Music

I tested OpenMusic to generate a dramatic confession-style backing track for a theatre project, a reality TV take on Antony and Cleopatra. Beyond the usual prompt-based generation, it has stem splitting and MIDI tools that are actually useful for music production.

Today I am 45, so I am releasing music for the first time in about 15 years. A look at my musical journey and the new EP I am releasing.

macOS has always lacked a built-in way to route and mix audio on a per-application basis. Windows users have had per-app volume control for years, but on macOS, you need third-party tools to get anything close. I had been using a combination of SoundDesk, the Stream Deck MIDI plugin, and a Stream Deck plus with dials to solve this. The setup worked, but configuring it was fiddly. Then Elgato released Wave Link 3, and everything changed.

I used to be a full time guitar player, and more recently I've been experimenting with electronic drums, MIDI devices, and DAWs. Converting an analogue instrument I'm used to playing into MIDI signals has always interested me, so I tried the Fishman TriplePlay Express, a relatively affordable MIDI guitar pickup, to see how it holds up.

A few years ago I detailed the hardware and software I use for producing my podcasts and videos. Since then, I have changed a lot, so it seemed a good time to revisit.

A forthcoming book on Ableton 12. Sadly, the project was cancelled.

Soundtrack for the performance of "Antony & Cleopatra - Love is War"

Debut EP from Aeon V — electronic, cinematic soundscapes exploring the dark embrace of infinite space.

A charity single from Berlin collective Auslander:IN, supporting the Hejmo Open Music School — a free, inclusive music knowledge-sharing community in Berlin.

Soundtrack for the performance of "The House of Bernarda Alba"

The debut album from Melbourne garage-punk band Mesa Cosa — ten tracks of sonic snarls and sly smiles, from the upbeat "Sydney" to the harder "Satanas".