Time Scape Sequencer (suitcase edition)

Built by Arius Blaze on Comission. The time scape sequencer with patchable keys. Essentially the time scape; http://folktek.com/instruments/time/time-scape, the scape sequencer; http://folktek.com/instruments/time/scape-sequencer with they patchable keys of the time machine; http://folktek.com/instruments/time/time-machine-x built into a suitcase. Also with the addition of Midi out to synchronize external gear to the time scape circuit

the first Euphonos Field videos

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Videos for Part 1 (takes 1-4)

All four of these were recorded using the same primary patch method. More videos to come will include other primary patches as well as external synchronization and such. More on the Euphonos Field page of the Folktek site; 

http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/euphonos-field-2

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enjoy!

Euphonos Field

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Easily my favorite folktek work. Truly a pleasure to play; an amazing expanse of sound and possibilities.

More photos and sounds and video to come soon on the folktek site. Direct to the Euphonos Field; http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/euphonos-field-2

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The housing is made of oak and each panel is meticulously done in the style of the Impossible Box - labeled and framed is brass. The keys, lamps and switches for each panel are hand built and the provided cables are all cloth covered.

The Euphonos Field features touch based synthesis, synth trigger section, thick reverberation, filteration, delay and looping and two sequencers. All patching can be done on board with included patch cables and all modules have 1/4" ins and outs to send to/from external gear. The sound patching can be arranged however the player likes. ie; synthesis > reverb >delay/loop >filter. Each panel has Control Voltage to be accepted from the sequencers or from any external CV covering the synth pitch, synth triggering, filter frequency, on/off of reverb or delay, delay time and loop capture. Loops can be captured in time with the sequencers (which can be synchronized to eachother optionally or synched to external clocks) and both the delay and reverb decay when turned off.

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touch synthesis;

At it's root is essentially an expanded Harmonic Field featuring 24 sweet sounding analog oscillators.

There are 4 panels of 12 touch points each; 1: 12 oscillators. 2: 12 oscillators, 3: 12 oscillators with decay 4: amp

The amp section controls filtering, overdrive, resonance etc. to shape the synthesis. The sound can be further shaped with the addition of the synthesis panel which covers tonal control,  noise, global pitch control, LFO clock out, decay levels and so on.  

synth trigger section;

ten jacks to connect to any of the trigger sequencer parts; covering a range of notes from the decaying oscillators.

reverb;

a huge and rich sound with a long decay and tone control to get deep and dark with it. Naturally decaying when turned off and optionally cutting out the external sound (for use with the sequencer).

filter; 

simple but effective and nice sounding filter with controls over mix, resonance and frequency.

Delay/looper;

Seven delay types, each accessed with the push of it's own key which is great for changing delay style quickly. The delay types are each very different from analog style to digital style with some panning and reverse in there as well. The delay time can be synchronized with the sequencer or tapped. The loop key activates loop mode which can be synchronized to turn on and off in time with the sequencer to capture loops up to about 35 seconds. Loops can be layered atop eachother with no limit on layering so long as the time limit is not met. The time modulation switch affects the time according to the incoming sound signal and has three modes . fast, slow and normal - creating a decaying chaotic oddity if desired.

the sequencers;

Two Independant 8 part sequencers with Clock in, clock out and the ability to add as many parts as you'd like or subtract them just the same. They can be synched together or to any external clock. One sequencer features knobs for independant step voltage levels to be sent to any or all of the CV inputs from the other sections. The other sequencer features a CV out for each part for triggering on/off messages for the other sections or the decaying synth part.

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In the end, the sound is however you like it to be, but also inherently beautiful. 

Because this array of oscillators are sent to ungrounded plates, a sweet, harmonic, ambient self oscillation is always present.

Impossible Box; more looks

I thought I'd take this opportunity to take more photos of the Impossible Box in an attempt to capture finer detail in a somewhat dark room and pretty much failing.
Still, a bit of a different look for your enjoyment.


In the photos, it's still patched from creating the short film score to the Permeation teaser in which only the Impossible Box was used; posted on the kickstarter.
If you haven't seen the teaser, see it here;

time shifter

The time shifter built by Arius Blaze on comission. A piece encompassing the Time Machine, real time pitch stretching like that of the Golden Keys and the pitch shifting of the Mobius Harmonizer. Complete with magnetic patchbay for the time machine keys, CV controls over certain functions, several clock outputs from the time machine section, onboard patching of ins and outs and internal power supply. The box is made of oak and has a handle and removable lid. 

sound field sound feel

Recording of the Sound Field (more info next post down) via https://soundcloud.com/arius-blaze  This is a limited representation meant to capture the "sound" of the piece, more than anything - no CV, no external sounds being sent into the Sound Field - strictly electronic compositions from internal acoustic source. There are so many possibilities but the studio is too hot to handle and the sound card and computer are overheating.

Sound Field

Built in the style of the Impossible Box with custom lamps, keys and switches, all cloth covered cable patch cables, labeled and brass framed panels all built into the custom oak case with internal power supply. Designed to act as a standalone acoustic electronic bio-feedback workstation capable of entire lush  compositions. All sections have tip connectors specific to the sound field, and/or each section features a standard 1/4" in and out to allow them to be used to process, sample, mangle or transform any external audio. The cloth covered cables included are also stackable to allow for a range of other possibilities. All CV control jacks are 3.5mm.

The central processing section is essentially a time machine - a piece designed to heavily alter captured loops in thousands of way by use of a magnetic patchbay with patchable keys. This section has 3 voltage clock and/or LFO voltage signals which can be used to synch the other sections via CV, or sent out to control external modular synthesis. Additionally, the 1/4" "tap out" can be sent to any equipment that recieves tap signals, or as a simple method to convert to a midi clock.

There are four acoustic elements - two garden panels, a stringed section reminiscent of the mobius harmonizer and a textured blank panel which can be used to capture micro sounds. Any of these acoustic sections can be sent into any of the other panels for processing/sampling, or they can be sent into the four channel mixer.

The mixer amplifies the signals and allows for volume control of each to be sent into any of the following;

the delay section provides delays from extremely tight to about 1.5 seconds with near endless repeats - like that of the micro garden. It also accepts control voltage from either the time machine section or any external CV to control on/off and time.

The wave reverb section provides lush waves like that of the Luminist Garden, but also switchable to provide analog delay like that of the illuminist Garden. It also features CV in to control on/off and has decay when switched off so there are no sudden stops in  the wave. The time machine CV out will activate and deactivate the reverb in time if patched to the clocks.

The Filter section has mix, resonance and frequency control and CV in to control the frequency - also patchable from the time machine for synchronization.

The result is a piece that's capable of entire fields of sound and deep, rich and layered compositions.

Aside from the Impossible Box (Arius' own studio piece), this is the finest work by Mr Blaze to date.

Time Machine official

This time machine created by Arius Blaze is a very small series of identical works featuring patchable keys via magnetic patchbay. 

Direct link to the offical folktek page.

Capable of everything the other time machines are but quite a bit more refined and with added connection possibilities so for the time being, sounds and videos will reference older models. More will be added when possible. For more reference, read up on the other models on the time portion of the folktek site.

The Time Machine is an "on the fly" remix machine. 8 patchable keys determine timing change ups and odd granular effects/ring modulation of either a sampled sound (from extremely tight to up to about 8 seconds - becoming more lo-fi after a few seconds) or a direct incoming signal. Time is selectable between 3 ranges to allow for more range on the timing knob. 

After a sample is captured, bits and pieces of the incoming signal can be added to or replace parts of the original. Parts can also be added (or replace the original) in time with the time machine internal clock from half steps to 1/16th - so whatever is added or subtracted is automatically synchronized.

As a delay it's exceptionally Dub heavy with feedback ranging from singular to decaying repeat.

This is a digital piece with a very warm sound and very analog characteristics. A sample can be slowed to grumbles or sped up a great deal. The patches are magnetic - a thing we at folktek came up with so there is no need for plugging - you simply set your patch plug on whatever point you like. Patches are assigned to each key and pressing more than one key at a time creates a matrix affect allowing for more complicated effects and resampling. With the use of a magnet, a key can be depressed to act as a switch. The result is high and simple playability with thousands of possibilities.

Connections on the back allow the time machine to act as a master clock - with three 1/8" clock outputs and a tap tempo out. Using the tap tempo out and connection to a midi footswitch controller makes for an easy and inexpensive method of using the timem machine as the master clock over midi as well

Custom Oak box (the nicest created by Arius to date), custom switches and keys and custom patchbays and cloth covered cables. The time machine has controls for mix, feedback, time one and two, level controls, sample on, delay on, 1/4" input, 1/4" output, and runs on a standard 9v-12v power supply.

ished to order and ships in 2-3 weeks

very good illuminist garden video by Tau Ceti

I like this illuminist video - straight to the point...Oddly, (and I mean no disrespect because I think it's played well) the wave reverb is seldom used here. I say odd because I (as the creator) tend toward going into deep saturation waves. Love the way it's used here - great exploration of possibilities and in many ways from my experience (I use mine daily), just the tip of the ice berg



http://youtu.be/xYqQNMshKYc

"A two-part improvisation on Folktek Illuministic Garden; three delay lines with separate behaviors (loop, mid delay, harmonizer) are treating external signal (courtesy of MS-20) and internal signal(s) from eight trees made of strings from electric guitars caught with an internal pickup. Great look, experimental and extreme features. Probably, non the only (nor the best) way to play with the Garden."

Elysian Drum Scape X

This is identical to all other Elysian Drum Scapes but this has been built into a simpler box and with a lower price as a result. This is the last of the series and the last of the drum scapes for awhile, pieced together with what was originally designed to be built into an Elysian box.

For complete info, go to the Elysian page of the site

Currently available; http://folktek.com/instruments/for_sale

a family of folktek

Always good to take a family photo when these things all happen to be together at the same time.
Time Scape Sequencer, Harmonic Field version 2.2, Illuminist Garden, Mobius Harmonizer, Micro Garden

Time Scape Sequencer

Time Scape Sequencer - a time-based piece made to manipulate, sample, glitch and destroy external sound. This work by Arius Blaze also includes keys to alter samples in a bjallion different ways. More info on the folktek site; http://folktek.com/instruments/time/time-scape

Harmonic Field 2.2

Version 2 part 2 of the Harmonic Field touch synthesizer collaborative piece by Arius Blaze and Ben Houston.
For videos go to the folktek site;
The original version 2
The original Harmonic Field

Mobius Harmonizer

Another work by Arius Blaze, based on the original Feedback Harmonizer of years ago, though expanded and revisioned. Currently available on folktek.com. To hear sound, see more photos, etc. go directly to the Mobius Harmonizer page

The Mobius is a concept piece designed to allow the playing of an acoustic sound source in an electronic way. Essentially, synthesis from acoustics similar in nature to the way the Folktek Garden series generates lush waves from micro sound.

The Mobius features four strings with a fretless soundboard driven into a delay capable of extremely tight, notated delay, to about a second and a half of near endless looping. The delay travels into pitch shifting, out to an amplifier that runs an internal spring reverb and back into the delay.
The pitch shifter can subtly or drastically shift the pitch to a great degree and has six playable keys designed to shift the incoming signal. Keys are additive so playing more that one at a time results in different pitch arrangements which allow for different combinations of pitch control within the master pitch (controlled by a master pitch knob). The original signal from the delay can be mixed with the shifted signal for more harmonic dynamics or played dry all together.

The spring reverb is not an overwhelming reverb but is instead designed to add depth and resonance to the sound - creating deeper, crystalline waves or generating waves of feedback. In longer delay modes where the repeats are near endless, the reverb will swell with each repeat, which generates, for examples, gradual waves where there once were very specific strong attack notes. Play with a bow adds an entirely new sound and dramatasizes the reverb feedback. There is an independant level control for the amplifier that runs the spring reverb.

In addition, there are 1/8" CV (+5v control Voltage) jacks to control delay time and pitch to synchronize with analog/modular synthesizers.

The result is an expansive work with a rich sound capable of endless sonic possibilties

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