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Mark Mosher reports back from Electro Music 2011

by Marc on Sep.19, 2011, under Documentation, News, Releases

Mark Mosher made the pilgrimage to Electro-2011 in NY and has this report.

Mark is a main purveyor of Percussa Audio Cube skills. He has a LivePA performance the features Ableton, synthesis, some Novation gear, and a Theremin.

Photo by Hong Waltzer

Electro-Music, via their site:

…is a place where artists and musicians meet, collaborate, sell our wares, and nurture our audiences. Here we create our own critical mass, so we can develop music on its own terms. electro-music is new music; still undefined; happening all over our planet.

In short, EM supports the type of music that Ableton enables all of us to bring forward. Not just another way to DJ others materials for your friends, but a means for real and new performance possibilities.

We appreciate Mark taking the time to represent our music scene and talent pool over there on the Atlantic side of the country. It is skilled performers such as Mark that make Colorado so awesome!

Here is his set from the event:

Be sure to visit his site for pictures and more media collected form the event. 2012 I might have to join him out there, any takers?

Find Mark and his projects via:

RSS
Twitter
Main Site

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Mark Mosher + UltraNova + Dummy Clip Modulation

by Marc on Aug.30, 2011, under Documentation, Knowledge, Locally, Video

Just a quick shout out for Mark Mosher‘s new video on modulating the UltraNova (or any external synth or device) using dummy clips in Ableton to send discrete data.

Here’s the short video:

Special thanks to Mark for putting this video up as he is showing how we (as Ableton artists or modern DJs) can incorporate quality gear into our set and escape form the confines of what the LCD screen has to offer.

Further support form Mark on the UltraNova is available on his site.

Follow Mark on Twitter here.

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What words do you use? Live Music and Ableton at Cervante’s August 24 2011

by Marc on Aug.21, 2011, under Documentation, News

What words to use? How do you market your sound?

These are questions I constantly ask myself. As an Ableton artist, or more specifically as digital performer or __term__missing__, I find it hard to explain what I do on stage musically.

I mention this because on Wednesday I am supporting Bridging The Music‘s presentation of Dimitri’s Ascent as Cervantes here in Denver. Let’s get you primed via some video posted by my good friend Mike Abb from Austin:

Live, electronic, jammy, fun stuff! I wonder what terms Dimitri’s Ascent would prefer? I pull a quote from the site:

From the minds of the collective consciousness

I mash up these topics as I consider myself a person who is actively trying to “bridge the music” just like Jonah (Jwail) via his effort Bridging the Music. In his ranks we see legacy ideas (like the rock band) getting mashed up on stage with digital performer hybrid acts as well as choice DJs.

Funny you should mention “DJ” as I generally I market myself as “DJ” under the project name “DJNSM“. I must report that I have found the “majority at large” enjoy that label allowing quick and easy categorization*. That decision to help the larger audience and greater collective of listeners via this quick and easy categorization is a marketing choice that sometimes pains me.

Here’s why I stress on the “DJ” choice. I am not a DJ. Not even a little. Never wanted to be one. There enters the quandary -- how the h3ll do we market these new evolving musical formats and genres?

Let’s talk a few terms:

“Digital Performer” is owned by a software package -- so no.
“Ableton artist” is good, but I don’t like that strong of an association to any corporate entity.
“Square pusher” is awesome -- but that is already a well known artist.
“Knob Gobbler” is funny, but there are some well known euphemistic associations I will not even put in text.
“DJ” as an option refers to a format is established and we are talking about what happens beyond those confines
Jamtronica, experimental, jam, jam-band, free form , and others have a seriously huge following but tend to be less effective outside of that primary market. (Phish -- you either love them or hate them)

At a loss? Me too!

For terminology I like controllerist and similar terms such as “controllerism”. Our friend Moldover controls the domain controllerism.com making this idea safe for types like me seeking a personal Zion in music. Indeed I refer to my sets as “Controllerist” in nature -- a case in point:

The above track is a single live take of “controller only” performance. This post-DJ idea occupies the same “DJ” space but with a focus on programming and control of audio on a discrete level. This control includes the incorporation of legacy methods like outboard effects processing, instrumentation like guitar and bass or even drum accompaniment to liven things up.

In my "Live PA" set I combine Analog outboard synthesizers, DJ scratching via outboard gear/processors, as well as Ableton and controller - a mix that took years to dial in requiring 2 mixing boards and worth every minute of practice and research!

If you have one of my business cards, take a look at what it says, on the bottom, there you go -- see that quote:

Electronic Music Advocacy

That is all I have really come up with so far -- I am an “advocate of electronic music”. I think this is why I am drawn to organizations such as Bridging the Music and similar promotional teams who see the rich history as it relates to new music. Not just am “insert genre here” fad to make your wallet fat.

In the end the solution is simple -- who cares!

From that flippant statement I imbue the “Change the Channel” option on all we do. If you don’t like my (or the) music please go away and don’t buy anything. And to those souls who turn away I encourage you, and everyone else, to find your own combination of genre, band, promotional team, venue, and scene that keeps your attention and brings you joy -- a personal Zion of music for each of us.

Indeed Bridging the Music sees something. I offer them my support in building the future of music while never leaving the legacy behind.

Cheers and see you ALL on Wednesday!

* I have a long presentation available on the taxonomic and categorical tendencies of human-ness.

Links

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Max MSP Workshop at IComputer Denver

by Marc on Aug.18, 2011, under Documentation, Knowledge, Locally, Meet-Ups and Gatherings

Thank You everyone for coming out to our Max/MSP/Jitter workshop hosted by David Alberto Viramontes at iComputer Denver.

It is so great to see some of the pros sharing the knowledge with our User Group and others who are interested in learning ground breaking and modern technology. This is one of many classes we have hosted with iComputer Denver and there are so many more to come!

David is is one of many great people we have met who helps make out community so awesome. In this workshop he is bringing in the basic ideas of working in Max and the language in general. This is the same core knowledge and approach required to work in Max for Live (M4L). Patching, triggering events, handling responses, making audio and video do stuff to meet your specific needs.

There are many great applications out there that rely on Max partially or completely. A few great examples include:

Livid Instruments Editor and CellDNA (VJ software) – both written in Max.
MLRV from Parallelogram running as an independent audio platform
Many of the Monome applications accessible via the community section
Robert Henke (Monolake) released the Granulator in 2011 – a very amazing application.

Just to name a few!

So keep on warping and dropping the hash-bangs. If you have an idea we should present on or want to present please contact Marc marc [at] CreativeElectronica [dot] com

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August 2011 Meet Up Decompression – Vinyl (main floor)

by Marc on Aug.09, 2011, under Documentation, Locally, Meet-Ups and Gatherings, News

On the heels of the Ill Gates workshop we had a meet up. The flyer was AWESOME:

We finally have a great flyer format. Don't you think?

Our Meet Up (free 18+) was held at one of the premier clubs in North America Vinyl – so super-dooper thanks to SoCo, Doug, Ronnie, and this awesome room!
(continue reading…)

Comments Off :ableton colorado, ableton denver, Ableton-Land, apple, Audio cubes, Boulder, Colorado, Denver, djnsm, free, IAC hack, information, Knowledge, Mark Mosher, meet-up, meeting, music, tutorial, vinyl, workshop

July 13, 2010 – “I hear Your Signals” was heard

by Admin on Jul.13, 2011, under Documentation, Locally, Releases, Sounds

Mark Mosher - another visionary One of the primary goals in the Ableton Colorado User Group and all of my (Marc) activities is to raise awareness inside the growing genre of Electronic Music. I know that everyone gets more than their fair share of Facebook invites, Twitter messages offering a free iPad, and so on. This is very much a distraction when trying to find where the good work, innovative people, and real blood and sweat has been invested in music.

In my travels I see the best musicians often keep the smallest crowds. Some of them break (Bela Fleck for example), but this is rare. The juggling of the true art form and promotion and marketing is difficult.

Mark Mosher continues to do an exceptional job at producing intelligent and valid music while maintaining a solid social and professional standing inside the realm of music, most particularly electronic music. I have had the opportunity to learn from him over and over again.

So it was one year ago today when Mark Mosher released his second album “I Hear Your Signals”, a follow up to “REBOOT”.

These are complimentary works in the science fiction Signals Universe concept album series. They are a story of alien invasion. “REBOOT” addressed this story line from the human point of view and the following album, “I Hear Your Signals” spoke form the alien perspective.

I have frequently played both albums during our Meet Ups, as I keep these works on my portable devices. His “Sounds from a Distant Outpost” Ableton Live pack is an exceptional work and has contributed to a few of my personal creations. All of these releases are of a similar theme and I have nothing but respect for people who create a vision and idea and then spend years, sometimes decades, creating the body of work.

Do not forget how Mark is an important blogger and resource in electronic music. This genre is often considered the genre of [insert format you love or hate here]. House and Techno variants fill the large clubs, Dub-Step is a current rage, Drum-n-Bass will always be around, people will continue to argue of what IDM constitutes, the dark and noise music will continue, and people such as myself will enjoy what technology has to offer and engage in pushing the envelope.

Mark Mosher on the other hand works as an electronic musician – a creator of sound and music. His knowledge and love of sound and synthesis is coupled to a solid musical background and experience the predates laptops and computers as the Lingua franca* in music.

So we celebrate the Mark’s work and look forward to his next chapter.

I salute him and his dedication.I thank him for his knowledge and contributions to the greater environment. I am honored to have gotten to know Mark better over the recent years and I consider him a friend, resource, and dude who wears a cape (super hero).

More work is coming, I am sure of that – stay tuned. Until then, here’s where you can find Mark and his work:

* Lingua franca in the context of stretching the idea in this article has been sheet music, the record, and word of mouth. Now we use computers as instruments, studios, communication portals and the internet is a big part of this shift in the sharing of ideas – all facilitated by computer technology.

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The Meet Up Formula – 2011

by Marc on Jul.08, 2011, under Documentation, Resources

In producing presentations for our Meet Up group on Ableton and having a few years behind us here’s where we stand on the meet up formula. (subject to change)

The Three Part Approach – Beginner, Intermediate, and End Game

Beginner : A presentation for new comers to Ableton, something like warping basics, how sends/returns work, or something of that nature. This level is intended to be approachable by someone who is new to the platform and wants to learn. These presentations should allow tome for questions either after, during, or in a break out group aka “patio session”.

Intermediate : Presentations in this realm are intended for anyone with some mileage on Ableton. A perfect example of this level of presentation is Mark Mosher’s presentation on VST at our May 2011 meet up. Visit his site here to get more! A presentation of this nature should should walk the line allowing beginner Ableton users to understand essentially what is going on while also seeing the true power of Ableton available to them. At the same time experienced users may already know the topic but generally will learn something(s) new.

End Game : Get freaky! This is the best place to introduce cross platform technology, M4L craziness, fringe ideas, practices that are not main stream, and other advanced topics in Ableton and Electronic music. This topic stays pretty wide open.

Each one of these presentations we try to keep to 20-40 minutes each. Longer presentations and ideas are welcome, but can drag for those who are not a fan of the topic.

Other elements that work well – as a host or presenter – introduce yourself to everyone as talk to everyone. Be visible through the night. Nod at the dumb stuff the same as the smart stuff. Think like a politician:

“Nice doggie” (where’s a stick?)

Petting Zoo : As new controllers come available bring them in for show and tell. We did a HUGE petting zoo with 10 controllers and 7 presenters. That was intense. One or two controllers per meet up is better.

Some three years into this stuff and I still have over 50 presentation ideas in the cue! Some are easy to pull off, others require resources and collaboration. There is no end in sight!

Finally – Keep it FREE!! If people are donating their time to present entry shoud also be free – this is what builds community!

However – if there is a curriculum and a set of goals to be taught – do a workshop and charge for it! Providing lessons (private or otherwise) is how musicians have fed themselves for centuries. Ableton and electronic music is just a current itteration of music and technology. There was a time in music where the Violin was new tech.

Think about it and see everyone soon!