Patch of The Week: 'On the Run' Ep2 Percussion - Floyd's Classic Synthi track recreated in Eurorack

video upload by AJH Synth Official

"Second of 2 videos showing how to recreate the classic Pink Floyd track from 'Dark Side of The Moon', originally recorded on an EMS Synthi AKS. This episode covers the percussion element of the sound, which in the original album recording was simultaneously created and performed along with the melody on the Synthi AKS. Effectively, the Synthi was used to create 2 voices from one monophonic synth by some clever use of the instrument's built-in ring modulator.
Episode 1 covered the melodic sequence, how to programme it, and how to get a similar sound. Check it out here: [posted here]
In this version I'm using the RING SM, as it's ring mod is directly based on the one in the EMS Synthi and VCS3, so it's behaviour is the same. This trick will not work on all ring mods, as they vary in design and the way in which they achieve a ring modulation effect. However, the Ring's SM's is a true, all-analogue ring modulator.
I start using white noise from the GLIDE + NOISE module, and then experiment using the ENTROPIC DOOM and LUNAR MODULE as the noise source. CV sequencing is supplied by the Arturia Keystep sequencer.

Patch Sheet PDF for this video: https://kvisit.com/8AE/yfkG
Patch notes also below.

Check out the AJH Synth playlists for more 'Patch of The Week' videos, which will be either performances or 'how to' guides detailing a range of sounds, some familiar, some less so, and each containing a patch sheet at the end to show you how to construct it for yourself.

Video by DreamsOfWires

Index:
00:00 Intro
00:31 Patching the modules
00:56 Explaining the patch
01:40 With ENTROPIC DOOM
02:29 With LUNAR MODULE
04:16 Patch Sheet

Patch Notes:
Green dots show approximate pot and switch positions. Those with two dots show the range I adjust them during the video. Pots and switches that do not have green dots are not used in this patch, and should be left at their zero or off positions.
SONIC XV: This gets us fairly close to the Synthi's sound, as that instrument also used a diode ladder VCF. I use both 24dB, as the original Synthi filter was 24dB, but also the 6dB output, because in 24dB it is easier to send the filter into self-oscillation when using high resonance, and this sound really benefits from a lot of resonance. The 6dB can achieve a more noticeable degree of resonance before self-oscillation occurs. It is subjective, and both have their character and strengths, so experiment!
RING SM: Firstly, depending on what you are using as a noise source you may need to keep levels low, both on the RING SM and the VCA. Here I'm using white noise from the GLIDE + NOISE module, which has a low volume level, but when using filtered noise from the Entropic Doom (for example) the output will be quite high. Therefore, regardless of your noise source, start low, and gradually raise the levels to a useful volume.
DISCRETE CASCADED VCA: Either this or the MUTING MIXER & VCA can be used, as I did in the previous video. All that's important here is having at least two channels - one for filter output and one for ring mod output, so that the mix/volume balance between the two sounds can be adjusted, and then just to be careful of high audio levels.
Modules used from top-left to bottom-right: Glide + Noise, Dual LFO + VCA, Vintage Transistor Core VCO, Ring SM, Sonic XV Diode Ladder Wave Filter, Discrete Cascaded VCA."