composite standalone materia video

Though Materia is designed to function alongside and enhance touch-based works, it also functions as a tasty nasty click and pop and bassline synthesizer. standalone tricks and hops,

Here; the most basic of straight up patched, standalone Materia. no effects, no cv, no doodads, no nothing..
lil beats, lil bass, lil noise. Individual patch sessions, sonically unaffected clicks and pops and everything chops.

all recorded at the same tempo...but yes, it plays at all other tempos as well ;).
more info on folktek.com

straight to the materia page for more videos and such;
http://folktek.com/instruments/symbiotic/materia

Materia breakout official

For the owners of Materia or the triad of Materia/Mentalis/Aether, the breakout for Materia is official on the folktek site.
The breakout sends the Materia patchbay to banana jacks, adds patchable knobs for greater control and adds an input which can be patched directly into Materia circuitry for odd processing and filtration. The box mounts to the back via custom 45 degree bracket - part of a greater whole which will continue to grow.

illuminist garden videos

It's interesting that the illuminist garden has set sail to musician and composer across the globe for more than three years and yet, there has never been an official video...not one.

So finally, as I sit surrounded by these beautiful and sometimes horrifically ugly things I've created, I feel compelled.

A small and very simplistic garden session was recorded, cut into bits and presented as 3 videos:

Sound Field 2

The final commission by Arius Blaze.
Acoustic-electronic wonderland synth.
More info from the original here; http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/sound-field
See these photos on the folktek site; http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/sound-field-2

Triad breakout boxes; the first module additons of a greater whole

Two new additons to the Triad; Materia/Mentalis/Aether by Arius Blaze.

The breakout boxes for the Materia and Mentalis send all of the breadboard circuit, sequencer and modulation parts to banana plugs. In addition, the breakout for Materia also adds patchable knobs.

Of the Triad, Mentalis has yet to be officially released.

These breakout boxes are the first that will turn the Triad into a much larger multidimensional work. Aside from these breakout boxes (which are passive), all of the additions will be powered from the same source, all will be capable of acting as standalone units (either as controllers for modular works or as effects) encased in their own boxes.

Currently ten more additions are being prototyped and when complete, will fully surround the Triad. They will all, ultimately, come together to create a music and sound design workstation. 

These additions are pre-planned into the original design and can be added one by one with included brackets like a modular synthesizer. 

The plan is for each to be released over the coming year.

Alongside what's currently available, these will likely be the last synthesizer works created by Arius Blaze.

More to come as things come together.

More info on the Triad is on the folktek site;

http://folktek.com/instruments/symbiotic/aethermateriamentalis-triad-overview

Elysian Drum Scape (lmtd 2014 edition)

Available now.
The Drum Scape is know for the big nasty bass and the sweet, yet tense drone that makes sound that is somehow distinctly all its own.
This edition has a little finer oak box design and a few small tweaks.
All the informations are here;
http://folktek.com/instruments/quadrum/elysian-drum-scape-lmtd-2014-edition

Nice illuminist garden demo

video info from AudioCentralMagazine;
"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."

on the folktek site;

http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/illuminists-garden

Aether (official)

On the official folktek Aether page you'll find more details, photos, sounds, video, order info, etc.:

http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/aether

Aether, created by Arius Blaze, is a touch based work with a very sweet and rich sound similar to that of the Euphonos Field (though not as broad). It features 20 oscillators and a 20 note polyphony, is capable of connecting with anything that accepts control voltage and also has a set of touch "keys" that transmit CV.

Two touch panels contain 10 responsive "keys" each that represent the primary low oscillators and higher decay oscillators. When the global pitch is dropped, the low oscillators go into a synchronized LFO mode where each key represents a different time signature. The decay section is made to have a natural decay where attack and sustain are controlled by touch. Another panel integrates a more subtle set of oscillators that replicate the decay panel and are made to influence the other oscillators. Finally, the amp section alters the sound of the low oscillators and provides everything from deep, filtering swells to subtle pitch change.

These oscillators travel to a reverb/delay (switchable) that provides an enormous reverb or a nasty tape style delay. Additionally, an external signal can utilize these effects as well. In fact, the synthesis of Aether can be made to pass through the player, into the upcoming synthesizer "Materia" which is then sent into the effect section of Aether where it can be mixed with the original signal how you like.

*This piece is made to connect with an upcoming synthesizer called "Materia" which greatly expands the possibilities and sounds. Materia will be available when Aether is officially released (not preorder). Materia provides its own clicky poppy deliciously odd drum sounds and rhythms via trigger-based sequencing, touch-based wierdness, CV sequencing to control and synchronize with Aether as well as more touch panels that allow the synthesis of Aether to be heavily altered. It also allows the oscillators of Aether to pass through the user without any audio cables connecting the two(!). Materia has a second power jack and if both pieces are purchased, a jumper cable will be provided to eliminate the need for two power supplies.

Aether Control Voltage is as follows; 

Global CV input

Clock output (to synchronize Materia or anything else with the rhythmic clicking/popping of the low panel when the pitch is dropped. 

CV out transmits 0-5v based on touching the decay "keys". Each key outputs a dedicated voltage in .5v increments.

below;
Layered 4 tracks + beat in an attempt to display the more synth nastiness and practical production with the Aether. No external effects or filtering (and no looping or major editing) - each part with control voltage supplied by the simple and effective Electro Harmonix 8 Step Program synched via midi to a simple beat from the Korg ESX sampler.

Sound Installation by Andreas Gerth

Prominently featuring the Drum Scape by Arius Blaze.

More info on the Drum Scapes can be found via the folktek site;

http://folktek.com/instruments/quadrum/drum-scape-overview.

Andreas writes;

The Mechanical Corps. On the Trail of Jules Verne

http://www.bethanien.de/en/exhibitions/das-mechanische-corps-auf-den-spuren-von-jules-verne/

...with a sound installation in which the drumscape plays a main role.

The box on the left to the drumscape is a cv-trigger to s-trigger converter which I built. This was a big step forward to use the Drumscape more and integrate it into my modular system. The drumscape here is triggered via this box by a Doepfer A-149-2 Digital Random, which is clocked by the Benjolin pulse out, which is modulated by………

The Drumscape-out goes into an Optomix LowPass Gate… (not connected on the photo)

You can see full documentation and hear how it sounds here:

http://www.aether-acoustics.de/

The second 30min take is how it sounds in the exhibition and you can hear the drumscape very well.

It's also on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/aether-acoustics

Also on my newest album Driftmachine "Nocturnes" the Drumscape was used often. The album comes out on the label 

Umor Rex on 17th of June:

http://www.umor-rex.org/portfolio/ur065/

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16940-call-mr-moriba/

http://press.morrmusic.com/distribution/release/id/1913

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!

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

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