Author Archives: Brendan F

String Session

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Big cello day for me.   3rd Grade beginners, followed by 4th Graders learning the basics of note-reading, then a couple private lessons after school.  Then a fun second String Session  at Soapbox.   A couple new folks came out, so we had  3 celli, 2 violins, and 1  multi-instrumentalist.   Nate brought a bunch of effects processors and we tried some of those out with the Yamaha and his Fishman-equipped acoustic cello (+ preamp).   Of particular note were the bright green phase shifter and envelope filter pedals.    Ira also showed us some pretty cool fiddle-inspired techniques on cello, like a rhythmic bow-hand chop that I’ve got to work on now!

 

 

Finally!

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So, I’ve been experimenting for a while with effectively mixing cello with software-based oscillators.  Like, in a way that feels natural and that I enjoy.  Mostly I’ve been frustrated.  Sometimes with MIDI, sometimes with software in general, and sometimes with the cello.  But, things have taken a turn for the better with Audiomulch.  And what’s really cool about it all is that the developer himself commented on my blog post about the program.  Mega props.

Here’s some of my experiments on Archive.org

 

Piezo

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I’m moving away from the Yamaha silent cello and back to trying to amplify my acoustic instrument.  It’s so much more fun to play a real cello!  I just got the c-100 piezo (again), but this time it’ll be supported by the Fishman Pro EQ Platinum, which seems like an awesome piece of equipment, judging by the heft of the box that UPS just dropped off.

 

 

 

 

AudioMulch.

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I’m lovin’ it.   I’ve only been experimenting for three days, but I’m pretty much sold.   Audiomulch 2.1.1 for Windows 7. As an audio-editor/daw , it’s got a couple things going for it that I really like.  One, it’s super-lightweight,  similar to the old cool-edit pro in that sense.  (14mb install file!) Two is the awesome patcher interface, where you can graphically route signals from generators and file-loopers through filters, processors and mixers and then to an audio out.

It’s got a simple pattern editor for drums and “basslines”, but unlike FL Studio the workflow is straightforward.  The process of creating a pattern, applying effects and filters and then automating it is almost totally intuitive.  (The exception being the automation, which is still a little weird for me).

Like Ableton, AudioMulch is designed for live use, according to the documentation.   My brief experience with Ableton was that it was almost *too* powerful as a looping tool.  The beat-mapping/stretching tool was so powerful it was encouraging me to do stupid stuff.  (Hey, I can mix the first 64 bars of this Beethoven String Quartet with the beat from this new Drake track, and then drop Deerhunter samples over top!!).  Stupid stuff.

Plus, Ableton’s layout/workflow still seems a little disorienting.

Anyway, AudioMulch is awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange Mighty Trio in Casual Concert

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Caught an inspiring show tonight in the intimate setting of nowhere other than the “Eurythmy Room”  at the Chicago Waldorf  School.   Zack Kline (fiddle) set a conversational tone, inviting questions from the many younger students in the audience.   Nick and Mike (bass and keys) helped field the questions that seemed to come mostly from the adults in attendance.

The Minneapolis-based Orange Mighty Trio played with both  virtuosity and depth, changing it up between the technically demanding and the slow and hauntingly beautiful.   A slow waltz in the middle of the set was particularly moving — the spare chords reminiscent of Copland.    The majority of the songs performed were the trio’s own — written democratically according to Zack — with all members contributing a few tunes.

I’m looking forward to Orange Mighty’s return to Chicago in the spring, and we’ll hopefully see them at Soapbox then for a 48 Volts profile!