Status Report 7/25

Hello and welcome to my first Status Report! When I launched this site, I figured I might use it to update fans on what I was up to (musically, primarily, but otherwise too, if it was interesting) and while I did that occasionally in the form of production diaries and a few other things, I never have done a general “what I am up to now” post, so… why not start now?

Since the release of my album The Mechanics of Mysticism in May, I’ve been focused on promoting it (I am trying to hit 100 sales of it in 100 days, for example — grab a copy if you want to help!) and expanding my distribution a bit (meaning I joined Ampwall, so you can buy and listen to my music there, too). It’s going great, approaching twice the sales/streams of my last proper album in a similar timespan!

Musically I have been focused on my first, truest musical love — sound design! I did some modular patching, recorded a bunch of it and cut it up in Ableton, but primarily I have been playing with the opsix Native plugin. As I mentioned in my Hydrasynth exit interview, I really like the opsix, both for FM and for Weird Digital, so I decided to dive into the plugin while the hardware version is packed away (more on this later).

I have to say, the opsix plugin is almost as great as the hardware. Sonically, I believe it is identical, but I am talking about the experience of programming and playing it. My first impression was actually pretty bad — the UI (see the image at the top of this post) is bland and uninviting and the layout seemed a little weird and confusing. But, after a week or so of intensively using it, I am happy to report I have come around! I still think the hardware version is superior (the layout just makes so much sense, and the slider/knob/lights config for the operators is genuinely inspired) but I am now just as comfortable/fluent in the software. It’s even a touch better for a few things (while being worse at most things/inferior overall)! (It’s also on sale for $99 right now if you love FM synths!)

Anyway, I will have a bank of sounds available for it soon. How many patches do we like to get in our sound banks? 50? 64? 100? Let me know if you have thoughts…

I have worked on some actual music, but as usual I am in a slightly fallow period directly after a major release while I reorient and decide where to go next. Currently in the works are a weird tech house(!) track that is probably too abstract and clunky for DJs and an ambient piece based on Soma Terra and some modular. These may or may not see the light of day at some point — they are literally experimental in the sense that I am using them to work thru some compositional/production experiments. If they end up good enough to finish and use, you’ll hear them. Otherwise, to the Nether Folders with them!

My studio is currently packed into boxes apart from a few controllers, my iPad, the modular synth and my computer. I find myself moving for the second time in less than 2 years, which is annoying. More annoying is another move in the next 6-8 months (current situation is known to be temporary). Both moves are downsizing, too so what my studio ends up looking like is anyone’s guess! As a result, I have been selling off gear and trying to really hone in on what I need. I’ll certainly post an update once the situation is stable, but it turns out returning to DAW-based production was the right decision!

Enough for this update. I’ll try to do another in a month, which should find me settled into my new (temporary) place and possibly even with some new music to share!

Keep Listening to the Music!