label in March 2019 called "Off Grid Analog", 13 tracks, 48:05 minutes of experimental/electronic/noise original music available for just a year on all major online outlets.  It was fun working with a label and to create an album. 

In the past I've created music on a Korg Poly-61, Korg X-50 and an Alesis Micron and mixed on a Mackie 1402-VLZ3 14-channel mixer. Today I've been creating electronic, experimental and noise music with a Teenage Engineering PO-28 Robot Pocket Operator, Stylophone Gen X-1 Analog Synthesizer, Bastl Kastle 1.5 Synth,  Meeblip Geode Synth, Alesis Q25 Controller, Kieth McMillen QuNexus USB MIDI CV Gate Controller, Alesis Micron Synth, Rucci 8-bit Power Synth, Rucci Maximal Drone, Rucci 16-step CV Sequencer,  Moffenzeef Modular MSG II Black, Stylophone Gen R8 Synth, Bastl Dude Mixer, Korg Volca FM Synth, Make Noise O-Coast Synth, Korg Monotron Delay Synth, Korg NTS-1 Synth Benidub Filtro, Arturia Keystep Controller, etc. I got away from melodic pieces to explore music and to dabble in electronic, experimental, noise, drone and experimental techno, ambient, trance styles.

My home studio includes m-Audio BX5 powered monitors and use of Beyerdynamic studio headphones, Sony and Beats phones. I use a Chromebook and the cloud-based in-browser Bandlab DAW and I do my own mastering. I use both a Baslt Dude Mixer and the Behringer Xenyx 1002B 10-chnl mixer. I use Mogami cables, Roland Gold MIDI cable, CV cables, iConnectivity MIDI to USB cable. I use a Boomstick Psychoacoustic DAC for added richness of dynamics. Final signal path output goes through the USB audio adapter into my Chromebook.  I rarely do multitrack preferring a straight signal path from one device to the next till final put goes through a mixer to the audio adapter into the Chromebook. 

I'm active on synth and music groups on Facebook under my name:
John Koudela III.  My music name tho is jtechno on Soundcloud. 

I'm located north of Seattle, WA. Contact me at:  jtechnoelectronicmusic@yahoo.com
All music I create and post are copyright by jtechno electronic music. Email me for permission to use my tracks.

jtechno

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