Re: Any dj's using loops live?

[Richard Zvonar <zvonar@zvonar.com>]

At 7:09 PM +0000 7/9/01, Brian Parker wrote:

>I was just wondering if there are any djs on the list that are using 
>samplers to create loops on the fly during performances? It just did 
>look like many electronic artists were here from the profiles i read.
>If you are a dj, what are you using for gear?

I don't consider myself a DJ (nor would most DJs or their audience) 
but for a long time I have performed with a combination of playback 
media, live performers, and signal processors that include looping.

The setup varies, but among my favorite processors are the Eventide 
H3000 and DSP4000, and the TC2290. All three of these devices can 
perform looping functions in either a regenerating delay mode or a 
sampling mode. One favorite hack with the H3000 is to control the 
playback parameters (start and end point, playback rate, pitch 
transposition) with faders. The H3000's Sampler can loop two voices 
independently, so I use eight faders. One particularly interesting 
thing is to move the end point earlier than the start point so that 
the sample plays backwards.

The DSP4000 has a sampling function that can immediately play back in 
reverse, so I can capture a live sample and then play it back 
immediately either forward or in reverse. This is especially 
interesting with live voice, and I've done a lot of this with a story 
teller.

I control the TC2290 with MIDI, and I am able to address all its 
parameters with system exclusive messages. One favorite looping hack 
is to control a pair of 2290s and to move the playback "window" 
forward and back in time. The two loops can be the same length but 
offset in time, or they can be of different lengths.

For prerecorded playback I use CDs and cassette tapes (when I started 
doing this there weren't any CDs yet). On occasion I've used looping 
cassettes, but mostly I use regular cassette recordings of music 
ranging from assorted world music to classical to avant garde 
instrumental and electronic music (it's interesting to hear Satie and 
Nono superimposed). One of my cassette decks is a Tascam Porta One (I 
bought it in 1985). This is a cassette portastudio that runs at 
regular cassette speed, so you can play any normally recorded 
cassette. The interesting thing is that while "Side A" is playing 
back normally, "Side B" is playing back in reverse. The faders on the 
Porta One allow simple fading in and out of the tracks.

I mix all this stuff with a Mackie 1604, and I've devised a patching 
system that allows me to audition signals before sending them into 
the main mix. The 1604 has four outputs, of which 3 and 4 are 
considered an Alternate or "Alt" pair.  I use these outputs as my 
mail feed to the PA system. When I want to audition something with 
headphones I have that channel in normal mode, routed to outputs 1 
and 2 (which aren't hooked up to anything but which feed into the 
headphones). Then when I want to send the signal to the main mix I 
punch in the "Alt" button for that channel.

In recent years most of my performances have been with the band 
Cosmic Debris. I had signal feeds from all the other performers: 
voice, flute, keyboard, bass, percussion loops, and sometimes from 
two cassettes and a CD player.
-- 

______________________________________________________________
Richard Zvonar, PhD
(818) 788-2202
http://www.zvonar.com
http://RZCybernetics.com
http://www.cybmotion.com/aliaszone
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