The Ovoids

[dandelion]

Just came across the link to the Ovoids on a sig - music made with an Amiga.

http://theovoids.bandcamp.com/

It is pretty incredible. If you haven't had a listen, I implore you - do!

Would love to learn a little bit more about the Amiga's involvement: software used, which Amigas used, how heavily expanded etc. Maybe a little bit about the creation process.

[Ral-Clan]

Hi!  That's me.  Thanks very much.  I know this style of music isn't for everyone - it has its niche audience - so when I hear from someone who enjoys it really gives me inspiration to go on creating.

There was an announcement release thread about a year ago that describes how the Amiga played a role in helping create the album.

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68522

I'm also working on another music video for the album in which Aladdin4d, ImageFX, Lightwave and DPaint will all play a role creating some of the visuals. One of the videos already completed with the help of the Amiga is linked to in the thread referenced above.

As for the actual hardware used....for the earlier songs I was using an Amiga 2000HD with 040 processor, Picasso II graphics card and Repulse audio card.

This served me for a long time until some of the hardware died.  I then had to continue the work by replicating this system in UAE.  However, I still have the Amiga (several actually) for when I have the opportunity to get them going again.  Until then I do a lot of productivity work (graphics, music) in AmigaOS 3.9 using UAE.  I have a complete Amiga workstation configured there and the 3D rendering and graphics work greatly benefit from the greater than 68060 speeds.

Again....Thanks!

[Ral-Clan]

Just in case this new thread generates any interest in the album, I've enabled a new discount code for Amiga.org members:

Use the code "goamiga" when purchasing a digital download copy of album at Bandcamp.com to receive a 50% discount! Valid until February 29th, 2016.

That means you can get the whole album for $2US!

http://theovoids.bandcamp.com/releases

[dandelion]

Great to see how heavily the Amiga is involved in production. I wonder if I can get Bars and Pipes running on my MorphOS machine...feel somewhat inspired after discovering this. That would mean sourcing a synth or maybe some sort of midi sampler to record some acoustic guitar playing.

My favourite track is Tear Down the Sink, Dear. Beautiful and again, inspriring. I will pm you about this because I know of an online audience where I think this could fit very well.

[Ral-Clan]

If one intends to sync up acoustic instruments (like your guitar) or vocals with sequenced MIDI compositions on the Amiga, a good way to do this is with an external digital multitracker that has a MIDI port.

I used a Yamaha MD-8 multitrack machine synced to Bars & Pipes for a lot of my music.  The Amiga was controlling external synth modules, and any acoustic instruments were recorded on the sync'd up MD-8.  Then all was mixed down to a DAT deck (but today you would use any digital recorder or computer).

You can still find digital multitrackers being produced, or just buy a late 1990s or early 2000s model (Roland, TASCAM, FOSTEX, Yamaha), which are going for peanuts on eBay as most people have switched to DAWs (i.e. Protools, Cakewalk, etc.).

The only "catch" is that one needs to make sure that the sequencer software on the Amiga is capable of sending and/or receiving a MIDI-clock or MIDI Timecode (MTC) signal to allow synchronizing.

[dandelion]

Just in case this new thread generates any interest in the album, I've enabled a new discount code for Amiga.org members:

Use the code "goamiga" when purchasing a digital download copy of album at Bandcamp.com to receive a 50% discount! Valid until February 29th, 2016.

That means you can get the whole album for $2US!

http://theovoids.bandcamp.com/releases

Bought!

[Ral-Clan]

Thanks very much!  Enjoy!

[Amiga_CDTV]

Thanks for bumping this.

I had not listened to this before but did now and really liked it I just bought it, too!

[Ral-Clan]

Thanks for bumping this.

I had not listened to this before but did now and really liked it I just bought it, too!

Thank you so much!  I really hope you get a lot of enjoyment from this album.

[Amiga_CDTV]

Use the code "goamiga" when purchasing a digital download copy of album at Bandcamp.com to receive a 50% discount! Valid until February 29th, 2016.

That means you can get the whole album for $2US!

So far my favourite track has been 'Coffee Maker'.

Still a week to go for the discount code so a bump here

[Ral-Clan]

Thanks! "Coffee Maker" is my favourite track as well.

I too will bump this thread one last time as the 50% off special ends on Monday (the 29th of February).

Thanks to everyone that most graciously purchased the album!