Self Playing Patches by BENGE

video upload by Memetune Studio

"This series of studies explores an idea that Benge has been working on over the past year or so, namely that of Cybersynthesis. This involves programming self-contained patches on various modular systems which, once set in motion, will produce dynamic, evolving soundscapes, sometimes purely abstract in nature, at other times veering towards the more melodious

Many different methods were deployed in the patches, depending on the system being used, but normally multiple sequencer and switching devices were combined to give varying degrees of control over long time periods, often without repetition

Other things like random control signals and semi-random events were combined with the sequencers and switching units to bring variation to the performances the machines were making

The key idea at the heart of Cybernetics is the concept of bringing control to chaotic processes. To do this, some kind of feedback loop would ideally be established that can monitor and limit events that might otherwise spin out of control. The Serge and Modcan systems featured here each have various comparator circuits that can, to a certain extent, achieve this highly advanced synthesis feature

In the absence of such sensor paths, it is sometimes possible to use audio or voltage mixers and feedback chains to set various parameters to be on the very edge of chaotic behaviour, an approach used in many of the patches on display here

Other techniques such as the quantisation of voltages and the forcing of notes to play within certain predetermined musical scales were also employed in some of the pieces, which is another way of taming chaotic elements into into a more musical realm

Overall, a wholly experimental approach was applied to the various setups, with the intention of providing an insight into how these machines can behave. Of course, each system has an almost limitless depth to the complexity of patches available, and each track on the album provides just a single snapshot of each instrument used. But hopefully it provides an interesting glimpse into the wonders that these self-playing systems can achieve

Tracklist:

01 - Buchla 100 and EMS VCS3
02 - Serge Paperface
03 - Modcan A-Series
04 - ARP 2500
05 - Buchla 200 and DK Synergy
06 - Serge and LW Comparator
07 - Moog Modular 3C
08 - Roland Discrete System
09 - Buchla 200

MORE INFO HERE:
https://modular-station.com/modulisme...



Synthesiser programming and recording, design and concept: Benge (B D Edwards)

Made at Memetune Studios, England

(c)+(p) 2025 Memetune Recordings

Special thanks to Philippe Petit at Modulisme (modular-station.com/modulisme) for his continued support"

Easel 21326b

video upload by Todd Barton

"Today's second Easel improv exploring looper saturation.

My Patreon: / synthtodd"

Buchla Kaleidoscope 29 / Fugindo (261e, 281h, 292h, euroracks)

video upload by takao_kurokawa

"Buchla LEM Snoopy & some eurorack and effects

eurorack modules:
Whimsical Raps: Silhouette
ADDAC System: Stochastic Function Generator
Five12: Vector Sequencer
Chase Bliss Reverse Mode C
OTO Machines BIM"

Spoken Buchla Tiptop Improvisation

video upload by VoxModula Archives

"In this video, I explore the patch in real time while explaining the ideas, signal flow, and sound decisions as they happen.

The focus is on live interaction, evolving textures, and spontaneous structure rather than a fixed composition.

🎛️ System used
• Buchla Tiptop modular system"

MCV - Modular Commune Festival Beijing 2025 (Vol.22)

video upload by Modular Commune

You can find all performances posted here.

"13-16/11/2025
Gearing Space in 798 Art District, Beijing, China
Modular synthesizer live performance

Photographer: 包子
Camera operator: Tabriss, 千两道化,翰海, 孙太阳, Moy
Recording/Mastering: Ocicat
Video edit: ‪@tamiX-tamiX‬

About MCV:
Machine Control Voltage 「MCV」.Chaos is an unknown sequence. Sound artist/visual artist. The extremely minimal simplified electronic-acoustic and experimental chaotic dissonance constitute various forms of sound spaces and all unknown occurrences. She’s sound art works often present non sustained experimental sound field transitions, exploring between silent restraint and extreme chaos."

Easel Improv 2 4 26

video upload by Todd Barton

"A brief unfolding of what is going on over on my Patreon / synthtodd
Enjoy!"

Buchla 02 Vibrations

video upload by Deep Forest

"A deep dive into the Buchla universe.
Modular synthesis, unstable voltages, organic shapes.
Living sounds, unpredictable, born from analog circuits and raw vibrations.
Nothing is fixed here: the sound breathes, evolves, transforms.

An exploration of the Buchla as a true instrument, somewhere between sonic matter and experimental music."

Buchla Kaleidoscope 28 / Fourths (with Pladask Elektrisk Baklengs)

video upload by takao_kurokawa

"Voice:
Buchla Easel Command, LEM218

Effects:
Pladask Elektrisk Baklengs
OTO Machines BIM & BAM

#buchla #modularsynth #ambientmusic #experimentalmusic"

Buchla Moan Just After Midnight

video upload by djangosfire

"Late night Buchla Patch - Kind of a moaning vibe. Cheers to sonic exploration! Thank you, Adam Scramstad"

TTMC 5 Step Sequencer 4U (Buchla Format)

video upload by Tokyo Tape Music Center

https://tokyo-tape-music-center.com

Seq 8-10

video upload by peff

Polyend SEQ & Buchla 200e modular system.

Buchla Format Model 416.3 Meta Expander by guyd2

According to guyd2, the Model 416.3 Meta Expander is:

"A sophisticated, stand-alone expansion unit for the Buchla Music Easel.
Contains several dedicated modules : Comparators, Dividers, Boolean, VC Slew Limiter, S/H & Noise, analog ultrastable VCO/LFO, advanced Mixer w/ Comparator, and an 8-step Sequencer.
Also expands on the 208 CV I/O's, pulses I/O and Switch inputs."

https://guyd2.com/416_3-order/

"What you get :

- Model 416.3 Meta Expander for Bemi/Busa/Buchla Easel, 208c, or clones.

- Custom-made enclosure (boat) + tilted support stand.

- Two Model 416 Edge Cards, 100% compatible with 208’s Ext/Prog Interface.

- Two 40-pin custom-made ribbon cable assemblies (one short, one longer).

- A printed User Manual.

- Internal power supply; its location (back or right-side) is adjustable by the user."

Katla Volcanic Synth - Genki's New Instrument at Buchla & Friends

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We get an introduction to Katla, an enigmatic new synthesizer from Iceland-based Genki Instruments, at Buchla & Friends 2026. Named one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland, Katla is synthesizer that combines five digital oscillator voices with envelopes, analog filters and wavefolders, and a set of "Kalta" chaotic parameters, for an organic, "controlled-chaos", sound and performance. It also features side panels and knobs made from volcanic lava rocks.

To find out more, please visit https://genkiinstruments.com/katla

0:00 Introduction
0:27 A demo of Katla and its 'controlled chaos'
2:16 Conclusion

Merch: https://shop.catsynth.com
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catsynth
Patreon: / catsynth

And one from Bonedo Synthesizers:

Genki Instruments Katla Synth - Demo and Interview
video upload by Bonedo Synthesizers

See the Genki label below for additional posts.

700 Function Processor Patch #4 | simple techno

video upload by Gm Xe

"This patch creates a simple techno groove using three PatternSeq channels.
Each PatternSeq sends trigger signals to the drum machine, pitch CV, and pulse signals to the 208. Wave shape is modulated with random control for added movement and variation.

Three PatternSeq modules handle:

Trigger outputs to the drum machine

Pitch CV sequencing

Pulse signals to the 208

Random modulation applied to wave shape

Hope you enjoy this patch.
#700FunctionProcessor #Buchla208 #BuchlaSynthesizer #ModularSynth
#PatternSequencer #CVSequencer #WestCoastSynth #ModularPerformance
#ElectronicMusic #ExperimentalMusic #SoundDesign#techno#4U Modular"

On Giant’s Shoulders

video upload by Deep Forest

"While playing the bass line, a blast from the past came back to me.
Psychedelic vibes. Inspiration always comes from our roots.
Standing on the shoulders of giants.
Recorded just to capture some ideas — not a proper recording session.
#ModularSynth
#Buchla
#PinkFloyd
#DavidGilmour

Follow Deep Forest :
| Website : http://www.deep-forest.fr/"

Two Oberheim Buchla OB-MX's and a Waldorf Wave in the background.

700 Function Processor Patch #3 | One Module, More Patch Space

video upload by Gm Xe

🌐 Website: https://gmxe.org

Additional 700 Functiion Processor posts

Eye of Horus speak preview.

video upload by Giorgio Sancristoforo

http://www.giorgiosancristoforo.net/softwares/

The "Easel" Spirit in 3U - A West Coast Eurorack Deep Dive

video upload by Sean Graves

The following is in via Sean Graves, who had the following to say:

"The piece, 'The 'Easel' Spirit in 3U: Rebuilding a Buchla Soul in Eurorack,' documents my five-year journey to replicate the specific workflow and 'soul' of the Buchla Music Easel using a curated Eurorack system."

"This post explores the creative power of 5-step sequencing (the 'migrating downbeat'), the 'origami' of wavefolding via the Verbos Complex Oscillator, and the organic harmonic dampening of vactrol-based Low Pass Gates. It’s a technical yet accessible look at why the West Coast workflow remains the 'holy grail' for performance - based synthesis."

The full write-up follows, with a demonstration of the system in the video above.

The “Easel” Spirit in 3U: Rebuilding a Buchla Soul in Eurorack

The Buchla Music Easel is legendary. It isn’t just a synthesizer. It’s a self-contained performance ecosystem. For many of us, the “Easel” workflow is the holy grail of synthesis. However, instead of chasing original hardware, I’ve spent the past five years rebuilding its specific soul within the Eurorack format. Because everyone deserves a hobby, right?

The Chef vs. The Sculptor
Most East Coast synthesizers work like a sculptor. You start with a massive block of harmonic noise (Sawtooth or Square waves) and carve it away with a filter. The Buchla workflow is different. It’s like being a chef in your own Hell’s Kitchen. You start with basic, “bland” ingredients (sine waves) and spice them up with Frequency Modulation (FM), Amplitude Modulation (AM), your choice, and then fold until the sound sizzles.

My current rig recreates this spirit by focusing on three pillars: Uncertainty, Complex Oscillation, and the iconic Sequential Voltage Source.

Part One: The Modulators (The Brain)
In a true Easel style setup, the Tokyo Tape Music Center 5-Step Sequencer acts as the brain. While most modern sequencers favor 4-8-16-32 steps, the 5-step limitation is actually a creative superpower.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Tip Top Audio Buchla 200 Series

video uploads by Voice From The Machine

"This is a video series breaking down the Tip Top Audio Buchla 200 series of modules. Deep dives, information, patch examples."

Playlist:

1. I went all in on Tiptop Buchla. Was it worth it?

This is the first part of a video series on my new Tip Top Audio Buchla 200 series modular system. Here I describe my decision-making process and my initial impressions along with some of the history that makes this system so interesting.

00:00 Why I chose Buchla
03:20 Advantages of the system
05:13 History of the Buchla 200 series
09:56 Some disadvantages
11:38 Why bother using vintage designs?

2. The Magic of Buchla Oscillators: An Exhaustive Deep Dive on the 258t and the 259t

This is part 2 of my video series on the Tiptop Audio Buchla 200 series system. In this video I focus on the 258t Dual Oscillator and the 259t Programmable Complex Waveform Generator.

00:00 Introduction
01:20 Dual oscillator features
02:58 Dual oscillator 2 FM inputs
04:54 Buchla signal types explained
07:02 259 introduction
08:09 Principle oscillator and harmonics section
11:38 Modulation oscillator
14:58 Modulation bus
18:09 ART inputs
19:31 Example patch 1
24:01 Example patch 2
30:37 Outro

3. The Low Pass Gate: The Beating Heart of Buchla Synthesizers

This video is part of a series I'm creating highlighting modules in Tiptop Audio's line of Buchla 200 reissues. Today's episode features the 292t Quad Lopass Gate as well as a discussion of Low Pass Gates in general.

00:00 Introduction
03:09 Tour of Features
04:51 Timbre and Amplitude
07:15 Buchla Bongos
08:38 Vactrols and Pinging
13:40 Filter Deep Dive
17:05 Getting A Steeper Cutoff and Resonance
20:08 Performance Patch Example and Breakdown

Semiqiuncentennial Tension

video upload by Rhythmicons

"An EMS VCS3 does a throbbing drone. The Moog Model 10 is sequenced by a synthesizers dotcom q960/q119 with a little help from the Mos-Lab envelope.

The Serge comprised of licensed circuits by Elby Designs, Catgirl Synth, all lovingly paneled and assembled by Rich at Lower West Side Studios of Canada. There is a Buchla clone of a Source of Uncertainty module assembled and paneled by Jason Fry of Free State FX that is randomizing various parts of an M401 Multimode (Arp 1047 clone) also built by LWSS.
From the 401, the audio heads to the Analog Craftsman Gristleizer. The result is a little rhythmic bubbling.

The title is a nod to Tricky’s Pre-millennium Tension album but nevertheless reflective of the current zeitgeist.

But hey, no sirens this time!

In the meantime I crave my own."