SIGNAL PATH monthly issue 1/2025
SIGNAL PATH - Tracking Sound from Source to Soul
SIGNAL PATH – Tracking Sound from Source to Soul is a new monthly e-magazine about making music and working with sound.
There are constant topics concerning the modular software synthesizer systems VCV Rack and Voltage Modular, VSTs and VSTis and Pr
esets and Patches. And there are series of articles full of tips and examples concerning hybrid studio setups, recording & producing and more. Each issue includes presets and patches that can be downloaded and instantly used.
Issue 1/2025 introduces and explains the Voltage Modular module HRMNX, a powerhouse for designing sound and sound scapes.
Then there is the first part of “Beginner´s Guide” to modular synthesis, based on VCV Rack (freeware) as well as on Voltage Modular.
In another article the VCV Rack module Tides 2 is introduced and explained. Tides 2 is versatile tool to generate all kinds of envelopes, which can be used as one-shot envelopes or as running loops.
Cherry Audio´s software synth “Harmonia” is the topic of another article in issue 1/2025. Additive synthesis, partials moving across the spectrum, generating thrilling or calming sounds of all kinds, this and more is explained and shown.
The last topic in issue 1/2025 deals with hybrid studio systems. It´s the first article in this series, which is all about combining – better said “integrating into each other - software instruments with hardware ones.
This first issue has got 50 pages (PDF) and contains quite “a few” patches and presets to be downloaded, as well as links to additional
videos.
A single issue comes 2,-$, a 12-issue subscription is 12,-$. Just click the link above to grab either only issue 1/2025 or a whole 12-issue package. With every subscription comes an in-depth video course about making dark ambient music for free.
Thoughts on Ambient Music Part 4
The Ambient Music Code – a strategic interview with ChatGPT on sound, silence and sonic innovation
If you´d rather watch this interview as a video, then click here.
Rolf:
What at all is ambient music? Isn´t it just another marketing term?
Thoughts on Ambient Music Part 3: Space Ambient
Let´s determine in what Space Ambient is different from Dark Ambient.
If you prefer watching a complete practical project of making Space Ambient you will surely like this video:
Thoughts on Ambient Music Part 2 - Dark Ambient
Let´s line out the basics in this article. If you prefer watching a complete practical project of making Dark Ambient you will surely like this video:
This way you will find out in what e.g. Mickey Mouse Rock ´n´ Roll is different from Mozart´s “Kleine Nachtmusik”. You´re going to find out what makes a good piece of Mickey Mouse Rock ´n´ Roll, and what you should not do when producing Mickey Mouse Rock ´n´ Roll.
There Is No Such Thing As "Ambient Music"
Thought on Ambient Music part 1
Does Ambient Music even exist? Is Ambient Music real? … or is it just another of these marketing terms?
What do a 19 year old table dancer and my grandma (born long before World War I) in common? Well, they both are women.
This riddle and its solution leads us to the question: “What at all is ambient music?”.
Making Ambient Music With Cherry Audio Synths And Effects
Making Ambient Music With Cherry Audio Synths And Effects
* You can follow each of my steps,
* or you can rather take each of the following projects as a formula with the voices and timbres serving as variables, variables, which you can fill your own ideas in.
* Or you can take the projects as a source of inspiration and leave them alone going your own way.
You don´t have to use exactly those Cherry Audio synths which I´m using in the projects.
You don´t even have to use Cherry Audio synths at all to follow my steps,
but it makes things easier if you use the synths and timbres of my examples when you want to reproduce each of the following chapters step by step.
Making Ambient Music - A Workbook
This workbook (e-book version) covers Dark Ambient, Space Ambient, New Age Ambient, Ambient Techno and Liminal Ambient. It´s going to be available in the week after Easter.
It has got 183 pages.
There are 11 comprehensive projects in it, each in detail and step by step explained and documented.
It has got 344 graphics and includes nearly 2 hours of video.
Making Ambient Music With Cherry Audio Synths
Does New Age Ambient even exist?
Here things become a bit tricky – and pretty much controversial.
When going through all – well, not all, but a lot – of the stuff that´s written about New Age, New Age Music and New Age Ambient two little nonsense “one-liner” from my younger days came into my mind:
“What kind of an apple is a butterfly?”
and
Making Ambient Music With Cherry Audio Synths – Sub-Genres and Development
Some of you may have been surprised to learn that there are so many sub-genres of ambient music. Sub-genres that are actually relatively clearly distinguishable from each other and have specific characteristics.
Making Ambient Music With Cherry Audio Synths - The Next Chapter
I´ve checked and organised presets of 11 Cherry Audio Synths in order to make a sonic “canvas” to “paint” on.
I´m currently working on the chapter about the sub-genre "Dark Ambient". The projects whose making I describe in detail here cover musical styles of Dark Ambient from the late 1970s up to those of today´s.