Bana Haffar performs live with Moog DFAM and explains her modular set-up

Ahead of this year’s NAMM show we stopped by the Moog House Of Electronicus in LA to catch a gorgeous live Eurorack jam from Bana Haffar. Watch her DFAM-powered performance [starting a 5.03] and get the low down on her stripped-back modular rig.

[@nolywilliams1107]

Bana’s performance on this clip is so beautiful! I must have watched this about 20 times now!

[@scottsweatshirt9753]

I put this performance right there with any live performance of Darude Sandstorm.

[@chperrone]

there is something so elegant about this setup and this performance. It's completely perfect to me

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Dear Bana, the floor is literally yours. Your jeans reveals this may happen a lot. Exceptional performance!

[@SirDejaDoog]

Minimal, beautiful, subtle and performed with such control. I fucking love her music.

[@SirDejaDoog]

I want to see the sequences on a staff.

[@truecuckoo]

Awesome!

[@randommuiscchannel1049]

Her music is very listenable .....way beyond the random bleeps, bloops and 1 dimensional techno that has KZbin saturated...

[@brianrodman1033]

Doc Lambo she’s great. Before getting into synths she was primarily a bass player and was educated in music theory. It really comes through in a wonderful way during her modular performances.

[@WiredSpaceWizard]

I love the kind of big sound one can get from a smallish rig! Amazing piece!

[@eddievanheinous666]

“Bana Haffar, Moog House of Electronicus would like you to perform for Future Music at NAMM 2018!” “That’s great! Where do I set up?” “Moog House of Electronicus is irreverent and quirky! You will perform on the floor, in front of these cathode ray television sets.” “Godammit.”

[@MrSilkydrew]

I got a bad back, maybe I can play on a table if I bring a Dr. Certificate?

[@housemachine509]

Dfam totally suprised me so much fun I totallly knocked it but once I got it wow I ate my words

[@unclestaple]

not only does this sound amazing she's just fun to watch, constantly tweaking things like some kind of mad scientist. wonderful.

[@MrMooseMusic]

Although the piece is new, it makes me feel nostalgic.

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Truly brilliant. Wonderful sounds and creative flow. Amazing will be watching this over and over.

[@captainkiddoregon]

Her and Rodent was up here at a local Synth shop a few months back doing some demo's. She had the original DFAM setup which was on loan to her from Moog so at that time she was less familiar with it. But that got everyone there wanting a DFAM but at that point we figured we would never have a chance to own one. I just got mine a few days ago and love it. I've seen other videos of her playing and really enjoy her noodling over other performers I've seen.

[@paulaxa1]

as a guy who lives in Greece and there are no shows like these, a friendly tip: NEVER MISS ONE!!

[@JimPIckins]

for the publicity moog is getting for this, i certainly hope it wasn't JUST a loan

[@sunburst3353]

Her music is just beautiful.

[@SoCalFreelance]

Her soundscape was sending me into a peaceful sleep 😪zzzzzzz

[@BobBell.]

Love it, especially toward the end when you hear the DFAM gelling with the Mother so well. Least I think that’s what’s happening?! I hope so as that’s one reason I ordered mine! Either way, nice work Bana 🔊👍

[@carloschafin9144]

Really, really nice. Bana, I love the dynamics of the performance, beautiful flow. Looking forward to hearing much more from you.

[@analoglove]

Great performance!!! I’ve listened to it multiple times and I think your super talented!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@xperimentador]

Sounds so very well made! Big thumbs up!!

[@swatrick_payze]

Thank you so much for explaining your skiff. I‘m still a beginner to the world of modular and always thinking about the next steps for expanding. Beside this gearheads diggin shit, your performance is so deep and inspiring, i like to come back at least once in a month! :-)

[@Djunturica]

Beautiful performance, would like to see this piece released!

[@BetweenBeatsNDreams]

one word: riveting!!!!

[@dionysiaex5538]

I say Banana Haffar but I love your music Bana so respect!

[@rosemarynuts]

Wonderful

[@MarkoDeLaVoota]

very talented girl , I like her stuff on soundcloud

[@MrSilkydrew]

Sounds great and those TVs look cool

[@dataparkMusic]

House Elektronicus : We Forgot to Budget For Furniture, but check out this stack of video synthesizers 😜

[@MrSilkydrew]

That's how you really get down, literally. Aha Ha

[@ManCalledMif]

7:30 sounds!

[@Antonio229]

when Bana plays you just listen

[@HazeAnderson]

Fantastic!

[@xperimentador]

That sounds f*cking great! :-) Very good, well done!!

[@kevinvotaw2916]

is she making the melody live using the built in mother 32 keyboard or something else? seems like it'd be a pain to program the accents live idk thoughts

[@Dogboy73]

Excellent. Such great sound from a relatively modest little set-up. I love these kinds of demos. Demos featuring an entire room full of modules just upset me :D

[@djfree5435]

What's the ins outs module and what is it used for here? And why are the pitch inputs of the telharmonic not used?

[@yahjason]

Amazing

[@vr4ever645]

His is so beautiful! Wish Iknew how to get there

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Bloody awesome Bana!

[@Maschinestorm]

The TV’s are cool, looks like maybe being run by video sequencers

[@tetsugakusha66]

So dope!

[@rockhardfreak]

Im a newb to modular gear, but where is The sequencer in her Setup ? Am i missing something ?

[@anthonybrett]

Bana was using the Wogglebug as a clock I think she said, and both the Mother32 and the DFAM have built in Sequencers. Although, I love the Mother 32, Im not a huge fan of its sequencer, the DFAMs seq looks far better to me. Cheers

[@dcosta7120]

Superb

[@kaneepa]

Very Nice !

[@tagmataraum6546]

Dream Girls exist.

[@NawelS]

Inspiring!

[@NiamorH]

talented!

[@LeonTrimble]

so many great modular ladies around...

[@Unifono2012]

great!

[@musicremake737]

wow

[@KeithCanisius]

This was cool

[@LaggyKikee]

What is the second to last Module? The one with the flashing red leds

[@hadihammouda2704]

Malekko Varigate 8+ I believe !

[@paro80]

yeeesss . like this

[@Datacustic]

Looooovely!!!!!!

[@martindirkzimmer]

Wow!

[@pitchadjust]

Bana Haffar - Alif (12", LP) (Label: VENT) soundcloud.com/v-e-n-t/vent014-bana-haffar-alif

[@FiveElementNinja]

Woah

[@rockhardfreak]

It would be interesting to See how The TVs are connected and how they get a different pocture on each one. Anyone knows how that stuff works ?

[@clieko4665]

Yo want to lose your mind look up the tv modules that's what they are and they are amazing!!!

[@girlinagale]

I think the Retrokits RK004 has some sort of video output add-on.

[@CamxCam.]

My legs are falling asleep just looking at her.

[@erisislove]

What's the machine in the top right hand corner?

[@overseasterritory8983]

the mixer?

[@erisislove]

Overseas Territory right. which one?

[@overseasterritory8983]

erisislove I think a mackie 1202

[@freetimeprojex]

TV

[@SOLRAY1123]

Holy fuck man! I found you in the patch and tweak book! I have many questions for you

[@dvdny]

Great toon.

[@denisb.227]

really loving her melodic aproach to modular. it stands out of the mass of bleeps and bloops. regarding the name spelling: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaHIl4BohM9-ppY

[@dcupmusic]

super

[@cmangrum1]

Lol @ DFAM being intuitive... That is quirkiest piece of gear that I have

[@ZiadSidawi]

Her instruments obey.

[@yerpa58]

virtuoso

[@chatolars]

Beautiful ...the music too

[@rascal_rae]

Take your sexism elsewhere, it's gross af

[@LaggyKikee]

wtf. Can a man not say a woman is beautiful? Holy shit...

[@chatolars]

...too serious

[@haroldthebarrel7061]

Offence is so often taken rather than given.

[@micro7075]

This is why women are less likely to get involved than men. It's objectification, plain and simple. Why not just judge her on her skills? She doesn't need you telling her that you are turned on. Yuk.

[@elitefitrea]

I approve

[@QuaqQuao]

She could need a cellist... to take her music from great to transcendental.

[@blatendcrude7570]

Reminds me of sleeping

[@KyleWhitlock-Music]

Very nice instant composition and a departure from the usual boring electronic music that most people are uploading these days 😃

[@blkkbones580]

Kyle Whitlock true

[@elijahhag]

guy doesn't do yoga @4:51

[@stuartbond3321]

whats the mixer in this set up?

[@thimkthimk]

Looks like a Mackie 1202VLZ4.

[@stuartbond3321]

thanks

[@christophesoreau8586]

It's very sensitive

[@louderthangod]

Wow...I really like that. I just have no idea how modular stuff works. I have the softube modular plugin and it’s all a mystery. I’m a guitar through a million pedals kinda guy and I thought it would be similar but it’s not at all and in fact my expectations of that have probably only made it worse.

[@BobBell.]

louderthangod Maybe this will help? cdm.link/2017/12/step-one-wire-vcv-rack-free-modular-software/ It’s a free modular setup you can run in your browser and a guide to get you going 👍

[@fukingvoodoomagicmani3606]

Bob Bell Sound do u think it will work on android phones?

[@BobBell.]

fukinGvoodoomaGicman i! Sorry mate but I think it’s only for use on a computer.

[@hulkslayer626]

Best thing to do is just get a cheap starter synth and start exploring. Just playing around with knobs and switches and exploring different sounds is what will get you excited about making music with it. Don't try to make music with it right away or you'll just get frustrated... like you have been.

[@BosseCory]

Heres a bit of a guide to the concept, with great graphic explanations: daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/specials/2016-modular-synth-360/ It's a kind of programming, but using voltages to execute actions and commands.

[@JonnyParker-]

reminds me of plastikman

[@Maschinestorm]

Jonny Parker Everything is basically a variation of Afx Analog Bubblebath and early works, when you think of it.

[@JonnyParker-]

Maschinestorm hah yeah for real . where would we be .... Without Richard D?? Hey I did a rhyme .

[@dariocapasso92]

To be honest this is way more fresh sounding than the usual Aphex Twin.

[@noisynois1670]

caca de vaca seca molida

[@NickHchaos]

This would be a nice simple jam session any number of people are having on their modular at any given moment. Not sure why this warrants its own segment or she's a featured performer for Moog (most famous electronic instrument marketing company) tons of stuff like this or better from many people on instagram every day.

[@ryanlachurrerra4044]

Nick Herman cry more

[@lensmusic98105]

I don't know, I think the way she is using the effects with the mother 32 is pretty next level. Also the rhythmic scheme at first had me lost but now I'm super into it.

[@NickHchaos]

What exactly is next level about it? It sounds like some version of everything ever made on a Moog instrument since the 1960s, particularly the simple linear structures of Moog modular sequencers/delay cascades, Berlin school, arpeggio arpeggio, a little noise, delay, arpeggio variation, rinse repeat, etc. At least that girl who plays a Moog modular in a library is better at it and doesn't give boring marketing promo videos for Moog pretending like it's something groundbreaking. It's fine, it's just been done to death for decades and decades at this point. I think 5U people must be crapping their pants at what passes for cool or trendy among the general synth community (which seems to now include euro)..definitely a sign that we're in a eurorack bubble.

[@aeropilot4419]

Nick Herman perhaps that's true, though the relative entry point for getting into modular is now (almost) reasonable enough that the results are bound to be all over the map. Personally I like Bana’s work as she at least tries to set up a melodic structure ... to your point though I have heard a lot of bloop, bleep, squeaking noise that tries to pass itself off as something groundbreaking, so yeah, some self indulgent crap floating around, but not this, imho. cheers

[@kixxalot]

What sets her apart from the typical modular geek is 1. she is not a bald overweight 40+ male, 2. focus on melodies and traditional sounds rather than experimental noises. In fact the sounds in this performance are so simple that they could have been made by any kind of non-modular synth, even software. I suppose the modular gear is part of the "esthetic" of the performance, like the TVs, and her sitting on the floor. I am sure she would get less attention if she only had a Macbook and a Push controller. Having said all that, I have heard worse electronic music than hers.