Rethinking MIDI Through Subtractive Control

The idea of removing notes may sound counterintuitive. In most workflows, devices are designed to add, layer, or transform. But subtraction can be just as powerful. By deliberately eliminating certain MIDI note numbers and forcing them to reappear in a new form, one uncovers a method of composition that separates structure from pitch, rhythm from tone, gesture from melody.

The Device in Practice
Imagine a melodic line transformed into a rhythmic trigger sequence. Each excluded note is not lost but reassigned to a user-defined pitch, allowing the performer to extract percussive grids, harmonic stabs, or entirely abstract patterns. This creates a bridge between what was originally written and what emerges as a new playable system. For producers who seek to dismantle the conventional bond between note and function, this process opens unexpected creative ground.

Applications Across Styles
Whether sculpting rhythmic frameworks from orchestral sketches, converting vocal MIDI into percussive textures, or filtering chord progressions into minimal tonal material, the act of removal is a generative force. It reframes composition as a dialogue between absence and substitution. What is muted can become the foundation of something entirely different.

Sustained Evolution
Those who already own this tool receive every update at no cost, with refinements and expansions provided indefinitely. For new adopters, entry into this ecosystem means not only access to the current device but also to a continually growing set of resources. My sample packs follow the same principle, expanding over time without additional charge.

A Practical Invitation
If you are interested in reshaping your workflow through subtraction, and in exploring rhythm and pitch in a way that feels precise yet open to discovery, this is a device worth considering.

ver.1.0 ... Released. (2025/8/19)

Akihiko Matsumoto

Study Site https://akihikomatsumoto.com/study/

Ableton M4L, Serum Preset Store https://akihikomatsumoto.com/download/

Sample Pack https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store/sample-pack/

Bandcamp https://akihikomatsumoto.bandcamp.com

Ableton Skin https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store/p/ableton-skin-pack/

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1tZMmxzZbvNu6klyKXa0L1?si=2JZaFeLbREi-UownD8POSg