Microbe Plaiting

Published on Jun 17, 2018 Robin Rimbaud-Scanner

"A little live Eurorack experimentation utilising Microbe Modular Equation Composer, Mutable Instruments Plaits, Qu-Bit Electronix Wave and Erica Synths PICO Voice, performed live with Intellijel Tetrapad, Malekko Voltage Block and Mutable Instruments Marbles creating changes and shifts and lots of other nice modular machines to make them sound even finer :-)"

Microbe Modular Equation Composer

Published on Mar 6, 2018 Worwell

See this post for details on the Equation Composer announced back in 2013.

Plonk Guitar

Published on Sep 12, 2017 Worwell

"Plonk Guitar to Rainmaker with a bit of Springray. Background noises are Equation Composer to Optomix to Erbe-Verb"

Equation Composer/Plonk Drum Jam

Worwell
Published on Aug 9, 2017

"Microbe Modular Equation Composer and Intellijel Plonk drums."

Microbe Modular Alternate Equation Composer Firmware for Mutable Instruments' Braids

via Microbe Modular

"A port of the Braids Firmware to the Equation Composer, by Mathieu Routhier

Inspired by VIznut's 'Algorithmic symphonies from one line of code' and the BitWiz Audio Synth, the Equation Composer creates a wide range of gritty, 8-bit sounding melodies, waveforms, and noise. The module is organized into CV selectable 'programs', where each program can act like a unique synthesizer.

Internally, the Equation Composer is based on the powerful Arduino Due. Although the module has been built to be enjoyed 'as-is', there's a prominent USB jack on the front for updating the firmware and the software is open source. 14 extra pins have been brought to an expansion header on the rear. The Arduno code itself is modular, allowing various software 'modules' to be strung together into 'programs' that act like individual synths. (Re-programming is recommended for advanced developers and requires some C++.)"

You'll find the download and demos here.

Microbe Modular Equation Composer Developer Giveaway

via Microbe Modular where you'll find full details including how to enter for the giveaway.

"Interested in extending (or replacing) the Equation Composer firmware? We're offering free Equation Composers to a few interested hackers. If you're interested, simply email us with some information about yourself and a summary of how you'd like to contribute to the code. If we like your concept, we'll send you a free module!"

Microbe Modular Meta Sequencer Now Available

Introduced in December, the Microbe Modular Meta Sequencer is now available.

"The Meta Sequencer is a variable length CV step sequencer with a built-in clock divider.

At its core, the Meta Sequencer consists of a step knob and value knob, both which have their own numeric displays. There's also a clock gate input and reset gate input, both with associated pushbuttons. And finally, there's a 12-bit CV output.

An menu system is used for changing settings such as quantization scales, arpeggiations, clock division, sequence length, and randomization."

Acts of Contrition

Published on Jan 20, 2015 Robin Rimbaud-Scanner

"In anticipation of my participation in a BBC Radio show about the work of poet Michael Dohaghy and white noise in music I began exploring using my voice and my Eurorack Modular synth set up. Here you can listen to my live voice reading the work of Dohaghy directly into Mutable Instruments Clouds and how it offers so many possibilities in a performance environment. In addition I mixed in live sources from Endorphin es Furthrrr Generator and Microbe Modular Equation Composer to create this abstract work."

Microbe Modular Meta Sequencer - song mode (transposition patterns)

Published on Dec 14, 2014 clone45a6

"Demonstration of the new 'song mode'. Song mode is going to contain a large number of preset transposition patterns that can be applied to the sequencer. Sorry, but we won't be adding a separate transpose input due to panel/cost limitations. Consider a Doepfer A-185-2 for more control.

This patch consists of a LFO going to clock input, the Meta Sequencer, and the Piston Honda. Lots of the Meta Sequencer advanced features are being used. (Some video lag at the beginning. Any audio hiccups are due to the video, not the module.)"

New Meta Sequencer Eurorack Module by Microbe Modular

Published on Dec 11, 2014 clone45a6

"Upcoming Meta Sequencer - a compact CV sequencer - from Microbe Modular."

via Microbe Modular, thread on Muff's

"I'm extremely pleased to announce the upcoming release of the Meta Sequencer by Microbe Modular. The Meta Sequencer is a compact CV sequencer. Step editing is intuitive and requires no menus. Advanced settings are managed using a 'flat' menu system.

Basic features:

Easy sequence editing using two rotary encoders with two corresponding numeric displays. The top encoder selects the sequence step. The bottom encoder selects the value.
Clock input and manual push-button
Reset input and manual push-button.
12 bit CV output
Three way switch to select between Playback Mode / Edit Mode / Settings Mode.
All sequence and settings information is immediately stored in non-volatile ram (technically, FRAM). You don't have to worry about saving or loading..

Advanced features include:

Selectable sequence length from 1 to 64 steps. (This might be increased to 128 steps.)
Built in clock divider, from 1 to 512.
Output quantization (optional) - 16 different musical scales available.
Sequence Randomize / Clear functions


Even more advanced features:

"Drift" settings (percentage and amount) - allows the sequence values to drift from their original values. The drift amounts do not affect the underlying sequence and are reset when the sequence is reset. Great for slowly evolving CV output.
"Slip" setting (percentage) - Sets the sequencer "slippage", which is a percentage chance of the playback sequencer NOT stepping when it normally would.
"Hold" setting (optional) - Applies a Sample & Hold to the sequence output based on a gate pattern derived from the hold setting (0-255). I'll explain this in greater detail later, but it's pretty cool.
All advanced settings can be active simultaneously.

Technical Specifications

Width: 6HP
Runs off either the +/-12V supply only, or a combination of +/-12V and 5V supplies, selectable via a jumper in the rear. Unlike the Equation Composer, no +5 volt supply is required.
Typical current requirements: 80mA.

Price and availability:

Unknown. We're building this module to be as affordable as possible. It'll probably be ready around March 2015.
Front panel design still pending "

Equation Composer vs. Erbe-Verb

Published on Sep 26, 2014 clone45a6

"The Microbe Modular Equation Composer sent through an Erbe-Verb with a lot of modulation."

Mysteron + Erbe-Verb + Equation Composer jam

Published on Sep 25, 2014 clone45a6

"Just some mucking about. The Equation Composer is supplying the drums, the mysteron is creating the synth sounds, and everything is being sent through the erbe-verb - which is a lovely module!"

The Equation Composer by Microbe Modular

Equation Composer - Equation Player mode Published on Jun 30, 2014 clone45a6

Note this playlist runs through all videos by clone45a6. The first eight feature the Equation Composer as follows:

Equation Composer - formant synth "mumbler"
Equation Composer - 3 Oscillator Synth
Equation Composer - "Clickers" program demo
Equation Composer - chord mode with rotation
Equation Composer - Pattern Generator mode
Equation Composer - Chord Player mode
Equation Composer - Drum Selektor preset
Equation Composer - Equation Player mode

"Inspired by VIznut's 'Algorithmic symphonies from one line of code' and the BitWiz Audio Synth, the Equation Composer creates a wide range of gritty, 8-bit sounding melodies, waveforms, and noise. The module is organized into CV selectable "programs", where each program can act like a unique synthesizer.

The following programs ship with the Equation Composer:
[list=1]
[*]Equation Playback (3 banks)
[*]Drum Selektor
[*]Wavetable + WaveFolder
[*]Patterns
[*]Chords
[*]3 Oscillator
[*]Drum Player
[/list]

Internally, the Equation Composer is based on the powerful Arduino Due. Although the module has been built to be enjoyed "as-is", there's a prominent USB jack on the front for updating [url=https://github.com/clone45/EquationComposer]the firmware[/url], which is open source. 14 extra pins have been brought to an expansion header on the rear. The Arduno code itself is modular, allowing various software "modules" to be strung together into “programs” that act like individual synths. (Re-programming is recommended for advanced developers and requires some C++.)"

http://www.microbemodular.com/products/equation-composer/overview

Microbe Modular Equation Composer - 3 Oscillator Synth & formant synth "mumbler" Modes

Published on Jul 8, 2014 clone45a6

"Demonstration of the 3 Oscillator Synth program for the Equation Composer. This program is a new addition to the factory programs contributed by Gaétan Ro. See http://www.microbemodular.com/product... details."

"Synth3Osc is a 3 osc synth with 2 main oscillators which can be detuned a sub oscillator, and a low-pass filter.

The MOD input controls the oscillator configuration. There are 16 configurations. For example, the first 4 configurations are:

MOD osc1 osc2 sub osc
0 sine sine sine (50% vol)
1 sine sawtooth sine (50% vol)
2 sawtooth sawtooth sine (50% vol)
3 sawtooth square sine (50% vol)

Param1 is the detuning between the first 2 oscillators. In the middle of the potentiometer there is no detune, in the far right, the second oscillator is a quarter tone higher, and far left is a quarter tone lower.

Param2 is the cutoff for the lowpass filter

Param3 is the resonance for the lowpass filter

Input Summary:

SR: Sample Rate
MOD: Selects the oscillator configuraton
[1] Detune
[2] Lowpass Cutoff
[3] Lowpass Resonance
GATE: not used"

Equation Composer - formant synth "mumbler"

Published on Jul 8, 2014 clone45a6

"Demonstration of the Equation Composer 'mumbler' formant synth by Gaétan Ro. For more information, see: http://www.microbemodular.com/product..."

"Mumbler is a Formant Synthesizer with a built-in lowpass filter that makes sounds similar to vowel sounds.

Input Summary:

SR: Sample Rate (pitch)
MOD: Formant Scale
[1]: Formant Phase #1
[2]: Lowpass Resonance Cutoff
[3]: Lowpass Filter Cutoff
GATE: Trigger input - rotates Format Phase values"

Microbe Equation Composer - chord mode with rotation

Published on Jul 4, 2014 clone45a6

"Another demo of the Equation Composer's Chord mode. This time with the new "rotation mode", which is triggered by the gate input. For more information see http://www.microbemodular.com. The CV/Gate signals used in this demo are coming from a MOSKWA sequencer."

Equation Composer - "Clickers" program demo

Published on Jul 4, 2014

"This is a demonstration of the "clickers" program in the equation composer. This is one of the more obscure programs that ship with the equation composer. It can be run off the internal 96ppqn clock or an external clock supplied to the gate input. In other words, the repeating sound can be quantized to an external clock. For more information, see http://www.microbemodular.com/product..."

Equation Composer - Chord Player & Pattern Generator Mode Demos

Equation Composer - Chord Player mode

Published on Jul 1, 2014 clone45a6·23 videos

"Equation Composer eurorack module. Chord player mode. Check out http://www.microbemodular.com/product... for more info."

Equation Composer - Pattern Generator mode

Published on Jul 1, 2014

"This is the pattern generator program in the eurorack Equation Composer module. The USB cable doesn't have to be attached for this mode to work.

SR input selects the delay length.
MOD input select the wavetable.
Param1 selects the CV pattern
Param2 selects the gate pattern
Param3 selects the gate density

We're working on the lowpass filter and delay, which are causing the crackle that can be heard in the recording. NOTE: This synth might change before the module is finalized. I may remove the delay and swap in the ability to control the scale using the SR input."

See the Microbe Modular channel below for more.

Microbe Modular Equation Composer - Equation Player mode

Published on Jun 30, 2014

"The Equation Composer comes with a number of built-in 'programs'. This program plays back ByteBeat equations. See http://www.microbemodular.com/product... for more information."

"Inspired by VIznut's "Algorithmic symphonies from one line of code" and the BitWiz Audio Synth, the Equation Composer creates a wide range of gritty, 8-bit sounding melodies, waveforms, and noise. The module is organized into CV selectable "programs" that range from simple equation playback to struttering loops, and wavetable playback.

Internally, the Equation Composer is based on the powerful Arduino Due. Although the module has been built to be enjoyed "as-is", there's a prominent USB jack on the front for updating the firmware and the software is open source. 14 extra pins have been brought to an expansion header on the rear. The Arduno code itself is modular, allowing various software "modules" to be strung together into “programs” that act like individual synths. (Re-programming is recommended for advanced developers and requires some C++.)"

Equation Composer - Drum Selektor preset

Published on Jun 30, 2014

"A quick demo of the Equation Composer - Drum Selecktor preset. Drum sounds are generated by equations, which can be replaced with a little bit of programming. Sorry, the video cuts out about 3/4 of the way through. At one point I plug in an external gate signal, which overrides the internal clock. Once the external clock signal is removed, the internal clock eventually resumes."

Microbe Modular Equation Composer Inspired by BitWiz

via clone45 on Muff's

"I'm extremely pleased to announce the upcoming release of the Equation Composer by Microbe Modular. Inspired by VIznut's "Algorithmic symphonies from one line of code" and the BitWiz Audio Synth, the Equation Composer creates a wide range of gritty, 8-bit sounding melodies, waveforms, and noise. The module is organized into CV selectable "programs" that range from simple equation playback to stuttery loops, and even wavetable playback and subtractive synthesis.

Internally, the Equation Composer is based on the powerful Arduino Due. Although the module has been built to be enjoyed "as-is", there's a prominent USB jack on the front for easy re-programming, and the software is open source and available on GitHub. 14 extra pins have been brought to an expansion header on the rear. The Arduno code itself is modular, allowing various software "modules" to be strung together into virtual synths. (Re-programming is recommended for advanced developers only and requires some C++.)

Hardware designed by John Staskevich. Software by Gaetan Ro and myself. Front panel design by Hannes Pasqualini. Additional sound design by Sunshine Audio. Special thanks to Josh at Toppobrillo for his support.

Width: 12HP
Current requrements: 170mA
Estimated release date: Early 2014.

Cheers,
Bret Truchan
Microbe Modular

Here are some audio samples. There's a lot more to come, including examples of more traditional (less 8-bit) sounds."

This is the first Microbe Modular post.

Update via Bret: "I forgot to mention that significant parts of the circuitry come directly from the Arduino Due Reference Design. Credits and thanks to the Arduino team for making it open source."