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March 15th Meetup: Confluence

Part of the March Science Fiction exhibit at the Riverside Arts Center, Confluence brings together practitioners, artists, students, and scholars for engagement at the confluence of science fiction, technology, society, gender issues, and innovation.

Theme: What does science fiction have to do with technology, society, gender issues, or innovation?

When: March 15th, 6pm-9:30pm

Where: Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti, MI

Agenda:

  • 6pm-6:45pm DJ/Social Time/Poster presentations
    • Bill Van Loo DJing. Time for socializing and viewing the art in the gallery. Also, student poster presentations.
  • 6:45-7:15pm Panel Discussion
    • Local scholars and artists hold a discussion about how science fiction is related to technology, society, gender issues, and innovation.
  • 7:15-9pm Electronic music/art Performances

(Image by Aaron Graff)

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January 5, 2019 Meetup: Getting Started

Save the date! The next North Coast Modular Collective meetup will be:

January 5th, 1-4pm

Ann Arbor District Library Westgate Branch: West Side Room
2503 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Theme: Getting started

The new year is a great time to get started with new things. Come to this meetup if you’re relatively new to electronic music, if you’re new to one of the topics listed below, or if you’re experienced and can support others who are just getting into electronic music! Topics for our presentations are listed below.

Presentation 1

Getting started with Ableton Live with Graham Franz

Presentation 2

Getting started with classic synthesis techniques with Bill Van Loo

Presentation 3

Getting started with modular synthesizers with Arthur Durkee

 

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October 27th, 2018: 2nd Annual North Coast Modular Collective Showcase Show

When

Saturday October 27, 2018: 3:30pm to 6:30pm

Where

Ann Arbor District Library Westgate Branch: West Side Room
2503 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

What

Members of North Coast Modular Collective will perform short musical sets. There will be some Q&A and discussion between sets.

Some clips from last year:

 

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September 29, 2018 Meetup: Turning Chaos Into Music

Theme

Chaos! How do you turn chaos into music?

When

Saturday September 29, 2018: 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Where

Ann Arbor District Library Westgate Branch: West Side Room
2503 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Agenda

  1. Presenter #1: Nick Gaydos breaks down the Turing Machine eurorack module and pairs it with precision adders to show how to create melodies out of randomness.
  2. Presenter #2: Dan Blades will use white noise with sample and hold to produce signals that control and shape sounds.
  3. Around the room updates (shout out any opportunities, projects, etc.)
  4. Socializing time*

 

*Do you turn chaos into music? Bring a (small) example with you! Socializing time this is a great opportunity to show and talk with others about what you do!

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6-23-2018 North Coast Modular Meetup Notes & Wrapup

Our public North Coast Modular Meetup for June 2018 took place on Saturday, June 23, 2018. It was held at Menlo Innovations in Ann Arbor. The theme of the meet up was Programming, which was interpreted in different ways by each presenter.

Presentation #1 – Bill Van Loo

Bill Van Loo of North Coast Modular Collective explored a variety of sequencing options, including Novation Circuit and Arturia Beatstep Pro (hardware), Patterning (iOS), and Ableton Live (Mac/PC). A sneak peak of the upcoming Patterning 2 beta was used to demonstrate this exciting musical tool.

A video of the full talk and demonstration is linked below.

Presentation #2 – David Minnix

David Minnix of North Coast Modular Collective presented on euclidean rhythmic sequencing and explored several ways that the euclidean algorithm can be used to compose. Patches in Pure Data (PD) were used to demonstrate the techniques and example that David described.

A video of the full talk and demonstration is linked below.

Presentation #3 – Teresa

Teresa Sevonty presented on the basics of DSP engineering. She talked about the basic concepts of digital signal processing, and how these are applied day-to-day in commercial applications.

 

BONUS Presentation!

As an unexpected bonus, Andrew Belt, creator and lead developer of VCV Rack, came to the Meetup! Andrew graciously shared some background and news about the development of VCV Rack. A video of his talk is linked below.

 

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June 23rd North Coast Modular Collective Meetup: Save the Date!

Save the date!

North Coast Modular Collective is hosting another meetup, where you can see what others are doing and share your interests, questions, curiosities, or ideas!

Who: Open to the public. If you’re into making sounds with electronic things, this is for you. If you’re into making electronic things that make sounds, this is for you. If you’re curious but have never done it before, this is for you.

Date/Time: Saturday June 23rd, 1pm – 4pm

FREE

Location: Menlo Innovations, 505 East Liberty, LL500 (downstairs), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

Theme: Programming

Agenda

  • Presentation/performance #1 (TBA)
  • Presentation/performance #2 (TBA)
  • Around the room updates (shout out any opportunities, projects, etc.)
  • Socialize

Programming Theme

Our March Meetup generated some great ideas for upcoming topics. Since the June meetup will be held in a software factory, we thought it would be fitting to have the theme be “programming”. We’re applying some creative license to the interpretation of this theme, so you could see presentations or show-and-tells on anything from programming beats and melodies (sequencing) to DSP (Digital Signal Processing). Details will come soon, stay tuned! Comment below if you have other future topic suggestions, or ideas for presentations (including your own presentation or show-and-tell!).

 

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3-10-2018 North Coast Modular Meetup Notes & Wrapup

Our first public North Coast Modular Meetup took place on Saturday, March 10, 2018. It was held at A2 STEAM in Ann Arbor. The theme of the meet up was Maker/SDIY (Synth DIY).

Presentation/performance #1 – Joe Bauer

Joe Bauer of North Coast Modular Collective presented his DIY Challenge rack, which is a 2-row system of all modules he either built or completely designed and built himself. Joe gave a short overview of why this system is conceptually interesting, gave a short performance, then spent time answering questions about the system and how he used it.

Links & Resources mentioned:

Presentation/performance #2 – Steven Curtin

Steven Curtin showed and talked about his “Drone Boat” system, which he has been developing for a number of years. Steven talked about how his system is “post-modular”, in the sense that it took a patch idea he had been building for years in his Serge, Buchla, and other modular system, and  “froze” it as a fully-realized system, which includes custom built PLL circuits, a Moog Werkstatt, and more.

Links & resources mentioned in Steven’s presentation:

Around the room & Social Time

After the performances, attendees had a chance to introduce themselves and shout out their projects, upcoming opportunities, and more.

Links & resources mentioned:

What’s next?

We are gathering topics & ideas for future public meet ups, and will be announcing our next meet up soon. Join our email list to stay in touch!

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North Coast Modular Collective Meetup

North Coast Modular Collective is hosting a meetup, where you can see what others are doing and share your interests, questions, curiosities, or ideas!

Date/Time: Saturday March 10, 1pm – 4pm

Location: A2 STEAM School, 912 Barton Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Who: Open to the public. If you’re into making sounds with electronic things you’ve made, this is for you. If you’re curious but have never done it before, this is for you.

Theme: Maker/SDIY (Synth DIY)

Agenda:

  • Presentation/performance #1 – Joe Bauer
  • Presentation/performance #2 – Steve Curtin
  • Around the room updates (shout out any opportunities, projects, etc.)
  • Socialize
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DIYpsi

On Sunday, December 10th, we will be hanging out at DIYpsi from noon to 6pm. Come on by and say “hi!”

DIYpsi Holiday Market 2017

Saturday, December 9th from 11-7
Sunday, December 10th from 12-6

DIYpsi Holiday Market will feature 80 vendors at the Riverside Arts Center
76 N Huron St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197