Music Gizmo

Analog synthesizers have regained some degree of popularity in recent years, as electronic dance music has become more widespread and successful. Although analog technology has become replaced by cheaper digital modeling technology with more features, the goal of VA (virtual analog) synthesis is to be able to recreate the warmth and nuances of the highly variable analog circuits of yesteryear. The ability of digital components to accurately model is the subject of great debate and beyond the scope of this article, but a general consensus is maintained that they are becoming more and more difficult to tell the difference between.

With that in mind, the assumptions that this article works under include the following: That you possess an analog or virtual analog synthesizer with at least one oscillator (VCO), a low pass filter with resonance (LPF) and key tracking (also called key follow on some models), one or more standard ADSR-type envelope generators (EG) that can be routed to affect amplitude, filter cutoff frequency, and preferably pitch, and a white noise source. Even with such a relatively limited palate of sound-sculpting tools, a large number of exciting sounds can be achieved.

Furthermore, these articles will make the following assumptions about the default settings (an initialized patch, if you will) of your synth in the interest of consistency. First, the oscillator footage (or octave) should be an intermediate setting (16′ or 8′). The filter should be wide open (all the way up so as to let all sound pass through unaffected) with no resonance. The envelope(s) should have zero attack, decay, and relase with %100 sustain. With these parameters adjusted to the preceding values, most basic synth sounds can be easily realized.

In this article we will examine classic analog percussion sounds similar to the drum machines and synths of the 80’s through modern techno and house music. Let’s start with a basic snare-type sound. Use a relatively mellow waveform such as a triangle wave, blended with however much white noise is appropriate to your ears. The key here is to find a good ratio between the sound of the shell of a snare drum (the oscillator) and the crack of the “drum head,” which is approximated with noise. Keep the filter open for now. Set the amp envelope to have zero attack and sustain and quick decay (a third or less) with a little bit of release. These parameters can be adjusted, depending on whether you are going for a more or less realistic sound.

This should put you comfortably within the realm of the classic Roland drum machines of the 80’s, which used ringing oscillators excited by a noise source to achieve their classic sound. For a more Kraftwerk-esque thwipp-type snare, use the filter in conjuntion with an envelope with similar parameters to the amplifier EG. Set the filter cutoff frequency fairly low with resonance to taste (try at every setting, but watch your speakers and ears at high resonance settings!). Use a healthy amount of envelope modulation to keep the transient bright, with a more muted decay. Now you can make some sweet synth-pop snares.

About the author: Ki is a real estate agent in Austin. Whether you are interested in Austin real estate for investing or simply relocating Ki can help. His site has a search of the Austin MLS along with a real estate blog to keep up with the market.
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Bongo Drums or Bongos are percussion instruments that are comprised of two drums attached to each other. One of the drums is bigger than the other and is called a hembra, which translates from Spanish into English as “Female”. The smaller drum is called a Macho, translated form Spanish as: “Male”. A bongo player is called a Bongocero.

The Bongos arrived in South America as a result of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Originally, Bongos were tacked and tuned with the use of a heat source, but by the late 1940s metal tuning lugs were installed to facilitate easy tuning. By the Middle of the 21st Century, Bongos gained association with Beatniks, who used them to provide accents when they read poetry. In History, the first recordings of the Bongos were heard performed by groups like the: Sexteto Habanero, Sexteto Boloña and Septeto Nacional.

The Bongos were most probably derived from the Abakua Drum Trio: The Bonko. These drums played a big part in the Abakua religion and are still used until today. If you join these drums with a thick wooden stick, they would end up looking like the Bongos, as we know them today.

Bongos can be made of several types of materials. They are most often made of wood, metal or some other composite material. The two drums are attached to one another by a thick piece of wood. The drums head can be made of animal skin or other synthetic material. For the head of the “Macho” (the smaller drum); X-Ray films are sometime used.

Bongo like drums can be found in Morocco. These drums have ceramic bodies and goatskin raw hide for the head. Similar drums are also found in Middle Eastern countries and Egypt. Bongos are sometimes used as an accompaniment to the flamenco and other Spanish music. Ceramic Bongos are more common in Asia and the Middle east rather that in Africa. Wooden bongos came to the Americas and into Cuba because of the slave trade.

Bongo drums produce a high pitched sound and are played by placing and holding up the drum in between the knees of the player with the hembra (larger drum) on the right side. Striking the head with the fingers and the palms are a traditional way of playing the Bongos, although some modern players use other instruments like sticks and brushes. A muted sound is achieved form the Bongo by placing one hand on top of the head while the other is striking it. Bongos can also be placed in stands when they are played with an orchestra and a band.

About the author: Bongo
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Congas are Cuban drums that are of African Descent. These are single headed drums that are narrow and tall. They are believed to be derived from Congese drums. Congese drums are drums that are commonly played in a region of Congo. Over the years, these drums have found their way into popular culture and have even inspired the creation of the Conga Dance - which is one of those wedding dance clichés that you swore to never do but end up doing anyways.

As African drums, Congas were made with the use of hollowed logs. The Cuban version of it is shaped like a barrel as early versions of these drums were probably made using old barrels. Modern Conga drums are made of either wood or fiberglass with a screw tensioned drum head. The term “Conga” gained popularity in the 1950’s with the injection of the Latin Culture and Music in the United States. The word Conga is a derivative of a name of the rythm called La Conga, the drums used were referred to as “Conga Drums”. Conga players are called congueros and those who follow in the path of the players are called rumberos.
Here are a few basic strokes when playing the Conga:

Open Tone - This is achieved by playing with four fingers striking near the edge of the drums’ head. This type of stroke produces a clear and resonant sound.

Muffled Tone - The Muffled tone is achieved similarly to the Open Tone. This is done by striking the drum with four fingers but at the same time holding it against the drum head to create a muffled sound.

Bass Tone - You can create a low muted sound or a Bass Tone by playing with the full palm on the head of the Congo.

Slap - The Slap is the most difficult technique in playing the Congas. This stoke create a clear popping sound and is done by hitting the drums quickly. When played in quick successions, this is also called the floreo.

Touch - This tone can be used in creating the Conga equivalent of drum rolls. This is achieved just by touching the fingers or the palm to the drum head. In order to achieve the drum roll effect the heel-toe maneuver must be executed. The Heel-Tone Maneuver involves combing touching the drum head with fingertips and with the palm.

At present, the influence of Conga music is still felt all throughout popular culture. Music genres like: Samba and Bossa Nova, as well as Reggae and Country music often use Conga drums in their music.

About the author: Ethnic Drums
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