Don't have a Multitouch Table yet? Have one, but need something smaller for testing? Building a small portable multitouch pad will allow you to test software and experiment on a smaller scale while building your full table or when away from your multitouch screen. Have fun and make a MTmini! This uses Front Diffused Illumination, with normal ambient light (infrared not required or needed) and a normal off-the-shelf webcam (IR filter can still be in place).
For this to work, all you need is a room with (at least) some light. The results will be best when the room lighting is even (no bright lights shinning from one direction onto the multitouch pad).
When you place you fingers on the surface, shadows are created where your fingers are. The webcam sees these shadows and sends the image to the tracking software which tracks the shadows as they
He introduced me this animation because of the English musician duo PLAID, who does the sound track for this animation. Here's one of their song Eyen (not from the movie):
Wonderful ideas from KORG, specific for laptopist... the nanoPad and nanoKontrol looks nifty and handy. Not too sure about the keyboard though I suppose it will do great for non-pianist artists. KORG should then come up with a USB distro-port or something if not we are talking about 3 USB connections. Hmmm how about 3 USB to Firewire ... KORG can call it nanoUFIRE hurhurhur... Damn... Think it's only available in Japan for now. Read the full story on CREATEDIGITALMUSIC.
There are three different controllers in the line:
nanoKEY: 25 keys, transmitting either as MIDI notes or (via a separate mode) Control Change (CC) messages. Octave shift (natch). Pitch, modulation. And it’s supposed to be velocity-sensitive, too, although we’ll have to get our hands on one to see how sensitive it is.
nanoPAD: 12 pads, supposedly inheriting the terrific sensitivity and feel of the padKONTROL, which is pretty much the favorite pad controller round these parts. Chord Trigger. Control Change mode (as with nanoKEY). There’s even an X/Y touch pad with roll and flam mode, favorite features of the padKONTROL.
nanoKONTROL: 9 faders, 9 knobs, 18 switches, transport controls. (No, really.) MIDI notes, 168 CC messages. There are even attack and decay times for the switches, allowing them to work as faders, filter controls, effects settings, and the like – something I’d love to see on other (full-sized) controllers.
I am having a creative block, mental block, wot not.
I've been working, but nothing that passed my own criticisms so nothing productive came out of the sessions. It's frustrating, really... I want to squeeze my brains, like physically... I am running out of time.
I went to DJ-Siam at Siam Square, recommended by adoralula (whom, by the way, is a talented sound artist and experimental musician from Thailand). Bought Reverse by Assajan Jakgawan (with Koichi Shimizu), dotdotdot by Talkless, and Melancholy of a Flowering Plant by Zai Kuning + Koichi Shimizu... all three albums are beautiful in their on rights. I love the layers and walls of sounds in Reverse, the delicate and wistful melodies in dotdotdot and the sensitive and visual music in Melancholy of a Flowering Plant. It is very humbling to listen to these music. I recommend them to any electro-acoustic and experimental music listeners. My best buy in Bangkok definitely.
The next best buy is a couple of Khaen, a traditional handmade bamboo panpipe. Bought a high range one and a mid range one for about SGD$30+; now that's a steal. I'll probably work it with loopers, delays and reverbs to create ambient textures and layers. Perhaps in the sound art performance with Randolf (aka Embryo) and Zul in August (pending). We'll see...
Alright, I had a very unproductive day. Photos of Bangkok coming up soon.
"Singapore-based sound artist and music composer Darren Ng’s latest release under the name Sonicbrat is a beautiful album filled with acoustic and electronic elements. The classically trained pianist creates delicate piano pieces and glistening soundscapes that embody a childlike innocence. A firm believer in chance and imperfection, Darren Ng thrives on improvisation and records most of his tracks on the fly. While the tracks are simple, they are also intricately detailed, making it hard to believe that they were composed on the spur of the moment.
Of Things Unending carries on from last year’s release Weaving, which is available for free download here. The formula hasn’t varied much from Weaving, however what is noticeably different is that the minimalist sound has grown to become richer, warmer and more melodic. This is the kind of music that floats over its listener requiring no effort on the listener’s part, yet manages to stay in your thoughts long after it has stopped playing. There is also a sense of familiarity in the pieces, but it never feels as if you have heard it all before, rather, it is more like rediscovering an album that you used to love but for some reason stopped playing long ago. The sweet piano pieces “Dreams of a Butterfly,” “Man in a Snow Globe,” and “The Bitter Sweetness of Parting” are exquisite. The electronically driven tracks “Catching Rainbows” and “Star Gazing” are also saturated in beauty. Piano and electronics converge in “Whispers in the Mist” and the haunting “When the Flowers Mourn” with stunning effects.
Of Things Unending is a solid album from beginning to end, containing no weak tracks. It is calming, gentle and meditative, and is an absolute pleasure to listen to."
A new song using KORG M3 88, toy piano, acoustic guitar (I suck) and acousmatics + sampling object sounds and antique bells. Hope you guys will enjoy this simple music.
WHEN I USED TO BE
ps: I really like this photo taken by Dong. My girlfriend looks so pretty +_+
A myspace friend/collaborator had spoken. Motoko Ishii is a vocalist experimental artist from Sweden. She had downloaded the album Wenchuan and used one of my tracks and did vocals on top. What she did is beautiful. And she has given the green light for me to offer it up for good cause. Feel free to download the song (based on w_0_0_3)
I ran out of time on myself. So failing to cut a second album, I've put up some previously unreleased songs to make up this album. Please help donate. Save watching a movie, or having a meal... and use that money to help these people because it does make a difference. Thank you!
The cyclone had caused catastrophic destruction and at least 80,000 fatalities with a further 56,000 people still missing. Let's all lend a hand to help the people there because we can.
I've taken some unreleased songs and put them together to make this simple electro-acoustic album in response to this recent catastrophe, in hope of helping to raise funds. The album isn't great, but just a small gesture. This album is free for download here, but I have a favour to ask and that is for you to donate. The money goes to British Red Cross, and I am sure they will do good with the money to help with the situation in Burma. Any amount will do, because that little bit counts. The album is yours to keep. My heart felt condolences to the victims and their families. Please help lend a hand in anyway we can. I hope you'll enjoy the album and thank you for your generous donations.
Please note that this donates to British Red Cross, but does it matter which avenue you choose to donate? As long as it helps. The site takes all major credit cards. The reason being: Singapore Red Cross Red Tape...
Still, donate to Singapore Red Cross if you feel so. And please do! Every little bit counts!
Disclaimer: Please note that I'll allow non-commercial distribution of this album and the music copyright belongs to me. No commercial usage of these music without the prior consent of the artist (sonicbrat). It can be used for any charity events or fund raising events but please drop me a note. Thank you.
UPDATE: Another Artist Had Spoken... more free music to help raise funds! CLICK HERE
And so it's done, one whole day for this album. It's not great but just a little gesture to help. The mix is the best I could do within a day + composition and arrangements. But hey, all for a good cause. Hope you guys will enjoy the album and donate generously. I hope my efforts will inspire and encourage you to do a little bit to help by donating. Thank you
The recent Sichuan Earthquake in China had shocked the world. With more than 28,000 dead and more than 190,000 injured and many homeless; the victims there need our help.
I spent one day to cut this simple electro-acoustic album in response to this recent catastrophe, in hope of helping to raise funds. This album is free for download here, but I have a favour to ask and that is for you to donate. The money goes to British Red Cross, and I am sure they will do good with the money to help with the situation in China. Any amount will do, because that little bit counts. The album is yours to keep. My heart felt condolences to the victims and their families. Please help lend a hand in anyway we can. I hope you'll enjoy the album and thank you for your generous donations.
Please note that this donates to British Red Cross, but does it matter which avenue you choose to donate? As long as it helps. The site takes all major credit cards. The reason being: Singapore Red Cross Red Tape...
Still, donate to Singapore Red Cross if you feel so. And please do! Every little bit counts!
Disclaimer: Please note that I'll allow non-commercial distribution of this album and the music copyright belongs to me. No commercial usage of these music without the prior consent of the artist (sonicbrat). It can be used for any charity events or fund raising events but please drop me a note. Thank you.
All instrumentation and synthesis using KORG M3 88. Everything was done on it except those minimal sound designs. All effects used are on board the M3. No external effects used.
Over the weekend, I'm going to make two albums. Simple piano improvisations... and then set up a fundraiser page to raise money for Burma and China. Donators will get free downloads of the albums. Do watch out for updates and wish me luck over the weekends. I hope you guys who read this will support and help raise funds for the victims in Burma and China.
I'll try contacting Red Cross Singapore to see if they can set up a direct page with the site so that the albums can donate directly to the "Singapore" brunch. If not, it will be donating to British Red Cross Society.
Warmest,
s o n i c b r a t
UPDATES: I've just contacted Singapore Red Cross and they will be getting back to me shortly.
It's been a little while since I've blogged about nonchalant stuffs. I had been "productive" today. Facing my worst enemy - logistics. Oh, how I hate logistics. But life in Singapore is one big logistics department; when we get old, I really don't mind... but getting old also entails heftier logistics in life, doesn't it? But today deserves a little celebration with me, myself and I. I marked all of my students' projects, scored them and submitted the scores to school. So my part is done with this semester's work. I've booked my IPPT (finally at 11th hour after much procrastination), while having irrational thoughts of having myself diagnose with insanity... ok, partial insanity, so that I may skip ICTs or any re-service catastrophes in my later life. I think I should get some weird diagnosis of "uncontrollable-index-fingers-spasm" or something. Hated how "gung-ho" and "siao-on" I was in my imbecilic younger days in NS. Anyway, yes... back to logistics. I've also done up the CDs for the NAFA touring shows in Beijing. Did invoice for what was needed and even sneaked some time to make some music. *pat on my own back*
I've been working on Quiet Windows for awhile now. I had been struggling a little with my own music lately, for artistic reasons I shall spare this site. But I managed to cut a demo out to listen to the track listing on a domestic player, checking out the sequence of tracks and consistency + pacing + flow. Managed to work out a list to re-master some of them and possibly add on to certain tracks as they seemed to need a little more touching ups. Working on a new piece today as well and maybe I might work a little violin in. Yes, I've recently purchased a semi-acoustic guitar and a violin. No, I do not know how to play a violin nor guitar. But for friends and foes who know me, I just play on them... if I can't play anything decent, I'll just make sounds and noises with it. So akan datang for the new piece, which I am spending sometime in the compositional process... I'm really taking my time on this album, that's a good thing. Changing pace on things... yet, I feel that the album would be nothing great, or even close to good. I'll continue to struggle. *pat on my own back again*
Photo by aspectratio ; I heart his works and artistry. Thanks to my girlfriend who'd introduced this talented photographer's works to me.
Two-third of TBFKAS dropped by my place (Misse you never turn up!). We doodled and played with gears and decided to mess around and recorded the outcome. So here's a recording of the half hour noise/synthesis/electronic improvisation session (we were just wacking). And so we went crazy on this one, some nice moments featuring the Tenori-on vs Nintendo DS lite mid way through about 17:05 onwards till about 25:30 (Pathein rawks again); and WY had some flair with my Roland SH101 as he concocted some "bleepy-droney-sireny" noises with modulations and for the cat growls at 23:25 onwards :D ... the sherman filterbank 2 seriously bled our ears, with some bird-like talks and glitches of course... Highly disturbing sounds and noises. We dare you to listen through headphones...
Gears featured in this recording:
1) Doepfer A-100 Modular System
2) Sherman Filterbank 2
3) Roland SH101
4) Tenori-on
5) Nintendo DS lite (Elektroplankton)
Recorded with KORG MR-1000; no editing done, what you hear is a live recording of this super doodle-noodle session. Just mastered the levels with a little reverb added to juice it up slightly. Yea, secretly spanking the monkey indeed... if you fancy it, are into gears, interested in Doepfer synthesis + Sherman Filterbank 2 sounds, crazy over filtering sounds, into space odyssey or sci-fi noises, sucker for Nintendo DS lite and Tenori-on bubbly-cute'sy stuffs, or you just want to soak in some chanced noises and pseudo sound art improvisations, you can download it for free by clicking the icon below...
There after we went down to S11 for some drinks and food (and ciggies). Talked about indie music, sound art, underground scenes and DIY/Circuit Bending stuffs. All in all, some good time spent!
It's been awhile since I last blogged. Many things had happened in life, shows happened, came and gone like it usually would, such promiscuity. Time moves on, every second that has ticked pass heralds the next moment becoming, meaningful only to its beholder. Anyway, Jen is back home from Aussie and we'll be meeting up soon. My girlfriend will be flying Taiwan this weekend and I'll be missing her so dearly. Anyhow, I wish she'll have a good trip and enjoy Taiwan!
Here's a new song I just did these couple of days:
The monkey of experimental sounds and melodic soundscapes swings for one last time through the acoustic jungle of the Arts House. Keeping with the original intention to showcase credible sound musicians and ambient artists, expect a show filled with musical ironies and breath stopping paradoxes. Do not expect to tap your feet to brazen beats, expect only to be hypnotised in lush sounds and dream-filled reverberation.
The first act, wymxx, excels at disarming melody lines and is prepared to please and shock at the same time. Boring Machine follows next with his barrage of frenzied fretwork and pulsating rhythms. Ambient collaboration becomes the third arresting entry when Sonicbrat teams up with tb.fk.as to pit sound art against haunting ambient textures. Dualtone ends off the evening with their brand of industrial wreckage and haunting house melodies.
