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1

Monotronica

19:58

Credits

• Producer, Composed By, Performer, Design – Stephen Ugo Rosin

Notes

Sometimes the best way to achieve a goal is to impose your own limitations in order to eliminate the distractions of too many options. When one is faced with an overabundance of possibilities, it can often become intellectually crippling as each path is mentally explored and analyzed. By artificially restricting the available choices, one can be pushed into areas of unexpected innovation due to the drive to maximize the available resources.

Thus we offer the valued listener a small journey into the tonal landscape of the Korg Monotron micro synthesizer. Fitting in the palm of your hand, this device offers a surprising array of sounds and textures which take full advantage of the often unpredictable nature of analogue synthesis. Even the tiniest motions can radically change the sound, so the performer must enter a meditative state where it is possible to dial into sounds with the slightest movement of a finger or a knob.

"One of the inspirations for this piece was the process used by Tibetan throat singers (amongst others) of creating complex harmonics using a combination of vocal tones and resonances originating in the nasal cavity through circular breathing. I found that the Monotron was capable of a sort of emulation of this effect via the use of the filter cutoff and resonance controls combined with rapid modulations of the VCO. This created a 3 tone harmonic very reminiscent of the sound achieved by throat singing." Mr. Fist

So sit back and drift off into the inner world of the Monotron.

Recorded at Blood 'n' Tongue studio, January 27th, 2015.
Mixed and mastered, January 28, 2015.

All sounds heard on this recording were created using a Korg Monotron micro synthesizer. All effects processing (which was kept to a minimum of delay and reverb) was done using a ZOOM G9.2tt guitar effects console. Recorded digitally using Logic 9 DAW on a Mac Mini with a MOTU UltraLite mk3 audio I/O. All performances were improvised in real time with no retakes or post recording correction. This recording consists of 3 stereo tracks. No other sounds or post processing were employed.