TX81Z is the bacon of FM synthesizers

What's better than TX81Z?  More TX81Z.  Each one has 8-note polyphony, but now they are chained together for 16-notes.  Getting things ready to record a new track.

Alesis Andromeda Tutorial 04 - Envelopes

So far I have been showing the use of Envelopes in a conventional manner.
Today I will uncover advanced secrets of Andromedas envelopes in more detail.  Some of these powerful envelope features may astonish you.

CONTENTS
0:05 Introduction
0:25 Envelope Polarity
2:13 Patch: Do-wah Bass
2:51 Time Page + Level Page
3:40 Trigger + Re-trigger
6:20 Patch: Delta Re-trigger
8:06 Dynamics Page
10:07 Loop Page
10:59 Patch: Reverse Technique + Loop Oscillation
12:32 Engine Optimizer
13:10 Closing

My next video will explore the CLOCK and its related functions: LFOs, Arpeggiator, and Sequencer.  Thanks for watching!

PS - I apologize for some of the wobbly camera mount.  I'm looking into building a more stable overhead camera rig. 

Aphex 651 Sidechain Compressor Demo

This is a quick demo of the Aphex 651 Expressor.  The Expressor has a bit of a reputation for being one of the most transparent compressors around.  It's a sidechain compressor with a lo-shelf and a high frequency restoration processor called HFX.  HFX is basically an EQ boost only on the gain-reduced part of the signal.  Despite this, the signal can still be crushed to bits if that is your sort of thing.

Common uses for the sidechain are ducking a background music signal with a voice over.  You've heard this in commercials and annoying radio announcements that interrupt your favorite songs beginning and ending.

Part 1 shows some compression settings on a drumloop provided by BFD acoustic drum plugin.  I'll crush the loop to bits, extend release time, add more transient pop by increasing attack time, and demonstrate the HFX processor.

Part 2 demonstrates the use of sidechaining a mic voice input to duck the background drum loop.

Part 3 demonstrates how a bass synth can duck the drum loop to provide a punchy groove.  Sidechain is a very common solution to the age old problem of keeping the bass and kick drums from fighting each other in the lower frequency spectrum.  Plus it just sounds great in electronic and pop music.  Please excuse my horrible synth playing, I'm juggling the compressor settings at the same time.

CONTENTS
0:05 PART 1: DRUMLOOP COMPRESSION
2:19 PART 2: SIDECHAIN DUCKING W/ MIC
3:25 PART 3: SIDECHAIN BASS

Alesis Andromeda Tutorial 03 - Filters

This continuing tutorial series will focus on editing patches on the Alesis Andromeda.  In this video I will examine the FILTERS and POST-FILTER MIX modules in more detail.  I will continue topics for Filter FM and Filter Feedback and show how to finalize their configurations.  I will introduce the ribbon controller as a mod source, and show how to tweak some more sounds along the way.

CONTENTS
0:05 Introduction
0:33 FILTER2 INPUT Configuration
1:30 FILTER2 Self-Oscillation
2:49 FILTER Parameters and FILTERFM
4:20 POST-FILTER MIX module and FILTER FEEDBACK
5:49 RIBBON CONTROLLER
6:26 Patch: Ripper
12:39 Closing

Join me for my next video in which there is still a great deal more to discover in Envelopes.  Thanks for watching!