Battlestar Galactica Cylon theme on Eigenharp Alpha

[gbevin]

I've been studying the Eigenharp Alpha for a few months and have been looking for a nice song to cover until my own compositions are finished. I accidentally stumbled into the melody of the Battlestar Galactica Cylon theme while jamming and thought it could be a perfect fit.

The theme is heard in the series by the final five Cylons and it's a melody that Bear McCreary composed on top of the chords of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower'. I continued improvising off of the piano song that the series' character Kara Thrace is trying to remember and made my own version of it.

This arrangement on the Eigenharp Alpha features Tonehammer's Emotional Piano, the Eigenharp's natively modeled Cello, Orange Tree Samples Evolution Electric Guitar Strawberry, Studio Devil Amp Modeler Pro and FabFilter Twin 2. The drum loops are part of the extensive collection that ships with the Eigenharp.

At the end of the song it seems that I'm taxing my two year old MacBook Pro a bit too much and there's some crackling since the CPU has trouble keeping up. It was fine while rehearsing, but recording at the same time seems to have pushed it over the edge, sorry about that. I should have expected this as these Kontakt sampler instruments are so detailed that some computers have trouble even playing them by themselves.

I hope you enjoy this performance nonetheless, do tell me what you think of it.

[tony smyth]

No one posted reply to this? Maybe they're just jealous of you having the big Eigenharp

Well,I liked it. I especially liked how expressive the electric guitar samples are in conjunction with the Eigen.

[gbevin]

Thanks Tony, I actually checked yesterday to make sure this thread wasn't lost or something

Part of the expression also comes from the awesome Orange Tree EEG Strawberry electric guitar sample instrument. Playing it however feels extremely natural with the Eigenharp since you can pitchbend with the key you're actually playing and very easily do the legato parts.

[syzygywell]

I love it. I just love this thing.. totally a visual experience watching someone play this stick of light.

[spaceman]

So is this thing really in production and available to buy ? What about the Tau ? Everytime i check the Eigenlabs site , i see the availability dates being pushed back , and it has been like that for the last 7 months...

[STML]

Well played!!!

Seems like a very responsive instrument.

[Rust Creep]

totally ****ing rad!

i loved the series and this did it justice. awesome, just awesome!

[gbevin]

Originally Posted by spaceman

So is this thing really in production and available to buy ? What about the Tau ? Everytime i check the Eigenlabs site , i see the availability dates being pushed back , and it has been like that for the last 7 months...

Definitely, the Alpha has been shipping for 9 months now, the Tau for a few months also. The date you see on the order page is the estimate shipping date for your own order. The instruments themselves have been in production for quite a while now.

[spaceman]

Originally Posted by gbevin

Definitely, the Alpha has been shipping for 9 months now, the Tau for a few months also. The date you see on the order page is the estimate shipping date for your own order. The instruments themselves have been in production for quite a while now.

Ah , ok, thanks for the clarification. Your video is tempting me into investing in a Tau ( the Alpha will wait until i'll find oil in that hole i'm digging in my bedroom )

[gbevin]

Originally Posted by spaceman

Ah , ok, thanks for the clarification. Your video is tempting me into investing in a Tau ( the Alpha will wait until i'll find oil in that hole i'm digging in my bedroom )

Heh, I'd like to try out a Tau also, seems like it's nice on stage also. I like what it looks like on the vids of the first people posting them (like Albino Iseli). It also offers almost everything the Alpha does.

[PlugHead]

I can most def. see expressive possibilities with this instrument - nice job demonstrating!

Is there any chance of playing with 'dynamics' (i.e. NOT compression, but varying intensity><volume)? I don't hear any (with the various instrument sounds) in your example.

IMO, it sounds rather bland without adequate dynamic expression. Maybe because I'm coming from an acoustic instrument background, or I'm just expecting more, or have not fully heard it's abilities yet...

Wonderful controller tho - I'd love to have one to play with!

thx for the demo!

[gbevin]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

I can most def. see expressive possibilities with this instrument - nice job demonstrating!

Is there any chance of playing with 'dynamics' (i.e. NOT compression, but varying intensity><volume)? I don't hear any (with the various instrument sounds) in your example.

Totally, it just depends how you configure it. On other pieces I've actually got the pressure also mapped to instrument volume as well as note velocity. Nice to play Knopfleresque electric guitar volume fades for instance, but just gradually pressing harder on the key(s).

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by gbevin

Totally, it just depends how you configure it. On other pieces I've actually got the pressure also mapped to instrument volume as well as note velocity. Nice to play Knopfleresque electric guitar volume fades for instance, but just gradually pressing harder on the key(s).

cool.

I expect that type of programming will also work in reverse (decreasing pressure/lowers volume)?

I kinda wish it were a 'wind' instrument like the EWI etc., as that is more my aesthetic.

thx!

[gbevin]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

cool.

I expect that type of programming will also work in reverse (decreasing pressure/lowers volume)?!

Sure, any way you like ... what you describe is actually the same as what I said. It continuously sends out data streams for any controller and key axis. So if you link the pressure of the keys to volume, you can continuously change pressure to change the volume up and down :-)

Originally Posted by PlugHead

I kinda wish it were a 'wind' instrument like the EWI etc., as that is more my aesthetic. !

Well, there's the Eigenharp Pico ... it's smaller, cheaper and more inspired by wind instruments:

[gbevin]

Originally Posted by STML

Well played!!!

Seems like a very responsive instrument.

Thanks! It is indeed. The keys on the Eigenharp are what makes the instrument so good. They are incredibly sensitive while still giving you full control over all the nuances. Since you can move them in three axes continuously, a lot of expression can be obtained.

[gbevin]

Originally Posted by syzygywell

I love it. I just love this thing.. totally a visual experience watching someone play this stick of light.

Hmmm, only just saw this ... playing with your stick of light ... not really the most glorious description tutt