Electropop -songs (or something)

wkeisari

Hi folks,

I've got some Kx-powered lo-fi electro songs for you, a project called "Vaaleanpunainen Kohina", which means "Pink Noise" in english.

The site is in finnish but you should quite easily figure out how to play the songs:

http://www.mikseri.net/vkohina/

I recorded the songs using two SB Live! values and of course, the Kx drivers and ProFX. I also used a lot of dsp effects like stereo chorus, phaser, tubedrive etc. in the mixes. The songs are mainly sequenced using Acid Pro and a few selfmade soundfonts.

We also rehealsed the songs a couple of times using the soundcards as a live fx unit. With 4 seperate line inputs and 8 outputs it was truly awesome! Not bad for a two 20 euros SB Live!'s...

Anyway, hope u like the songs.

-wkeisari

Maddogg6

Ok - I definitly see the Pink floyd influence in the beginning 'rain on the beach' - and I liked how you seguayed from song to song - done very nicely.
But - the reverb used during these seguays made me feel like I was sitting in a sewer pipe (a 'tunnel reverb' seems to have been used) - not sure if it was the intended effect - but I would have expected something more of an 'open' reverb/ambient effect there - maybe I was missing hearing the seagulls that I so much associate with the ocean side too - but then, seagulls are pretty quiet when its raining, so..?? - it just didnt seem to 'fit' whith what I expected the intended effect to be IMHO.
- So, I would suggest, (to avoid sounding like in a tunnel), to use less 'ER', longer 'predelay', longer 'decay', and a bit lower 'wet' mix. That should give more of an 'outdoor' feel - which is what I associate more with hearing rain and the ocean.

Also - you might want to consider setting the PSR and CASIO keys to the side and get some 'more professional' sounding samples/keyboard - they added a bit of 'amatureish' sound when your skills are DEFINILTY more professional than that. Its like you've outgrown those 'toys'. You DID DO WELL with what you have.. but I could see you being quite 'dangerous' with better sample sets in your arsenal. Its just that equipment is such 'consumer' grade that no matter how good the sampler/sampling skills are (you seem to have a good grasp on that subject as well) - the source of the samples are ran through low grade D-A's and adding a 'cheesy' sound over all.

You really should look at an Alesis or Roland (lower cost, w/ sequencer - if your a 1 man band, maybe one with a sample loading ability also - for future expansions??) keyboard, then I'd say, hit the clubs and make some money to pay off the investment in you new keyboard.
or maybe buy some porfessional AKAI or GIGAStudio sample sets and convert to SF2. Or even get some EMU SF2's - but I have purchased from them in the past and wasnt 100% happy with the quality of their sets (a whole cd had only a couple 'good' ones) - but this was a while ago - back when I had my AWE32 (Pre- SBLives).

Other than that, all the songs are well written and quite interesting with all various changes that you have going on. Your 'orchestration' is impressive - as all the parts flowed well from change to change and song to song.
The styles are as varied as the influences listed on your web page - Not sure if I've ever seen Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk AND Neil Young in someones influences before - But I do hear them in there - I guess I would say your work 'sounds' like Pink Floyd jamming kraftwerk style music at wallmarts as a break from their shopping, mostly because of the heavy and obvious consumer 'synth' usage. And it sounded like Neil Young sitting in on the last song.

Hope I made sense/helped.

Good job.

wkeisari

Thanks for the feedback Maddogg6!

I can hear it now... it's a bit tunnellish. Can't remember which reverb settings I used.. well maybe I'll fix it someday . I used Wave generator's noise and a low pass filter for that sound.

I'm kinda trying to get along with my cheap lo-fi intruments in this project. It's a style issue.. I don't like too 'polished' sounds, they sound boring to me. I like a bit of distortion, hiss and hum, here and there. So I try to bring "organic" feel to those, kind of static, lo-fi keyboard sounds. And of course, I'm broke too

If you're interested, you might want to check out another Finnish band called "Aavikko", they have done similar music for a while now and maybe have even cheaper sounding equipment than I

Btw I recorded the organ samples first with my "My first sony" C-cassette recorder and then transferred them to soundfonts... a low grade sampling, eh?

Can you recommend any model? I'm kind of looking for a simple sequencer with an ability to change song structures in live situations. Something like "auto-accompanient" in those cheap keyboards, but programmable tracks. I'd like to sequence each song/track first with my computer and just change the order or mute the tracks etc. live. I'm a newbie in this area..

-wkeisari

Maddogg6

I cant say Ive used any sequencer in that way - But I do know Roland and Korg (as wel l as Yamaha) have sequencing / arranger keyboards - any where between $500US and $3200 US. So - not really if you're broke.. hehe. I got burned on a yamaha before, advertised features that didnt exist on a Rack unit - although the sample set was pretty good - some MIDI CC in the Implementation chart didnt work.

But - if your happy with the KB's you have, I guess you could get something like this to give extra sequencing / polyphony:
http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_...100/index.html

Not sure how thats gonna deal with "Live" situations tho.

A standalone sequncer may also be used....
IIRC the Yamaha PSR series (if the have MIDI) - would take the 'fingered' chords for accompanyment - as well as respond MIDI CC controllers for 'PART' ON/OFF (probably just CC#7 volume/mute) - Id imagine would accomplish what you want by using the keys you have - again, assuming they do have midi ports on your existing keyboards.

If you have a MIDI IMPLEMENTATION chart for your KB's - it would explain how it would work with extranal midi control.

Now, if you can scrounge up the $1000US for a Korg that sounds like it would do what you want.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ers?sku=702264

My friend has a Korg 0/1W Pro - and its a very nice unit (weighted keys, great samples, sequncer is not very good with its limited LCD screen compared to ANY PC sequencer)

Alesis doesnt seem to have much in the line of Arrangers, ...

There are many out there to choose from, but I can't really give you first hand info on any of them. But, in keeping with the 'lo-fi' - is definitly limiting your options.. May need to stick to how your producing currently - so, if desiring to go live - a mobile PC (NOT LAPTOP) may be your best bet.

wkeisari

Hmm.. interesting. Maybe I could use a soft sequencer and some kind of midi controller. Thanks for the information!

Maddogg6

You should look at ABLETON Live - it sounds like maybe something you can do what you are asking.
Looks like its geared more torward live performance sequencing - but NOT auto accompanyment. More of for AUDIO and NOT midi (although is midi controlled) - on the fly 'arranging' of audio clips/loops.
http://www.ableton.com/index.php?main=live
EDIT: - Ableton WILL do sort of MIDI auto accompany, but I think you are forced into MAKING the 'midi parts' - or record the MIDI parts comming from auto accompanyment - or exported from 'BAND in a Box' - or from Yamaha 'Virtual Arranger'.


A program called 'Ryhtmania' IS - is basically a program (That came with SB Live cards) to act like an auto-accompany keyboard like the PSR keyboards. But *MAY* ONLY work with CL Drivers??. I have played with this a little, and its about the same as PSR A-A. I'll have to find my old live disc and try it out. I don't think you can edit styles tho.

Edit: it seems to only work in Win98 with CL drivers or APS drivers (APSLive worked).

Heres one that costs $50US - and allows making own styles. But Ive never used it myself
http://www.1manband.nl/omb.htm

As far a midi controllers - I guess I assumed one of your keyboards had MIDI ports - thus could be used as a controller also (A sequencer, is usually for MIDI, and without a MIDI capable KB - its not useful)

trevbushell

hi,
thanx for posting...




yep REALLY love rain on the beach... put it in my playlist!! fantastic arrangement, great chord sequences. LOVE THE VOCALS, LOVED THE HARMONICA AND SIMPLE SOUNDS

i REALLY loved the sounds you used, very kitsch and . it really works with the song! i love the lo-fi sounds like casio keyboards etc, so dont change 'em.
well done brilliant, great talent!

out of the pink... again great song... reminded me of a older pet shop boys song style. great!!


actually i loved all of them.. realy good arrangments, great choice of sounds. i cant fault it. i love the last organ type riff song especially.... the organ and bass guitar riff rocks!!
my favourite song of the 3


a big well done!! i shall be playing them for a while

trev

ps - have you heard my asynthomania song? its done with the 'asynth' that you can download from this site and put into the DSP of kx. i think your'll like it, it will fit in with your music well i think!!!
check it out here- http://www.enginecreations.com/trevb...ynthomania.mp3

here is the link to the asynth! http://www.hardwareheaven.com/effects-dsp/75730-new-analog-synth-dsp-instrument.html

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wkeisari

Thank you very much!

I like Asynth a lot, but I wasen't able to fit it to the songs this time. It's almost too hifi for me

I dig your song, it sounds like Kraftwerk jamming Six Feet Under title music or something

TravelRec.

Great songs indeed and a great voice - thank you wkeisari for sharing with us. Great results with some cheap soundcards... that´s why I love the people who getting all the most out of near nothing, thumbs up!!!! Oh I wish I can do something similar next time....

P.S. Thank you trevbushell for mailing and pointing me right now to this thread!

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stamvas

DON'T change a bit! I really like your retro-style sounds!!!!

Great songs, I'm a fan!
And at the end it is all about the music not the money.

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Russ

Nice work wkeisari
Nice arrangements. The songs flow very nicely, and you have some great combinations of sounds in there. I guess the only criticism I would have is with the vocals. Do not get me wrong, I think your voice sounds great, it is just a little quiet in Out of the Pink and Better Not Mess, and I think it might sound better with a little more tone added to it (it has a little bit of a tinny tone to it (maybe it is the type of reverb used)), otherwise it is great.

Keep up the good work