193 Reply by pselodux

(111 replies, posted in General Discussion)

chunter wrote:

If it changes in the gradual, Terry Riley way, the best way to know you did it right is to put it in front of and audience that understands it... I'm not sure where that kind of audience is right now.

Explaining what's happening is the key to working around people who don't understand, but that's the frustrating part. A listener might have played an instrument in school then quit, messed with Mixcraft and quit, or may have absolutely no knowledge about how music works at all.

Yeah, you got it. It's very much inspired by Autechre's recent output (ie. the long tracks on elseq), but more towards the side of Pan Sonic in terms of just being "planes" of sound that evolve slowly.

And yeah, the explanation is the frustrating part. Your comment is giving me an idea to take it in a somewhat more academic direction though, perhaps writing at length about the process, much like with "traditional" minimalist composition (and, carrying on, conceptually, from my game boy phase arrangement). At the end of the day, I'm still essentially making minimal techno, but perhaps the degree to which I've stripped things back isn't really appropriate for most people, unless they're into raster noton stuff or something big_smile

e.s.c. wrote:

additional thought: probably doesn't help that most people who like the less typical artists tend to be less vocal about it than those who just want the standard dance fare... in the past when i'd get asked why i wasn't playing in whatever city, i'd tell people they'd have to express their interest to the people who book the shows

For sure. I've been asked that as well, and my response was "well, I didn't get asked". I would love to play international shows without having to weasel my way onto a lineup, but I'm continually puzzled as to how I'd get enough "pull" to do that.. even for my somewhat more accessible prog demoscene style music. But that's for another thread..

Jellica wrote:

id totally listen to this and enjoyed the other stuff so much i posted about it http://www.kittenrock.co.uk/?p=981

ah yeah, thanks for that!

Go to forum: General Discussion

194 Reply by pselodux

(111 replies, posted in General Discussion)

I'm sitting on a 3-track, 1.5 hour 0F.digital album because people said my 10-minute tracks were too repetitive; in a way I'd love to subject people to the new 30 minute tracks.. but ehhh

Go to forum: General Discussion

195 Reply by pselodux

(111 replies, posted in General Discussion)

toasterpastries wrote:

I don't like how much I overthink how to make it a good performance. When I use Live Mode, it feels more interactive but all people see is a dude starting at a screen. It would help if more people had some idea what I was doing, but I'm not really in the right place for that.

I've been trying to figure out how to integrate more performance elements into my sound for a while but I'm kind of stuck with a very Spartan approach due to lack of funds and community.

I busk outside of SLC ComicCon with my DMG and a portable amp every year, and I'm surprised at how often people think I'm just playing game audio over a speaker for no reason. But if I picked a different instrument and played over the top of song mode, how's that any different than just plugging my phone in and playing over an mp3? I overthink this stuff a bit much.

Yeah I've been trying to figure out how to make chip performances more visual. I'm at the point where I feel like I should be re-purposing my shows into something more like an installation, rather than a typical gig setup.. where the focus isn't on the person creating the music, but some kind of spatial thing. Obviously this is difficult to orchestrate for a 30 minute set in the middle of a chip gig where everyone's blaring airhorns, but hey, it'd be interesting..

Boner wrote:

i changed my mind the musicians are the worst part

lol, I have to say, I can't ever stay too bitter with the scene simply because chip musicians are some of the nicest people I've ever met.. it's a shame I don't see many of them outside of the chip scene very often.


.. and as much as I tend to bitch about the current state of the scene, I do have a lot of fun at the parties!

Go to forum: General Discussion

196 Reply by pselodux

(111 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Panda Chan wrote:

Tbh I think the problem is that most chip platforms can't really get that softer/darker sound, or that live variation in timbre required. For example, LSDJ, NES, etc. isn't ideal because it's all sharp pulsewaves, and you can't really edit the sounds drastically in live performance.

Yeah, true. Hopefully nanoloop mono will bring some welcome softer sounds into the chip scene big_smile


Panda Chan wrote:

That said, start a minimal tech chip show! I'd be keen to try and get a project together for one!!

maaan, if only. After the exhausting effort of organising a monthly electronic night last year, I don't think I want to do it again any time soon, unless I can co-organise with someone. Even so, the anxiety I get from promoting a show stops me from putting together a set, or rehearsing enough..

Go to forum: General Discussion

197 Reply by pselodux

(111 replies, posted in General Discussion)

e.s.c. wrote:

most of my favorite artists in the scene listen to little or no chipmusic.. personally, i listen mostly to industrial metal & hip-hop

yeah I don't listen to much chipmusic at all.. apart from my friends' music, or amiga demoscene tracks.


chunter wrote:

For me, I still don't like the way outsiders misunderstand it.

Lately, I feel like I could spend three years creating an album of my best shit ever but it will only get a modest reaction because of genre, loudness, and technical expectations.

For sure, as a result I'm considering not making it obvious what I use to create my tracks.. unless it's some gimmick like in a youtube video.

I think part of the reason why people misunderstand chip is that the bright, happy hardcore-esque, omg videogames ADHD colours everywhere aesthetic is still so prevalent at a lot of chip shows. Given, they are meant to be a party atmosphere, but where are my god damn dark brooding monochrome minimal tech chip shows?!

Go to forum: General Discussion

198 Reply by pselodux

(111 replies, posted in General Discussion)

hardware tradeoffs (gameboy micro has background noise/whine, DS lite has no link cable port, etc etc)

making subversive chip music doesn't really work as well in the scene as I thought

the sound of the dmg; I'm a bit over it tbh, and only really keeping my nl1 cart so I can do wavetable-ish stuff. bring on nl mono! big_smile

Go to forum: General Discussion

199 Reply by pselodux

(6 replies, posted in Nintendo Handhelds)

does it matter?

Go to forum: Nintendo Handhelds

200 Reply by pselodux

(10 replies, posted in Other Hardware)

The pokket mixer is passive as well so won't output line level if you don't give it line level signals.. also I've heard it's kinda not very good for actually mixing two signals together, so probably not ideal for PO-12 and nanoloop together. You'd be better off with one of those tiny behringer mixers like the 302USB which theoretically could be powered by a phone battery, perhaps?

I'm wondering, since the PO-12 has audio passthru, maybe it's possible to create a hybrid sync/audio cable that sends the sync pulse from the link port to the plug tip (left), and the audio from the headphone out to the ring (right)? That way you wouldn't need a mixer at all.. but the levels may not match. Would certainly be an interesting experiment.. You wouldn't even need to modify a cable really, just get one of those 1x TRS plug to 2x TS socket adaptors. Sound would be mono, but if you're just using it to compose then it shouldn't matter, right?

Go to forum: Other Hardware

201 Reply by pselodux

(329 replies, posted in Nintendo Handhelds)

Yeah two carts is certainly a solution big_smile

Go to forum: Nintendo Handhelds

202 Reply by pselodux

(329 replies, posted in Nintendo Handhelds)

Panning would be great! I guess it's probably not possible without modification to the cart circuitry though?

Go to forum: Nintendo Handhelds

203 Reply by pselodux

(2 replies, posted in Nintendo Handhelds)

oliver wrote:

noone else seems to know the point of 1/8 sync.

I'm glad I'm not alone in being puzzled as to why they did this.. I read somewhere that it was a remnant of the monotribe sync, which is the same, but makes more sense on the monotribe since the sequence length is only 8 steps.. still bizarre though!

Go to forum: Nintendo Handhelds

204 Reply by pselodux

(39 replies, posted in General Discussion)

unexpectedbowtie wrote:

Awesome suggestions. I am a bit of a synth freak, so that's great.

Also a massive drinker, so any booze suggestions welcome big_smile

If anybody lives in or knows anybody in Japan, let me know. Would love to hang out with some locals... go to some gigs or something!

There's also another tiny synth store opposite the Tower Records in Shibuya that I just stumbled upon when I was there—not as impressive as FiveG but they did have a couple of 303s for sale..

Too bad you're not going earlier, Square Sounds brings people from everywhere. I'm not going this year but I went last year and the year before; it's a great place to meet people.

Try to get into the Capcom Bar in Shinjuku, I think it's pretty close to Golden Gai (also worth a look!). Usually you'll need to book (they speak english at the door so it's not too difficult), but you might be able to sneak in if they have a seat free. Frans (Eindbaas), Chibitech and I were lucky and managed to chance upon it one rainy night and they just happened to have 3 seats free. It was one of the most surreal/cute/awesome experiences I've had in Japan, with game themed cocktails/food and little acts that the bar staff perform (and involve the patrons) depending on what you order (hint: order the Phoenix Wright themed meal and Ryu cocktail).

Shimokitazawa is my favourite area in Tokyo. I spent an entire day there, and then went back again multiple times. It's really great if you like just wandering around and looking at cute little stores. There's also a nice little bar tucked into a dead end street there (my Google Maps history tells me the coordinates are 35.662265,139.668768) with just the word "beer" on a little sign at the front.. they serve lesser known Japanese craft beers and have some interesting food (I had a weird "pizza" which was just a bunch of sliced lotus root with cheese melted on top, it was awesome). The bartender was very helpful, really knows his stuff when it comes to beer. Also the toilets are those ones with a sensor that opens the lid as you approach. It gave me a bit of a surprise when I walked in there after a few beers!

Also in Shimokitazawa is the Village Vanguard Diner, where I had possibly the best burger I've ever had in my entire life. Honestly it was perfect. Could have been the setting, but it is really worth tracking down if you're into burgers. Good beer selection too!
Actually, I generally found the burgers to be amazing in Japan. Freshness Burger and Mos Burger (and even Burger King) are waaaay nicer than what the fast food places we have here in Australia. Shit, even the convenience store food was great.

What else.. Oh! Space Station bar in Osaka also has video game themed drinks, and lots of consoles set up to play, if that's your thing. It gets a bit smoky in there but they regularly have chip gigs. I had a fantastically drunken night there; every performer gets to drink for free all night, which is bizarre but awesome. It's a bit of a foreigner's bar—everyone speaks english there—but it could be a good escape if you get a bit nervous/fatigued from speaking Japanese..

I really miss Japan; it's the only place I've been outside of Australia but it is fkn incredible. Last year I did get pretty burned out at the end of the third week, just because it was so intense. I think next time I go will be out of chip festival season, so I can visit some pretty places without feeling like I'm missing out on socialising with the chip crew big_smile

Go to forum: General Discussion

205 Reply by pselodux

(39 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Check out the Hard Off and Book Off stores, I found some good stuff in those places in Tokyo/Kyoto. There's also a cool synth store in the middle of Akihabara, pretty close to a Hard Off store.

If you like records, the Disk Union stores all over Tokyo are worth a look, for sure. I found a *lot* of Aphex Twin, Autechre and similar albums in those stores. So ridiculous.

Umm, other than that.. definitely give FiveG Synth Museum in Harajuku a look, it's amazing big_smile

As for other stuff.. oh man. I would go back even just for the food. I've been twice and only one place I ate at was substandard.. and that's really saying something, considering I tried places like Burger King and super cheap izakaya joints. If you like to drink, definitely go to one of the tiny izakaya bars/street bars and try to find somewhere that does "hoppy + soju" which is a super low alcoholic beer mixed with a generous amount of shochu. It's delicious!

Go to forum: General Discussion

206 Reply by pselodux

(3 replies, posted in Commodore Computers)

yeah modland seems to have almost everything I've ever wanted (ie. everything fleshbrain ever released). The Modizer app is a good way to download from modland and play it on your phone, too, if you're that way inclined!

Go to forum: Commodore Computers

207 Reply by pselodux

(16 replies, posted in General Discussion)

10k wrote:
Knife Crimes wrote:

Yes please.

Also this.

thanks guys big_smile

Go to forum: General Discussion

208 Reply by pselodux

(16 replies, posted in General Discussion)

great post!

I think my problem is that I'm hopelessly terrible at self-promotion and have this magical fantasy that having a release on a label will be some amazing experience where they'll do all the promotion I can't do. I don't know what to write about myself in a press-release; I even have trouble writing about a couple of my videos getting spread around on CDM and such. maybe I should just get super drunk and write one lol

Perhaps a followup question would be, if I release something myself, how do I trick people into reviewing it? I've tried sending download codes to sites that have written articles about me but didn't even get a response..

Go to forum: General Discussion