Folkchord om-27

A fresh-off-the-block co-mission work by Ben Houston bringing the inner sounds of the omnichord to full potential

Based on an earlier modified om-27: http://folktek.com/benhouston/drewchord.html

A video of one in action:

Co-mission Feedback Harmonizers

The Feedback Harmonizer created by Arius Blaze. Here are two remakes of the original requested on co-mission. A tunable drone-based synth relying on excessive feedback and modulation. Previous post of different Feedback Harmonizer (including video of original) here: http://folktek.blogspot.com/2009/07/feedback-harmonizer.html

Time Scape Sequencer touchboard addition

An additonal touchboard was built for the "Time Scape Sequencer" (created by Arius Blaze - view this previous post) that is attached via 25 pin cable and allows the Time Scape the option of functioning as what was essentially the "Feedscape" (a collaborative effort between Ben and Arius - view the Feedscape).

The toucboard is polyphonic and all touch based, allowing the generation of a vast array of waves and feedback textures. Those waves can further be altered by the functions of the Time Scape including the ability for any phrase of waves to be sampled (in conjunction with an incoming signal or solo) and then further altered in sequence in thousands of ways. This broadens the spectrum of the piece a great deal and allows for an entirely new body of sound.

modified Omnichord om-250

This omnichord (modified by Ben Houston) is highly digital whereas the earlier models were all analog, therefor the sound reflects the synthesis proper. It also sends midi signals. The breakout box has a magnetic patchbay and patchable keys. Go to the site for more photos, sound samples and words. This piece is currently available.

http://folktek.com/benhouston/omnichord250.html

China Town, mid-winter

Arius Blaze 2009, ink on paper, 26" x 40"

Folktek and Ether^ra

Ether^ra, owner of several folktek works has been posting videos of his musical endeavors. Below are a couple of his videos, though you can find more at: http://www.youtube.com/user/potterpaint2000

The Time Machine Bug

This work had never seen the light of internet. The Time Machine Bug was created on co-mission in 2008 by Arius Blaze, melding all of the features of the "Time Machine" (here: http://ariusblaze.com/soundart/delay/timemachine.html) with the features of one of the patchable "bug" series (here: http://ariusblaze.com/soundart/melano/mantis.html)

Featuring an extensive patch section, sampling capablities, thousands of ways of altering both the sample and the delayed signal, all the freakishness of the bug warmed up by the analog style delay and playable patchable keys for effects. The result was an exceptionally atmospheric and sweet sounding thing that went on forever. The bug could be patched into the time machine or sent elsewhere and up to three external signals could be sent into the time machine - an onboard mixer was added so multiple signals could be effected
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Insectarium = TWBLS

This was sent over by a man named Pascal, owner of one of the Insectariums - a series of 9 bug based instruments created in 2007. There are photos and more video on his blog: The wunderbar loop sessions

TWBLS 013 - The WunderBar Loop Session
by NETWORK-ERROR

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The original web page for these works is here:

http://ariusblaze.com/soundart/melano/insectarium.html

Keys of Gold

New work entitled gold keys by Ben Houston (currently available)

Delay/sample based glitchy effects unit featuring a magnetic patch bay and 8 patchable keys. Strange modulation, real time pitch shifting and granulation.

Full details, sound samples and more photos can be found here: http://folktek.com/benhouston/goldkeys.html

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The original golden keys was a collaborative piece by Ben and Arius:
http://folktek.com/goldenkeys.html

Golden Keys:

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Prior to these works there was the work by Arius Blaze dubbed "the Interceptor", based on the same concept and circuit design but with a very different look (and it ran on straight wall power)...Created in 2002: http://ariusblaze.com/soundart/delay/interseptor.html

The Interceptor:

Folktek on Trash Audio

An interview with Trash Audio and Folktek:
http://trashaudio.blogspot.com/2007/12/workspace-and-environment-folktek.html

You may find interest in reading about some of the other folks who are in the same "workspace and enviroment" series that these people put together: Aaron Spectre, Richard Devine, Atom Heart and many others.

Magnetic Sequencer

This piece was a collaborative effort between Ben Houston and Arius Blaze. It has no sound generating capability whatsoever and was designed specifically to control external anything so long as it's patchable.
The propeller is run by motor (with speed control) and on one end, the exceptionally strong magnet sits sending out an opposing force to each magnet attached to any of the sixteen metal pieces below, one step at a time, thereby depressing the switch and making a connection between two points - which then corresponds to a seperate on/off switch for each part, leading to a 1/4" trigger out. It was quite brilliant and made a nice clicking sound. click click click click click

The concept originated and was first introduced with the "Drone Scape Sequencer" (2006 - pictured below) - certainly not the most beautiful work but well worth the $250 somebody paid for it (which came out to Ben and Arius recieving about $4/hour after ebay and paypal fees, the cost of the case, the cost of the vintage switches, the magnets, the brass, the old knobs, the circuitry, etc.)...Actually $4/hour may be an exhageration, I think $3/hour sounds about right. Notice the propellor in action in the first photo moving at such high speeds that it is a meer blur of beautiful clicking. click click click click click click

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More info on the "Drone Scape Sequencer" can be found here: http://folktek.com/dronescape.html

Abstraction of Bodies

Arius Blaze 2009, ink on paper, 24" x 18"

Subharmonic Field videos from afar

This man LOVES his subharmonic field and so he posted up some nine videos for the viewing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonicDriveBy which seems to be a youtube channel entirely devoted to the piece. Here are a few things he recorded:

NAMM

This is just comedy. But for the record it's folk"tek" and Ben "Houston".

Big Pauper, Token Recluse videographer

The ever-growing collection of very well produced experimental video stylings of Big Pauper of Token Recluse Records is impressive. This man is extremely selfless in his efforts to record our doings. and he's damn good at what he does all around. Check out his music and be sure to expect more video. A Folktek documentary is in the works as this man comes to the studio and pokes cameras in our faces and asks questions we don't necessarily feel like answering. All of the following are the instrument profiles he's created:



More info about the Harmonic Field






more info about The Time Machine




more info about the Drum Scape Sequencer

feedback harmonizer

Here is one of the feedback harmonizers by Arius Blaze. This one was made on co-mission with the request that it have a lid. The original on the ariusblaze.com site has a slightly different look, but the intial concept is present: http://ariusblaze.com/soundart/electrocoustic/feedbackharmonizer.html

a video of the original:

Subharmonic Field

The subharmonic field is a small, all touched-based work by Arius Blaze based loosely on the Harmonic Field. This one was created on co-mission based on the original, though it came out just slightly different physically.

The original, including sounds and photos can be found here: http://ariusblaze.com/soundart/lectroman/subharm.html. These works have limited availability and are made to order.