Squarp HAPAX: The Dark Page - Complex Tuplets, Dawless Eurorack

Inspired by Frank Zappa's infamous THE BLACK PAGE, this complex piece was composed entirely on the Squarp HAPAX with various tuplets, polyrhythms and scales from whole-tone to tetratonic to mixolydian. No computer used!
This somewhat crazy undertaking is also an attempt to explore the limits of composing with the Squarp HAPAX hardware sequencer in conjunction with a Eurorack system. I use the WARP function for the tuplets. All drum sounds except HiHat come from a single BIA, controlled via 5 automation lanes (attack, decay, S/L/M, morph, harm).
Of course this is my own original composition with my personal note but with a Zappaesque touch.
Recorded in stereo in one take with BLUEBOX, no overdubs. Purely modular analog and digital sound synthesis, no samples are used.
00:00 All Scales and Tuplets
00:04 F dorian - 3:2/4, 7:4/8, 6:4/8, 5:4/8, 3:4/8, 3:4/8
00:20 Bb mixolydian, A dorian, D mixolydian - 3:2/8, 5:4/8, 6:4/4
00:35 C lydian, D mixolydian - 3:2/4, 6:4/8
00:46 C major/lydian - 5:4/8, 3:2/4, 11:4/4, 11:4/4
01:01 tetratonic/diminished - 3:4/4, 3:4/4, 6:4/4, 12:4/4
01:23 C minor, Ab major - 3:2/4, 5:2/4, 6:2/4, 7:2/4
01:52 Bb mixolydian, A dorian, D mixolydian - 3:2/8, 5:4/8, 6:4/4
02:07 F dorian - 7:4/8, 6:4/8, 5:4/8, 3:4/8, 3:4/8
02:22 C major/minor, chromatic - 3:2/4, 6:4/8, 7:4/8 & 3:4/8
02:44 F dorian - 3:2/4, 7:4/8, 6:4/8, 5:4/8, 3:4/8, 3:4/8
02:59 Bb mixolydian, A dorian, D mixolydian - 3:2/8, 5:4/8, 6:4/4
03:15 C major/lydian - 5:4/8, 3:2/4, 11:4/4, 11:4/4
03:28 F dorian - 7:4/8, 6:4/8, 5:4/8, 3:4/8, 3:4/8
03:43 C minor, Ab major - 3:2/4, 5:2/4, 6:2/4, 7:2/4
04:13 whole tone - 11:4/8, 11:4/8, 3:2/4
04:29 tetratonic/diminished - 3:4/4, 3:4/4, 6:4/4, 12:4/4
04:52 whole tone - 11:4/8, 11:4/8
► Squarp Instruments HAPAX - Polychronic Sequencer. FH-2 for additional CV outputs.
►► Eurorack modules in ►7U 104HP Intellijel case:
OSCILLATORS and SYNTH VOICES ________
► 4ms Ensemble Oscillator
► Bastl Pizza - digital FM oscillator
► OXI Instruments CORAL - 8 Voice Polyphonic Multitimbral Synthesizer
► E-RM Polygogo - Polygonal Synthesis Oscillator
► Antumbra Knit (Plaits clone)
► RYK Vector Wave - FM / Harmonic Vector Stereo Synth Voice
► Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter - universal drum synthesizer
► Mosaic HI-HAT 1U
FILTER __________________________________
► WMD C4RBN 4/2-Pole State Variable Filter (2x)
► THREE TOM Steve’s MS-22 Dual VCF
► Mosaic State Variable Filter 1U
EFFECTS ________________________________
► Make Noise Mimeophon
► Happy Nerding FX Aid - stereo effects processor
ENVELOPES and LFOS ____________________
► WMD Javelin ADSR-VCA (2x)
► Rides in the Storm FEG - Loopable ADSR Envelope Generator
► XAOC Devices Zadar - quadruple envelope generator
► Doepfer A145-4 LFOs
► Mosaic Low Freq Osc (2x) 1U
CV PROCESSORS _________________________
► Der Mann mit der Maschine DROID Master - universal CV Processor
► Der Mann mit der Maschine DROID P2B8 - controller
► Expert Sleepers FH-2 - MIDI/CV Converter and synchronization center
► Expert Sleepers FHX-8CV - expansion module for the FH-2 (2x)
UTILITIES and VCA ________________________
► Intellijel Dual VCA 1U
► Frap Tools 321 - Scale + Flip + Shift + Combine
► Ritual Electronics Krach 1U
► Transient Modules U4R 1U
► After Later Audio Mults 1U
► 2hp Mix - 4 Channel Mixer
EXTERNAL ________________________________
► 1010music Bluebox - Compact 12 channel Digital Mixer/Recorder
► Facebook: / klaus.oberma. .
► Instagram: / klaus_oberm. .
► Websites: www.exile.at/audiovisual/ - www.exile.at
Dawless Jam, Eurorack Performance, Eurorack Modular Synth
‪@squarpinstruments‬
#bia #eurorack #modularsynth #hapax #sequencer #dawlessjam #bluebox #frankzappa #dawless #synth

[@davidfranklin4995]

I have to say, this is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen somebody do with a sequencer plus a modular system. The hapax is just so powerful. Great to see someone really exploring what it is capable of.

[@klaus_obermaier]

Many thanks, David!

[@MusicianParadise]

Zappa - esque music on a HW sequencer? Yes please! Excellent!

[@klaus_obermaier]

😃 This was possible thanks to the HAPAX.

[@heatfield4243]

Very cool. Nice to hear a Zappa influenced eurorack musical effort.

[@klaus_obermaier]

Thanks! Zappa is always a good source 🙂

[@paintingwithnoise]

unbelievably cool. Hapax is the best sequencer available right now for sure (beats the cirklon in my book). Haven't worked my way up to this level of mastery though, this is nuts.

[@klaus_obermaier]

Thanks a lot! I completely agree with you about the HAPAX. Amazing tool!

[@arthurerpen1157]

Great

[@klaus_obermaier]

Thanks!

[@ThatFanDoley]

Hell yeah!!!

[@klaus_obermaier]

🤟

[@nouvelAbstrait]

wow

[@klaus_obermaier]

☺

[@anonymous_friend]

This is really good!

[@klaus_obermaier]

Thanks!

[@TiminatorFL]

Awesome!

[@klaus_obermaier]

🤟

[@FakthorX]

Excellent! Im also using hapax and fh2 to record one take sets : ) what are you using the droid for in this patch?

[@klaus_obermaier]

Glad to hear you like it! I use the Droid to add rising vibrato to longer notes and also for a complex LFO.

[@whoadog8725]

This sounds better than the original. It's more cohesive and musical without all of the virtuosic free jazz wankery.

[@klaus_obermaier]

That's a great compliment. Thank you very much!

[@AcoustiMan818]

Nice polyrhythms. Must have took you a lot of time to program the steps😅

[@klaus_obermaier]

The HAPAX is very intuitive to use once you get used to the workflow. The WARP function for creating tuplets is absolutely brilliant and was one of the main reasons for switching from the OXI ONE.