Dillon Bastan Nirvana is a new Max For Live (M4L) polyphonic feedback Synthesizer and FX processor that uses electronics and 2D spaces.
Max for Live (M4L) is a powerful sound environment for developers and musicians to create custom synths, effects, and MIDI generators. Embedded in Ableton Live, the devices run significantly smoother and require fewer resources than plugins.
Dillon Bastan is a developer who repeatedly demonstrates how mighty Max for Live can be for developers. The latest device from Dillon Bastan is called Nirvana, a feedback sound tool that again shows what is possible in M4L.
Dillon Bastan Nirvana
The new M4L device, Nirvana, explores feedback in various facets. It can be used as a 6-voice polyphonic Synthesizer or FX processor. Two dedicated devices (instrument and FX) are in the package.
Dillon Bastan Nirvana consists of three source modes: space, material, and circuit, which give you different types of feedback sounds.
Space source mode offers a 2D simulation of a room where you can place up to four of each object, including microphones, speakers, and audio sources. Each of them is highly customizable. The microphones have an FX option with filter, resonator, and string models.
Also, the audio sources are flexible. They can be basic oscillators, a sampler, external audio, or sound from another source system. You can also select from many IR models for each microphone, speaker, and space. Plus, you can adjust the room with various parameters such as the size, pre-day, duplicating objects, and more,
Once you’ve configured your object, you can freely place it on a 2D space interface. Depending on how you position it, you generate all kinds of feedback sounds related to space. Funny, you listen to the results with a listener object (cat head) that can be moved/rotated throughout space.
Material & Circuit Source Mode
In the second tab of the main interface, you can explore the material source mode, which offers all the same features as the space mode but with some differences. Instead of space, it simulates a 2D material plane with various materials (such as wood, metal, and more) selectable via IR files.
There is also a difference in usage. Instead of rotating the mics/speakers, you can tilt them to simulate tilting them on a surface to get different tones. These modes allow you to create resonations, excitations, and feedback of the material.
Things get pretty wild in Circuit Source mode. It offers a 2D simulation of a circuit breadboard with up to four of each object in the room. This includes audio sources, effects, and math operators like +, -, x, /, pow, clip, and more.
These modules in the columns can be connected with cables and jumpers to generate wild modulation or feedback sounds. Objects can modulate their positions on the circuit dynamically, creating new circuits throughout a voice.
Each system also features a multimode filter, an amplitude ADSR envelope, panning, and gain. Additionally, each system has a cross-feedback option to create feedback with other systems.
Dillon Bastan didn’t leave it at that with Nirvana. He also incorporated a modulation system with two LFOs, an envelope, and a random spray value routable to various parameters. Plus, there is an option to control specific parameters with MIDI note pitches.
Further, Nirvana has a built-in object automation looper per voice that works like a complex LFO. It allows automations to be recorded and looped to move the position of the objects in space, material, or circuit.
Dillon Bastan Nirvana is a playground for feedback sounds, from massive drones, noisescapes, and material resonances to Doppler effects.
First Impression
Nirvana looks like an exciting new Max for Live device that lets you delve deep into the world of feedback. If you want to generate experimental sounds, it can be worth looking at and exploring this tool.
Dillon Bastan Nirvana is available now for $30 and ships with 100 presets and three samples. It requires the Ableton Live 10 Suite or higher, or Ableton Live 10 Standard with a Max For Live license.
More information here: Dillon Bastan
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