Single Cell Software

Yes, maybe for a first start we could use a blogspot or similar with a link on a Sticky here. I can start a blogspot if needed, with shared managements rights. I'm currently working on a little demo track that could make a starting point for a Session. 

Ok, this is a first attempt.

https://sites.google.com/site/thecausticsessions/

There are 2 Caustic songs to download (one not yet released), this is just for testing purpose, not intented to be use in a future Session.  I will upload a demo Session and some starter themes soon. 

Nice sounds in your Session Project track. Really good sound design. 

Have a look at the site. I have uploaded two files for a New Session. One is a complete track. The other is a Caustic file with only the first pattern of the song.

I think I will modify the rule a bit: No need to end the song with the same pattern, you can use another ending gimmik, but it must fit in a single pattern on a single machine. And the next player will take your ending pattern as a starting point for his Section. This is more "pass it on " style. But he  can also use the starting pattern

Thank you for the edit on the Bach/Purcell/Nomi thing ;-)   

A brief step-by-step tutorial, using the Lozange Session.

Basically, a Session is a Caustic file wich contains several sections made by differents players. Each player can compose only one section. Each section begin and finish with a single pattern on a single machine, used as a link/bridge between sections. Each player must start his work from the last pattern, without modifying the previous work. The first pattern is provided as a Starter idea. It can be reused inside the same Caustic file/Session or to open a new Session, if one is inspired but don't find enough place in the current Session.

Talking about Lozange:

First came the starter idea, a simple pattern, 4 notes on 1 bar, played  on a PCMsynth with a preset called lozange pad. This is the Starter file. As the first player, I write my section, using this pattern as intro, loading sounds, writing others patterns, organizing all the stuff in a little 3 min piece, and closing this piece (section) with the same Lozange pattern, playing alone. For the next section, inside the same Caustic file, I take the role of the second player and add another section, continuying the song in another style. But the challenge is more difficult, because it must fit with the existing material and the first section should not be modified. Lots of places for new patterns, but no more free slots and few space for new samples on PCMsynth. So I used some automation trick to modify the sounds of the Subsynth, loaded some drumsamples in a PCM, and used the sustain of the piano as fake strings, cutting the attack. Thats were the use of a single patter as a link or bridge between two sections take sense. Musicallly, it  it bring you back the theme for another inspired work, or it can provide a new idea for another Session. Technically, it will let place to recall some automation for the next section. A few measures shoud be ebough for that. And for the listener, it behave likes markers to separate the sections and the players.

For this second section, at the end, instead of the beginning pattern, I used another sequence of four notes on the Subsynth. I extracted this final pattern and put it in a new fresh empty Caustic file. This can be the starter for another Session ( I called this one Elipse, don't ask me why)

The follower has now three choice:

       1: Continue inside the same Session, by adding a third section. This can be rather difficult without affecting the previous work. But here is the challenge. More sections, more players, more difficulties to find place and to add some fresh material. And you will have to use some tips and trick to add something interresting. The Session will be closed when no more things can be added, at least without loosing the listener 

       2: Start a new Lozange Session by using the provided Lozange Starter.

       3: Start an Elipse Session from the Elipse Starter.

For the next Sessions, if any, I think it will be good to restrict the use of patterns, in order to leave some place and to organize a bit the common work. Each player could use only one pattern slot, A for the first section/player, B for the second, and so on. This will reduce the lenght of the session to 4 players (ABCD), but I think this is enough for a collaborative work. For now, we only have 6 machines in the rack, so we can't assign a fixed number of machines for each player, just counting on the fair-play to leave space, but soon, with the pattern automation and the new machines, this could be possible.

Let me know if you are interested by this or if I did it for nothing (well... for fun)