MetaMusic by Todd Barton

Todd Barton is a talented composer, musician, and educator who has created an exceptional opus of MetaSynth-only music. His MetaSynth compositions demonstrate MetaSynth's versatility as a standalone environment for realizing entire compositions not just creating interesting sounds. His work defies classification and demonstrates eclectic styles and influences. This page highlights two compositions realized entirely in MetaSynth 4.

MockMatrix is a faux-orchestral piece that is a tribute to the score of the movie The Matrix (which prominently features MetaSynth). The piece makes use of some of the wonderful orchestral multisamplers available in MetaSynth. Todd says:

Using the string and brass samples from the old Metasynth 2.0 and 2.7 I was able to create a short, 33 second Dane Davis-like Matrix-style cue. Everything is done in MS. All the string and brass and mallet sequences were created in the Image Synth. A couple of hits were imported and I recorded the waterphone at home. All were finally mixed in the Montage Room in MetaSynth 4. I find MetasSynth to be both a great compositional tool as well as a sound design rush.

Compositionally MS4 allows me to shape notes and phrases more organically than other sequencers (yes, other sequencers can do similar things but is involves touching each note). Notes and phrases can be shaped with feathered precision for attacks, pan, swells, decays, etc.

I find MetaSynth breathes life into phrases, harmonies and rhythms, not to mention all the various non-chromatic scales available to explore. And, finally, the Image Synth makes transformation, variation and morphing of compositional material a snap.

Cans is an intriguing percussion piece whose source material is six samples of a plucked soda can tab! Todd says:

This is a brief piece that demonstrates the complexity possible in both sound design and composition using just 6 samples! I recorded the samples this morning from plucking a soda can tab. The sound design can be heard in all the different textures derived from the original sample. The composition is built up of various MS presets that were then put together in the Montage Room and mixed.