Kaos Doodles

Just a quick ambient track which is supposed to sound like a purring space ship engine or perhaps the heart of a TARDIS.
Tools used: MicroKORG XL, Audacity
Length: 22:24
Download: 2015-04-24a.Heart-1.mp3

I made a sound which reminded me of the cheesy sci-fi instruments they use in Doctor Who. So I played with it. And I added effects. And I played with it more. And I added different effects. And then I made it multi-timbral (ooh, multi-timbral!). And now here it is.

This is one of my favorite doodles to play with, to improvise on top of, though I didn't really do any improv sections in the recording. I decided to keep it relatively short instead.
Tools used: MicroKORG XL, Kaossilator Pro, KP3, Audacity
Length: 4:35
Download: 2012-02-18-1c.mp3

I'm in the wrong time zone again. I seem to be stuck on London time at the moment, probably because I just spent 1.5 weeks there. This doodle is the first time I've touched the music toys since I got back.

I had actually been intending to play something else, but I made the mistake of touching the keyboard first, and it made a sound, and I had to finish the thought. Sorry for all the wrong notes; I was just jamming and didn't get it even remotely perfect.
Tools used: MicroKORG XL, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 4:10
Download: 2011-08-24.1a.mp3

I don't know. I just made some noise while I was procrastinating, like usual. I can't say the leads are any good, and the volume levels are off yet again, but I like the backing.

Oh, and as for the title... I had tofu for dinner, and it was good.
Tools used: MicroKORG XL, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 4:32
Download: 2011-07-19a.mp3

I looped 4 notes, then added to it. It turned out to be an almost identical clone of the last doodle I made. Oops. I didn't do it on purpose. So, I guess it's a sequel or a remake or at least a reinterpretation.

At least since the previous one already had a title, I didn't have to think of one.
Tools used: microKORG XL, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 4:24
Download: 2011-06-02.1a.mp3

Not much to say about this one, really. I got distracted on my way to breakfast. This is a really simple loop with a really simple melody that I adlibbed on top.
Tools used: microKORG XL, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 3:23
Download: 2011-05-19.1a.mp3

I just got back from a week in Budapest, and I had to go all week without my music toys. So, I sat down at my music desk and a few minutes later this came out. It's good to be home!

I need to get a DAW / sequencer set up though, because it's really limiting to only loop on my kaoss pads. This one would be fun to turn into an actual song, except I don't have the means yet to do so.
Tools used: microKORG XL, KP3, Audacity
Length: 1:33
Download: 2011-05-15a.mp3

I was just messing around with microKORG arpeggiator settings, and I found a nice bell instrument which reminds me of when something magic happens in the movies. So, I played a few chords and recorded it.
Tools used: microKORG XL, Audacity
Length: 1:03
Download: 2011-05-01.1a.mp3

I got a microKORG XL, and it has been a blast. Anyway, I was up late one night tinkering and came up with some short ideas, and wanted to save them for later. This is one of those ideas.

Ironically enough, all the sound patches were copied from the original microKORG. I had been playing with its editor/librarian software that night, loading up my favorite old patches into slots where I didn't like the XL instrument as much, and I just kinda continued playing with those old patches.

Oh, and the bassline was inspired by something I heard this week. I really like it though, and want to do more with it. This one has 32-beat phrases on the lead though, which means my Kaoss pads are totally useless for looping and layering. Because of this, I had to play the lead live. I used the first take though; I think I'm getting better! I'll need to set up a DAW before I can finish this one.
Tools used: microKORG XL, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 1:00
Download: 2011-04-22.2a.mp3

I got a microKORG XL, and it has been a blast. Anyway, I was up late one night tinkering and came up with some short ideas, and wanted to save them for later. This is one of those ideas.

Ironically enough, all the sound patches were copied from the original microKORG. I had been playing with its editor/librarian software that night, loading up my favorite old patches into slots where I didn't like the XL instrument as much, and I just kinda continued playing with those old patches.
Tools used: microKORG XL, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 0:35
Download: 2011-04-22.1a.mp3

One night my friend Lyndsey came over and I showed her some of my music setup, including the microKORG I was borrowing. A couple minutes later I had a basic loop going and was learning the scale to match it. I later came back to those loops a few times and had a lot of fun, but I couldn't really play well enough yet to actually record anything. So, I hooked up the Kaossilator Pro and played on top of what I had made. It's not great, but it's at least *something*.

I hope to revisit this one later. The microKORG has a really fun 70's funk lead which works oddly well on top of these loops, and as soon as I have a DAW or the ability to play well in real time, I want to record a better version.

Oh, and the title came from how I was feeling when I recorded it. Unhappy stomach!
Tools used: microKORG, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 2:55
Download: 2011-04-11a.mp3

I took a lunch break at work to play with the microKORG I had borrowed, and this is what I had by the end of my break. I'm still a total noob on the keyboard, but I think my real-time adlibbing during the first half turned out better this time. The lead in the second half is from a Kaossilator Pro though, and I think it still sounds better than what I played on the keys.

Drums, looping, and 2nd-half lead: Kaossilator Pro. Everything else: microKORG.
Tools used: microKORG, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 4:28
Download: 2011-03-28c.mp3

I borrowed a microKORG from a friend, to help me decide if I should get one and if I should learn to play the keys. I think this was the first thing I actually recorded with it. I like the loop, but ... honestly, I think the rest of it sucks. I tried to play along in real time, as a total keyboard noob, and it didn't turn out well. So, I made it self-destruct.
Tools used: microKORG, Kaossilator Pro, Audacity
Length: 6:58
Download: 2011-03-26c.mp3

I got a KORG Monotron. It's tiny, fairly cheap, and is basically a pocket-sized version of the KORG's flagship MS-10 synth which came out during the year I was born. The Monotron is, of course, simplified... and it has a ribbon instead of a keyboard, but it's still a lot of true-analog synth fun that I can use anywhere, any time. It's easily small enough to fit in my purse or my pocket. The ribbon keyboard is fun too, since you can slide notes or make vibratos just by wiggling a finger or a stylus. It's very intuitive.

So, when it showed up I did a little test recording with it. I used a recycled bassline from "Invalid Barcode", just to get going more quickly. The point was to try the instrument, not make anything incredible with it.

I used a Kaossilator Pro for drums and loop layers, and a KP3 for some simple effects. The Monotron is fun, but its sound is a tad bit scratchy on its own. I could do some of the effects on the Monotron itself, but it's already difficult enough to play a ribbon keyboard accurately when I'm not *also* tweaking knobs.

Oh, and I didn't even bother cutting the ends with Audacity. Sorry. I doubt it makes much difference for a little test like this.
Tools used: Monotron, Kaossilator, KP3
Length: 4:25
Download: 2011-03-12_04:11.mp3

The recurring theme in this one makes a shape like the number 77 on the Kaossilator touchpad. I made the loop in the car on my way home, then came inside and recorded on top of it for a while. Honestly, I think the song is way longer than necessary, but I was rather enjoying it and lost track of time.

This was going to be an extra "track 13" on my RPM 2010 album, but it was too long and I kinda got sick of hearing it and I was already over the suggested album time so I didn't bother.

As a side note, this one is actually unedited except to trim the beginning.
Tools used: Kaossilator, Audacity
Length: 10:07
Download: Seventy-Seven.mp3

Test 6a (shortened for RPM 2010)
Tools used: Kaossilator, Audacity
Length: 2:50
Download: 11.Test_6a.mp3

Test 9b (shortened for RPM 2010)
Tools used: Kaossilator, Audacity
Length: 3:18
Download: 10.Test_9b.mp3

50,109 Words (excerpt, shortened for RPM 2010)
Tools used: Kaossilator, Audacity
Length: 1:40
Download: 09.50,109_Words.mp3

Beep Boogie (excerpt, shortened for RPM 2010)
Tools used: Kaossilator, Audacity
Length: 1:10
Download: 08.Beep_Boogie.mp3

Fun With Microloops (shortened for RPM 2010)
Previously unreleased.
Tools used: Kaossilator, KP3, Audacity
Length: 4:15
Download: 07.Fun_With_Microloops.mp3