Modor NF-1M Digital Polyphonic Synthesizer

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Modor DR-2: A solo jam @180bpm

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Some drum machines are built for real-time tweaking, others you program and hit 'play' while you tweak something else. The Perkons drum machine is a real-time tweaker; the LXR-02 is more a playback machine. Where does the DR-2 sit? It certainly has enough knobs and if you can remember some of the (many) shortcuts then there's lots of available functions on the front panel. Then there's the six little knobs above the faders that can be assigned to any parameter per voice. Yet I've never come up with a parameter that I can't immediately access by the front panel anyway so I've never used them.

Here I'm doing pretty basic stuff. There's a single four-bar pattern and two drumkits. I swap between kits, mute various voices and change the overall bar length. It's also very easy to change the step length per voice (just hold down the voice letter and press the step number) but I didn't want to get too tricky since you can't just reload the pattern to reset the length. The pitch drifting synth sounds come from the portamento amount.

In terms of functionality it all works very smoothly. The only thing I find troublesome is that any drumkit or pattern above the first 16 can only be accessed by holding down the 17-32 button and then pressing the step number. That makes fast changes outside the first 16 patterns and kits much more prone to error. It would be much more logical imo if just selecting the number grouping (eg 17-32) meant that's what you automatically get.

If it all sounds a little gritty to you then good! I used plenty of distortion on most of the voices and even applied some compressor which can be quite vicious and I'm not even sure how to turn it off once it's on!

As usual there's absolutely no other processing than what you see. No compression, EQ or any other DAW effect.

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My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Creating sounds on the Modor DR-2: A detailed expedition

video upload by Richard DeHove

"In the latest instalment of my "If You Want A Short, Splashy, Gotcha Video This Isn't For You" series I noodle about in lengthy detail with sounds on the Modor DR-2. The idea here isn't a quick showcase of wondrous sounds, it's to give you a genuine feel for what it's like to use the DR-2. That means transiting through hundreds of gradations and flavors of a sound. No doubt sometimes you'll hear your preferred sound pass by as I adjust a parameter too far or wind back something too hard. Watching this back I can see points at which I should have stopped but instead kept tweaking. The filtered clap for example sounded pretty good after about 10 seconds but I kept flogging it death :D But that's the essence of this video - as the old saying goes it's the journey not the destination.

A quick note on the audio track: The Modor's buttons are very loud and clicky. It gives them a satisfying sureness in the studio but means they're quite intrusive on video. I did my best to EQ them out, gate them out, and manually mute them when possible. The result in headphones may sound slightly choppy (and somewhat mangled my voice) but I wanted to make sure you could hear the Modor's sounds properly rather than being mixed with room noise and button clicks.

I hope here I've got across the fact that the DR-2 is beautifully crafted to deliver a massive range of customizable sound. It's easy to dial in the basics of an excellent sound, and then have the controls you need to zoom in on what you want. The main problem is when to stop noodling.

Despite the length of this video I only touched on a tiny fraction of the Modor's sounds. If you're interested in hearing more, or any particular types of sound, please let me know.

Finally, Mr Modor if you're reading this: Please make an all-black version with second-layer subtext on the knobs.

0:00 Basic info
2:01 Drum models
2:34 Noise bass drum
7:10 Basic snare
11:42 Filtered clap
18:49 Square bass drum
24:37 Snare adventure
29:55 A tom?
30:38 Crash cymbal
34:48 Electro snare / tom

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

LSPXPO 2025: Play Basslines on the Modor DR-2 Drum Machine

video upload by sonicstate

"It's been a little while since we caught up with Marcel from Modor, so it was great to see him again, bearing news of updates to the *DR2 6-channel drum machine*, recently adding baseline synthesis algorithms. This update enabled new possibilities like using parameter locks on pitch to program melodies with simple one oscillator synthesis models.

The DR2 features six instruments, each capable of utilizing distinct synthesis models out of the twenty available for creating various drum sounds, all generated through real-time synthesis. An on-board step sequencer and an optional menu for settings facilitate this. Despite numerous updates and features, frequent menu access is rarely required unless adjusting systems settings. Marcel also demonstrated how P-locks could be used creatively to alter pitch for melody creation, explaining that while one channel is dedicated to bass lines, it leaves five other channels for drum use."

Modor NF-1 polyphonic desktop synth

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14:16 Polyrhythmic clock, 1-min jam

video upload by Modor Music

"A 1-min Modor DR-2 jam using a 14:16 polyrhythmic clock on the Electro Snare."

0:00 Setting up the polyclock
0:07 Polyclock principle
0:14 Jam!

1-min Modor DR-2 Jam

video upload by Modor Music

"Modor DR-2 1 minute jam using following synthesis models:
Saw Synth
Claps
Ride Cymbal(*)
Noise BD
Basic SN

(*) indicated 'Hihat' in the video, but it is the Ride Cymbal model. Apologies! :-)"

1-min Modor DR-2 Jam

video upload by Modor Music

"Modor DR-2 1 minute jam using following synthesis models:
Rumble BD
Analog SN
Rimshot
Saw Synth
Filter Hihats"

1-min Modor DR-2 Jam

video upload by Modor Music

"1-min jam on the Modor DR-2.
Used models: String BD, Filter Claps, Basic SN, Filter HH and Tenordum
Uses a 14/16 polyclock on the Tenordrum."

Trying the new synth models on the Modor DR-2 (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Firmware OS013 added four new synth models: saw, square, sine and FM. Here I give them an initial test. First impressions are good. The resonance is pleasantly harsh, the filters have some bite and the sine and FM models are a little quirky. The various quick demo tracks below test out a few different techniques including randomized filter amounts, randomized step fills, synth models panned hard left and right, and parameter locks.

As yet there's no way to play the sounds chromatically with an external keyboard or sequencer. That means inputting notes by the grid and setting the pitch one at a time with the pitch knob. That's not unusual for a machine that isn't designed to be chromatically played, but now that it does have synth sounds that playability would make these models much more versatile. It's easy to imagine a situation where you'd play a pair of synth models from an attached keyboard with velocity, filter randomizations and panning - all while the other four voices continue doing their drum thing. In the meantime there's still lots to enjoy. For example in the video you'll see me transpose various tracks up and down from the root note. An interesting ability.

As always there's absolutely no external processing or effects. This is raw DR-2. And if you'd like to see anything else specific about the DR-2 please let me know.

0:00 Three synths with locks
1:40 Resonant twiddlings
4:06 Res and distortion

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

How to update the firmware on the Modor DR-2 drum machine

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Everything has its cost. To acquire glorious new features the cost here is the tedium of updating the firmware. Updating the Modor DR-2 isn't especially painful but it is slow. All up about 15 to 20 minutes for the entire job. For those on older machines: When you check your operating system, if you are on OS006 or older you will need to update your bootloader before trying to install new firmware.

A few links that may be handy:
Modor's download page: https://modormusic.com/downloads.html
Send SX for Windows: https://www.bome.com/products/sendsx
SysEx Librarian for Mac: https://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/

0:00 Checking your current firmware
0:56 MIDI input
1:08 Modor sysex file
1:37 Sysex app
2:30 Readme
2:58 Send SX how-to
3:49 Set the speed - IMPORTANT !
4:02 Open the sysex file
4:17 Power into upgrade mode
4:32 Send the sysex file
5:02 Overflow error !!!
6:05 Try again - but slower
7:18 Success !

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Modor Music DR2 OS013 - Basslines! No-talking 1min overview

video upload by Modor Music

"1 minute no-talking overview of the OS013 firmware upgrade for the Modor DR-2, introducing bassline synth models."

DR2 OS013 - Basslines for the DR-2!

video upload by Modor Music

"Firmware upgrade OS013 for the Modor DR-2, introducing bassline synth models! https://www.modormusic.com/dr2os013.html"

0:00 Hi!
0:20 Enable/Disable tracks by Midi CC or Notes
1:46 Global Accent
2:46 Longer bar lengths
4:05 Basslines
5:47 Music!

Modor Workshop with Marcel Belmans at SchneidersLaden

video upload by SchneidersLaden

"On July 25th, Marcel Belmans from Modor visited SchneidersLaden for an in-depth workshop exploring the NF-1 and DR-2 synthesizers. Known for their unique approach to digital synthesis, Modor's instruments are hands-on, innovative, and intuitive.

Marcel demonstrated the versatility of the NF-1's polyphonic synthesis and the DR-2's powerful drum synthesis, showing off recent firmware updates and new features. We got an inside look at how these machines interpret digital sound design, blending the familiar with the experimental. Nice!"

An industrial drumkit for the Modor DR-2 (no external FX, no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"The original concept for the DR-2 saw it as an enhanced 909. That's pretty much irrelevant now as the DR-2 has been developed into something far deeper. Yet you can still see traces of its origins in the step entry and many of the core sounds. Personally I'm not a fan of the 909 mainly because it keeps you penned into a defined territory of sound where weirdness is not allowed. I like odd sounds in my drum machines.

I think the great balancing act with drum machines is between providing immediate excellent drum sounds, and providing enough tweakable range to allow genuine sound design and experimentation. At one end you have untweakable machines like the 606; at the other extreme are samplers where the range becomes so vast you can get distracted by endless sample banks. One solution is to have both, but that leads to different problems where you have too many one-trick machines.

Where does the DR-2 sit? You can certainly feel it's 909 roots in that those sorts of kits and sounds fall out of the machine with almost no effort. You can hear that sound in many DR-2 demos: tight bass drums with rimshots, hats and snappy snares. But the parameters are wide enough, and the available drum models weird enough, that you can get away from that quite easily.

That was the aim here: Can the DR-2 move into a more industrial sound without any external processing? It's easy enough to dirty things up with fuzz and EQ, but what about the raw sound?

In the two demo tracks I use a single set of drum models (from left to right): Tom, Ride cymbal, Noise bassdrum, Claps, Claps, and Rumble bassdrum. Each pattern has a slightly tweaked version of those same drum models saved as a kit. I've used the internal tilt filter, parametric EQ and distortion. I'm not game to use the compressors yet - I still need to learn how to tame them.

On the first track I start with just two sounds and am using a polyrhythmic clock in 8/12 time on channel 3. It gives an unsettling feel and constant variation to what is otherwise a simple 16-step pattern.

Of course there's no processing or effects other than what you see. It's pure DR-2. Even the volume between patterns is unaltered.

(And as per the thumbnail image: The DR-2 needs an all-black version).

0:00 Arhythmia
2:02 Dirty Tom

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My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

The polyrhythmic clocks and Euclidean sequencer of the Modor DR-2

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Euclidean sequencers are fun, but nowhere near as much fun as polyrhythmic clocks. Turns out every track on the Modor DR-2 has three clocks. Here I demonstrate some very tame examples sticking mainly to time signatures that won't disrupt the metabolism. Truly strange options abound, the vast majority of which could turn any simple pattern into a jazzified moosh worthy of an opening night of free-form interpretive dance at a modern art gallery.

If my examples here aren't too horrendous I may have another go at some more challenging. For example, mismatched time signatures partially sticjed back together with delicately timed flams and tuplets.

Also demoed here is the Euclidean sequencer. This is a more common feature of many drum machines. What makes this one a little different is that you can have up to 64 steps and hits in each track.

0:00 Activating the clocks
2:15 Assign a clock
2:48 Simple example
4:47 Warping a basic pattern
5:54 Warping a complex pattern
11:03 Euclidean sequencer

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/
My other channel 'IntraCosmos' of long-play dark ambient textures: / @intracosmos"

Modor NF-1 soundscape IV - Thicket

video upload by MIDERA

"One of the more unique synths I've used. I had reached out to Marcel at Modor and had feature requests... The reality is - those requests were already features. I just didn't have a new enough manual! It has an excellent UI. The only thing I'd love to see is an easier way to navigate the menu (if you press the menu button you have 1-2 seconds to decide if that's the menu setting you want to enter - if you do nothing, you enter the sub menu of that. I'd love to see it so that you can cycle through them at your leisure without entering them. Small complaint, if you can call it that). Mine is the 'old version' which has 'loose potentiometers' and I really don't understand that complaint. The knobs feel just fine. Strange.

Eventide Blackhole VST used for reverb.

Composed June 13th, 2024"

Modor NF-1 soundscape III - Names in the sand

video upload by MIDERA

"Another Modor NF-1 soundscape.

Eventide blackhole vst for reverb"

7 kits and 7 patterns for the Modor DR-2 (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"A series of example patterns and kits using various techniques on the Modor DR-2. This is pure DR-2 with no other effects or processing. I tried to cover a range of styles showing off some of the sonic powers of this excellent drum synth.

Most of these are very dynamic with strong transients. I considered adding a compressor or limiter on the output in the DAW, but (as usual) thought it best to leave them completely raw.

Please let me know if you have any specific requests for particular sounds or kits and I'll do my best to cover them in the next demo.

0:00 March
0:32 Snappy
1:02 Reverb
1:44 Rock
2:14 Heartbeat
2:55 Poker
3:26 Tapdance

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Modor NF-1m w/ Original Box

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Modor DR-2 tutorial Part 2: Special functions

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Part 2 in the guide to the Modor DR-2 drum machine. Here I cover a lot of the extra functions and front panel buttons. Again this isn't a sound design tutorial, just a guide to functionality.

At almost 30 minutes long I thought I should leave things there rather than trying to cover all the remaining functions since a lot of these rely on shortcuts. How many shortcuts can you assimilate in 30 minutes?

So Part 3 will cover the remaining features and after that the really fun stuff of sound design.

Finally, if you're listening through headphones and hear some high pitched noise, that's my mic picking up some RF noise which I've since, thankfully, solved. The DR-2 is dead quiet and clean.

0:00 Reverse
4:03 Transient click
4:45 Soft attack
6:26 Tilt filter
7:27 Parametric EQ
9:50 Break
11:47 Inspect value
13:35 Flam
15:10 Tuplets
18:04 Naming
19:15 Distortion
20:14 Set volume
21:58 Accents
24:08 Velocity modulation
25:30 Random functions

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"