Big Town, Small Town

[Time Waster]

I assume this track is what's called EDM.
In my effort to move away from entirely 'in the box' production, I have exclusively used hardware synths as sound sources for this track (except for the vocals). However, all FX and all MIDI sequences are within reaper.

Synths: Korg MS-20, Korg Volca Bass, Korg Volca Beats and Arturia MicroBrute.
The MS-20 was sequenced through a home made MIDI to CV converter, which actually works!

Female vocals: courtesy of Amy the robot (ttsMP3.com).
Male vocals: courtesy of Russel Brian the robot (ttsMP3.com).

Private share at the moment:

https://soundcloud.com/thewastersoft...social_sharing

Critical comments welcome.

Edit: I've updated the song based on suggestions from forum members. See this post - https://forum.cockos.com/showpost.ph...5&postcount=15

[msundh]

When listening to this, I got the feeling that a duet, you and the robot, could sound really great.

[smueske]

I absolutely loved this right up until the transition two thirds of the way through. Every decision until then felt spot on, surprising, and enjoyable. It just happens too quickly. No suggestions, and only my two cents.

[prom]

Quite a serious song about neighbourhood watch schemes, fugitives and anonymity.

infectious techno pop!

[Time Waster]

Originally Posted by msundh

When listening to this, I got the feeling that a duet, you and the robot, could sound really great.

Originally there were a lot more lyrics and I did the vocals. It was supposed to be a sort of rap thing. However, it sounded like rubbish. I played it to my wife and she hated it. So I reduced the lyrics down to the essentials and commissioned Amy to do the vocals, because I didn't like the sound of my own voice. I did consider doing the You can hide, You can run etc. myself, but I though I should best stay out of it.

Originally Posted by smueske

I absolutely loved this right up until the transition two thirds of the way through. Every decision until then felt spot on, surprising, and enjoyable. It just happens too quickly. No suggestions, and only my two cents.

Thanks for your appreciation. I did struggle with that transition. I reworked it three or four times, but I should look at it again because I tend to agree with you. I was trying to avoid the cliche riser thing with the doubling and re-doubling drum pattern.

Originally Posted by prom

Quite a serious song about neighbourhood watch schemes, fugitives and anonymity.

infectious techno pop!

Thanks, I'm glad you appreciate the seriousness of it

The original lyrics went into much more detail. I will copy them below. It was framed as a speech or lecture. My wife, who was in Toastmasters a while ago, said "There is no way you would get up and say that! its repetitive and boring".

[Time Waster]

The original lyrics are here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hVe...usp=share_link

[Glennbo]

Originally Posted by Time Waster

I assume this track is what's called EDM.
In my effort to move away from entirely 'in the box' production, I have exclusively used hardware synths as sound sources for this track (except for the vocals). However, all FX and all MIDI sequences are within reaper.

Synths: Korg MS-20, Korg Volca Bass, Korg Volca Beats and Arturia MicroBrute.
The MS-20 was sequenced through a home made MIDI to CV converter, which actually works!

Very cool tune, and using real physical midi hardware, with a patchbay synth to boot!

I started out with a patchbay synth I built from a kit in the 70s like this one,

https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2...hands-on-demo/

and later added a 360 Systems Midi Bass, Sequential Circuits DrumTraks, and Oberheim TVS synth that could play *two* different notes at the same time!

https://www.vintagesynth.com/360%20Systems/MIDI_Bass
https://www.vintagesynth.com/sci/drumtrx.php
https://www.vintagesynth.com/oberheim/2voice.php

[Time Waster]

Originally Posted by Glennbo

Very cool tune, and using real physical midi hardware, with a patchbay synth to boot!

I started out with a patchbay synth I built from a kit in the 70s like this one,

https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2...hands-on-demo/

and later added a 360 Systems Midi Bass, Sequential Circuits DrumTraks, and Oberheim TVS synth that could play *two* different notes at the same time!

https://www.vintagesynth.com/360%20Systems/MIDI_Bass
https://www.vintagesynth.com/sci/drumtrx.php
https://www.vintagesynth.com/oberheim/2voice.php

Cool gear! The Oberheim particularly, although the patchbay synth would be pretty good. I'm hoping to get around to building my own modular, based on the designs of Moritz Klein - https://www.youtube.com/c/MoritzKlein0/videos

My MS-20 is an original, which I bought second hand in '82. I also had a TR-606 drum machine, which I stupidly sold. I wanted to get a TB-303 bassline to go with the 606, but never got around to it. Damn! However, the Volcas are pretty good substitutes. Actually, in most respects I think the Volcas are better than the the old Roland machines, but they don't have the coolness factor (yet).

[Glennbo]

Originally Posted by Time Waster

Cool gear! The Oberheim particularly, although the patchbay synth would be pretty good.

The Oberheim had CV and gate patch points on the back, as did an Arp String Ensemble I had back then, and you could do some cool things patching those three things together, and use the DrumTraks as a pulse clock for the sequencers in the two synths.

I'm hoping to get around to building my own modular, based on the designs of Moritz Klein - https://www.youtube.com/c/MoritzKlein0/videos

Oh, that looks fun!

My MS-20 is an original, which I bought second hand in '82. I also had a TR-606 drum machine, which I stupidly sold. I wanted to get a TB-303 bassline to go with the 606, but never got around to it. Damn! However, the Volcas are pretty good substitutes. Actually, in most respects I think the Volcas are better than the the old Roland machines, but they don't have the coolness factor (yet).

Ain't nothing wrong with the new small form factor synths that emulate the original larger units. I want a Behringer Model D, just coz it looks fun and I used to have a real MiniMoog in my studio. I just don't really need one enough to justify it, plus I already have the Arturia MiniMoog V plugin.