Analogue systems

I wanted to point out a rather unique application for the RS300 
CV to midi converter I am currently experimenting with that 
illustrates that it's not just for those who wish to control their midi 
instruments with their analog rig.

The use of control tracks have been a part of electronic music 
composition for many many years.  Mort Subotnick's usage was 
probably the most extensive and his works Sidewinder, Four 
Butterlfies, Until Spring and Sky of Cloudless Sulfur could not 
have happened without them.  For a better understanding of 
what control tracks are all about, I have documented some of 
Mort's  techniques on my site at the following link: 

http://www.buzzclick-music.com/mort_lore.html

Simply put, a control track is a pre-recorded event which, when 
played 'threw' an analog machine, can be used to control any 
number of parameters at any given time.  

They afford a number of benefits.  One, in that the control 
elements are recorded, control tracks free up modules for sound 
processing that would have to had been used in a single 
generation patch.  You only have two EGs and need three?  Well, 
slap the third one of tape (or midi - more on that later) and call it 
out whenever you wish.  

And much like midi, control tracks can be sculpted over time and 
edited when required in the pre-compositional stage.  
Admittedly, it takes some discipline to write this way, but once 
you've got it down, it really does afford a lot of control you may not 
have had otherwise. 

So now to the nitty-gritty of my proposition:  When used in 
conjunction with a mid to cv converter, in that the RS300 
generates note information, all midi CC data as well can be 
permanently maintained and will allow the writer to pre-compose 
all control information pertinent to a given sound event by simply 
recording it into a midi sequencer such as Digital Performer, 
Cubase, Protools, Logic, etc and then playing that midi 
information back through the midi to cv to control an analog 
patch a later time.   The obvious benefit (of many) over using 
recording tape to do this is that you have the added benefit of the 
powerful midi editing  tools your sequencing software affords.   
Not only can this serve as a benefit for studio works, it as well 
introduces a plethora of possibilities for live performance.

I am currently embarking on a rather large project in which most 
of the control, including note informtion, pacing, panning and 
dymanics will be conveerted to midi and stored in this way.  It 
won't be until after this process is completed that I will design 
the sound and record the final piece of music.  The great part is, 
if I don't like the sound I've come up with, in that everything that 
controls it is neatly recorded, I an simply replace those events 
with others whenever I need to and repeat the entire process.

Give it some thought.  For me, it underlines yet another reason 
why the RS300 is one of the most critical components in my 
analog system.

hope this fires some synapses,

Peter