http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-966705.mp3
Imagine inventing something that enhanced a hobby that you were passionate about. That's what happened to KPLU music director Nick Francis.
He invented a musical mixing device called The Choppertone. He built it from a MIDI controller kit. And with it, he's able to mix different bits of audio together, to create a whole new sound or remix an old song.
It's the size of a portable keyboard. With the audio pieces selected by Nick stored in the Choppertone's software, he can take this device with him to a coffee shop or other venue and perform a live remix of a song.
One of the first songs Nick tinkered with on his new invention was Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose."
He added some new elements, including a back beat from Steely Dan's "Bodhisattva," and combined four different versions of "Honeysuckle Rose" - from Pearl Django, Fats Waller, Benny Carter and Thelonious Monk. Watch Nick create the song live in real-time:
For his next mixing adventure, Nick added different elements built around the bass line of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme, Part 1: Acknowledgement."
On this video, you can see and hear the results:
Listen to the full remix/mashups:
"Honeysuckle Rose"
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-966707.mp3
"A Loop Supreme"
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-966706.mp3
Building the Choppertone:
Nick and his creation have also been creating buzz in the electronic music world. Here is some of the additional Choppertone coverage from around the industry: