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!