Late Shift – Korg Monologue and Microfreak dawless synth jam

Late Shift – dawless synth jam from shelfblack

On this 28th day of Jamuary things are starting to wind down but I’m trying to keep the jams on fire. This jam kicks off with the fun little loop coming from the Behringer DeepMind6. The Arturia Microfreak is playing a four note chord rhythm right from the start as well . The bass line is provided by the Korg Volca FM. After a few bars, the Alesis SR18 drums kick in. The main part of the jam comes from the Korg Monologue and the LFO and envelope generator are manipulated throughout the tune. From there, I switch between the DeepMind and Monologue to create a three verse jam and change the way I manipulate the main sequence to add some variety. The main sequence also has some tape delay effect added by the EHX Grand Canyon.

If you enjoyed this jam, make sure to check out the rest. I have a lot of full jams available on YouTube and multiple albums available on all major streaming sites.

In a few days, I’ll be updating the Electronic Curiosity Collective Playlist on Spotify and we will be announcing the next ECC challenge very soon!

Big thanks for all the support and comments coming from everyone this Jamuary. I appreciate all the new followers and I am looking forward to keep going! I’m working on an album as well and hope to be doing a cassette release sometime in February. Stay Tuned!

Dice Roller – Volca Drum and Microfreak dawless jam by shelfblack

Dice Roller – Experimental Dawless Synth Jam by shelfblack

In this jam , I started it built around a drum sequence that I built from scratch with the Korg Volca Drum. The first sequence that kicks in is a little rhythm track made with the Arturia Microfreak. I let the two simmer for a while and slowly bring in a couple more percussive elements with the Arturia Drumbrute Impact. Next up, the Korg Monologue plays a small 16 step sequence that was recorded in real-time and not with the step sequencer.

After that, the song switches a bit into a great big pad chord progression from the Behringer DeepMind 6. From there, I manipulate and experiment with muting different parts of the drum pattern and alternate between the DeepMind and Monologue sequences. The Monologue and DeepMind both have some of the EHX Ocean’s 11 and Grand Canyon pedals processing varying parts of their signals.

Just to update, I’m currently working on a new album for cassette release hopefully in February. I’m about 8 songs in right now and am looking to keep recording and try to explore some new areas with my gear. As always, all my jams are recorded in real-time dawless with no computer being used. If you enjoy these type of videos make sure to subscribe on YouTube and find me on Instagram. You can find my links in the menu button if you’re on mobile, or at the top of the site if you are browsing on a Mac or PC. Thanks for the support! I’ve linked some dawless items below from Amazon. Anything you but through these links helps fund my website and my music creation. I appreciate it!


Lay Cool – Experimental synth song with the DeepMind and Microfreak

Lay Cool – shelfblack – Experimental synth song with the Behringer DeepMind

In this jam I started with some basic percussive elements from the Volca Drum and then added a child-like innocent sounding sequence from the Behringer Deepmind. To me this part of the jam has a lullaby type feel that maybe has more sinister undertones. I used the Volca FM to play a simple bass progression with a touch of reverb from the ElectroHarmonix Ocean’s 11 pedal. The Arturia Microfreak is playing another rhythm type pad that kind of glues everything together. Later on, the Monologue plays an electrified rhythm partner to the Microfreak.

The main drums that kick in are a slowed down 80’s hiphop type beat that I made on the Alesis Sr18 drum machine. I orginally sequenced those drums at a much higher BPM and I was surprised how well they worked with this track at about half the intended speed. There area also some additional percussive elements coming from the Volca Beats.

Thanks for checking it out, this is part of my Jamuary series on IG. If you’re interested to hear more make sure to follow me on IG and YouTube. The goal right now is to put out an album at the end of Jamuary. I’m working on a concept that I think you all will like. I’ve added an amazon link for some ElectroHarmonix pedals below. If you decide to purchase something through my Amazon link, even if it’s not that particular item, it costs you nothing and will help me fund future projects! I appreciate any support you can give!


Ice Water Ways – Microfreak and Monologue Jam for #Jamuary2020

Ice Water Ways – Microfreak and Monologue synth jam on YouTube

Quick brush fire in Australia update, we were able to raise $250! We made the donation on Thursday Jan 9, and a copy of the receipt has been uploaded to Instagram. Thanks so much to everyone that reposted, retweeted, bought a copy of an album or donated money directly. It was a fantastic effort and I’m beyond happy with how it turned out. I truly love how supportive and positive this community is!

Today’s jam is entitled Ice Water Ways. I started with a simple rhythmic beep from the Aturia Microfreak. The Behringer Deepmind is playing the ethereal sounding pad and I created a simple loop that the Volca FM plays during the chorus of the song. On drum duty is the trusty Alesis SR18 playing a sequence of my own programming.

Lots of more jams coming this month on IG, Youtube, and Twitter as part of the Jamuary event. Make sure you follow me on those platforms if you want to see and hear more synth and experimental jams.

Star Tracker Echo – Volca Drum Jam – shelfblack

Star Tracker Echo – Volca Drum full jam by shelfblack

Australian Fires Update – Don’t forget my current discography is on sale on BandCamp. You can get any album for $1. You can get the entire discography for $3.50. Thats 4 full length albums and 3 EPs. 63 Songs! Any money raised until Friday January 10th will be donated to the Australian Red Cross. Hit the link below to open a new tab with my BandCamp. Keep reading below for my best effort of trying to describe what I did to make this jam.

shelfblack.bandcamp.com

In this jam I started by building a strange, almost modular, sounding drum groove with the Volca Drum. I utilized the slice feature to get a stutter effect and do not have any drum parts being choked at all. I used some of the motion recording options as well. The whole jam is on the tube engine.

I followed that “modular” feel by recreating some modular type sounds on the rest of my gear. I tried very hard to explain what each piece of gear was doing but I couldn’t find a way to make it at all educational. I’m not a technical or theory based student of music. I know what a lot of the functions and knobs do but I don’t know why they do it or how. So the major players in this jam are the Korg Volca Drum, Korg Monologue, Behringer DeepMind6, and the Arturia Microfreak. In the background, the ElectroHarmonix Oceans 11 reverb pedal is pushing effects at varying degrees to some of the instruments.


Australian Brush Fire Relief

The brush fires in Australia are unfathomable for me to even think about. I can’t believe the destruction that they are bringing.

I have adjusted every musical release price on BandCamp to $1 each. You can get the entire discography for $3.50.

All money raised from now until Wednesday will be donated to the Australian Red Cross.

It won’t be much but let’s try to do some good .

I’ll match the first $100. Let’s do it. Click below to head over to the BandCamp page.

https://shelfblack.bandcamp.com

Or grab the Black Zinda release separately for $1 below

https://blackzinda.bandcamp.com/

Clean Hands – Synth jam for #Jamuary2020 – shelfblack

Experimental synth jam featuring the Microfreak and Monologue entitled Clean Hands

Today is the first day of Jamuary! For those of you who don’t know Jamuary is a challenge that originated from Cuckoo on Instagram that pushes you to create 31 days of jams and post them on Instagram. It’s not about being perfect, it can be any attempt at music whatsoever. I absolutely love this time of year. As a musician, when I started making music, my goal was to create and post, to share what I love doing regardless of whether it was proper, complete, perfect. I enjoy creating flawed music. I love the responsiveness and flexibility that performing jams in real-time without a digital workstation provides.

For this jam, I started with a poppy blast of drums from the Alesis SR18 and kicked off the intro of the song with the Volca FM. Next, the Behringer Deepmind is utilizing it’s arpeggiator to create a dreamy synthscape. The Microfreak is playing the rhythm stabs and the Monologue is playing the glitched out lead. Funko figure is somebody from Mad Max Fury Road.

Hope you like the song, if you are digging it make sure you follow me on Instagram. I’ll be posting a new jam every single day for the month of January. Not every song will have a full version, so I only make these posts on this site when there’s a full version to be had. Thanks for the support and a happy 2020 to you all!!!

Follow SHELFBLACK on Instagram by clicking here!

Gear Demo – EHX Grand Canyon with custom light expression pedal – Carabss

EHX Grand Canyon with a custom Carabss light expression pedal from Kryptic Species Mutations

Another gear demo courtesy of the musical tinkering master and creator Kryptic Species Mutations. In this video we explore the Carabss , an expression pedal that includes a light sensor that adds some crazy expressions to your pedals and music. I also brought out the modded Craig tape deck that KSM also created that features a time-bending speed wheel.

In order to showcase the Carabss you must have a pedal that has an expression input. For this demo, I have chosen one of my favorite pedals the EHX Grand Canyon. The EHX Grand Canyon is a full-featured reverb and delay pedal from Electro Harmonix. It features a ton of reverb and delay types and works amazingly well with synths and drum machines.

If you are enjoying the Kryptic Species Mutations gear be sure to check him out on Instagram, YouTube, and his Reverb Shop! Pay attention to him as he is always creating and pushing boundaries with one of a kind homemade electronic gear. He really is something special. I’ll add his links below.

IG – https://instagram.com/krypticspeciesmutations

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzaKCjuyTpOPhyJPv_XdqFw

Reverb – https://reverb.com/shop/kretchs-boutique

If you liked this video, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube. I will be making more demo videos in the future and post my original DAWless jams on there as well pretty regularly. Thanks for checking it out and be sure to share this to anyone you think may be interested.

Blank Stairs – shelfblack – experimental synth jam

Blank Stairs – shelfblack – Experimental synth jam – all hardware.

This is a full version of a track I have created entitled Blank Stairs. It’s a play on words of the saying “blank stare.” I named it that because of the slippery way that the lead gets bent in the song. In this song, I used the Alesis SR18 drum machine to make a pounding, minimal drum beat and I’m using the drumbrute as nothing more than a master clock. The Arturia Microfreak is making the strange gurgly sound and it gets manipulated a few times throughout the track. The Behringer Deepmind 6 is playing the strange ethereal sounding pad.

Just to update, I released a new EP last week entitled Just Burn It All, currently it’s only available on BandCamp for $1. It will be hitting Spotify and all other major streaming services on Christmas Eve, December 24. Keep scrolling down to see the post!

If you are a fan of this tune, make sure you subscribe on YouTube and follow me on Instagram. I will be participating in the Jamuary event on IG which is a fun exercise that challenges you to create a jam every day during the month of January. Also, be sure to check back here on shelfblack.com for more gear demos, product reviews, articles, and synth jams coming up!

Just Burn It All EP – Dec. 10, 2019

Just Burn It All EP – shelfblack – Out on December 10, 2019 on Bandcamp

I’m very excited to announce that on December 10th 2019 I will be releasing a new EP entitled Just Burn It All digitally on BandCamp!!!

Want to know the best part? You can pre-order it right now for $1. Yep, one dollar. Less than a gallon of gas, less than a Starbucks coffee, less than 2 packs of ramen noodles. For that price, you’ll get six songs when it releases, but by pre-ordering it you get 2 songs now!

Track Listing:

  1. We Found Our Way
  2. Blue Boxes (AVAILABLE NOW WITH PREORDER)
  3. King of No Things
  4. Command and Control
  5. Thrash Day
  6. Just Burn It All (AVAILABLE NOW WITH PREORDER)

As alway, I appreciate your support. Any money raised through album sales will 100% get rolled back into making music and the Electronic Curiosity Collective. Feel free to share this page far and wide!

I’ve been a little quiet on music releases since the Black Zinda album. This album will be my last release of the year. Going forward I’ll be gearing up for the famous Jamuary event on Instagram. Check out the site, if you haven’t been here before. You can sort articles by music, info, gear demos, and more. If you’re looking for the last article I wrote about inexpensive music gear to get for Christmas, check it out below.

Affordable Gifts for Synth Lovers Under $100