Improvisation #91 for Poly Evolver Keyboard and Prophet ’08

This piece was an experiment with the Poly Evolver’s sawtooth solo patch. I was so pleased with this sound on the Prophet 12 (as in the previous video), and I’ve never been happy with the same sound on the PEK, so I thought I’d make another effort to improve on it. I don’t know if it’s exactly a tie, but it’s at least close. The key apparently is in using four oscillators – rather than the usual two – and panning them in pairs for a stereo effect. So, this is some consolation for ultimately missing out on the P12.

In this improvisation, the Poly Evolvers offer the sawtooth solo and accompanying string patches, while the Prophet ’08 provides a sharply contrasting soft flute patch.

The solo patch is the sort that sounds very simple, but actually requires great precision in a number of areas, including the tuning of the oscillators and the setting of the VCA envelope. It also requires a substantial amount of delay. In the case of this patch, the delay comes from the Evolver itself.

+T+

Instrumentation:
DSI Poly Evolver Keyboard
DSI Poly Evolver Rack
DSI Prophet ’08 Keyboard
DSI Prophet ’08 Module

Bass:
DSI Prophet ’08 Module
Hammond XPK 200L Pedal Board

Effects:
Reverb from Lexicon MX300

Performed live and recorded directly to a Tascam DR-100 MKIII Linear PCM Recorder

ALL MUSIC PROPERTY OF SACRED SYNTHESIS 2019

Improvisation #90 for Prophet 12 and Poly Evolver Keyboard

Unfortunately, no, I didn’t buy a Prophet 12! This is a recording I stumbled across from last summer when I borrowed a P12 for a month.

The Prophet 12 first provides a choir-like patch. After almost three minutes, the Poly Evolver Keyboard replaces it with a string sound, and the Prophet 12 comes in with a sawtooth solo patch using the two sets of outputs panned for a rich stereo effect.

Two comments. First, I wasn’t at all satisfied with the P12’s ability to produce a synthesized choir. This was the best I could extract from it. The PEK’s choir patch, which I’ve used in many other recordings on this channel, is far superior to it. Second, however – as if to make up for it – the P12’s sawtooth solo patch was the best I’ve ever heard from a DSI synthesizer. I admit to being shocked that such loveliness could come from digital oscillators. I loved it and only wish I had been able to buy the instrument before it was discontinued. Such is life.

+T+

Instrumentation:
DSI Prophet 12
DSI Poly Evolver Keyboard
DSI Poly Evolver Rack

Bass:
DSI Evolver Desktop
Hammond XPK 200L Pedalboard

External Effects:
Lexicon MX300

Performed and mixed live and recorded directly to a Tascam CD-RW900 Mk II.

Improvisation #89 for Poly Evolver Keyboard

Since my last recording, I’ve made a few changes. I sold one Prophet ’08 Keyboard, the Evolver Desktop, and the Nanoverb 2. From now on, instead of the Evolver, a Prophet ’08 Module will be the sound source for the Hammond pedal board.

I recently bought a Tascam DR-100 MKIII portable digital recorder, which has a substantially better audio quality than the Tascam CD-RW900 Mk II I had been using for the last several years. The new unit is intuitive enough so that even I have been able to use it with little difficulty!  Still, I’m sure I’ll become more proficient with it over time.  This piece is my first posted experiment with it.

My previous recording arrangement left much to be desired. I was especially dissatisfied with the boominess created when soft deep dark tones were used, especially with square waveforms. This simple and slow improvisation was meant merely to test such tones. I believe the new Tascam is a definite improvement, and it opens up the all-important opportunity to reach the audio quality required for serious sites where music is posted and sold.

Last of all, I’ve changed the channel name from “Sacred Synthesis” to “The Musical Synthesizer,” to match the blog.  The old name carried some unwanted associations I wasn’t aware of when I first chose it.

+T+

Instrumentation:
DSI Poly Evolver Keyboard
DSI Poly Evolver Rack

Effects:
Reverb from Lexicon MX300

Performed live and recorded directly to a Tascam DR-100 MKIII Linear PCM Recorder

ALL MUSIC PROPERTY OF SACRED SYNTHESIS 2019