Elektron Musical Instruments

>[8.] try it with all your patches, each one creates its own unique ambient
>soundscape --- some like the evolving clouds Erik Weik has spoken to me
>of...

Gee Andrew, just give away all the treasured secrets!  ;-)  Seriously
though, this *IS* great fun to do.  I find that most of my gear has its own
distinctive noise when the gain is turned up.  I guess I'm a sick man, but
I have samples of the noise generated by nearly all of my gear.  Anyhow, I
would add the following variation to your step-by-step to create repeating
themes and loops:

1. Hook up an effects processor with a large digital delay capability after
that analog delay.

2. Set the digital delay time to sync up with two or four bars (assuming
that the SID and tables are synced to MIDI clock), with a regen of 25-50%.
This will add slight "tails" of previous noises, hinting at additional
rhythm and structure to the construction.  

3. When you hear a section of noise that you *really* like, dive for the
regen setting and turn it up to 75-90% and let it loop around for a while.
Don't let it go too long though (or turn down the gain on the SID inputs)
or the loop will get too "thick."  Personally I think there is a fine line
to be tread there (i.e. between "busy" and "beautiful").  

3a. If you've got a synth that likes to make continuously evolving textures
(K5000S, 01W, etc) inject a little of that into the loop while the regen is
turned up.  

4. Depending upon your personal penchant towards ambient textures, either
keep the result as a complete ambient soundscape, or sample some loops from
the results, and use 'em in your next track as a rhythmic background or
fill.  

:-)

-Eric

-- Eric Weik
-- Lytha Studios Digital Media Development
-- mailto:eweik@...
-- http://www.ls-dmd.com/