Re: Bill Walkers cool Repeater Trick mp3 Re: electrix

[Daniel Thomas <danielthomas4@mac.com>]

Beautiful track, Bill!   This has been a regular in my iTunes playlist for long now.  

I love this sound--- its the reason Repeater is still in my rack today.

I found this trick really with drum-voiced arpeggios modulating the pitch of the recorded loop.  When first experimenting with the technique-- I  recorded single note drones and then manipulated this loop with rhythmic pitch data from an arpeggiator.  Then I found that if I created midi arpeggios (mapped to drum voices) and allowed only perfect 5ths and 4ths in the arpeggio pattern I could manipulate pitch of more complex (non - droning loops) in a groove with the drum part.   This allows me to safely apply harmonic elements to rather active loops (non Droning) to produce unexpected composite melodies and rhythms.

A couple of examples linked below.  In these pieces, the same midi arpeggio that is triggering the drum grooves are driving the pitch manipulations of the loops. 

Pocket Steel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAJH4McLvWI

Crossing the Rubicon

http://www.youtube.com/user/ChordCluster?feature=mhee#p/c/23F3B3F701A8066A/3/7LGGUgbpjYY

Loop On Bretheren

Daniel 

On May 13, 2011, at 2:30 AM, Rick Walker wrote:

On 7/22/64 11:59 AM, andy butler wrote:

http://www.andybutler.com/mp3/guest/BillWalker-MusicBox.mp3

This is a brief track called Music Box, chosen by Bill as

being illustrative.

It comes from a (much played) CD which Bill brought along to

trade at the 2005 Zurich loopfest.

At the risk of creating unrequited audio lust I can reveal

that it's a great sounding cd of guitar looping

God, this is a beautiful track Bill!

I know you aren't currently using this technique but it's so beautiful and idiosyncratic that
I hope you might consider putting out at least an EP of this type of material from your vaults.
I too listened to the promo CD you brought to Zurich and think it's a releasable
product.    Beautiful stuff!

rick walker