This track is a summation of the entire year's output, rendered by iTunes Signature Maker. It examines a group of files, extracts what's similar and combines them into a single audio file.

If you want to stream all 366 tracks, here's an MP3 Playlist.

This has been quite a project - at this point I can't believe it's finished. I'm not sure what comes next. I'll take a bit of time off, then plan the next project. I've really learned a great deal from creating in this fashion, and it's not something I want to give up. I will probably continue to create on a regular basic like this because it's a good way to stay on form.

I'll let you in on a little secret. Because I've been doing a lot of traveling in the last two months, I've had to work ahead in order to be able to publish daily. The 365th track was recorded on the 28th of January, so I met my goal of completing the project within a one year period, despite the 16 day hiatus.

Thanks to everyone who has offered encouragement and support, particularly my wife, Lauren Amazeen.

Vi ses,

-John

2006-02-13

We're in the home stretch now. Only one week left. Now might be a good time to consider a donation.

This now marks one year since the project began, but since it was suspended for two weeks following the death of my father, it has not yet reached 365 songs. So, I will continue for another 15 days to make a grand total of 366. That's a year plus one to grow on.

The thing is, it's an Audio Unit plugin and doesn't work with Cubase, which I use. However, thanks to Soundflower and RAX, I have been able to integrate it with Cubase. It took me all day to figure out how to get it working, and this little piece is the result of that work. I'm too tired to do any more.

2006-01-27

We are now in the final month. There are only 30 more tracks to go.

By the way - Happy New Year!

I'm using my oldest didj today - I bought it almost exactly seven years ago on Charing Cross Road. It's mouthpiece is in need of more beeswax and until it's warmed up it's almost unplayable. Still, I like what I can do with it and it's got sentimental value as well. 2005-12-27

Now it's time to take the next step. I thought it would be interesting to put a static track on top of a fairly active funk backing. This is the first result. 2005-12-18

By the way, this is track number 300. Only 66 more to go.

With the exception of the drum track, I played everything myself. As I move along with these funk tracks, I'll build the drum tracks myself as well. 2005-12-04

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I used to have a funk band in New York in the late 80s - early 90s called, "Your Monkey's Not Funny."

I'm having a lot of fun getting away from using a standard keyboard to control MIDI. 2005-11-19

My Odeo Channel (odeo/76284a9ae40e4668)

This is also a totally "pure" mix - no compressors, limiters, reverb, etc. Just the synth patches themselves and a little dither on the mixdown.

2005-11-15

I've reached the 3/4 point today. There's only 92 more tracks to go. Now would be a good time to consider a donation.

I like it very much. 2005-11-10

I also dug out another old piece of gear - my SansAmp. I have the very first model, from when they were being built in the back room of Rogue Music on 30th St. in NYC. I used it to thicken the guitar sound a bit. 2005-10-22

Almost all of the effects I'm using are freeware - some of them are quite amazing. The C3 multiband compressor from Slim Slow Slider and ApluSoft is a must-have. I'm using it for both limiting and maximizing on this track. I'm also using the mda Looplex and ExSIMultitap - both freeware as well.

One important lesson I've learned from this track - no matter how tight your budget, using a 15 year old guitar cable is probably never a good idea. 2005-10-21

By the way, if you use iTunes, I strongly recommend that you go into "Preferences" and under the "Playback" settings, turn the effect called "Soundcheck" off. It will balance out the volume levels, but it does not work well for dense classical music and lots of ambient tracks like these.

2005-10-16
2005-10-17
2005-10-18
2005-10-19
2005-10-20

By the way, this marks the 2/3 point of this project. There have been 244 songs so far, adding up to 21 hours of music. I've only got 122 more to go.

Also, by doing five of these, I've broken the symmetry with the "Symmetry" series, so this is truly asymmetrical.

This is the same technique that is used to apply the sampled acoustics of a space to a sound source, which, as you know, I do quite a bit. 2005-10-07

An audio-specific explanation of convolution can be found at Barry Truax's webpage.

This is a looping piece, sort of. There are loops, buy they're slightly different each time they show up. There's also lots of simulated tape saturation in this to give it a bit of a 1970's sound. The Wurlitzer on this is a sample, unfortunately. Mine is currently buried in a storage space in Södermalm.

To me, this has a definite autumnal feeling. 2005-10-04

2005-10-01

All that aside, I think it sound pretty, and there are some nice combinations of pitches here. 2005-09-30

On this track, I'm using the amazing Crystal synth plugin from Green Oak software. Even more amazing - it's free. Their Delayifier plugin is buried in this track somewhere as well.

Anyway, here's the latest feedback piece: 2005-09-15

By the way, this is probably the only time I will ever use granular synthesis. It doesn't make me nauseous the way that ring modulation does, but it comes pretty close. I only used it this time because this application of it doesn't sound like someone trying to pull a nail out of a knothole.

I've just been informed that this site has been nominated in the category of "Best Podcast" for Deutsche Welle's "BOB" awards.

I'm using Altiverb instead of Rayverb for the Cistern reverb because it can handle the 44 second decay much better.

By the way, this is number 200.

By the way, I've been looking at Digital Musician, a service that allows musicians to collaborate online. I used the Rocket Network a few years ago to collaborate with David Azarch in NYC to create the Bossa 'n' Bass track from the early days of this site.

If you're interested in an online collaboration, let me know.

By the way, this marks the halfway point of the Daily Ambience project. I have reached 182 tracks.

Now might be a good time to consider a donation - you can use Amazon or PayPal. Just follow the links in the column to the right.

By the way, my technical problems have been solved, and all the links should be back to normal.

2005-06-22

I have reached the 1/3rd point by the way - 122 tunes. I hardly believe it myself.

By the way, this is the 100th track so far.

A big thank you to the latest contributer for the very generous donation.

Garageband does a great job of pulling everything into line, matching tempos, keys and phrases. I've worked quite hard to create something that feels quite disorganized from it. 2005-05-18

I think this track is beginning to show some of the effects of generation loss. I kind of like it. 2005-05-17

A big thanks to the person who sent a donation yesterday.

For those of you who live in Sweden, Denmark, Norway or Switzerland, Apple's iTunes Music store is now available to you. This means that you can buy Cinema Volta albums online. If you live in Switzerland, it also means you can get one free song.

It took three programs to get it this way: Garage Band, Logic Express and Cubase SX 3. I wish I could combine all the features into one program.

By the way, with yesterday's release, we've hit the 20% mark. Yesterday's piece was #73.

Perhaps now is a good time to consider a donation via PayPal or Amazon. You can contribute as little as a dollar or one Euro:

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

-Dylan Thomas

By the way, this is day 60 - I'm 1/6th of the way through. That doesn't seem like a lot, but in one month, I'll be 1/4th of the way through, and that does seem like quite a bit. Numbers are funny that way.

By the way, now might be a good time to consider a donation. You can use PayPal or Amazon. The link is in the right column.

The piece will be shown in New York on April 6th as part of an evening called "Made in the Shade - Video Works by Cora Mancini and Matias Aguilar."

It's happening in Tribeca at DEKK- Restaurant Bar Lounge Screening Room
134 Reade Street
NY, NY 10013

By the way, this is number 53. If I'd have been smart and only promised one tune per week, I'd be done by now. Instead, I've got 303 to go.

2005-03-04

2005-03-03

After years of fruitless searching for another, I gave up. Well, they just started making them and I got one. This was recorded with it. Spooky bass in a long hallway.

2005-03-02

By the way, this may be a good time to point out that a donation is always appreciated. The links are in the column to the right, you can use Pay Pal or Amazon. One dollar, one pound, one euro, anything is fine.

2005-02-28

There was far too much technology involved in this one.

1. Logic Express
2. JunXion
3. WormHole
4. Rayverb
5. Amadeus II

Also, I've made it possible for you to add comments to these posts, so if you're interested, you can let me know what you think, and ask questions.

2005-02-21

2005-02-19

By the way, don't forget to click on the links to the right and donate a little to the cause.

2005-02-16.

I hope the podcasting side is working out. I've been editing the XML file by hand until the problem with .Mac and headers is worked out.

I know I'm behind two tunes, but hey - you should see my credit card bills.

I still owe you two tracks. We'll catch up soon . . .

It was recorded using an Atari ST and the Hotz Translator software. This time re-realized in Garageband.

So, here's 2005-02-10.

The existing links have been changed from torrents to direct downloads, so you should be able to get instant gratification now.

I'm still working out all the logistics, so new songs won't start until the weekend.

I'll be pausing the project until the bandwidth solution is finished. I'm hoping to start uploading again by this weekend.

By the way, it's the day after my birthday.

It's my birthday, by the way.

Anyway, it's Friday and time to dance!

This is a collaboration between me and David Azarch, the DJ from the Mudd Club. Actually, it came from an idea from Lauren Amazeen, the former Executive Director of The Kitchen, who's also my wife.

This is an extremely reconfigured version of "voice - Rouen" from the album "Space Exploration.

Bits and pieces were recorded in New York over several years. Finally assembled and tweaked many years later in Stockholm.

Using dijeridoo and voice to trigger the resonances in Gasverket in Stockholm. This recording was made possible by the amazing Rayverb plugin.

This is a generative piece created from some of the source material used in Web Phases.