This was my contribution for the Disquiet Junto Project 0579:Memory Serves.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0579 discussion thread:
I produced this track back in August 2022 but wasn’t quite happy with the way the mix turned out. This week’s assignment gave me the incentive to re-visit the piece and make some tweaks. Created with the o-o-o script on the Norns Shield along with Ableton Live instruments and Max for Live effects. Globular Cluster NGC 1850 image by NASA Hubble Space Telescope.

More on this 579th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Memory Serves (The Assignment: Rerecord a piece of music), at: Disquiet Junto Project 0579: Memory Serves – Disquiet
More on the Disquiet Junto at: Disquiet Junto F.A.Q. – Disquiet
Subscribe to project announcements here: Disquiet Junto by Marc Weidenbaum (Disquiet.com)
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0579-memory-serves/

Space Shifter (redux) [disquiet0579]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0599: Minimal(ist) Blend (part 3 of a Disquiet Junto Éliane Radique themed project done in collaboration with the 2023 Musikfestival Bern)

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0599 discussion thread:
My original intent was to create something very experimental but this evolved into more of an ambient soundscape. I tried to keep it within the minimal description but might have strayed a little beyond that in some sections. I used seven parts that I morphed and modulated using various effects (see below) in Ableton Live. An additional track using Audio Things Noises was used to create a foundation. 

The following plugins/effects were used: Slate+Ash Choreographs and Landforms, Sugar Bytes Aparillo, Amazing Noises Grain Scanner (M4L), Bleass Granulizer, Audio Damage Other Desert Cities, Strymon Big Sky and Eventide Blackhole. 

River canyon photograph by Pine Watt via Unsplash.

More on this 599th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Minimal(ist) Blend (The Assignment: Make a piece of music that combines self-contained minimalist parts), at: https://disquiet.com/0599/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/ 1
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0599-minimal-ist-blend/

Entrenched and Incised Meanders [disquiet0599]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0603: Animated Suspension

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0603 discussion thread:
This week's theme based on “something floating in air" is close to what I envisioned when coming up with "Air Spaces" a couple months ago, so I used it as my submission. Initial track was created on a Roland Aira J6. Additional tracks were added in Ableton Live using Arturia CZ V. 

Final audio was recorded to cassette tape using a Fostex X-18 4-track and copied back into Live using an inexpensive stereo cassette player with weak batteries, which resulted in slower tape speed (about 30 percent less). Accompanying video can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5XgFgkSUUE

More on this 603rd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Animated Suspension (The Assignment: Record a piece of music that suggests something floating in air), at: https://disquiet.com/0603/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0603-animated-suspension/

Air Spaces [disquiet0603]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0605: Fifty Fifty

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0605 discussion thread:

This is ended up more like 60/40 sound to silence ratio or more. Had fun anyway trying to balance those two elements. This was created in Ableton Live using Slate+Ash Choreographs. Used Soundtoys Filterfreak2, Strymon BigSky and Minimal Audio Cluster Delay for effects.

Image is by Sumner Mahaffey on Unsplash.

More on this 605th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Fifty Fifty (Compose a piece of music with as much silence as notes), at: https://disquiet.com/0605/
Thanks to Jason Richardson for having proposed this week’s project.
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/ 1
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0605-fifty-fifty/

Sporadic Formations [disquiet0605]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0611: Music That Listens To Itself.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0611 discussion thread:

Here's my attempt to create music that listens to itself by using delay, reverb, granular and tape effects. As the piece progresses and additional tracks were added, the mix levels of the effects were increased. Tried not to go overboard but might have done that anyway. Some tones toward the end started to feedback on itself, so had to dial things down a bit. 

Tracks were created in Ableton Live using Ableton's Wavetable synth, Max for Live Tombola, Sonic Beds Vol.1 by Jogging House, and Slate+Ash Choreographs/Landforms. Ambient noise tracks were added using Audio Thing Noise and FIELD by ELPHNT. Effects used: SoundGhost Drift, Cableguys Shaper 3, Baby Audio Transit, Inorganic Audio Liquid, Arturia Coldfire, Audio Damage Other Desert Cities, Sugar Bytes Graindad, Strymon BigSky, ValhallaRoom and Phonolyth Cascade.  Image by Vedanti via Pexels.

More on this 611th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Music That Listens to Itself (The Assignment: Record a piece of music that repurposes itself as it proceeds), at: https://disquiet.com/0611/
Some of the music resulting from this project may be included in a September 29, 2023, event at the Berkeley Alembic in Berkeley, California: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/expanded-listening-music-that-listens-to-itself-tickets-712124101357 2
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0611-music-that-listens-to-itself/

Lesser Facets Glowing [disquiet0611]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0612: Drum Vector

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0612 discussion thread:

At first, I wasn't sure how to approach this project. Briefly fooled around with various ideas and percussive instruments, till I finally settled on composing this in Ableton Live. Not sure how accurately I followed the assignment though but at least I had fun.

Five tracks were created using Ableton Live's Wavetable synth, all with the Mallets/Crockhausen preset and Max for Live Octopulse sequencer. Different parameters for the synth and sequencer were adjusted for each track to try to emulate five different musicians. Audio was processed with Minimal Audio Cluster Delay and Arturia LX-24 reverb. Background noise/drone from AudioThing Noises. Image by Neosiam via Pexels.
 
More on this 612th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Drum Vector (The Assignment: Walk the listener through variations on the same percussive instrument), at: https://disquiet.com/0612/
Thanks to Mahlen Morris for having proposed this project.
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/ 1
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0612-drum-vector/

Five Radials At Obtuse Angles [disquiet0612]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0616: Definition Jam

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0616 discussion thread:

Chose to work with the words "calm" and "placid".

Created in Ableton Live using Fors Chiral and Slate+Ash Choreographs with Strymon Big Sky and Aqusmatiq Dedalus Delay for effects. Not sure whether I'm 100% satisfied with the result since I had a more quiet and subtle ambient vibe in mind when I started. Maybe I’ll re-visit this sometime in the future.
 
More on this 616th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Definition Jam (The Assignment: Explore, in music, the nuanced differences between two closely related words), at: https://disquiet.com/0616/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/ 1
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0616-definition-jam/

Strangely Calm and Placid Days [disquiet0616]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0621: The Leftovers

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0621 discussion thread:

Great prompt to revisit some random projects. Searched through this year's Ableton Live folder and found a few unfinished and half-baked files. Decided to use one from last March when I was fooling around with the Puremagnetik Microtron sample pack. I recently acquired Slate+Ash Spectres, so used a couple presets from it to get familiar with the software. Also added a couple tracks using Choreographs. Not sure what flavor I was going for but I'm ok with the result. 
 
More on this 621st weekly Disquiet Junto project, The Leftovers (The Assignment: Use recently discarded material to make something new), at: https://disquiet.com/0621/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0621-the-leftovers/

Traversing The Counter-Flow [disquiet0621]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0627: Audio Journal 2023

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0627 discussion thread:

I remembered I had fun with this project last year, and enjoyed participating again this year.

Ended up using the same ice recording I made for last year’s project.  This time, I sampled it into Slate+Ash Cycles and created two tracks – one using the Loops engine and the other the Grains engine. Layered two additional tracks using Choreographs. No other effects were used except what were in the plugins. Created and mastered in Ableton Live using iZotope Ozone 11 and FabFilter Pro L-2 Limiter. Photo by Andrea Leopardi via Unsplash.
 
More on this 627th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Just Ice Society — The Assignment: Record the sound of ice in a glass and make something with it — at: https://disquiet.com/0627/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/ 1
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0627-just-ice-society/

Glacial Morning [disquiet0627

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0631: In A Silent Waveform

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0631 discussion thread:

I saw a video a while back of a two module setup using Plaits to create a nice self-oscillating soundscape with nothing patched to any inputs. It was then patched out through Ripples and processed with a DAW using Valhalla reverbs. After reading this week’s description, I decided I wanted to duplicate that setup to see what would happened. This drone is the result after several minutes of fooling around. I tweaked the Timbre and Morph controls slightly on Plaits to create the tone variations. Added Valhalla reverbs in Ableton Live. I can see future experiments using this patch by adding other types of modulation and effects. Here’s the original YouTube link this was based on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o5SU-5Ikpk   

More on this 631st weekly Disquiet Junto project, In a Silent Waveform — The Assignment: Take one held tone and make it dance slowly — at: https://disquiet.com/0631/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0631-in-a-silent-waveform/

Just Two [disquiet0631]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0635: ‘Round The Bend

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0635 discussion thread https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0635-round-the-bend/66322/13

Used part of the longer recording for this project. Thank you @toaster for providing the sample. Layered a track from my modular over the train recording to create the final piece. Used Hermod+ to sequence a bass line using Rings, and also added a simple melody from the module with a K-Board keyboard. Some modulation was added using OCHD. Reverb was added to both tracks in Ableton Live using Valhalla Supermassive. Train track image by Todd Trapani via Unsplash.       

More on the 635th weekly Disquiet Junto project, ’Round the Bend — The Assignment: You’re in a duo, and your bandmate is a train — at https://disquiet.com/0635/
The image associated with this track is a photograph by Todd (Toaster) Elliott, who also provided the field recordings of the train.

Last Train North [disquiet0635]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0647: Day Drone

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0647 discussion thread on Lines:

This ambient drone was created using a Novation Peak controlled by an Arturia Keystep 37. Found a preset called “Happy Days” that seemed to fit this week’s theme nicely. The audio from the synth was recorded into Ableton Live where I added more reverb in addition to what the Peak produced. An additional texture track was created using a chopped up sample of the original audio. Used AudioThing Noises on another track for atmosphere. The “bee buzz” tones in some parts seemed to align with the assignment photo perfectly. Happy Drone Day 2024! 

MMore on the 647th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Day Drone — The Assignment: Make some daylight drones for Drone Day — at https://disquiet.com/0647/
The original image associated with this project is by Guillaume Pelletier, used with a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drone_bee_(32-image_macro_stack).jpg
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Conversations With Clouds [disquiet0647]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0648: Shadow Boxing
Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0648 discussion thread on Lines:
I studied martial arts – judo, tae kwon do, karate – when I was young. One exercise common in those practices that's similar to shadow boxing is the "kata", a Japanese word that means "form" or "way of doing". Where shadow boxing is more freeform, the kata is a choreographed pattern of martial arts movements practiced solo or with a partner. Kata can also be applied to skills used in daily living or work. I tried to interpret the flow of a kata here through music.

Used the Fors Tela modal synthesizer plugin on four tracks in Ableton Live. I started with a tanpura like drone track using the Max for Live Tombola sequencer, which is similar to the one in the OP-1. The main melody was created with a violin-like Tela preset using a K-Board keyboard. Along with the effects within the Fors plugin, I used Valhalla Shimmer and Phonolyth Cascade reverbs, and Output Portal.

More on the 648th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Shadow Boxing — The Assignment: Employ shadow boxing as a musical metaphor — at https://disquiet.com/0648/

Drifting Shadows Kata [disquiet0648]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0651: Why Compute?, which is based on a prompt by musician and Columbia University professor George E. Lewis. Lewis asks, “Why do we want our computers to improvise?”.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0651 discussion thread on Lines:
My response to George E. Lewis's question "Why do we want our computers to improvise?" is - they can help create, influence, untangle and/or open up fresh neural pathways within our brains in discovering new approaches for our music compositions.

More than half the music I create usually involves some form of non-human generative or semi-generative improvisation to collaborate with. In the past, the collaborators have been various computer programs or hardware systems like the Monome Norns. Lately, it's been the modular synthesizer, though I did use my MacBook Pro here.

Three tracks were produced in Ableton Live with the help of a generative sequencer called TATAT by K-Devices. I improvised accompanying tracks using a K-Board MIDI keyboard. The synth plugins used were Slate + Ash Choreographs and Cycles, Fors Tela, and Sonic Beds 1.0 by Jogging House. Reverb effects were by Phonolyth Cascade.

More on the 651st weekly Disquiet Junto project, Why Compute? — The Assignment: Respond to a prompt from George E. Lewis — at Disquiet Junto Project 0651: Why Compute? – Disquiet
The cover image for this project uses a photo by Ioan Sameli, thanks to a CC BY-SA 2.0 license; it’s been cropped and text has been added to it.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Intel_8742_153056995.jpg 1
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Conical and Concentric References [disquiet0651]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0654: Just Notation. 
Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0654 discussion thread on Lines:
In studying the graphic score "True Glimpses 1" by Franziska Baumann, the abstract notations reminded me of the random generative sounds that can be created using a Krell Patch on a modular synthesizer. In this piece, I used a version of the patch on a semi-modular Make Noise Easel – 0-Coast, 0-Ctrl and Strega. The audio was recorded to Ableton Live where I added reverb from Valhalla Supermassive. An additional track was added via MIDI keyboard using the Fors Tela plugin. Used Supermassive again as well as Aberrant DSP Lair "occult reverberator" for effects on that track. In studying the graphic score "True Glimpses 1" by Franziska Baumann, the abstract notations reminded me of the random generative sounds that can be created using a Krell Patch on a modular synthesizer. In this piece, I used a version of the patch on a semi-modular Make Noise Easel – 0-Coast, 0-Ctrl and Strega. The audio was recorded to Ableton Live where I added reverb from Valhalla Supermassive. An additional track was added via MIDI keyboard using the Fors Tela plugin. Used Supermassive again as well as Aberrant DSP Lair "occult reverberator" for effects on that track. Sun photo by Alexey Demidov via Pexels.

More on the 654th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Just Notation — The Assignment: Interpret a graphic score by Franziska Baumann — at https://disquiet.com/0654/ 2
The cover image for this project is a detail of a graphic score, titled True Glimpses 1, by Franziska Baumann, used with her permission and the support of Musikfestival Bern. More on Baumann at franziskabaumann.ch 7.

Flux Erosion Event [disquiet0654]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0655: Soothing Sounds II 

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0655 discussion thread on Lines:

Congratulations to all the recent parents out there. Here's to magical, hopeful, and loving years ahead together. And to the newly born – may your life unfold and blossom, interlaced with all the beautiful wonders this planet has to offer. 

The main track was created on a modular synthesizer using Norns/Grid with Meadowphysics to sequence Just Friends via Crow. I liked the accordian-like tones it generated. 4ms EnvVCA was used for modulation. Calsynth uBurst (Clouds) was used for reverb effects. An additional synth track using Fors Tela, along with field recordings, were added in Abelton Live 11. Other effects, Phonolyth Cascade and Valhalla Delay plugins, were also added.

More on the 655th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Soothing Sounds II — The Assignment: Make music for babies — at https://disquiet.com/0655/ 1
The image associated with this project is from an early patent for a pacifier.

Blossom [disquiet0655]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0658: Re-Amplify. The assignment was to re-record and re-compose an organ improvisation by Daniel Glaus. This project was the last of three done in collaboration with 2024 Musikfestival Bern.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0658 discussion thread on Lines:

This assignment took me out of my comfort zone. Although I appreciate dark and dissonant experimental music, I find it difficult to create that type of music myself – leaning to a more mellow ambient vibe. I really did enjoy the process and outcome though, so I might experiment more with other styles in the future.

I used about a six minute section of Daniel Glaus's "Kokytos", and re-amplified the more quiet sections to come close to the loudest parts. I then copied the WAV file to my iPhone. From there, I went outside to the deck behind our house. A gathering of crows, Scrub and Stellar Jays were calling loudly in the Oak trees nearby. I re-recorded "Kokytos" from the iPhone speaker, along with the bird calls and other ambient yard/neighborhood sounds, using a Tascam DR-100MK3 digital recorder. Maybe it was my imagination, but the birds seemed to be responding to the sounds coming out of the iPhone.

After copying the file to Ableton Live, I added reverb and other effects to two versions of the audio. Other tracks, a bell tone from a Buddhist temple and chopped up clips of a Japanese children's song about crows, were also added. I also played sliced random samples from "Kokytos" with a MIDI keyboard using the Jumble plugin by SoundGhost. Abstract photo by Greg Rosenke via Unsplash. 

More on the 658th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Re-Amplify — The Assignment: Re-record and re-compose an organ improvisation by Daniel Glaus — at https://disquiet.com/0658/ 1.

Elegy For Crows and Jays [disquiet0658]

his was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0659: Reading the Body. 

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0659 discussion thread on Lines:

Was going to interpret the markings on the cello as originally described in the prompt, but ended up taking a different approach. I used an online tool called Image2MIDI. It generated five tracks of 15 bar MIDI notes from the cello back image based on musical parameters I entered on a form. The tool appeared to use the overall light and dark shades of the image for note generation. I then took the MIDI file and imported it into Ableton Live. Instruments were assigned to each track – a mix of built-in and Fors.fm plugins. I made adjustments to the notes and looped them out to about three minutes. A little reverb was the only additional effect used. 

I could see investigating Image2MIDI some more, and maybe using it again as a staring off point for future experiments. I initially wasn't going to take part this week but am glad I did. The assignment turned out to be enjoyable, as well as a good learning experience, so I'm glad I participated. Pattern image by Andrew Ridley via Unsplash.

More on the 659th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Reading the Body — The Assignment: Interpret the markings on the back of a cello as a graphic score — at Disquiet Junto Project 0659: Reading the Body – Disquiet

Reluctant Motifs [disquiet0659]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0662: Spin Cycle

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0662 discussion thread on Lines:

I imagined two cyclists on a banked velodrome. They would take turns occasionally pulling ahead of each other. Toward the end, they both race at the same speed, and leave the velodrome together. Hopefully I was able to convey that scenario here.

I used MIDI sequences generated by a web based version of Laurie Spiegel's Music Mouse by software developer Tero Parviainen. After editing the MIDI notes in Ableton Live, I created two tracks representing the two riders, each using a different instrument preset in Slate+Ash Choreographs. Cableguys ShaperBox 3 was used to create rising and falling volume levels – one every 8 bars and the other every 16 bars. This was done to mimic the cyclists pulling ahead and falling behind each other. Three other MIDI tracks were created for percussion, bass and counter melody using Choreoraphs and Teletone Audio Ondine. Effects used were Valhalla Room and Phonolyth Cascade reverbs. Star trails image by David Becker via Unsplash.

More on the 662nd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Spin Cycle — The Assignment: Record a piece of music that pits one bicyclist against another — at https://disquiet.com/0662/

Revolving Roundabout [disquiet0662]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0665: Clicks + Cuts Music Factory

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0665 discussion thread on Lines:

Although I've heard plenty of glitch inspired electronica through the years, I don't think I've listened to a Clicks + Cuts compilation till now. The tracks gave me a good understanding of what to strive for.  I'm not familiar with Achim Szepanski and Mille Plateaux records, so this has been a nice learning process. Condolences to his loved ones, friends and fans on his untimely passing.

This was created in Ableton Live using a variety of its instruments, samples, and effects – along with Max for Live devices, Slate + Ash Choreographs and Spectres. A vocal sample of a lecture from freesound.org was also used. This turned out a lot less abstract and sparse than I originally envisioned, but I had a good time putting it together. 

More on the 665th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Clicks + Cuts Music Factory — The Assignment: Record a track in honor of the late Achim Szepanski — at Disquiet Junto Project 0665: Clicks + Cuts Music Factory – Disquiet

The image associated with this project was created by Lubomir Panak in 2011. Originally posted on Flickr 1, it is used thanks to a CC BY-NC 2.0 license. This is a detail of the original image, and it has been tilted at an angle, with the project information superimposed.

Subconscience Relics [disquiet0665]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0666: Beauty and the Beast

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0666 discussion thread on Lines:

Descended into a deep abyss of darkness on this one. I've been wanting to incorporate some Morphagene reels with a dark vibe that I downloaded from freesound.org, so this project seemed like the perfect opportunity to use them. Used Make Noise Wogglebug, Morphagene, Mimeophon, and XOH in an ALM 3U 52hp skiff. Recorded the audio into Ableton Live where I added a few more tracks from samples I had. A little bit of reverb from Eventide Blackhole was also added. Image by Grigoriy via Pexels.
 
More on the 666th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Beauty and the Beast — The Assignment: We’ve hit a devilish numerical milestone. Do your thing. — at https://disquiet.com/0666/

Infernal Descent [disquiet0666]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0668: All Right Then, Keep Your Secrets

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0668 discussion thread on Lines:

Ended up with this somewhat cheesy downtempo tune, though that wasn't my original intention. Totally mangled, jumbled, sliced up and re-pitched The Sound for the main melody, which was a lot of fun! Added some additional tracks and effects in Ableton Live to help with the vibe. Hope everyone has chance to relax and chill at their special secret spot sometime in the near future. Beach image by Maarten van den Heuvel via Unsplash.  

More on the 668th weekly Disquiet Junto project, All Right Then, Keep Your Secrets — The Assignment: Bury a secret sound until it is no longer identifiable — at https://disquiet.com/0668/
This project was proposed by Mahlen Morris.
The image associated with this track is a detail from a photo by Chris Riebschlager, found on Flickr and used thanks to a Creative Commons license:
https://flic.kr/p/2eGb3D
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Beach Veranda Hush [disquiet0668]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0669: Phonosynthesis
The Assignment: Make music to help a forest regenerate.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0669 discussion thread on Lines:

Hope the music that we've all created will help forests to grow and flourish. The trees and their friends here in our yard seemed appreciative when I played this for them. 

Created with Ableton Live using Slate+Ash Choreographs, Spectres, and Max4Live devices along with loops, samples and field recordings. Valhalla Delay and Arturia Fragments were used for effects. Photo is from a native Monterey Pine forest next to where I live here in California.  

More on the 669th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Phonosynthesis — The Assignment: Make music to help a forest regenerate — at https://disquiet.com/0669/ 1

Daydream Forest [disquiet0669]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0671: In the Air Tonight. The assignment: Make an atmosphere of your own.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0671 discussion thread on Lines:

I envisioned entering a cave and the final descent into a dark abyss. Created with a Make Noise Strega semi-modular using the "Bat Cave" patch from the user manual. Added Valhalla Delay in Ableton Live. Along with bat sounds – birds, crickets, water drips, wind, and maybe frogs could be heard? Photo by Gabriel Tover via Unsplash.  

More on the 671st weekly Disquiet Junto project, In the Air Tonight — The Assignment: Make an atmosphere of your own — at https://disquiet.com/0671/

Lost Forever In A Cave [disquiet0671]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0673: Switchback. The assignment: Record a piece of music in which you make loud that which is usually quiet and quiet that which is usually loud.
Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0673 discussion thread on Lines:
One approach I use in creating ambient soundscapes is to lay down a foundation drone and layer melodies and other tracks on top. The drone is usually much quieter than the rest of the tracks. In following this week's prompt, the foundation track with noise is louder while the others are quieter, to the point that they all blend together.
This was created in Ableton Live using Slate+Ash Spectres and Choreographs, along with built-in instruments. Waves photo by Cee Ayes via Unsplash.
More on the 673rd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Switch Back — The Assignment: Make the quiet part loud, and vice-versa — at https://disquiet.com/0673/

Counterflow [disquiet0673]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0674: Cerberus Sample. The assignment: Make a song not just with but from just one sample.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0674 discussion thread on Lines:

This gave me the opportunity to get more experience in learning the Rossum Panharmonium, a module I picked up second hand a few months ago. I setup a small 64hp modular skiff, and recorded a melody originally created in Ableton live, into Morphagene, then into Panharmonium, and finally to Monsoon. Modulation and other parameters were changed manually. Output was through Make Noise XOH into a Focusrite Scarlett interface, then into Ableton. Effects added were Valhalla Delay and Cableguys ShaperBox 3. The beginning 8.5 seconds is the actual sample. 

More on the 674th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Cerberus Sample — The Assignment: Make a song not just with but from just one sample — at https://disquiet.com/0674/ T

Open Air [disquiet0674]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0675: Arc of the Drone.
The assignment: Record a drone that goes from simple to complex to simple.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0675 discussion thread on Lines:

Tried to create a ambient drone that subtly transitioned from simple to complex to simple. Hopefully that came across in this piece.  

Created in Ableton Live using Slate + Ash Primaries/Strings, Madrona Labs Sumu, and Amazing Noises Grain Scanner soft instruments. Delay in Ableton along with Phonolyth Cascade reverb were the effects used. Image by Pawel Czerwinski via Unplash. 

More on the 675th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Arc of the Drone — The Assignment: Record a drone that goes from simple to complex to simple — at https://disquiet.com/0675/

Cascading Arc [disquiet0675]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0676: Sub Melody. The assignment: Bury a slow melody deep inside a drone.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0676 discussion thread on Lines:

I really enjoyed these drone projects. Wanted to create a minimal atmospheric vibe with this one. Tried to keep the melody as low key and simple as possible. 

Created in Ableton Live using Slate + Ash Choreographs, along with some samples. Valhalla Delay, Valhalla Supermassive and Output Portal were the effects used. Photo taken in San Francisco in 2008, back when I used to live in the SF Bay Area.

More on the 676th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Sub Melody — The Assignment: Bury a slow melody deep inside a drone — at https://disquiet.com/0676/

Resonant Spaces [disquiet0676]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0678: Commonplace Playlist. The assignment: Create a sonic diary of the past year with a dozen (or more) super-brief segments.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0678 discussion thread on Lines:

This is my third year of participating in Disquiet Junto. Thank you to this community for information, guidance and inspiration this past year. I ended up completing 33 Disquiet Junto projects, along with 53 music/video works that were posted on YouTube, Instagram and Bandcamp channels. Here’s to a creative 2025! (Image by Michael Skok via Unsplash).

1. January: Magic Forest Friends
2. February: when they looked up – under the alias float_fields 
3. March: Alpha Cubic
4. April: Fibonacci Frolic and Flow – Disquiet Junto 0642
5. May: Quiet Gathering of Shy and Curious Introverts – Disquiet Junto 0644
6. June: Times to Come 
7. July: Waking in a Cool Cave
8. August: Past Illusions
9. September: Subconscious Relics – Disquiet Junto 0665
10. October: where to? – under the alias float_fields
11. November: fronds waving. – album released via Bandcamp and streaming platforms 
12. December: Nesting Lost Fragments

More on the 678th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Commonplace Playlist — The Assignment: Create a sonic diary of the past year with a dozen (or more) super-brief segments — at https://disquiet.com/0678/

12 From 24 [disquiet0678]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0679: Ice Age. The Assignment: Record the sound of ice in a glass and make something with it.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0679 discussion thread on Lines:

At first I wasn’t sure if I had time but am glad I’m able to participate in the first Disquiet Junto for the new year. Created this dark noisy soundscape using field recordings of ice rattling in two different drinking vessels. Then copied these sounds into a 64hp rack that included Morphagene, Function, Ikarie and Nautilus. Combined everything in Ableton Live and added a couple random field recordings, samples and an additional track using Slate+Ash Primaries Strings. This turned out more chaotic and dense than I would have liked but enjoyed the creative process of putting this together. 

More on the 679th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Ice Age — The Assignment: Record the sound of ice in a glass and make something with it — at https://disquiet.com/0679/

Icehouse [disquiet0679]

Somewhere on the California Central Coast

he_nu_ri

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