Generative MIDI Effects Chains, inspired by Ólafur Arnalds (tutorial and chain ideas)

Hi!  

Here it is! Part 3 (or 2 depending on what you count generative...) of my series on generative music making.  My first video was about phased loops, inspired by Steve Reich, and the second was about a bunch of tools and techniques inspired by Brian Eno. 

This video is heavily inspired by Ólafur Arnalds Player Pianos software and performances - check them out here. 

I've been planning to release the next chapter of my generative series for a while, but just as I was about to make this video a couple of months ago, Blokas reached out and invited me to be part of the beta for Midihub. I was so impressed by it that I decided to put the video on hold until they were ready to start their crowdfunding campaign - this has now become my weapon of choice for MIDI effects chains. 

I highly recommend this product and their pre-order prices are quite attractive. Note though that this has the usual risks associated with a crowdfunding campaign and I'm not affiliated with them in any way. This video isn't paid (as usual), and while I occasionally use affiliate links for products, the link to their campaign isn't one. Just wanted to get that out of the way. 

If you do want to get it, pre-order prices are quite attractive - check it out here.

Anyway, to the topic on hand! 

You can create MIDI effect chains in DAWs like Ableton Live, environments like Pure Data and Max, and standalone hardware like Pyramid, Hermod, Bome Box and Midihub. Whereas audio effects work on sound - MIDI effects manipulate note, velocity and modulation information. 

So what's the big deal about MIDI effects chains? As per all generative tools and ideas, they can take a basic idea you feed them, and expand, develop, compound and distort it based on a combination of rules you determine and elements of chance and randomness. The resulting dialog can be fascinating and inspirational, as you can hopefully see by the examples in this video. 

I'm happy to continue to expand on this series if there's interest. If you have any other artists you think I should take note of let me know! 

All my best, 

Ziv (having a dialogue with MIDI effects chains on YouTube as "Loopop"...)

PS I've attached to this post the "play like Jordan Rudess" VCV patch as a download for all Patrons (it was part of the book up until now...).