Modular Monthly: Sequencing with HackMe Vectr

Published on Jun 24, 2016 Future Music Magazine

"We show you how to get the most out of HackMe's impressive sequencing device, Vectr."

VCTR

VCTR from Eldancer on Vimeo.

VCTR HACK-ME TEST

Elements // Telharmonic // Rene // Vectr // Planar

Published on Nov 4, 2015 Mike Kiraly

"Checking out the sound of the Mutable Instruments Elements. Pitch sequenced via the Make Noise Rene. Modulations via Hack Me Vectr and Intellijel Planar. Triggers and clocks from the TipTop Audio Trigger Riot."

Vectr Firmware 2 0 Feature Demo

Published on May 5, 2015 Matt Heins

"In this video, I introduce the new features added to Vectr in the 2.0 firmware release. The changes in firmware 2.0 are centered around improving Vectr's ability to synchronize recording, playback, and overdubbing with the rest of your modular system. I also made a number of improvements to Vectr's firmware which result in a better, snappier, and all around better experience.

These changes are all in addition to Vectr's existing feature set. Look back at some of my earlier videos for a complete rundown of the Vectr basics."

Vectr 2.0 + Pocket Operator

Published on May 5, 2015 Matt Heins

"Vectr 2.0 + Pocket Operator = Synchronized Clocked Insanity"

Vectr 2.0 Experimental Session

Published on May 3, 2015 Matt Heins

"Vectr pairs well with Make Noise gear for some experimental noodling. This video features Vectr firmware 2.0. Vectr is generating clock beginning with the tap tempo set up at the very beginning. The left Vectr is controlling the Phonogene on the left. The right Vectr is controlling the MMG filter and the Erbe-Verb on the right. The left Vectr is generating clock which is fed to all other module's clock input. The result is sonic awesomeness. Make that with your plug-in!"

HackMe Vectr Firmware 2.0 Noodling

Published on Mar 23, 2015 Matt Heins

"In this video, I give new Vectr features a little workout."

HackMe Vectr Controlling Make Noise Erbe-Verb

Vectr_Erbe-Verb_Video Published on Jan 18, 2015 Matthew Heins

"Vectr Demo Video - This video showcases Vectr working with the Make Noise Erbe-Verb. I demonstrate recording and overdubbing loops with Vectr, using Vectr as the master sequencer and clock for my modular rig. I'm using Braids as an audio source going through an enveloped VCA, then through a filter, and finally into the Erbe-Verb. Vectr is controlling the Decay parameter of the Erbe-Verb, the Pre-Delay parameter of the Erbe-Verb, and the cutoff frequency of the filter. I record a loop, then pretty much noodle around overdubbing and playing with other synth parameters. Good fun."

Vectr Fundamentals Demo

Published on Nov 23, 2014

"This video demonstrates the basic functionality of the Hackme Electronics Vectr 3D Sensing Controller and Sequencer."

First moments with the HackMe Vectr

Published on Dec 6, 2014 Mike Kiraly

HackMe - Vectr - First Patches

Published on Sep 15, 2014 DivKidMusic

"Not a full overview in my usual style but just a quick video to show some of the first patches I've been having fun with controlling the modular with the HackMe Vectr. Patch note below -

Patch 1

Neutron Sound - Orgone Accumulator (overview coming soon) oscillator output (no modulation on the oscillator) into Make Noise Echophon with the X position on the Vectr modulating echo pitch, Y position modulating echo time and Z position modulating the mix amount. The Echophon output is into a Doepfer A-199 spring reverb with the original spring tank and a mix below 9 o'clock.

Only other movement except my hand over the Vectr is turning on and off the freeze on the echophon.

Patch 2

The sound source here is Mutable Instruments - Braids with the output through the Make Noise Echophon for some basic echo. The X and Y from the Vectr go into the Braids Timbre and Colour modulation. Additional control was from a Make Noise - Pressure Points & Brains combo with attenuated voltages going into an ADDAC 207 Quantizer then finally a Manhattan Analog - CVP for pitch and glide into Braids. I flick through the VFOF, Detuned Saws, Fold and Sync modes on Braids."

Hackme Sprockit - Synth With Analogue Filter And Midi

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Very rare kit built synth - now sold out and not being produced.

Details from manufacturers website:

Rockit’s getting a little brother, Sprockit. My goal with Sprockit it to take a lot of Rockit goodness and compress it down to something smaller and a bit cheaper. I’m achieving both goals by having a very dense design and by reducing some of the features. Sprockit is 4″x4″ versus Rockit’s 5.1″x8.6″, so it’s substantially smaller, like pocket sized (I would’ve called it Pockit Rockit, but there are some products out there already). There are obviously fewer knobs, LEDs, and switches. All of the control parameters are still there though and will be accessible via an external MIDI controller. The microcontroller is downsized from an ATMEGA644 to an ATMEGA328. I’m also incorporating a lot of the things that I’ve learned from doing Rockit and rolling those improvements into Sprockit. This image is my first prototype and I’m well into prototype two, which will be much improved. I’ll be doing a workshop with Dorkbot Chicago at the end of February where people can build Sprockit with me. I’ll probably do another Kickstarter project after that. I’ve learned from Rockit that I’ll need to get the case designed before I release it though. Click through for a complete feature rundown.

Sprockit will be fully open source just like Rockit.

Two oscillators – Just like Rockit, except there’s only one knob. I have initially made 32 oscillator settings which chooses both oscillator 1 and 2 and the oscillator mix at the same time. Oscillator 2 still has a detune knob.

4-pole Analog Low Pass Filter – Instead of Rockit’s three-mode filter, I’ve given Sprockit a 4-pole Low Pass only filter. I’m experimenting with automatic gain control, but I’m making no promises and there are some reasons not to have it. Filter envelope control is accessible externally. There is no external audio input like Rockit.

1 LFO with 3 waveshapes and 3 destinations, with more shapes and destinations accessible externally.

ADSR envelope with Attack and Decay control on board and everything else externally accessible

MIDI Input – No MIDI output."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Hackme Vector 3D Sensing Gesture Controller for Eurorack

Currently on Kickstarter

Details captured for the archives:

"What is Vector?

The Hackme Vector is an entirely new and unique way to interact with a modular synthesizer. Vector is a three dimensional control interface designed for Eurorack modular system. It senses the location of a hand over its face and outputs a signal proportional to position for each axis: x (left and right), y (up and down), and z (in and out). So, you can control three things at one time, like turning three knobs all at once by moving your hand through the air. The possibilities are truly infinite. You could control the amplitude of a sound with the x axis, the pitch with the y axis, and the modulation of that sound with the z axis. By moving your hand slowly over the surface, you can create subtly evolving, changing and dramatic sounds. With quick movements, you can generate bursts of dynamic audio.

To provide feedback, Vector has LEDs ringing its active sensing area. These LEDs light up according to the location of your hand. It lights red for the z axis and blue for the x and y axis. As you get closer to the surface, the red LEDs get brighter. As you move closer to a location on the x-y axis, the blue LEDs in that region get brighter and those farther away get dimmer. This makes Vector visually stunning, brilliant for live play and, excellent for dark spaces.

Vector can also recognize a number of simple gestures. It recognizes swiping gestures as well as circular motions over its surface. These gestures can be used as trigger outputs and for interacting with the built-in looping feature. Vector provides a menu system that uses gestures to change the system behavior.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Hackme Rockit Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This is a handmade Rockit synthesizer designed by Hackme Electronics and built from their circuit board. It is a monophonic digital-analogue hybrid using two 8 bit VCO's through a digitally controlled analogue filter and VCA (with 2 LFO's thrown in for good measure). All parameters are directly controllable on panel (and via midi cc). It is powered by 6 x AA batteries (rechargeables are fine). It weighs 1.8kg.

http://hackmeopen.com/rockit-build-info/

Rather than use the standard Rockit case, I have housed the synth in a wooden box with brass front panel. All controls are securely attached to the panel rather than PCB mounted. Leaded solder was used throughout.

The controls are:

Back row
Drone switch, volume, on/off, midi-in, midi-thru, audio-in (to use filter and VCA), audio-out

Left block of controls (from back to front)
VCO1 waveform, VCO2 waveform, VCO mix, VCO2 pitch
A, D, S, R for VCA
Filter cutoff, filter resonance, filter ADSR depth, low/band/high pass filter selector
A, D, S, R for filter

Right block of controls
LFO routing matrix
LFO waveform, LFO rate, LFO amount, LFO sync

And at bottom are the patch save/recall controls..."

HackMe Rockit 8-bit Digital Oscillator Synth w/ Analog Filter

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"In brief, it has 2 oscillators (each with a choice of 16 waves) that are mixable with detuning of the 2nd, ADSR envelope for the Amplifier section, 2-pole analog filter with switchable low-, band-, and high-pass modes with its own envelope and control, plus an audio input into the filter, two LFOs (16 wave types) that are switchable with multiple destinations and can be MIDI sync'd. A drone/loop mode for making sounds without any external control. Plus, can receive and send MIDI CC for all parameters, thus, the knobs can be used to control other gear..."

Hackme ROCKIT digital and analog hybrid synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated. via this auction
"Rockit is a monophonic, digital and analog hybrid synthesizer. Rockit can make one sound at a time, but it has the capacity to make very simple sounds to very complex and dynamic sounds. Sound generation begins with digital synthesis, moves through analog amplification, analog filtering, and comes out a product of both the digital birth and the analog processing. The digital synthesis is comprised of two oscillators with independent waveform selection. These oscillators can be mixed or played independently and the second oscillator can be detuned from the first in note steps. The analog amplification stage has independent envelope controls for a complete ADSR envelope generator. Rockit’s filter section is an entirely digitally controllable analog filter, meaning all filter parameters are explicitly accessible internally, via knobs and switches, and externally, via MIDI. In addition, Rockit has two Low-Frequency Oscillators for modulating various synthesizer parameters at controllable rates and amounts.

Rockit offers 18 knobs and 8 switches for controlling both the digital synthesis and shaping the analog processing. Rockit is enabled to store and recall 16 patches, storing all knob, switch, and LED settings. Rockit also has a Drone and Loop feature that allows for independent play. For inputs and outputs, Rockit has an audio output and an audio input which routes into the analog filter. Rockit has MIDI In and Out capabilities with all settings accessible via MIDI controller channel numbers. All knob movements are transmitted to the MIDI output on the appropriate MIDI channel number.

MIDI Control Channel Numbers

Every parameter of Rockit is accessible via MIDI. The control channel numbers for Rockit software version 1.01 are listed below. If you find that these are off by 2 numbers, you may have software versino 1.00. The behavior of the knobs regarding MIDI is that if a parameter is set by MIDI, the software will ignore the position of the affected knob until that knob position is changed.

PARAMETER MIDI CONTROL CHANNEL# RANGE
PITCH WHEEL 0 0-127
MOD WHEEL 1 0-127
LFO_SHAPE 2 0-127
FILTER_ATTACK 3 0-127
ADSR_SUSTAIN 4 0-127
OSC_1_WAVESHAPE 5 0-127
FILTER_RELEASE 6 0-127
FILTER_Q 7 0-127
ADSR_ATTACK 8 0-127
OSC_DETUNE 9 0-127
FILTER_SUSTAIN 10 0-127
FILTER_ENV_AMT 11 0-127
ADSR_DECAY 12 0-127
OSC_MIX 13 0-127
FILTER_FREQUENCY 14 0-127
FILTER_DECAY 15 0-127
ADSR_RELEASE 16 0-127
OSC_2_WAVESHAPE 17 0-127
LFO_RATE 18 0-127
LFO_AMOUNT 19 0-127
LFO_1_RATE 20 0-127
LFO_2_RATE 21 0-127
LFO_1_AMOUNT 22 0-127
LFO_2_AMOUNT 23 0-127
PITCH_SHIFT 24 0-127
AMPLITUDE 25 0-127
LFO_1_DEST 26 0-127
LFO_2_DEST 27 0-127
FILTER_TYPE 28 0-2
LFO_1_WAVESHAPE 29 0-127
LFO_2_WAVESHAPE 30 0-127
LFO_SEL 31 0 OR 1
LFO_SYNC 32 0 OR 1
PORTAMENTO 33 0-127
OSC_PITCH_SHIFT 34 0-127"

See the Hackme at the bottom of this post to see what one looks like in a case.

HACKME ROCKET filter bank

YouTube Published on May 13, 2012 by KickSenior

Hybrid Analog Digital Rockit 8 Bit Synthesizer by Hackme

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"Rockit is an open source hybrid analog and digital monophonic synthesizer. It features a digital brain surrounded by analog circuitry which gives Rockit its characteristic sound. With the flexibility of digital oscillators and the pure sonic magic of analog filters, Rockit makes a wide range of sounds from simple leads to wild and wacky screaming modulated pads and super fat basslines. more info here: http://hackmeopen.com/?page_id=727"

HackMe Rockit Demo

YouTube Published on May 17, 2012 by snolan1990

"This is a demonstration of some of the sounds and features of this HackMe Rockit synthesizer, designed by Matthew Heinz, which I built from kit a little while back. This demo is less about music and more about the technology and functions of the machine so if you are not into synths you will probably find it boring. You can find out all about the synth or order your own kit from this site http://hackmeopen.com/?page_id=474&fb_source=message.

The Rockit is a dual oscillator monophonic synthesizer. The oscillators are 8 bit and each have 16 different waveforms. It has a VCA with full ADSR as well as a multi-mode 2 pole VCF again with full ADSR. Add to this a pair of LFOs with complex routeing options, Full MIDI support and 16 patch memories and you have a nice little package.

Because of the 8 bit wave table oscillators this thing can do a plethora of Atari sound with the VCA and VCF wide open but once you start get them involved then it moves over to more traditional analogue mono sounds.

Just so you are aware I built the little box case for my Rockit from scratch, the designer does have a case for sale from his site but I am planning to rack mount this thing at some point so I built my own cheap case as a temporary method of keeping it dust free."

Hackme Rockit Synth

"Rockit is a monophonic, digital and analog hybrid synthesizer. Rockit can make one sound at a time, but it has the capacity to make very simple sounds to very complex and dynamic sounds. Sound generation begins with digital synthesis, moves through analog amplification, analog filtering, and comes out a product of both the digital birth and the analog processing. The digital synthesis is comprised of two oscillators with independent waveform selection. These oscillators can be mixed or played independently and the second oscillator can be detuned from the first in note steps. The analog amplification stage has independent envelope controls for a complete ADSR envelope generator. Rockit’s filter section is an entirely digitally controllable analog filter, meaning all filter parameters are explicitly accessible internally, via knobs and switches, and externally, via MIDI. In addition, Rockit has two Low-Frequency Oscillators for modulating various synthesizer parameters at controllable rates and amounts.

Rockit offers 18 knobs and 8 switches for controlling both the digital synthesis and shaping the analog processing. Rockit is enabled to store and recall 16 patches, storing all knob, switch, and LED settings. Rockit also has a Drone and Loop feature that allows for independent play. For inputs and outputs, Rockit has an audio output and an audio input which routes into the analog filter. Rockit has MIDI In and Out capabilities with all settings accessible via MIDI controller channel numbers. All knob movements are transmitted to the MIDI output on the appropriate MIDI channel number..."

More: http://hackmeopen.com/

HackMe Electronics Sprockit Mini-Synth

via HackMe Electronisc

"Rockit’s getting a little brother, Sprockit. My goal with Sprockit it to take a lot of Rockit goodness and compress it down to something smaller and a bit cheaper. I’m achieving both goals by having a very dense design and by reducing some of the features...

Sprockit will be fully open source just like Rockit.

Two oscillators – Just like Rockit, except there’s only one knob. I have initially made 32 oscillator settings which chooses both oscillator 1 and 2 and the oscillator mix at the same time. Oscillator 2 still has a detune knob.

4-pole Analog Low Pass Filter – Instead of Rockit’s three-mode filter, I’ve given Sprockit a 4-pole Low Pass only filter. I’m experimenting with automatic gain control, but I’m making no promises and there are some reasons not to have it. Filter envelope control is accessible externally. There is no external audio input like Rockit.

1 LFO with 3 waveshapes and 3 destinations, with more shapes and destinations accessible externally.

ADSR envelope with Attack and Decay control on board and everything else externally accessible

MIDI Input – No MIDI output."