Themeless Variations no. 20: Abhorred vacuum

This weekends jam features what seems to be the setup into which I have settled: Berglund Instruments NuRAD, Behringer Neutron, Novation Peak, Arturia Microfreak, and Elektron Digitone.

I am layering the Neutron and Peak together and controlling them with the NuRAD. Sometimes I use the Peak for chords with the analog Neutron on top, but this jam uses both as monos for a powerful, expressive combined sound.

The chord sequence is being played on the Arturia Microfreak, sequenced by the Digitone. Because the Microfreak and Neutron lack onboard effects (mostly - Neutron has an analog delay, but I don’t use it often), I am using the Digitone to process their audio.

Digitone is pulling a lot of weight in this jam: arp, bass, drums, audio FX, and sequencing the Microfreak. I’m really enjoying the Digitone. Digitone gets bonus points because it also works well as an eight-voice poly synth that can be breath controlled - but I’m not using it that way in this jam.

There is still room to bring the Roland SE-02 into
the mix, and I can sequence it with the Digitone once I get a midi thru box. I’m still learning to write with this setup; right now, most of what I’m doing is less than complete compositions. I have started to figure out how to treat each instrument as playing a role in the ensemble, and I’ve been building layered chord loops like this one. The next step is learning to build more complex arrangements. I’m enjoying it!

I hope you enjoy it, too!

​- BD