Yearly Archives: 2013

Eurorack Lunchbox

My latest project, just so I have some modular fun close to hand when it’s too cold to sit up in my shed 🙂

Really pleased with the Spectre iPad sequencer too. Works great with the CV Pal module and allows me an easy way to program accents for the VCF303 via the second gate output.

Lunchbox 1

Lunchbox 2

Have some DIY modules lined up to build in the new year including an Alex & June filter and a Music Thing Modular Spring Reverb. Planning to mount the phono sockets on the side of the case so that the tank can be positioned away from the power supply.

Vampires (ScarKord Remix)

Glitchy remix from a few years back of the Clear Air Turbulence track ‘Vampires’, featuring Siqboi on vocals (in there somewhere 🙂 ). Given an update, a bit of spit and polish and some analogue bassline goodness for 2013.

The Industrial Zone (ScarKord Remix)

Here’s a new remix I’ve done for Savage Sound System that will be featured on their forthcoming remix EP.

I have a soft spot for singers and rappers who don’t try and disguise their regional dialect, so really enjoyed remixing this track. Had a lot of fun squeezing some Native American chanting into the choruses too (You’ll understand when you hear it) and did literally hundreds of micro edits to get the drums swinging just right.

The remix is underpinned by some lovely evolving pads, courtesy of the excellent Hideaway Studio Blue Zone series, using a combination of their Ambivox and Heavenly Pad instruments. Definitely worth checking out and really reasonably priced too!

ScarKord revisted

Have just been going through some backups and came across a folder of old ScarKord remixes. Have spent the evening listening to them, reminiscing and in some cases, wondering just how the hell did I come up with those sounds / arrangements / breakdowns / drops (delete as appropriate).

Anyway, it’s both inspired me to do some new remixes and reminded me that I did some pretty good remixes in the past. I’ve put a selection up on Soundcloud for your listening pleasure. If you are in a band and like what you hear, get in touch and we can have a chat about a ScarKord remix of your very own (ha ha). Jason at scarkord dot com

Glass

Lovely day to be writing some new music, looking out of the window and watching the world go by. Particularly pleased with the ending.

Modular Update 2

Well, it’s getting there! The case is all finished and I’ve started filling up with the new modules.

I’ve got an MFB Seq 01 on back order from Thomann and will hopefully get my ModSeq soon which will finish the bottom row off. Then it’s just a case of getting some Tip Top drum modules and an intellijel mixer for the middle row.

I’ve also started building a mini passive expansion rack which will sit on the top of the main unit. Still a work in progress, but here’s what it looks like so far…

Modular Update 1

So I stripped all the modules out of their rack and made a start on adding the additional 3U space. Nice to finally find a use for all that ridiculous Amazon packaging!

modules

Here’s what the empty rack looked like before I started.

empty rack

Next, I created a cardboard mock up, just to get a rough idea of measurements.

mock up

Then, using some left over MDF and plenty of polyfilla, I added the new, sloped front to the existing rack.

sloped front 1

sloped front 2

Next step will be to sand and repaint it, then add a few little bits and bobs such as an XLR connector for the PSU. I already cut some internal access holes to pass the cables through for the spring reverb tank and bus rail which should both be arriving any day now. The MFB Seq 01 is delayed until early Feb though 🙁

Have also had a slight rethink about some of the other modules and will likely get an Intellijel unity mixer to give me space for more tiptop drum modules. Also, seriously considering a XAOC Moskwa sequencer which I researched last night – looks fantastic, but will have to rejig the bottom row a little to fit it in 🙂

Modular Drums

Have been spending the last couple of evenings having a play with various new layouts for my modular synthesizer, so that I can incorporate some drum modules and sequencing. Will mean adding an extra row to the rack (time for my woodworking skills) but should be great once it’s all finished and will give me a really flexible sound making machine at the end of it.

I’m also looking to add a few sound shaping modules too for good measure including a ring modulator, spring reverb and wave shaper.

You can see which modules I’m looking to buy on the above chart. ‘White’ are modules I already have, ‘Blue’ are modules I bought this evening and ‘Yellow’ are the modules I intend to buy over the coming months. ‘Green’ is a little DIY action in the shape of a switched multiple I’m building to compliment the Decade Counter.

To pay for all this, I am going to have to sell some of my unused studio equipment which will be going up on ebay soon. (Will post once it’s up!)