BE A BETTER MODULATOR // Understanding Eurorack Modulation with the Thonk TRIPLE MOD

video upload by DivKid

"In this video we’ll break down how common types of modulation for sound synthesis work, how to make the most of them creatively and musically. We’ll do so while demoing the new Triple Mod DIY module from Thonk. Whether it’s creating multi-phonic layered patches needed multiple envelopes, understanding how a Turing Machine works and performing with it, understanding and making Sample & Hold melodic, creating chain reactions with EOC ‘end of cycle’ triggers … there’s lots in this video applicable to LOTS of other modules."

"*TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS*

00:00 Hello & patch previews

01:38 What we’re doing in this video

02:25 Triple Mod feature run down


EACH NEW PATCH EXAMPLE IS IN ALL CAPS
Sub points of interest within a patch are lower case

ENVELOPES

04:22 YOU CAN’T HAVE ENOUGH ENVELOPES!!
05:01 Synth voice run down + Sustaining EG for the VCA
06:09 Exciting filter movement from a 2nd EG
07:23 Building a rich multi-phonic patch with layering and a 3rd EG

08:52 LOOPING ENVELOPES

11:43 EOC & ADVANCED ENVELOPE CHAINS

13:10 MELODIES FROM MIXED MODULATION WITH AN INTERACTIVE 3 WAY EG LOOP


LFO (CHANNEL A BONUS MODE)

15:16 LFO MODE - RESET TRIGGERS, GATED LOOPS, PWM, SHAPE SKEW & MORE
15:27 LFO vs looping envelope similarities
15:54 Entering LFO (or any bonus) mode
16:14 LFO skew & shape curves
16:42 EOC trigger or bonus PWM square LFO
17:30 Re-triggering LFOs - modulation hard sync
18:21 v/oct tracking (rough) - pitch tracking LFOs

18:55 GATED BURSTS, BOUNCING BALLS + MODULATED MODULATION


TURING MACHINE (CHANNEL B BONUS MODE)

22:12 MAKING MODULATION ‘RIFFS’ FROM THE TURING MACHINE
22:55 Step length control
23:34 Random, variability, patterns and locked loops
24:40 Slew
25:25 Output voltage ranges
26:07 Rhythmic trigger patterns from the EOC
27:15 Building a mix + performing with Turing Machines

28:24 TURING MACHINE MELODIES
29:58 Evolving melodies with chance
30:27 Trigger rate proportional slew (pitch glides)
30:55 Audio rate Turing waffle - retro gaming sound FX
31:51 Octave ranges for melodies - octave note fold-back

32:23 RIFF MAKING & PLAYFUL PATTERNS FOR PERFORMANCE


SAMPLE & HOLD / SLEW (CHANNEL C BONUS MODE)

34:57 SAMPLE & HOLD TUTORIAL … HOW IT WORKS & HOW TO USE IT
35:33 How S&H works
36:39 Slew - glide for S&H steps
37:23 Finding musical examples and melodies from modulation

39:38 SMOOTH & STEPPED RANDOM MODULATION FROM S&H
40:46 An efficient noise source when you don’t have a noise source
41:26 Going from stepped to smooth random
42:21 Mixing smooth fluctuations & envelopes
42:50 My favourite filter modulation combo!

43:27 SLEW - LAG, PORTAMENTO AND GLIDE FOR V/OCT + BONUS WONKY RHYTHMS
44:50 CV controlled glides for v/oct pitch
45:28 EOC as a trigger delay


MODULATION COMBOS

47:14 MODULATION COMBOS TO CREATE WHOLE PATCHES"



Easy to build compact multi-modulation module with 3 channels of AD envelopes and bonus modes of Skew LFO, Turing Machine and Sample & Hold & Slew. Designed in-house at Thonk.

Triple Mod is a 12HP 3 channel modulation source. The default state for each channel is a an Attack / Decay envelope generator with CV control over rise and fall times, looping, linear/logarithmic slopes, trigger/gate modes and an end-of-cycle (EOC) output.

Each channel also has an unique additional mode which is accessed by pressing the loop button for 2 seconds:

Channel A becomes a wide ranging LFO with skew function.
Channel B transforms into a Turing Machine looping random sequencer.
Channel C becomes a Sample & Hold (S&H) with slew options, or a slew rate limiter with separate Attack and Decay controls.
The Loop LED will change colour to signify whether the channel is in AD envelope mode (orange) or in its alternative mode (white).

Each channel also has an EOC output next to its main output which send a trigger pulse when the envelope reaches the end of its cycle. These EOC outputs are normalled down to the trigger input of the channel below, allowing Triple Mod to create interesting chain reactions and synchronised modulation events. The modulation outputs are 0 to 5 volt range on each channel.

Features:

3 x CV controllable Attack/Decay envelopes with loop mode
Unique additional mode per per channel: Skew LFO, Turing Machine and S&H/Slew
Linear/logarithmic slope switch per channel
Trigger or gate input option per channel
EOC trigger output per channel (normalled to input below)
LED indicators for visual feedback on modulation and modes.
Designed in-house at Thonk