Yet another Patch a Day blog...

Well my MS20 blog didn't last long as I have long since sold my MS20. Like all the synths in Reason, the MS20 is a fabulous instrument but I didn't have the space for another monosynth and couldn't justify keeping it. And the funds from selling it went towards an OP-1 which I am loving.

I have also recently bought an Alesis Micron, so if you're interested head on over to my blog on sound design for that synth. Feel free to comment and contribute!

Alesis Micron - Patch a Day

I don't really do much on Reason these days, the vast majority of my music making is done without the computer although I occasionally fire it up to use as a sound module for more realistic sounds.

New Patch a Week Blog

For those of you who have followed my synth patch blogs in the past you won't be surprised to hear I am learning a new instrument - the legendary MS-20, in 'mini' format. If you want to read more follow the link at the top of this page.

016 Buddha Machines (Refill)

The original Buddha Machine is a lo-fi hardware loop player created by FM3 (available in 7 funky colours):

I first came across the Buddha Machine when I downloaded the LAS-9 app for my Android phone:

A very simple app comprising looped samples lifted from the Buddha Machine 2.0 or 3.0 (samples were downloadable from links within the app) triggered by clicking on any of the 9 cryptic symbols to create a multi-tracked ambient track (the hardware buddha machine was monophonic I believe). Some basic sample properties such as pitch and panning are editable within the app. As the samples in LAS-9 vary in length the sound morphs in time and never fails to tire and shortly after I started this blog I had an idea to create a Buddha Machine Refill.

Contained within the Refill are the following:

• Buddha Machine samples (1.0, 2.0 & 3.0 (Chan Fang) in .WAV format obtained from here, converted using Bias Peak Pro where only mp3 files were provided)
• 3 NN-XT patches
• 3 RNS Song Files containing Buddha Machine Combinator Combinations where the individual loops can be triggered from the Combinator buttons (just make sure the run pattern devices button is selected)

For more details I suggest you download and start experimenting!

The Refill:

Buddha Machines.rfl

The Buddha Machine Combinator Combination Skins (example):

015 Wave Sequence [RUN] (Combinator)

This patch was created in an attempt to match the mood of the backdrop, rather than the other way round. Layered synths recreate the crashing surf with a formant filtered sequence running in the background. Either play from a MIDI controller or by sequencing the Matrix and running the pattern devices from the front panel of the Combi.

The Combinator:

Wave Sequence [RUN].cmb

The Skin:

014 Ghostly Vox (Combinator)

I am jealous of all you Reason 6 folk working with real audio and fancy mixer with master buss compressor. When creating vocal tracks within Reason 4 I tend to use the NN-XT for my vocal samples running through this Combinator. I think it is based on a M Class factory patch but I can't recall which.

Sorry if you were expecting a reverb soaked patch for creating eerie vocals!

The Combinator:

Ghostly Vox.cmb

The Skin:

013 Warped Piano [RUN] (Combinator)

Starting with A Grand factory patch, I used a combination of LFO controlled filter and pan sweeps, reverse reverbs and chorus / phasers to create a warped piano.

The Combinator:

Warped Piano [RUN].cmb

The Skin:

012 Done! (Combinator)

I use this Combinator patch at the end of my audio signal chain and is the last chance to tweak my sound before I bounce a mix. With it I can visualize the audio hitting the audio outs, can tweak the EQ via a graphic equalizer and add some warmth to the sound. Thanks to Robbneu and his excellent Reason Patch a Day blog for providing the basis for the EQ / Visualizer using BV512 effects units (in his fourth post, way back in September 2008!). All I did was add a Scream patch and provide a custom backdrop.

In case you're wondering, button 4 simply gives visual feedback that your track is "Done!"

The Combinator:

Done!.cmb

The Skin: