TheAlienElement

Hey so, Tumblr's move to erase adult content is more a blow to lgbt+, art, and all mature communities that it contained within than it is anything else. They are absolutely out of touch with their user base, their algorithms are untrained, poorly staffed, bias, and completely garbage. It's 2018, a nipple is not gonna kill anyone.

This might get long. First, the album: It’s almost done. Vocals needed on two songs, mixing on three (maybe four if I decide to remix something old from awhile ago.) Then, album art, mastering, pressing. I doubt I’ll do another physical release after this unless I get a sizable audience, but I’m not expectant of that with how things have paced out so far. I’ve already started writing other stuff for a follow-up EP and can’t wait to get the album done and out as the EP should, in theory, go much smoother- and who wants to work on songs they wrote almost 10 years ago now? I’ll give you a hint: not me. Why has it taken this long? Gear is expensive, paying professionals to mix is expensive, collaboration is difficult when everyone else is in the same boat (broke, tired, busy and/or depressed), and also... life. It’s definitely partially on me. The synth part: Since starting my eurorack posts, I’ve gotten deeper into that rabbit hole and have a 9u x 84 hp case now. It was DIY, not built the best, and had a crummy power supply with it- but I had my brother paint the outside, I swapped the power system in it, and now it sounds excellent and looks pretty good. (The paint job itself looks excellent, but the build itself has design flaws.) Back when I was making decent money for around half a year or so I let that get to me- since then, that job is no longer around and I had to let go of my MS-20 Mini. It’s okay, it’s all over the album and I don’t want to beat one instrument to death when I work on new material. In terms of a monosynth, my euro is extremely versatile right now, despite having many holes my gear lust wants to fill (but that requires money). As well, I was able to acquire some stuff for my recording chain that will stay with me for awhile to come, so I am able to record in ways I now feel more comfortable releasing content with. The life part: The last gig I had that I was making the type of money it takes to keep up with this passion was soul-draining. Aren’t they all? This one in particular put me in a role where I had to continually keep myself and others from harm, while ignoring all my feedback and attempts to make positive steps forward for myself, the company, and the safety of everyone involved. Hint: those steps did not work. Like many other people in the American workforce, I have found I am a meaningless cog lest I make companies more money somehow. After that came a solid depression in my life- financially, people suddenly were not hiring me. Mentally, things started going backwards. Physically, I’ve had to move twice and most recently back to a place filled with bark scorpions and some weird will-draining curse. Also, Arizona’s summers. It hasn’t dropped below 100° F during the day in an months- perhaps once after a few days of storming here last month. It’s fucking September 12th right now. If you say it’s a dry heat I’ll fight you- it gets humid after summer storms, so y’know, not only is it so hot being outside for one minute makes you sweat it’s so humid being outside for one minute makes you sweat- not to mention getting into a car is a legitimately painful experience (reaching around 150° inside when parked without shade, which for some awful fucking reason there’s not a lot of in the valley). The act of being in the valley during the summer is physically oppressive. You can’t really get around without a car here, either, with the exception of living in the heart of Tempe or Phoenix (which I no longer do, and even then, everything and everyone I know is spread so far apart that’s not entirely practical since public transport here is far from the best.) Essentially Summer hits and it becomes time to engage in being a recluse. Going outside, even for a short bit, becomes a decision of weighing the misery and the reward and the misery typically is more than the reward. So now I’m attempting to get out of this state- eliminate the remaining debt of getting a vehicle and having no income for awhile and leave. Unfortunately that might solve some weather problems for now until we super-heat the planet and all die, but y’know, one thing at a time. This all has consistently interfered with my ability to create content and put it out. Sometimes, I have the time, but no money- sometimes, the money but not the time. Sometimes I have both but I’m so depressed all my mental faculties are spent on trying to not want to jump off a tall building. But dammit, it’s happening one slow, painful, regretful step at a time. In the future I seriously hope to find myself in an environment conducive to writing, practicing, creating and exploring- without music, I am nothing. But I am still trying to be something.

Last post I touched on the why's and a bit of background, so let's jump into building my system. After establishing a concept and vague price range, it was time to look at the parts.

Firstly, getting into Eurorack is fairly straightforward. You need a case, a power supply, and then... Modules! Frankly, it makes the most sense to start with what modules you're planning on getting, and of course picking those based on what you want your system to do. After that there are plenty of kinds of cases but they're the most basic element of it all (and usually the cheapest, with exceptions WALDORF). I have definitely seen some beauties and very raw DIY stuff too, which maybe one day is tempting to do with a case.

Picking The Case

I wanted a case that is

Small-Medium sized, but not too small

Straightforward, no frills such as a stand or multiple tiers or rack based.

Would be easy to set up power in.

Beginner friendly? I guess?

So I almost got a Moog case as you can find them both new and used pretty cheaply, but I made the mistake of thinking maybe I needed just a little more space (which, as it would have it, is probably a bad idea starting off. Once you aquire your case, you will find a deep rooted need to FILL EVERY HP WITH ALL THE THINGS. This costs money. Some of us don't have any money. It can be potentially distracting for work flow to have empty space looking at you, as well.)

What'd I end up with? Well

Firstly, thank you Perfect Circuit, this was both thoughtful and cute. (I only ordered the case but they sent a really solid screwdriver with.)

This is the Make Noise Skiff. It is 104hp, with included power. 250$ is how much it costs new, I believe. I decided on the Skiff so I would have room enough to get in some utility modules as well as filters and effects, without having to worry about researching power supplies too deeply (which actually for eurorack isn't that complicated as it would happen.)

Some points I've established about this thing:

It is actually good for beginners, sans that space. The power supply has fail-safes built in in case you do something stupid like plug a ribbon cable in the wrong way (I'd never do this, I'm too smart for such a stupid move ahahaha)

It has a solid feel despite just being a black metallic shell, essentially.

The power indicator is pretty cool looking, but I'm bias and like Make Noise's style (mostly.)

Oh fuck that's way too much HP time to drop 3 grand I don’t have on modules

The First Modules

So I wanted something I could basically immediately plug in and toy with- an obvious effect that also would suit my sonic pallet and hopefully one I've been interested in for awhile. I also wanted something uitility to go with.

These are the Dave Smith DSM03 feedback module and the Pittsburgh Modular Outs. Why the DSM03?

I've particularly liked the feedback routing DSI synths are capable of, especially the glassy destruction the evolver can do. A good demonstration: the ending of this song.

It can act as percussion and even generate stringed instrument tones, while the feedback tuning can be CV controlled. Example: https://youtu.be/bdhMU4GoIgo

Decent DSP lowpass filter.

Tuned gently, it can act as a delay.

First impression? Oh yes. Oh yes I like this thing.

Why the Pittsburgh Outs? Easy:

Headphone amp as well as line outs.

LR for whenever I inevitably get a reverb module, many of which tend to have mono or stereo outs.

No fucking annoying dongles to go from 3.5mm to TS.

This might not look pretty yet but it certainly sounds it.

First Impressions/Lessons

Well shit, I need a mult or three.

Well shit, I need longer patch cables.

The DSM03 is really useable, but I think I'll need a mixer to blend it in subtly for more versatility.

Okay I definitely need a fucking mixer.

Hey I probably need an English Tear so my shit talks to eachother better.

Whoopsie I ordered an English Tear.

Andddd ordered some stackcables for good measure.

I am become one with the noise. I do not need sleep. I do not need food. I need modules. I need cables.

Initial Patches and Sounds:

https://soundcloud.com/thealienelement/dsm03-and-stuff

That’s a few clips of me experimenting with the SQ-1 controlling my 0-coast and going into the MS-20 Mini’s filters, then from there into the DSM03. The last, longest bit is just MS-20 and DSM03; however the DSM03′s out is multed and fed back into the external input of the Korg via its ESP. So... feedback on feedback.

I found sweet spots sweeping through, little bits of hellish beauty and glass when it’s tuned just right. I think I know what I prefer to set the Tuning to on the DSM03 if it’s not being controlled by CV, but you can tell in this recording I don’t quite have the way the Korg and DSM play together down.

I can easily see doing some very fun things with the FM stuff from the 0-coast and this thing, and the more I play the more fun I have.

Earlier, my poor roommate endured a destructive, yet absolutely timbre rich patch I unfortunately failed to record where basically all my gear was patched together with some stuff multed like crazy. My cables definitely aren’t long enough to make that feasible just yet, as I had to awkwardly position the case to fit everything at the time, but I remember the logistics of it and will certainly be recreating it in a more polished manner soon.

Going Forward

So, here we go. I've decided while I work on finalizing details on the album and send it off to mixing I would blog my dive into eurorack as well as some of my current synthy and hardware friends. Best way to begin is with

Why Eurorack?

Basically, it's going to play well with my existing patchable gear- which are the Korg MS-20 Mini, SQ-1, and Make Noise 0-coast. Right now, the MS-20 can be heard prominently throughout my album on at least 5 songs.

Here is a photo of that madness.

As well eurorack appears beginner friendly, in what I've seen, compared to other formats. It has drawbacks, but the sheer amount of modules available is staggering (for better or worse, but more on the worse later.)

Because of these reasons, I can essentially plan and configure a system that plays to what I have and allows me to explore neigh any sonic territory hardware synthesis and sampling has to offer. And holy shit, those Boomstar filters- but I digress.

The Concept

As it happens, I'm happy with my existing VCOs, especially as someone who loves FM the 0-coast covers that ground pretty nicely (though I will likely supplement with a sub oscillator/sine wave down the line.) I want to build a nice contained system that plays to the strengths of my existing gear while adding effects, opening ways to blend and route signals and explore more. I'm planning on making heavy use of the Korg's (and 0-coast) envelopes and lfos to modulate these potential effects, as well as being able to mult them to play into each other better.

The "affecter" is what I'm planning this system as. I'll also be using this to process external stuff as I explore and build sounds for The Alien Element. I have found, as well, working outside of software is so much more inspiring to me.

Lastly, plugins get outdated. They can't be resold. They don't hold value, and they won't always be supported. And yet, like plugins, a modular system can be combined any which way you want to accomplish amazing things. It's possible to open and troubleshoot hardware, to modify it, to trade it. Plugins? Not so much. Basically, I just really wanted to get outside the computer and stay there as long as I can, though The Alien Element never was and never will be a stranger to it.

So... it’s been awhile since posting anything here.

At this point, Æ has been moving somewhat towards some kinda final recording period. Right now I need a guitarist to partner with to really finish off a few things, and then the rest is on me and my time/resources.

Recently I did perform as Æ in March, however it was a one man show with only a couple of tracks. Post-performance photo can be found here: https://twitter.com/AlasterMusic/status/708803270756540417

As well, we have a website while things are in the works: thealienelement.com 

A preview of some noise: https://twitter.com/AlasterMusic/status/711776881352151041

Currently trying to escape the work-hell trap and be active. Turns out Chandler is a terrible area to find collaborators. If you find any talent who likes working in sonic mystery (and misery), please send them my way.

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