(Re)creating new sounds
Should I brag about it, or keep it secret because enhancing my nerd cred is wrong? Oh what the…! This afternoon, after a short training session from someone via YouTube, I installed the necessary software, downloaded the necessary content and changed the internal sounds on a small synthesizer.
Back during the summer, I took delivery of a Volca FM. Still not done with the mods (again, thank you to YouTube), but I was aware that this unit was fully programmable. A blank sound slate, if you will. The unit comes with some underwhelming sounds; enough to convince the buyer that it “works”, but far from the dreamed about product. Turns out that with a bit of careful feeding (in terms of data) the device does a decent emulation of a classic synthesizer from the late ’80s.
I’ve tried the original, back when educating the young minds of musicians was part of my role. Had them playing the theme to Alex F and other classics from the era. And then I moved along and the DX7 went to a new home in another school. Now, I can recreate those sounds in my own basement (where some would point out that they will cause as little sonic damage as possible).
Seriously, though. Watching the transfer begin on my laptop and end on a small box with a tiny piano keyboard still is magical. I can then modify any given patch to my heart’s content. Again, in the basement. But, I’m back to learning new skills, and isn’t that what life is really all about?
