After years of experimenting with assembling found sounds and never getting anything I really liked I'm now returning to more traditional methods.

While exploring Bentō the virtual noise synth from Giorgio Sancristoforo  I found a couple of unexpectedly stable sounds, a low frequency hum and something that reminded my of wind.

Using these as starting points I "Live" improvised this environmental experiment using the low hum to evoke the sound of high voltage transmission gear.

Wind in the Wires

Submission for Naviar haiku 522.

The Haiku for this challenge describes the basic elements and overall form of the piece.

The rain and thunder field recordings were sourced from freesound: https://freesound.org and are:
Weather - Rain by naturenotesuk
JulyAdrianThunder.mp3 by xspackets
 NM-Mejor-Lado-Thunder-01.wav by aaronstar
210614 Thunder, dry rolling distant some big, birds, roof, TORONTO 3pm.mp3 by TRP 
All are licenced Creative Commons 0

The bell for the midnight chimes is my own recording.

The synthesiser elements were created using the probabilistic instrument Ongaku with an underpinning drone from Points & Lines. Both by Giorgio Sancristoforo: information at https://www.giorgiosancristoforo.net 
The post midnight sequenced element came from a virtual modular patch created with VCV Rack.

For details of the Naviar Records weekly Haiku challenge visit:
https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

Lightning - (NaviarHaiku - 522)

Lightning (naviarhaiku522)

Submission the NaviarHaiku challenge 523.

I started out with an idea of what I wanted but as I developed the generative virtual modular patch using VCV Rack I went off on a bit of a tangent. Adding to that I mapped physical controls so I could perform and record "Live". I went with the flow and thus further from my original idea. 

With that in mind this is my reaction, albeit a bit wayward, to the Haiku of the challenge.   

Find de4tails of the Naviar Haiku challenge here:https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

Magnolia Sky

Magnolia Sky (NaviarHaiku523)

My submission to Naviar Haiku challenge 524

I fear that I may have interpreted the Haiku too literally and thus have produced something of a "Novelty".

The environmental wind with hints of spectral ghosts is all from a generative patch within VCV Rack to which were added two sequences, both had controls so they could be disrupted/ interrupted when I tripped. Physical controls were mapped and the track was performed and recorded "Live".

The fourth element; the footsteps and scrapes in the snow was added using CC0 from Freesound: https://freesound.org

The sounds used are:
https://freesound.org/s/398877/
https://freesound.org/s/500556/
https://freesound.org/s/454859/
https://freesound.org/s/559096/
https://freesound.org/s/697984/


For details of the Naviar Haiku challenge visit:
https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Tripping Over My Shadow

Tripping Over My Shadow (Naviarhaiku524)

Submission for Naviar Haiku challenge 525.

Continuing my exploration of virtual modular I created a layered patch using VCV Rack. With the exception of the very slow sequence of building but broken chords everything is generated and modulated by multiple cyclical functions passing in and out of phase with each other. 

Some further manual manipulation via controls mapped to a physical interface allowed me to create development over time. Recorded "Live" as one take. 

For details of the Naviar Haiku Challenge visit: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

Swelling, Falling - (NavciarHaiku525)

Swelling, Falling - (NaviarHaiku525)

This track was created in answer to the Naviar Haiku challenge 526.
Details of the challenge can be forun at: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

The main texture of the track wad made with a combination of the probabilistic synth Ongaku along with a drone layer created using Points And Lines. The various percussive sounds were added by passing contact recorded sound to Substrata for physical modelling. 

All three are from Giorgio Sancristoforo, informaiton can be found here: https://www.giorgiosancristoforo.net/softwares

Additional swooshes were added via a small virtual modular patch created with VCV Rack.

The owls are all from Freesound; https://freesound.org

owl_hooting_000102_0145S3 002-070 000-002 007-015,
owl_hooting_000102_0145S3 002-070 000-002 037-044 and 
owl_hooting_000102_0145S3 002-070 000-002 068-074
by Gerent
owl by Anthousai
TAWNY OWL in calm Environment-natural reverb by BlueDelta
Tawny Owl in Molkom, Sweden. by Marcuspepsi and
Owl Hoot by Breviceps
All are released under the CC0 license.

Moonlight Shadow - (NaviarHaiku-526)

Contribution to Naviar Haiku challenge 527. Details of the challenge here: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

For this final recording I combined several generative and several sequenced. (7 in total if you count the train rhythm that runs through the whole piece),virtual modular patches created using VCV Rack into one monster mess that allowed me to switch and manipulate everything in one "Live" take. An additional layer of train sounds was added in post production. 

All sounds are from Freesound: https://freesound.org

Train passing by and horning in Romania (Bacau) by 
felix.blume,
Shuttle-Train-Passing by azdipu,
steam-train-whistle by gadzooks,
Train Screech by doom.blu,
Train 1 by a23spyro,
metrolink by bertjones and
bangalore_zug_schnell by nikitralala.

All are licenced CC0

Passing Colours - (NaviarHaiku - 527)

My Submission to Navir Haiku challenge 528.

Created with a multi element virtual modular patch using VCV Rack mapped to physical controls allowing for "Live" interaction. Triggering waves and manipulating the generative elements and timbre of a main sequence and related diffused layer. 

There is also an entirely probabilistic element that runs once through the piece representing the lunar cycle. This was processed externally through Substrata Physical modelling software from Giorgio Sancristoforo to produce shell like sounds. 

Details of the Naviar music challenges here:
https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

A Month For The Sea - (NaviarHaiku-528)

Submission to Naviar Haiku challenge 529. Details here: https://www.naviarrecords.com/naviarhaiku529-a-distant-mountain

The haiku suggested end points and a journey but you decide if you start or finish in the desolate field.

Everything was created as one patch using the VCV Rack virtual modular environment, including the wind. Physical controls were mapped and the piece was recorded in one live take.

Distant Mountain - (NaviarHaiku - 529)

Submission to Naviar Haiku music challenge 530, details hare: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

It has been pointed out to me that anyone relying on a scree reader can't see the haiku so I am including it here.

taking it easy
the mouse sleeps too...
spring rain

The majority of this track was created in virtual modular using VCV Rack. he drone/atmospheric elements were generated using Full Blotter - Very Large Grains Psychedelic Machine, the latest virtual instrument from Giorgio Sancristoforo, Pauls Stretch on steroids with lots of control. details here: https://www.giorgiosancristoforo.net

I also used a CC0 rain sample from Freesound:
Weather - Rain by naturenotesuk:
https://freesound.org/people/naturenotesuk/sounds/401060/

Spring Rain - (NaviarHaiku - 530)

My Submission to Naviar Haiku challenge 531.

The first thunder
Is likely to shake
The tiered doll stand.

Details of the challenges here: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

The thunder was an obvious component albeit somewhat processed, which led to the idea of a creepy doll being shaken awake.

Everything was created in virtual modular using VCV Rack, including as an experiment the sampled elements so that they could be triggered as live elements.

The samples are all from Freesound: https://freesound.org and are:

NM-Mejor-Lado-Thunder-01 by aaronstar,
20_Run_shoes by Juaner_ and
girly giggle by AlucardsBride.

All are licenced CCO

First Thunder - (NavairHaiku - 531)

Submission to Naviar Haiku challenge 532:

Wordless
all day long
the shadow of a butterfly

Challenge details here: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

All created in virtual modular using VCV Rack, manipulated via mapped physical controls and recorded in a on shot live take.

Butterfly Shadow - (Naviarhaiku - 532)

Submission for Naviar Haiku challenge 533:

Flowing along
changing its colors
a soap bubble.

A fairly paired back generative virtual modular patch assembled using VCV Rack, more or less played itself although I did map physical controls so I could guide the overall shape.

Details of the Naviar Haiku challenges here: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Flowing Along - (NaviarHaiku - 533)

My submission to Naviar Haiku challenge 534:

Pre-dawn inertia
Where do I go
From here?

While I usually try to do as much as possible live in a single take I realised early on that I didn't have enough MIDI controllers or indeed hands to do this in one go. Perfect time to experiment .The introductory section was created using two instances of the Surge XT virtual synth: https://surge-synthesizer.github.io A natural choice as I've been making extensive use of the individual modules within CV Rack. 

The sequenced section is a live manipulated virtual modular patch created with VCV Rack.

Thanks to Ruby Shah: https://www.youtube.com/@rubyshah4842 for the suggestion to include the dawn chorus. 

CC0 samples from Freesound:
https://freesound.org/people/kyles/sounds/406876/ by kyles

https://freesound.org/people/blisspudding/sounds/234404/ 
 by blisspudding

Morning Inertia - (Naviar Haiku - 534)

My submission to Naviar Haiku challenge 535:

Come outside!
we can almost touch
the spring moon.

The main background ambience was created by processing the Dawn Chorus sample I used in the previous challenge, through Full Blotter from Giorgio Sancristoforo: https://www.giorgiosancristoforo.net 

Everything else was made within VCV Rack and manipulated via mapped physical controls, and played as a live addition to the previously prepared background.

Spring Moon - (NaviarHaiku - 535)

Submission to Naviar Haiku challenge 536:

Tall, wide-arching trees
Assume a cathedral shape
Until darkness falls

A background wash from Giorgio Sancristoforo's PointsAndLines: https://www.giorgiosancristoforo.net
Added to that were a couple of semi random layers created in virtual modular using VCV Rack.

Along with those random elements I played a live solo using  Solionid an emulator plugin  based on the Solina String Ensemble: https://solcitomusica.blogspot.com/p/virtuales.html

Darkness Falls - (NaviarHaiku - 536)

Darkness Falls - (NavciarHaiku - 536)

Track in response to Naviar Haiku challenge:

Deep in the mountains -
falling into my heart
autumn streams

Entirely generative virtual modular patch created with VCV Rack. Manipulated via the VCV interface and recorded as a single live take. 

NOTE: This track has been re-mastered, new version uploaded 08 May 2024.

Details of the Naviar Haiku challenges here:
https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Streams - (NaviarHaiku - 537)

Contribution to Naviar Haiku challenge 538:

Only the moon remains
floating in the memory upon
Kinokawa River

Challenge details here:https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

I made the river the central element and created the ambience using samples form Freesound then added generative drone elements in virtual modular using VCV Rack. I  let that run and played an improvised layer using a free Shakuhachi sample pack from Samplephonics: https://www.samplephonics.com/products?term=Shakuhachi  with added reverb.


Freesound samples used:

Ambiance_Brook_Calm_Stereo by Nox_Sound,
Water dripping down rocks at the edge of the dam in St Saturnin Les Apt, France by Raphael.Malf...,
water on rocks, calm, manitoulin by TRP
Mineiros Brasil selva - 3.12.17 - midnight frog chorus long by 
samwd,
frogpocalypse by spoonboysf.

All are licensed CC0

Moon River - (Naviarhaiku - 538)

Contribution to Naviar Haiku challenge 539:

The cormorant in the forest;
The cherry blossoms
Along the evening path.

Details of the challenge here: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

Everything created in virtual modular using VCV Rack then manipulated vis mapped physical controls and recorded in a single take.

Evening Path - (Naviarhaiku - 539)

Made for Naviar Haiku challenge 540:

Face of the winter pond
doesn't reflect
even a leaf...

Challenge details here: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge

Multi element patch created in virtual modular using VCV Rack. I wanted a bleak frosty feel so there are no clean/pure tones, each of the elements are generated using random functions; even the "Melody" which is pre defined but accessed in randomly governed 1, 3 and 5 note blocks. 

I mapped the probability settings and output levels to physical controls so I could tweak and mix live, reacting to the randomly generated elements.

Face of the Winter - (Naviarhaiku - 540)

I'm primarily a visual artist both 2D and 3D, for the last decade I've operated almost exclusively in the digital 3D realm.   since the late 80s I've made periodic forays into the sonic world, MIDI sequencing, minimalism, musique concrète, found sounds  and improvisation. I am seldom happy with anything and seldom consider a piece finished.

Mr_Lamppost

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