Modern Sounds Pluto - Ambient Soundscapes

video uploads by The Pedalboard Orchestra

"A collection of long ambient tracks based on the Modern Sounds Pluto Semimodular Synthesizer and various effets pedal setups."

Playlist:

1. Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer – Ambient Demo & Sound Exploration

These are my first "ten minutes" (okay, the video turned out a few minutes longer 😉) with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer.
🎧Headphones recommended for the full sonic experience.

In this small setup Pluto is accompanied by three pedals, the Strymon El Capistan v1, the Chase Bliss/Goodhertz Lossy and the Eventide Space in ModEchoVerb algorithm, all in stereo.
Pluto, this tiny little box, is such a fascinating and inspiring instrument. You can get a million and more of sounds out of it.
I love how the filter of Lossy changes the overall mood of the sounds.

All sounds and video footage by The Pedalboard Orchestra.

(Disclaimer: This is a non sponsored video. All equipment is self-purchased.)

#modernsoundspluto #ambientdrone #ambientsoundscapes #ambientmusic #meditationmusic #modernsoundspluto #semimodular #strymonelcapistan #chaseblisslossy #eventidespace

2. Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer – Cinematic Ambient Soundscape – In Tune with Pluto

This is a very calm and meditative synth loop created with the fantastic Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer.
🎧Take your headphones and get immersed into a deep ambient soundscape.

In this small setup Pluto is accompanied by the Chase Bliss/Goodhertz Lossy and the Eventide Space in Darkmatter algorithm, all in stereo.
For this loop I used mainly Pluto's sequence 2/voice 2, modified by Pluto's moons, and playing a few single notes on voice 1 of Pluto.

All sounds and video footage by The Pedalboard Orchestra.
Outer Space photos courtesy by NASA/JPL-Caltech.

3. Dancing with Pluto's Moons - Deep Ambient Soundscape with the Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer

This is a long ambient soundscape entirely made with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer, supported by a few effects pedals.
🎧Take your headphones and enjoy this journey through this slowly evolving track with dynamic sounds drifting through the sonic space.

Effects are primarily the Strymon El Capistan with a short delay and the Eventide Space reverb in Blackhole/Darkmatter preset, all in stereo. In the end the Chase Bliss/Goodhertz Lossy joins in with some filtering.

This track is mainly set up in two different patches, one with his "moon" Nix controlling Voice 1 at "Level", the second one Nix controlling Voice 1 at "Step".

From Pluto synthesizer I learned about his moons, Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra. It is surprising how long it took for our scientists to discover them all, thanks to Hubble Space Telescope.
https://science.nasa.gov/dwarf-planet...

Pluto is such an amazing synthesizer and sound-scaping tool. And all of this in a tiny little box. For me, it's my lonely island single instrument.
Thank you very much at Modern Sounds for creating this awesome instrument.

Single track recording. All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra.

4. Pluto's Moons Pt. 1: Charon | Ambient Soundscape | Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer

This is the first part of tracks with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer, dedicated to every single sound modifier named after Pluto's five moons Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.

Part one is about Charon.
Charon is the largest of Pluto's moons, first discovered in 1978 at the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., using photographic plates taken at the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS). Its diameter is 1212 kilometers, which is about half of the diameter of Pluto itself. Charon is named after the ferryman Charon, who in Greek mythology brings the dead across the river Styx to the realm of the god of the dead Hades (in Latin Pluto).

In this track the Modern Sounds Pluto synthesizer is accompanied by PastFx PX-101 Low Pass Filter, Hologram Electronics Microcosm (Mosaic B), Chase Bliss Reverse Mode C and the Eventide Space Reverb (Blackhole/Darkmatter algorithm). Pluto itself is only modified by its modifier Charon.
The PastFx PX-101 is a fascinating sound tool, playing a major role in this ambient soundscape. It is a reincarnation of the famous Moog Moogerfooger MF-101 Low Pass Filter.
PX-101 is a perfect combination with the Modern Sounds-Pluto.

Single track stereo recording, no overdubbing.
All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra.
Photos from Pluto and moons courtesy by NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA.

5. Pluto's Moons Pt. 2: Styx | Ambient Soundscape | Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer

This is part two of my tracks with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer dedicated to every single sound modifier named after Pluto's five moons Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.
This track is featuring Styx.

Styx the smallest of Pluto’s moons and has a maximum diameter of only about 16 km. Styx was discovered by a team of Mark R. Showalter from SETI-Institute, using images taken between 26 June and 9 July 2012 from Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery was announced on 11 July 2012.
Styx is named after a river goddess of the underworld in ancient Greek mythology. Charon, the ferryman, guides the dead souls across the river Styx to the gate of Hades, the god of the dead and the underworld.

In this track the Modern Sounds Pluto synthesizer is accompanied by PastFx PX-101 Low Pass Filter, Cooper Fx Outward v2, Hologram Electronics Microcosm (Mosaic B), Chase Bliss Reverse Mode C and the Eventide Space Reverb (Shimmer/Quasar algorithm).
Pluto itself is only modified by its modifier Styx.
The PastFx PX-101 is a fascinating sound tool, above all always good for some filter sweeps.
It is a reincarnation of the famous Moog Moogerfooger MF-101 Low Pass Filter.
PX-101 is a perfect combination with the Modern Sounds-Pluto.

Single track stereo recording, no overdubbing.
All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra.

Photos from Pluto and moons courtesy by NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA.

6. Pluto's Moons Pt. 3 - Nix | Modern Sounds Pluto feat. Old Blood Noise Dark Star Stereo Reverb

This is part three of my tracks with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer dedicated to every single sound modifier named after Pluto's five moons Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.

This track is featuring Nix. Nix is one of the smaller of Pluto’s moons and its dimensions are about 49.8 × 33.2 × 31.1 km.
Nix was discovered in May 2005 by Hal Weaver and a large team of astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope.
Nix is named after the goddess of darkness and night, and she is the mother of Charon, the ferryman of Hades in Greek mythology.
Initially being named Nyx, the writing was later on changed to Nix, because the name Nyx was already used for a an asteroid.

In this track I used the new Dark Star Stereo reverb from Old Blood Noise Endeavors for the first time.
Further effects pedals involved are the PastFx PX-101 Low Pass Filter, the Chase Bliss Reverse Mode C and the Eventide Space Reverb (Darkmatter/Blackhole algorithm).
Pluto's Nix is modifying voice 2/sequence 2. Voice 1 is played with Pluto's "keyboard".

The Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star is my favourite effects pedal since years for more dark and mysterious pad reverb sounds.
The new v3 version in stereo is a fantastic upgrade to this classic pedal.
The amazing designs on both pedals of Dark Star v2 and v3 are from Jon Carling.

Single track stereo recording, no overdubbing.
All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra.
Photos from Pluto and moons courtesy by NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA.

7. Pluto's Moons Pt. 4 - Kerberos | Ambient Soundscape | Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer

This is part four of my tracks with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer dedicated to every single sound modifier named after Pluto's five moons Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.

This track is featuring Kerberos. Kerberos is the second smallest of Pluto’s moons (next to Styx) and its dimensions are only about 19 × 10 × 9 km. Kerberos was discovered on June 28th 2011 by Mark R. Showalter’s team of astronomers from SETI Institute using the Hubble Space Telescope.
Kerberos is named after the three-headed dog, the guard of the underworld in Greek mythology. The initial name Cerberos was changed to Kerberos, because Cerberus was already used for an asteroid, 1865 Cerberus.

In this track I used the new Dark Star Stereo reverb from Old Blood Noise Endeavors in combination with its predecessor Dark Star v2 (Commemorative Edition).
Next to these this is my first use of the Chase Bliss Onward Dynamic Sampler. End-of-chain reverb is the Eventide Space Reverb (Darkmatter/Blackhole algorithm).
Modern Sounds Pluto's Kerberos is modifying voice 2/sequence 2. Voice 1 is played with Pluto's "keyboard".
The Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star is my favourite effects pedal since years for more dark and mysterious pad reverb sounds. The new v3 version in stereo is a fantastic upgrade to this classic pedal. The amazing designs on both pedals of Dark Star v2 and v3 are from Jon Carling.
Chase Bliss Onward is a recreation of the Cooper Fx Outward by Tom Majeski himself, now working for Chase Bliss.

Single track stereo recording, no overdubbing.
All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra.
Photos from Pluto and moons courtesy by NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA and
NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute.

8. Pluto's Moons Pt. 5 - Hydra | Ambient Soundscape | Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer

This is part five of my tracks with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer dedicated to every single sound modifier named after Pluto's five moons Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.

This track is featuring Hydra. Hydra is the most distant and second largest of Pluto’s moons. Nevertheless its dimensions are only about 51 km in diameter. Hydra was discovered together with Nix, independently by Max J. Mutchler on 15 June 2005 and by Andrew J. Steffl in June and August 2005, using photos of the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hydra, is named after the nine-headed serpent that Hercules fought in Greek mythology. She is also the sister of Kerberos, the three headed dog of the underworld.
The two moons were intentionally named that the order of their initials "N" and "H" honors the New Horizons mission to Pluto.

For processing the sounds of the Modern Sounds Pluto synthesizer the Dark Star v2 reverb from Old Blood Noise Endeavors serves as first pedal in signal path for achieving washed out pad sounds. Between the Dark Star and the end-of-chain reverb, the Eventide Space Reverb (Darkmatter/Blackhole algorithm), I used three great pedals from Chase Bliss, all in stereo.
First the new released Clean, then the Mood Mk II and finally the Onward.

Modern Sounds Pluto's Hydra is modifying voice 2/sequence 2. Voice 1 is played with Pluto's "keyboard".
The Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star is my favourite effects pedal since years for more dark and mysterious pad reverb sounds. The Chase Bliss Clean is a great sound refining tool and compressor. The Chase Bliss Mood MkII was used on left side in "Slip" mode and on the right in "Stretch" mode to create some interesting micro-loop effects. Chase Bliss Onward creates interesting patterns of glitch and other sound degrading effects with surprising stereo effects. Eventide Space finally pushes the sound out in space using the "Black Hole" algorithm "Dark Matter".

Single track stereo recording, no overdubbing.
All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra.
Photos from Pluto and moons courtesy by NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA and
NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute.

9. Pluto's Drone | Ambient Soundscape | Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer

This is a pretty meditative and more drone sound track with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer in combination with several effects pedals.
OBNE's Dark Star v2 delivers washed out reverb pad sounds. Chase Bliss Lossy and Onward provide subtle sound degradation and filtering effects. Strymon El Capistan and Eventide Space push it out to space.

Single track stereo recording, no overdubbing.
All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra.
Background photo of Pluto courtesy by NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute.

10. Pluto - Towards New Horizons | Ambient Soundscape | Modern Sounds Pluto Synthesizer

"This is the final track of my series with the Modern Sounds Pluto semimodular synthesizer for my album Pluto's Moons.
The name "Towards New Horizons" is a reminiscence to the NASA spacecraft New Horizons, which was the first and so far only spacecraft researching about Pluto, the most distant planet (now "dwarf planet") of our solar system. But also "Towards New Horizons" means that I will go on in my exploration of synths and sounds beyond the Modern Sounds Pluto.

First ideas for researching about Pluto (the planet) emerged in 1989. This sparked the development of the NASA spacecraft called "New Horizons", which was launched on January 19th 2006. New Horizons and its seven research instruments were mainly developed by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory under Alan Stern from Southwest Research Institute. Pluto flyby happened on July 14th 2015, delivering invaluable scientific data and photos of Pluto and its moons. New Horizon's extended mission explored the Kuiper Belt observed object named Arrokoth (former "2014 MU69" or "Ultima Thule"), flying by on January 1st 2019. New Horizon is still traveling through the Kuiper Belt, currently 9,25 billion km away from earth (as of February 2025).

My signal pathway here is the Modern Sounds Pluto going through the PastFx PX 101 and the new Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-13 Octave into the Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star v3 (mono in/stereo out), finally the Meris LVX and the Eventide Space, also in stereo. The BL-13 plays a pretty prominent role in this setup.

Single track stereo recording, no overdubbing.
All audio and video material and mastering by The Pedalboard Orchestra,
except background photo of Pluto and New Horizons spacecraft courtesy by NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute.

(Disclaimer: This is a non sponsored video. I bought all my equipment with my own money)

#modernsoundspluto #ambientmusic #ambientsoundscapes #ambientdrone #thepedalboardorchestra #synthesizer #synthesizermusic #newhorizons"