The Outpost Experiment

About Sounds from a Distant Outpost

The Mysteries fo the Outpost

On November 24th, 2010, the SETI research wing of Modulate This received an evelope marked "Souds from a Distant Outpost"  with no return address. In the envelope was a CD containing audio files and a handwritten letter. The letter simply read:

I’ve teleported back from “The Outpost”.  It was alive with sound. I managed smuggle some audio recordings out and also recreate what I heard using machines I brought back with me.  I sent you these files in the hopes that you will fashion these sounds into instruments so others can play and control these sounds.  Share the  library so people around the world can create original soundscapes and songs and in turn share with others on the internet. Time is of the essence. If we work together we can unlock the  mysteries of The Outpost.

About the Live Pack

Sounds From a Distant Outpost is more than a sample sound library. Over 30 hours in the making, it is a set of 12 deep and expressive instrument racks that will transport you to a dark and distant outpost. From here you will be able to explore the sounds, machines, and creatures of this world.  These instruments will help spark your imagination and I hope inspire you to create your own soundtrack for this world. Of course, the instruments will also help add an interesting "edge" to any sound or music project.

 The  source audio is made up of some of my field recordings as well  as original synthesized and  re-synthesis harmonic content.  The concept for the instruments was based on a back-story I created as the project progressed. Fueled by the story and setting, I translated these these source samples into Ableton Live  racks  and meticulously programmed them to create playable dynamic instruments which are placed under your command via macro parameters, velocity, after touch, and modulation wheel mappings.I've also provided the original source samples for the project so those who don't have Ableton Live will be able to use these samples as oscillator sources in synths like Absynth, Alchemy, ElectraX and Blofeld.

This project is also a social experiment. Rather than just provide a Live Pack, I've created this social microsite so you can share your notes and work with the library. Here is the concept:

1. Download the Live Pack (License info is here as well. I've licensed in such a way to encourage you to use these instruments in sound and music compositions and to remix)
2. Read the Usage Notes.
3. Share notes. Below is a separate post for each instrument. I've given you just enough information to get going. Explore and leave notes as comments on each post.
4. If you come up with some cool original sound, music, or visual compositions using some of these instruments drop me an email with a link. You can also upload audio via the SoundCloud box in the right column.
5. Register so you can receive updates relating to the Live Pack. I may also send out an occasional email with links to some submissions and for announcements of similar projects. Don't worry, I won't share your information and I won't email more than once a month (unless there is some sort of repair needed for the Live Pack).

I've had a great time creating - to coin a phrase - this  "story-based sound design with social remix" experiment.

I hope you enjoy this FREE live pack. It's my gift to you this holiday season. I'm looking forward to your notes and creations. Please share this with others.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist
www.OutpostExperiment.com
www.MarkMosherMusic.com
www.ModulateThis.com

Usage Notes

General

• As with any new library, keep the volumes low while you get to know the library.
• Go deep. Spend quality time with each instrument.
• Experiment with blending macro levels. For example one parameter may activate or attenuate an affect and a second parameter may futher alter the effect. In this case I've labelled the first paramter with a trailing ">>".
• Some parameters are dependent on certain frequencies. If you don't hear a change in the sound, try playing on a different octave or changing the filter frequency.
• Instruments are generally quite expressive and change radically from high to low octaves so explore the full range of the keyboard
• While playing up and down the keyboard try using different velocities and wit aftertouch.
• Sometimes, a parameter change won't be heard till you re-trigger a note.

Color Coding Standard

Each instrument is placed in a rack and programmed to take advantage of Ableton 8 performance macro knobs. Labels for knobs are color coded to help you quickly identify the class of modulation. For example, macro knobs that control Filter and Resonance (Q) will be labeled Green.

 

 

 

 

Embeded Description and Perfomance Notes

 

 

Each rack contains description and performance notes. Just mouse-over the title bar of the rack device to see the notes.

 

Alien Voices (SFX)

Mod Wheel:  More wet gurgles
Velocity: Volume
After Touch: Pitch/Filter/Pan LFO Speed

Play across entire range of keyboard to hear different alien voices. Crank the macro knobs to really change things up.

Big Servos (SFX)

Mod Wheel: Filter
Velocity: Volume
After Touch: Pitch

Pressing keys initiates servo movement. Modulators allow you to change motor speed, stress on servo, radio interference with remote control.

Clock Streams (Atmospheric)

Mod Wheel: Reduces repeating metallic loop sound for high-velocity notes.
Velocity  Ads percussive attack
After Touch:Percussive sounds become scrapes.

Room of clocks w/ buzzing tone – manipulate the number of clocks and make the space bigger. For upper octaves use AutoBend to pitch bend notes. Buzz become more of a formant vocal sound w/ REZ.

Cyclical Bell (Bell/Atmospheric)

Mod Wheel: Filter
Velocity: Volume
After Touch: Pitch Down

Bell harmonic with cyclical movement built into sample. Tail end of sample has a formant quality. Movement is not locked to tempo.

Dark Hall (Percussion/Atmospheric)

Mod Wheel:  Changes loop length which reduces repeating metallic loop sound for high-velocity notes
Velocity: Play lightly for atmoshperic, more agressively for percussion and metalic loops
After Touch:  Pitch

Atmospheric, percussive, spider-like creatures, rain…

Flow of Data (SFX)

Mod Wheel: Filter
Velocity: Volume
After Touch: Pitch Up

Digital Bleep sounds synced to tempo. Arpeggiator is used to play back the bleeps. The two samples are cross-faded with velocity. The arpeggiator changes the velocity of notes on the fly.

Man Machine Interface (SFX)

Mod Wheel:  Loop Length
Velocity:  Volume
After Touch:  Closes Filter on Layer 1

The sound of the flow of information between man and machine. Play a note with your pitch wheel all the way, then slowly move it down.

Outpost Control Room Kit (Drums/Percussion)

Sounds of “The Outpost” control room in action (rumor has it they use organic or analog computers) stored conveniently in an Impulse drum kit (notes start at C3).  Spin the “Scratch” param to scratch. Use “Arp On” and “Rate”  to repeat notes.

Outpost Lead (Lead)

Mod Wheel:  Not Used
Velocity:  Volume
After Touch: Not used

A cyclical metallic lead sound that was re-synthesed then edited additively to protect you from direct exposure.

Nasty Circuit (SFX/Lead)

Mod Wheel:  Filter
Velocity:  Volume
After Touch:  Pitch Up

A rhythmic timber that sounds like something close to metal being bowed, bent, and blasted with radiation with knobs for tuning in sounds from ether

Plasma Matrix (SFX)

Mod Wheel:  Filter
Velocity:  Volume
After Touch:  Pitch

A rhythmic timber that sounds like something close to boiling plasma. Control the flow.

Singing Bowls (Bell/Pad)

Mod Wheel: Filter
Velocity: Volume
After Touch: Pitch LFO

Qualities of a singing bowl articulated with mallet and wind. Character of sound changes from an evolving textural pad with a lot of bottom end on lower octaves to almost flute-like sound in top octaves.