KVR Audio

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:32 pm

How did they do it?

In the video below (@ ~7:30), the presenter assigns velocity to filter to create a hypnotic loop very symbolic of early/mid 90's Goa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6RpMVadOfk

However, back then the tools of choice were the 101 and 303, et al.
These tools though have no facility for filter automation (unless modified).
How then did they do it?

One option is they manually automated and sampled. But this doesn't make sense because the transition is seamless when it eventually deviates from the loop.

Just like an aircraft petrol tank, I'm baffled.

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:42 pm

Before PCs there were dedicated Midi sequencers :

http://www.matrixsynth.com/2010/03/full ... encer.html

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:43 pm

UltraJv wrote:Before PCs there were dedicated Midi sequencers :

http://www.matrixsynth.com/2010/03/full ... encer.html

Yes, obviously.
But how does one automate the 101/303 filter using that?

UltraJv · Post by **UltraJv** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:54 pm

Mushy Mushy wrote:
UltraJv wrote:Before PCs there were dedicated Midi sequencers :

http://www.matrixsynth.com/2010/03/full ... encer.html
Yes, obviously.
But how does one automate the 101/303 filter using that?

live manipulation and multi tracking. People do the same now with Silverspike Tape it and similar.

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:56 pm

By hand usually I think. It always sounds much more organic and not so smooth or perfectly calculated on a lot of older material.

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:58 pm

robojam wrote:By hand usually I think. It always sounds much more organic and not so smooth or perfectly calculated on a lot of older material.

Interesting.

That's an awful lot of work though.... Those poor synths

ZenPunkHippy · Post by **ZenPunkHippy** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:06 pm

Yeah, it was basically all done by hand - often in a single take.

Which means:

1. Setting up all the gear (synths, sampler, drum machines) ready to play
2. Pre-sequence as much as physically possible
3. Press record
4. Run about the studio:
- changing patches at the right time
- selecting effects
- change patterns
- tweaking filter cutoff on your chosen machine
- maybe invite a mate or 2 around to help with particularly complex parts
- live keyboard playing

So not really magic, just putting in some effort

It's also a good part of why the early Goa tunes sound so loose and organic, imperfect ... more alive ...

Peace,
Andy.

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:13 pm

ZenPunkHippy wrote:Yeah, it was basically all done by hand - often in a single take.

Man o man we have it easy now don't we.

I just feel sorry for the knobs/sliders on those poor synths.
Although I suppose back then they were worth peanuts.

ZenPunkHippy · Post by **ZenPunkHippy** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:21 pm

The other technique, if you had access to the equipment, was to record the parts to multi track tape first. I guess since 24 or more tracks would cost a fortune back then, some tracks would contain multiple parts.

To record the final mix, each track is routed to an individual channel on the mixing desk and then mixed "live" (fader, EQ, send tweaking) like the old dub masters used to do (Lee Scratch Perry etc.) to the 2 track master.

Also worth pointing out that some of the early trance artists were people like Youth at Butterfly studios. Not exactly bedroom producers - they had a long history of recording with bands like Killing Joke throughout the 80s, so I'd guess they would have had access to a decent set of kit.

Peace,
Andy.

Acid Mitch · Post by **Acid Mitch** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:36 pm

Mushy Mushy wrote: That's an awful lot of work though.... Those poor synths

It's not work, it's play.

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 6:19 pm

Acid Mitch wrote:
Mushy Mushy wrote: That's an awful lot of work though.... Those poor synths
It's not work, it's play.

Very true.

Unless though ones studio time is quite limited.

elassi · Post by **elassi** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 6:33 pm

robojam wrote:It always sounds much more organic

alligatorlizard · Post by **alligatorlizard** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:10 pm

I like the idea that the 90's was some dark age before computer technology!

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:16 pm

alligatorlizard wrote:I like the idea that the 90's was some dark age before computer technology!

Did your 101 have MIDI back then?

Goa/Psy Acid lines before all this newfangled MS DOS malarky.