My Masterclass at Tulane University

This is the educational part of the masterclass I held for Tulane University students on October 13, 2020. Watch the musical performance → • Playing music at Tulan...
Embracing the Unknown
Generating Inspiration with Modular Synthesizers
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
October 13, 2020
This class is designed for all levels of experience as it begins with an overview called "WTF is Synthesis?" and progresses toward advanced concepts for generative improvisation before ending with a musical performance.
✶ TABLE OF CONTENTS ✶
00:00 - Intro
00:32 - WTF is Synthesis?
08:47 - Generating Inspiration
15:44 - Performance & Improvisation
19:58 - Musical Outro
✶ PATCH NOTES ✶
I had built this case configuration just a day or two before the event, having tried something new-ish with my hybrid case approach and deciding that it was too buggy for live performance.
This case is a refresh of the approach I was using in 2018 around the time of full/new and some other events, updated for 2020 with some elements from my 2019 cases like the sub bass. I'm really happy with how this configuration turned out and I talk about it on Podular Modcast if you’re keen to listen.
Full patch notes are in the archive on Patreon. Join our private forum on Discord, get lossless downloads, and meet with me one-on-one through my Creative Mentorship program → / lightbath
✶ THANKS ✶
Special thanks to Tulane University Music Science and Technology, Dr. Daniel Sharp, Dr. Richard Snow, Justin Peake, Michael Batt, and all the students who watched my livestream on the big screen at the university theatre as well as those who tuned in virtually from their homes. It was an honor to bring The Lightbath Zone to Tulane!
To book a masterclass, workshop, or performance at your university or organization, reach out at lightbath.com
✶ GEAR ✶
Modular system in this video → lightbath.zone/tulane-kit
Hosa cables → lightbath.zone/hosa
Microphone → lightbath.zone/sm7b
Microphone boom → lightbath.zone/blue-boom
Lightbath Mall → lightbath.zone/mall
Audio + Video gear → lightbath.zone/video-kit
My favorite hat → lightbath.zone/hatbath
Some of the above may contain affiliate links which earn me a small commission. If you'd like a way to support me at no extra cost, please use the links.
✶ ZONES ✶
Website → lightbath.com
Emails → bit.ly/lightbathemails
Instagram → / __lightbath
Twitter → / lightbath
Soundcloud → / lightbath
Spotify → spoti.fi/2X0GjtM
Bandcamp → lightbath.bandcamp.com
Patreon → / lightbath
#generative #modularsynth #masterclass

[@PlumpPoetry]

Holy smokes, Bryan! That was incredible. The most delicate, true, and poetic description of what it feels like to play modular as a generative system. Marvelous! You’ve captured the magic. Hats off to you, the Alchemist.

[@Lightbath]

JP! Thank you! Coming from an educator such as yourself this really means a lot!

[@SilenceandTheUnwinkingMinds]

An absolute pleasure to watch, beautiful work as always. Thanks for sharing!

[@fablesofsilence]

That was super nice! It feels good to have you talk about process, inspiration, control and boundaries. Great overview and structure for the journey into the unknown - a masterclass! 🙏

[@calebcoppock6565]

Oh this is great! I really appreciate how earnest you are. You've got a way of sharing, teaching and listening that leaves me feeling grounded and inspired. ✨

[@Larry30102]

I have just experienced a glance, an education, a revelation into this creative process. Many Thanks!

[@hymyllyr4561]

Ah man! that quote from Brian Eno went right in the feels! Brilliant Masterclass Bryan 👌❤️

[@thewildclaw]

Love this!! New to modular synth and really hits home as to what I’m looking for.

[@prauslikeabossmatteosminds374]

Wow! Truly inspiring. Thanks for this gem of a lesson. You have a way of making something that seems so complicated so simple and user friendly. And your love for what you do is very evident in this video. Labor of love. Keep on!

[@lukepettett5075]

Ah man that's a great articulation of one of the reasons modular is great, and a great insight into your process. Cheers!

[@GavinVickery]

I would legit pay for a series on this. Unreal.

[@Lightbath]

Thanks. My plan in the next year or so is to make a proper online course. Hit up my email list if you want the early announcement of such shenanigans: lightbath.zone/email

[@GavinVickery]

@@Lightbath Done! Thanks for the heads up!

[@Lightbath]

💫

[@SayyyyyWhat]

BRILLIANT Video!!! So well said, amazing thoughts & explanations! Thank You!!

[@BeatnikHimself]

This is beautiful man. I’m building my first modular system and it’s aimed at long form generative ambient music. This was super inspirational and on point from where I’m standing. Thank you for your contribution the this community.

[@kenb7540]

What a wonderful explanation of an approach to modular 🙏👏

[@jvk86]

Wow. Absolutely floored. What a journey! Thank you for sharing, this was a breath of fresh air!

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@nondscrypt1096]

This was ridiculously inspirational

[@TheBrokenCradle]

Coming from the piano, it's been fun to try and let go of control in a sense. Setting up a simple process and seeing what happens. Absorbing it. And then playing with it. Great class!

[@SecondBreakfastMusic]

Superb presentation. Thanks B!

[@namiaudio]

That was so inspiring! I love your philosophy on music making. I've been considering going modular for a few years now and your video is probably the one that will make me pull the trigger ☺️

[@Lightbath]

💫

[@dariusmorgan8302]

Generative is like meditation/prayer to me. Same when I'd get lost in the sound of my guitar and just play without thought of writing or composing anything. Just the pure act of interaction with music and sound itself. It's fundamental...visceral. And the embracing of the unknown without the preconceptions of how things are supposed to go...actually allowing the music to show itself to you and then you can interactively guide the journey together. True beauty...unadulterated. I look at music like a spirit...and she shows herself and speaks to us and beckons us to travel outside the smaller realms and exist on a spiritual plane

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@MisterCross]

Love this!

[@bigman3274]

starting something like this with a Sun Ra quote is so on point especially for modular synthesis. dope shit

[@dariusmorgan8302]

I dig the correlation you made between the modular and improvising with other musicians. The same inspiration I got from jamming in an improv based band and having the sounds spur me to do other things is what the modular gives me and I love modular for that. Especially generative modular. It's magic the communication between myself and the modules...the interplay and reaction...the surprises and detours into places you wouldn't have known to go...or even considered until you heard it. And then you follow and you're being led somewhere by the sound itself. A relationship just as real as speaking with a person

[@Lightbath]

#followthesound

[@HumanMotives]

Great video. Very inspiring 🖤🎛🙏

[@allhandsmusic]

I love your unending curiosity and deep understanding of the creative process. I can't watch one of your videos and not immediately want to go patch.

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@elm_assembly]

any video that starts with sun ra gets a like from me. this is great stuff - thank you!

[@Lightbath]

🪐

[@sthlm_blush]

Please make more of these

[@Lightbath]

I plan to make a full online course this or next year. Hit up lightbath.zone/email to be notified when it launches ✌️

[@J_Carter]

Wow, totally brilliant teaching here. Brian Eno has been the center of my musical universe for decades, improv is my preferred way of creating. You've just tied it all together for me in a really inspiring way--this is why I'm so drawn to modular synthesis. Plus you've done such an amazing job of laying down the foundation blocks of how to compose with modular. I'm 100% interested in future online courses. Email list signed.

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@Arviav]

So cool

[@bongakhumalo6141]

i have been struggling for the lat year or so with wanting to make things hyper specific. this is a great explication of the philosophy for modular and composition in general. trust and let go

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@genepozniak]

Well, okay, but just keep in mind what happened to the Krell! 😉 Great job, man! Interesting ideas.

[@tonyrustlips]

Love u bro so good

[@Lightbath]

🌟

[@lymangreen5020]

Sounds really good!! I have gotten Grandmother, MT-32, DFAM & Subharmonicon and want to explore modular synthesis!!

[@aeropilot4419]

sounds like you already are 😉 at least in the ability to patch between them

[@aeropilot4419]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@Chris-vr8cd]

love sun ra

[@Lightbath]

🪐

[@nukiolbartes6279]

Yes the magic happen with piano, it just take way more hard work n practice.

[@fluxus_tr]

9:45 Brother? Oh ok. Thanks tho, as a sister. Always excluded, but this video is great - thank you.

[@Lightbath]

Thanks. Though, I actually was saying ‘but rather’ and I said it so fast it came out b’rather.

[@_jurk]

Is this a pentantonic scale? And would you say that these are most suited for this kind of music? Because i’ve noticed that if I use any other scales some notes become like uninvited guest that show up to dinner. Thanks for sharin’

[@Lightbath]

Haha. The major pentatonic omits the two more dissonant scale degrees from the major scale so when making generative music it can be helpful to limit the sets of notes that can appear together at any particular time. It takes some study and listening to grok what sorts of combos feel good together, but the best resource I’ve found to help guide some understanding of harmonic relationships is this book: lightbath.zone/harmonic-experience

[@MrMarcLaflamme]

+11 for Spinal Tap

[@MrMarcLaflamme]

Please let there be Van Dyke Brown patch cables and happy little accidents! 😁

[@Lightbath]

Ha. Bob Rossbath is always present in spirit. And Hosa has a color very close to Van Dyke Brown... and there are surely some happy little accidents-but there's no live-patching in this one. Instead, it's a new approach: a structured live-demonstration + powerpoint style class about my approach to music through modular synthesis.

[@MrMarcLaflamme]

@@Lightbath sounds awesome, looking forward to it!

[@soejrd24978]

Where did you get that shirt? Would love to cop it

[@Lightbath]

My favorite shirt. So favorite I rarely wear it. Here's an affiliate link to it: alnk.to/7qdtirh

[@studio48nl]

Wow a LE PNW 🤪 !

[@VerySexyBaby]

howdy

[@Lightbath]

oh, hey