[Note: This article was originally presented as a paper at the joint Association for Technology in Music Instruction/College Music Society (ATMI/CMS) Conference in Miami, FL on October 26, 2023.] PDF Introduction For the past few decades, …
pfMENTUM Selected Reviews
Links: About pfMENTUM/Artists pfMENTUM Recordings: CDs, LPs, DVDs archival information pfMENTUM Cover Art Archive pfMENTUM Selected ReviewspfMENTUM Selected Reviews Here is a partial list of pfMENTUM selected reviews. We are still adding to it, please help …
pfMENTUM
Links: About pfMENTUM/Artists pfMENTUM Recordings: CDs, LPs, DVDs archival information pfMENTUM Cover Art Archive pfMENTUM Selected ReviewspfMENTUM: Dedicated to creative music—and the musicians that make it. pfMENTUM (pronounced, pee-eff-mehn-tuhm) began in 1995 as a newsletter associated …
pfMENTUM Recordings Archive
Links: About pfMENTUM/Artists pfMENTUM Recordings: CDs, LPs, DVDs archival information pfMENTUM Cover Art Archive pfMENTUM Selected ReviewspfMENTUM Recordings: CDs, LPs, DVDs archival information Archive for information about the recordings documented on pfMENTUM, including CDs, DVDs, vinyl …
Review – 132350
Love it: Then to a pitifully singing saw and a sad organ Why does the sun go on shining? / Why does the sea rush to shore? / Don’t they know it’s the end of the …
KaiGen — Interactive and Generative Software by Jeff Kaiser—Max for Live Plugins and Max Projects
[gallery size="large" link="file" columns="1" type="slideshow" ids="13196,13197,13198,13199,13200"]
“[S]ome of the most interesting and idiosyncratic free audio effects out there…”
—Cycling 74“The KaiGen Suite is a collection of some of the most interesting generative plugins that we’ve ever seen…”
—Keith McMillen Instruments“This is a deep and powerful set of generative tools.”
—The Pro Audio Files“…cool little powerful device.”
—The Producers Kitchen, Max for Live Roundup: 5 Free Instruments
KaiGen is an interactive and generative software suite I have developed solely for use in Ableton Live (as a Max for Live plugin) or in Max/MSP (Project files included) from Cycling ’74. These were first shared as Max patches beginning in 2006, developed for use by Made Audible beginning in 2008, and are used extensively in my upcoming (2021) CorpseBoy album.
These are provided free, as is, no tech support included. If you do have an issue that you think I should know about, please do send me a message via the contact page.
KaiGen-M can be used to generate melodies, bass lines, harmonies, and more.
All bass lines, horn parts and percussion parts in this video are generated by KaiGen, running Kontakt in Ableton Live.
KaiGen-R can be used to generate rhythms, velocities, durations, and more.
All bass lines, horn parts and percussion parts in this video are generated by KaiGen, running Kontakt in Ableton Live.
KaiGen-Smaple-Palyer is a sample player that allows you to easily drag and drop files live, randomize their occurrence, change their pitch and direction, or: tie them to a beat. All mapped to your Push.
KaiGen-I-Ching uses the I-Ching (coin-method) to generate hexagrams that are then used to create program changes for your MIDI instruments. Please note: Not all plugin synths support program change via MIDI, so this may not work on some. In some synths you will need to build a Program List (Native Instruments) or Bank that the KaiGen-I-Ching will access and change.
Or you can just use it as an oracle during your Ableton Live sessions.
The intro music was all generated with KaiGen-I-Ching and KaiGen-M using Massive from Native Instruments.
Also included: KaiGen-C. KaiGen-C generates controller information that can be smoothed and manipulated in different ways. The ultimate control change knob twiddler.
Updated Nov. 14, 2020: fixed some bugs, more consistent appearance, added Max Project folders.
Updated Jan. 31, 2017: Now includes Max abstraction of the pulse generator and probability gate. Included, but not shown i the videos above is KaiGen-C. KaiGen-C generates CC data to twiddle knobs in different ways.
Please note these are Max for Live (M4L) plugins only for Ableton Live, not VST, AAX, or AU.
Software is “Name Your Own Price.”
$0.0 is fine, but if you would like to contribute, any amount is appreciated. Thank you!
The Choir Boys: Jeff Kaiser and Andrew Pask
The Choir Boys! Jeff Kaiser and Andrew PaskEveryone’s plugged into something and the result is an urgent, witty and often moving collage of acoustic and electronic sound which doesn’t draw attention to itself, but lets some …
Jeff Kaiser / Tom McNalley: ZUGZWANG (PFMCD038)
[playlist ids="441"]
Jeff Kaiser: quarter tone trumpet, electronics
Tom McNalley: electric guitar, electronics
1. carbon fianchetto 12:44
2. opening demand 7:28
3. systematic imbalance 7:30
4. both varied situations 7:54
5. organic symmetry 4:16
6. abbreviated structure 4:08
7. luft swapping 4:50
8. zwischenzug 1:36
9. aristotelian blockade 11:14
10. liquid compensation 11:00
Total Playing Time: 72:40
All compositions ©2006 Jeff Kaiser Music, ASCAP, and Tom McNalley Music, ASCAP
Recorded live (no overdubs) 7.15.05 and 8.7.05 at pfMENTUM World Headquarters, Ventura, CA
Recorded, mixed, mastered and designed by Jeff Kaiser
pfMENTUM CD038
PFM038
Selected Press: 1996-2006
Zugzwang (with Tom McNalley) Sinister, strident and glacial sounds emanating from sunny Ventura, California. Kaiser uses quartertone trumpet, McNalley electric guitar. Both add electronics to distort, extend and transmute their instruments. Zugzwang communicates a taste for …