[Report] 7/27 How to Create Comfortable Ambient Sounds ▷ Ambient Ø Workshop

On Sunday, July 27, 2025, we held a workshop using the traditional folk house cafe 'BOBOBO' as the venue, featuring SONICWARE's groovebox LIVEN Ambient Ø.

Groove Box Meetup
- How to Create Comfortable Ambient Sounds -
feat. Ambient Ø was held.

We did it.

*Special thanks to: SONICWARE

Thankfully, the event was fully booked, and we were able to spend a very fulfilling time together with all the participants.

Through the workshop, conversations emerged naturally, making it a special time where we could share tips on sound design with the Ambient Ø.

In this article, I will provide a detailed report on the day of the workshop.
(Please note that this content is subjective.)

▼ Please see the following article for an overview of the event.

... ...

[ Table of Contents ]

• Reason for holding the event

• Event highlights

• Time schedule

• Practical performance!

• After the workshop

• Conclusion

... ...

[ Reason for holding the event ]

The groovebox I love to use,

Ambient Ø's
fun and depth of sound design,
I wanted to share with more people

was the motivation behind planning this workshop.

Ambient Ø sound design based on its structure is very diverse and highly flexible, but I felt that understanding its mechanism requires a bit of a knack.

Therefore,

by explaining the structure in an easy-to-understand way,
and helping participants grasp the tips for sound design,

I hoped that they would be able to experience more of the joy of shaping the sounds they imagine.I thought.

I have also posted an article on note that Ambient Ø structure 'Super Explanation' but,

I realize that explaining it in person while actually playing the sounds
allows me to convey even the subtle nuances better.

I feel that.

▼ Ambient Ø 'Super Explanation' Series

Also, at the previous Model:Cycles workshop,

'I want you to hold one for Ambient Ø too'
there were voices from participants saying,

and I am very happy that we were able to make it happen this time.

And,Ambient Ø I also included the hope that it would be a trigger to enjoy it more.

Though it may be blowing my own trumpet,Ambient Ø I conducted the explanation based on original teaching materials carefully structured about the sound design mechanism, and while confirming the sound changes on the actual machine,

master the tips of sound design,
and in practical performance
output what you learned on the spot

this 3-hour workshop,

that you can take with just one cafe menu order

I feel that it has become a valuable opportunity that is easy to participate in.

Furthermore,

as a participation benefit,
in addition to the PDF teaching material spanning over 60 pages,
Ambient Ø project files including sound palettes

were also handed out.

And above all, I believe that all of this was possible only because it was in the space of my favorite cafe, BOBOBO.It was because it was the space of my favorite cafe, BOBOBO I think.

[ Event Overview ]

I borrowed the barn (or something similar) of the old folk house cafe BOBOBO and set up the equipment.

• Mac (for teaching slides)

• Two mobile monitors

• Ambient Ø unit (+ 1 for observers)

• Mixer

• Speakers (YAMAHA HS4)

• KORG NTS-2 (for waveform checking)

• Stereo mini-to-phone cables (for participants)

• Whiteboard, etc.

I prepared a well-equipped setup.

This event was sponsored by SONICWARE, and they kindly provided one Ambient Ø unit for participants and five stereo mini-to-phone cables. I am sincerely grateful. Thank you very much.

To ensure that even the subtle changes in sound
could be clearly confirmed,
for the workshop,
I prepared YAMAHA monitor speakers
"HS4"

.

Each participant's Ambient Ø was connected to the mixer at all times,

and I proceeded with the explanation carefully using slides for each theme.

Sometimes, I had the participants actually play the sounds, and we all listened and compared the changes, or checked the sounds carefully with headphones,

so that they could deepen their understanding
while actually working with their hands.

.

For example, in “Sound changes when turning the HARMONIC knob”, we had participants play sounds with Ambient Ø while visually checking the waveform changes on the KORG NTS-2.

Regarding MOD, after explaining the structure diagram with slides,

we had them actually operate the knobs and experience the changes in sound.

We had them do this.

While supporting them with operations they didn't understand on the spot,

being able to share the sense of
“what to listen for”
and “what the differences in sound are”

is something

I feel was the real thrill unique to an in-person workshop.

I feel that.

Since the content lasted for three hours, we took several breaks along the way.

The venue, BOBOBO, is located in the nature-rich area of Shimokawachi, Osaka. The garden is overflowing with greenery, and you can even see chickens walking around freely.

Being able to refresh while being healed by the plants and birdsong unique to the fresh green season
was also a charm unique to BOBOBO.

was.

[ Time Schedule ]

The time schedule for the day was as follows.

[ Practical Performance! ]

At the end of the workshop, we set aside time for you to actually

perform live
using Ambient Ø.

We provided this time.

As a review of what was learned,after you spent time creating patterns with headphones,

each of you gave a
live performance

with a five-minute time slot.

The unique performances, where the individuality of each of the three participants shone through,
including the time spent sharing impressions,
were very exciting,

making for a wonderful conclusion.

[ After the Workshop ]

Since this was the second time holding it,I felt a bit more relaxed than last time.

However,deciding where to focus within the limited three-hour timeframewas something I struggled with during preparation.

To be honest,

I wanted to explain every structure,

but I judged that it would be difficult in terms of both time and concentration,so I narrowed it down to the important parts and content that could be applied elsewhere.

Also, rather than just explaining,

I was conscious of a structure where you can "actually touch, listen, and realize"

and

devised ways for participants to learn

while having fun.

I am happy to say that,

I have received direct feedback such as "my understanding of structure has deepened" and "Ambient Ø feels even more appealing,"

and I truly feel that holding this event was a great decision.

To everyone who participated, Dai-san and Katie-san from BOBOBO, Saki-san for the support, and SONICWARE for sponsoring the Ambient Ø unit and multiple cables, thank you so much.

[ In Closing ]

I don't see many classes that specialize in learning about electronic musical instruments and equipment.

While trial and error through self-study is wonderful, in addition to that,I hope that by taking advantage of workshop opportunities like this, you can shape the music you imagine a little faster—that is the sentiment with which I would like to continue planning these events.

I am currently conceptualizing the next workshop. If possible, I would like to conduct it with the image of a "Terakoya" (temple school) where you can casually learn tips for music production.

I will announce it on note when it is scheduled, so please look forward to it.

Thank you for reading until the end.

▼ Private lessons now available