I used the downloadable SoundHack 14 day demo Spectral Shapers for Windows for the Disco Electro #1 sample (1). This is not standalone, therefore I needed to open Cubase (VST plug-ins only) (2), import my original samples from Week 7 to their own tracks and insert the SoundHack plug-ins as required.

The first sounds I started to create suggested something rhythmic, so I followed that idea. I also had a contrast with the Paul's Extreme Sound Stretch work in mind (3). I soloed a track, worked until it fit the mood appropriately, marked it, saved it as a wav file using Cubase's 'audio mixdown' feature. Then I moved on to another track, not necessarily the next one, the most fitting in length and feel. When I had a folder of 'SoundHacked' samples, I trimmed and tweaked them in Audacity. Into the NN19 sampler (4) and start playing. Set keyzones, set root notes, played some more. I got two rhythmic ideas, hit record and improvised with them.

The ability to control the volume in each key zone of the NN19 would be great. I guess there may be a way of normalising the samples, but that still wouldn't fix the problem, as you would not doubt want some sounds a little louder/softer etc etc … therefore, to really get it right, you need to spend sometime.

As for SoundHack … Wowser! I was finding you could 'play the shaper.' The results I used for Disco Electro #1 are basic, but I am starting to get the hang of it. A lot of time was spent looping a short sample and changing plug-in options slightly, delving into combinations and idiosyncracies.

I would now like to SoundHack the samples I created with the PESS software, having had some experience with both programs.

References:

Haines, Christian. Creative Computing, Week 8 Tutorial - Processing. EMU, University of Adelaide, South Australia, May 3, 2007.

1/ "SoundHack Spectral Shapers." SoundHack. http://www.soundhack.com/shapers.php (accessed May 8, 2007).

2/ "Cubase SX3." Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. http://www.steinberg.net/35_1.html (accessed May 8, 2007).

3/ See under Creative Computing on this site - Week 8: PESS-NN19. Slynn, Darren. 7/4/2007.

PAUL, Nasca Octavian. "Paul's Extreme Sound Stretch." Paul's Extreme Sound Stretch. http://hypermammut.sourceforge.net/paulstretch/ (accessed May 6, 2007).

4/ "NN19 Sampler." PropellerHead Software. http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reasonadapted/index.cfm?fuseaction=mainframe (accessed May 8, 2007).