virtdelays

virtdelay1 (mp3 format; 5:24 -- 7.8 Mbytes)
virtdelay2 (mp3 format; 5:55 -- 8.6 Mbytes)
virtdelay1-resid (mp3 format; 7:21 -- 10.5 Mbytes)

I finally figured out how to conistently set up Max/MSP and Logic so that I could access max patches from within the Logic tracking software. I set it up to apply very long delays (5-7 seconds) on audio sent from Logic to Max. That initial conifiguration led to the three pieces here. The three intersect with each other in different ways, however.

virtdelay1 also continues the use of eurorack sequencing capabilities I had enjoyed exploring in the seqtimb piece I had just finished. I was still interested in somehow subverting the typical modular/analog step-sequencer use. I set up a sequencer (in Max/MSP this time, not the Korg SQ-1) and ran the output into the recirculating long delay. My idea was that when the delayed sequences came back they would set up interesting counter-rhythms with the original sequenced pattern. I was sequencing notes with this one, not timbres, although each sequence -- I composed eight of them -- was set with its own modular timbre.

It didn't work out as well as I had hoped. The rhythmic evolution just on its own was kind of dull. I decided to let each of the eight sequences devolve into a smeared-out, hyper-reverbed sound that formed the base for the next sequence to enter. Except for the very last one. It is the original delay-rhythm idea.

I didn't use a step-sequencer for virtdelay2, but I did crank up the virtual long-delay line. The input was recordings of a set of 'tuned goblets' that Lian had thoughtfully gotten for her ole Dad this past Christmas. I'd been meaning to make use of them, and this provided a good opportunity. Just for fun I added a percussive section to offset the evolving goblet-sound delay lines.

I'm still not too sure how well virtdelay1 works, but I do like this virtdelay2 quite a bit.

Although I'm a little ambivalent about virtdelay1, I'm pretty happy with virtdelay1-resid, and it would not exist without virtdelay1. It's a much more ambient piece than the other two, and it does not directly make use of the virtual delay system. So it's sort of an odd-piece-out, but I decided to include it here because it grew completely from the first virtdelay.
virtdelay1-resid is based on my fascination with the residual sound of a resonating instrument or the recirculating audio after an initial sonic impulse in a set of reverberation filters and delays.
I used this audio residue recently in the piano chords of Drift (part of my piano-synth pieces) and the reverberation tails in some older pieces such as summer-seq-4 (from summer-seq-modular2023) and mantadue (web page: mantadue)
It was easy to create virtdelay1-resid, the audio was already rendered, and the mixing just involved listening and adjusting. What a great way to work! Instant gratification! I really do love making music.

Brad Garton
July, 2026