I ran some tests under Ableton Live 8 using Max4Live as splitter on Send A (Positive portion) and Send B (Negative portion). In order to perform this technique, under Ableton Live, is mandatory to set the output of audio channel to be processed on “Sends Only”. I tested this technique on an already mixed electronic track. The original track sounds good and punchy but even “flat” in terms of dynamics and space. I tried using different compressor settings for each part of the signal.

As already mentioned it’s very easy to get a distorted signal specially when the mix have few elements (i.e.: only kick+hh parts).

When the song start pumping with more instruments, here comes the magic: the mix now is wider and more dynamic without losing punch. Adjusting compressor parameters and channel levels dramatically change the final result, more often with heavy distortions.

I have to find a way to get rid of this drawback and test this technique with different effect types and working on some audio and video proof of concept to show.

Stay tuned,
Luca

This project started as an experiment in summer 2009. I worked on this sound for months, trying to push the boundaries of subtractive synthesis together a wise usage of sampling. The final result is my first commercial library based on this synthesized, different and hopefully new piano sound.

The Modular Piano for NI Kontakt can be purchased as download at a price of €29 on Progsounds.com

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The Modular Piano solo demo by Space4Keys

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While programming my first library I ran into the need to have an acoustic piano sound. Since I don’t have a real piano to sample, I decided to synthesize it from scratch using “traditional” subtractive synthesis technique. This is my first good result and has been achived only by using basic oscillators, filters and so on. The only downside is the limited polyphony due to heavy CPU usage so I sampled almost every key and mapped them into a sampler in order to make this sound more usable.

Midi file provided by Purgatory Creek
Modular piano by Luca Capozzi – 2009

Update Oct. 14, 2009: Added color control and individual string detuning.

Audio examples:

Default timbre – No color control – No strings detune

Color set to 25 – Strings detuned

Excerpt from Listzt Piano Concerto n. 1

Update Nov. 7: Trying different filters and parameters. Chopin Etude Op.10 n.4

Update Nov. 17: Layering different settings – Purgatory Creek

Grand Illusion (Jordan Rudess)

Links:
Modular piano @ Behance Network

The Stethosphone is an “alternative” miking tool built using a couple of electret mic capsules mounted inside a cheap stethoscope. This instrument is very useful in order to experiment with surface recording from any object and it is good even as new way to record instruments such as guitars, drums and so on.

Recording a Reaktor session with the Stethosphone through a Sony PCM D50 recorder

The following examples are Stethosphone recordings processed in Ableton Live with resonators, reverbs and delays.

First two recordings captured from my Sony Vaio surface. Source materials are fans and hard disk noises. The recordings have been processed in Ableton Live.

Vocal recording at low pitch, throat singing alike. The material has been processed in Ableton Live.

Reaktor session recorded pointing the Stethosphone few millimeters over the laptop speaker and, then, processing it via Ableton Live.

External links:
The Stethosphone on Behance Network
Gearwire interview about the Stethosphone

Client: Antonio Campeglia
Company: CM2 Magazine (Italy)
Task: Sound Design

Eight new sounds programmed to show main features of Native Instruments Massive, reviewed by the client on issue 36 of CM2 Magazine (Italy).

Demos:

1. Massivized (feat. Wah Lead) – All sounds comes from Massive.

2. String Model – Physical modeling under Massive is possible

3. Eveline – Pad and sequenced percussions.

4. Harpsy – FM and Physical Modeling

Personal collection of sounds made for Korg Triton Rack synthesizer. All patches uses the provided Korg MS-20 Saw samples you need to load into your Triton while patches saved into NO_SMP folders are sound copies that does not make uses of external samples and are suitable for Triton LE.

Demos:

1. Crossing Planets

2. Killer Wah Lead

3. Nord Pad

Personal collection of sounds made for Kurzweil K2500/K2600 synthesizer between 2005 and 2006.

Demos:

1. From the Deep

2. JP Pad

3. Beauty Strings

4. HyperSaw

Collection of modules, mostly inspired by Doepfer stuff and some brand new one from me.

Prefixes:

A- = Doepfer
G2- = Nord Modular G2
LC- = Luca Capozzi

Modules:

A-101-3X Advanced Phaser
A-104 Trautonium Filter
A-113 Subharmonic Oscillator
A-114b Waveshaper / Ringmod
A-115 Audio Divider
A-116 VC Waveform Processor
A-136 Distortion Waveshaper
A-138c Polarizing Mixer
A-150 Voltage Controlled Switch
A-16X Clock Generator
A-160 Clock Divider
A-161 Clock Sequencer
A-162 Dual Trigger Delay
A-163 Voltage Controlled Divider
A-166 Logic Module
A-167 Analog Comparator
A-188 BBD Delay

G2-ADC 8bit Analog to Digital Converter
G2-DAC 8bit Digital to Analog Converter

LC-100-1 Advanced PWM Oscillator
LC-100-2 Bitcrusher

Apocalypse Meow, second release of sound designer/IDM artist Luca Capozzi, features eight tracks of exciting electronic music.

Tracklist:

01 – Intro (Grinded Dust)
The analog warmth of a Doepfer and a Moog Voyager travels together the shiny frequencies of a digital Nord Modular G2X introducing you through this electronic journey.

02 – Ka’tun IV
The power of genetic polyrhythmed drums with a taste of acid basslines. The harshness of resonant filters used as solo instrument.
Available for licensing

03 – The Prophecy
Dive yourself straight to the action with this soundtrack-style song. Acoustic orchestration and fat basslines are melted together. A rocking keyboard solo to fight the monster.
Available for licensing

04 – Midnight Fog
Modeled dissonations, filter sweeps as melodic lines. Not for untrained ears.

05 – ZO-ology
An easy-to-listen electronic song.

06 – Back to A
How to play a radio transmission and enjoy your favorite soccer team.

07 – Ostreococcus OsV5
How a virus DNA will sound? Here it is. Bassline, distant echoed guitars and swinging percussions are all generated by a virus genome. Reaktor is the cure.
Available for licensing

08 – Lame Walk
A jazzy walking bass meets a crazy automated breakbeat.

Gear used for Apocalypse Meow: Doepfer A-100, Moog Voyager, Clavia Nord Modular G2X, Metasonix TX-1, Roland TR-606, Native Instruments Reaktor 5, AAS Tassman, Logic Studio Pro, Ableton Live 7.

A useful tool to stream DNA sequences as midi notes
Use genome data as base for your compositions or live improvisations. Check “Instructions.rtf” inside the archive. A table of Ostreococcus virus Os V5, controlling Beatslicer, is provided as example. The mp3 demo shows an extensive use of this ensemble as notes source for more mangling in Ableton Live.

In this track bassline, distant echoed guitars and swinging percussions are all generated by the same virus genome.