Molten Music Monthly July 2025

video upload by Molten Music Technology

"It's been ten years since I first heaved a Molten Music Monthly into the world. I've done it every month since and through thick and thin there's nothing I enjoy more. The summer is always a bit slow but I've pulled together some nice bits and bobs to mull over while applying sun cream or hiding in our synth caves.

This Monthly is sponsored by DF Audio who make fabulous modular and synth-friendly desktop patch bays: https://dfaudio.com.au/" Index - 0:00
DF Audio - 3:17
Sequential Take-5 and Oberheim TEO-5 Desktop Modules - 6:30
Shakmat Bishop's Miscellany Mk2 - 9:55
Arcane Devices Caress of Stars - 13:01
X Audio Systems XTRIKE - 14:15
Error Instruments Kharper - 17:01
Rob Papen WirePluck - 19:23
Signs Modular csf - 20:56
WORNG Electronics Quiver - 22:43
Pittsburgh Modular Local Florist 2, Double Helix and Crow 3 - 24:37
B:art Instruments b:efuddle - 27:12
Schlappi Boundary Layer - 28:23
Gig Performer Essentials - 29:38
Molten Synth Picnic Popup - 31:50
Coming up - 36:14

Cre8audio East Beast Semi-Modular Analog Synthesizer

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

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

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Cre8audio West Pest Semi-Modular Analog Synthesizer

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

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

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Pittsburgh Modular 2025 Summer Update / New Modules / Synth Sale / New Stands / Q&A with Richard

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"Richard Nicol offers a summer 2025 update for Pittsburgh Modular with 3 new eurorack modules, new eurorack case stands, a July synth sale, and anything else the chat wants to know. Good times."

https://pittsburghmodular.com/

Introducing Crow 3, Double Helix Wavetable Processor, and Local Florist 2

Pittsburgh Modular Safari Series 9 is full of classic sounds, unique effects, and lo-fi digital chaos.

Crow 3 Filter
The latest iteration of the Crow pairs the destructive power of the original, Safari Series #1 module with the smoothest iteration yet of the Pittsburgh Filter sound. This module can sound beautiful or brutal or both.

Double Helix Wavetable Processor
Ten years ago we created a chaotic, low-fi, digital 9-bit wavetable oscillator module. After testing the prototypes, the limitations of our small company forced us to shelve the finished module before a full production run was realized. Recently, we made the mistake of gifting one of these ancient prototypes to our good friend who promptly posted a video and story on SonicState that caused our inbox to explode. So, due to popular demand, the Double Helix Wavetable Processor is finally here.

Local Florist 2
More feedback and a larger palette of options pushes the Local Florist 2 deeper into a unique world of experimentation. The Local Florist 2 offers a range of possibilities effects including flanging (kinda), chorus (yes), reverb (true), spring-y feedback sounds (all day), karplus strong (not really, but sorta), vibrato (yes), plucky percussive string sounds (yes), and general robot space sounds (often). Thank you for continuing to support your Local Florist!

Price, Availability, and More Information
The retail price for the Crow 3 and Local Florist 2 are $199 each. The retail price for the Double Helix is $299. Because these modules are considered experiments, production has been limited. The modules are available now through the Pittsburgh Modular web shop. More information regarding the Crow 3, Local Florist 2, and Double Helix Wavetable Processor Eurorack Modules is available at pittsburghmodular.com/safari.

JHS Colour Box v2 Lovely Saturation [FX w/ Synthesizers #19] Demo

video upload by gstormelectro

"Audio + Video by G-Storm Electro c. 2025

Today I am exploring various synth and percussion elements through the JHS Colour Box v2 for that lovely vintage console saturation. Or downright savage noise when pushed harder, if that's your bag. A/B comparison effect on/bypass except the last section, got lost in the moment on that one. Tried my best to mind the levels, but now and then the volume is a bit inconsistent. Some normalization applied to remedy some of that, you understand. The EQ applied some nice touches, really helps pick out some sweet spots here and there. Recorded direct on iPhone via EPM6 mixer via Go:Mixer:Pro-X.

0:00 Novation Bass Station II
0:44 Bass Station II
1:22 Bass Station II
2:01 Oberheim DX
3:10 Behringer 2600
3:45 Eurorack 208HP Percussion System
5:15 Pittsburgh Modular Taiga
6:06 Roland JX-3P via Big Sky on Hall reverb"

Boom Chick & Assembler by Pittsburgh Modular & Cre8Audio | Superbooth 2025

video upload by Thomann Synthesizers

"At Superbooth 2025, Cre8audio and Pittsburgh Modular unveiled two new analog devices: the Boom Chick drum machine and the Assembler mixer, both designed for standalone use and Eurorack integration.

The Boom Chick is a five-voice analog drum machine featuring kick, snare, hi-hat, and two versatile percussion voices capable of FM synthesis and wave shaping. Its six-track sequencer offers step and live modes, polyrhythms, Euclidean pattern generation, and performance tools like swing, humanize, and probability. Connectivity includes individual trigger inputs and outputs, MIDI I/O, clock sync, and reset, with output levels suitable for Eurorack systems. 

The Assembler is a 10-channel analog mixer with six mono and two stereo inputs, each equipped with preamps offering up to 20x gain, soft compression, and signal contouring. It features three post-fader aux sends with corresponding returns, a dedicated headphone cue output, and compatibility with both line-level and Eurorack signals. The mixer can function as a standalone desktop unit or be mounted in a 40HP Eurorack space.

Both devices are expected to be available in mid-May 2025."

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

New Instruments Walk-Thru and Jam Live Stream w/ Cre8audio Boom Chick & Assembler

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"With Richard Nicol"

See the announcement posts here:

Cre8audio Introduces Boom Chick Analog Drum Machine

Cre8audio Introduces Assembler Vintage Inspired Analog Mixer

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

Hypnotic Techno Live Jam

video upload by Electronisounds Audio

"Whatever kind of music you are making - KEEP IT UP, Friends!
Don't stop making *YOUR MUSIC*!!
---
▼CONNECT with me / SUPPORT creativity and good content▼
WEBSTORE ► https://www.electronisounds.com/
PATREON ► https://www.patreon.com/DeanDaughters"

Modular Synthesis 101 | Part 5 | Modulators

video upload by gstormelectro

"Audio + Video by G-Storm Electro c. 2025

Continuing my introductory series of videos on Modular Synthesis 101. Today we'll look at some classic modulator utility modules in Modular synthesis with some simple examples. You already know about 2 modulators: Envelopes and LFOs. Along the way we'll be changing any Lowpass filter to a Highpass. From the last video we also know that a VCA can be used as a Modulator. So it probably won't surprise you there is a special Modulator can behave similar a VCA.

0:00 | Intro
0:20 | Modulator Recap - Mind Your Ins and Outs
0:54 | Glide
1:21 | Sample & Hold
3:14 | Inverter Circuit
3:51 | Inverting Filter Types + Multiples
5:33 | Ring Mod - somewhere between Modulator and Effect
6:32 | The Function Generator

MUSIC https://gstormelectro.bandcamp.com/
BLOG http://gstormelectronica.blogspot.com/
LISTEN/DOWNLOAD http://soundcloud.com/gstormelectro
REVERB https://reverb.com/shop/gstormelectro"

Rarest Digital VCO? The Double Helix Wavetable Processor

video upload by Magical Synth Adventure

"Here's a deep dive into one of the rarest Eurorack modules of all time (only 5 or 6 prototypes were made before cancellation!) - a very special sounding 9-bit wavetable oscillator, with many unique sounding "processors' - FM, wavefolding, sync, delay, you name it!

A million thanks to Richard Nicol from Pittsburgh Modular:
https://pittsburghmodular.com

Richard's original video here:" [below] 00:00 Intro Demo
01:58 Hello Adventurers!
02:26 The DNA Symbiotic Waves
03:26 The Double Helix Wavetable Processor
06:18 Wavetable Exploration
11:40 Processors
21:10 Self-Patching Fun!
22:08 Closing Thoughts, a Lost Classic?

Pittsburgh Modular Digital Oscillator Lab???

Pittsburgh Modular Digital Oscillator Lab???

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers - Apr 16, 2020

"Experimental eurorack patch laboratory with Richard."

Pittsburgh Modular Taiga Desktop Paraphonic Synthesizer

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

via this listing

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Artist Picks: Best Music Gear of 2024 (Part 1)

video upload by Perfect Circuit

Check out the accompanying article on our blog, Signal

"2024 is soon drawing to a close—so, we're taking a look back at the year, and taking account of all of the weird and wonderful instruments that gave us some inspiration this year. Synthesizers, drum machines, and Eurorack modules to samplers and effects, this year had no shortage of inspiring instruments.

So, we reached out to some of our friends and content creators to fill us in on their year, asking one simple question: what was the coolest piece of gear YOU got this year? For some, that meant brand-new releases, but for others, it meant sitting down and digging into classic instruments.

In this video, we hear from:
0:05 Andrew Huang on the Elektron Digitakt II
1:36 Starsky Carr on the Pittsburgh Voltage Lab 2
6:30 Molten Music Tech on the Gamechanger Plasma Voice
11:36 Cyberattack on the Vongon Replay
13:48 The Unperson on the Melbourne Delia
Mark Johnston on the UA Apollo x8p Gen 2

Check out the accompanying article on our blog, Signal"

You can find additional Artist Picks: Best Music Gear of 2024 posts here.

Richard Nicol - Together Ever Since Film From The Album Structured Waves

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"Together Ever Since Music and Film by Richard Nicol. The song is taken from the 2024 album Structured Waves. Structured Waves is available on Richard's Bandcamp.
https://richardnicol.bandcamp.com

Richard Nicol is an electronic musician and founder of Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers. The Voltage Lab 2, Taiga Keyboard, Cre8audio East Beast, and an unannounced drum machine were used in the recording of this track."

Microvolt 3900

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

via this listing

You can find demos of the Microvolt 3000 in previous posts here.

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Pittsburgh Modular Snakes Dual Gate Sequencer Patch Lab

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"Deep dive into the Snakes dual gate sequencer with Richard Nicol."

New Voltage Lab 2 Overview Videos with Starsky Carr

Parts 6 through 10 have been added to this post.
You can use the player controls there to skip to "6. Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Controls Manual with Starsky Carr".

Pittsburgh Modular Taiga Keyboard v1.1 Firmware Update

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

Taiga Keyboard firmware 1.1 is now available for download at https://pittsburghmodular.com/taiga.

Firmware Version 1.1 Changelog:
• USB MIDI Added
• Corrected USB device name to "Taiga_Keyboard"
• Added some slight slew limiting to Aftertouch control to make it more expressively usable/
eliminate some signal noise.
• Rescaled keybed velocity to make use of the full output range.
• Fixed the pitch bend wheel so that it only sends Midi data when outside the center pitch,
and also it always returns to zero.
• Pitchbend in Paraphonic Mode Fixed
• Fixed MIDI clock subdivision; was previously not subdividing the MIDI clock.
• Added random wave mode to the oscillators
• Added random filter mode to the filter section
• Edit button now adds an arp note when running the arpeggiator in hold mode.
• Clock properly handles MIDI clock microstepping so that the ARP will deterministically
trigger on midi pulse 0 (out of 6) after receiving a MIDI clock start command.
• MIDI mod-wheel CC command is scaled to the value of the mod controller output rather
than just outputting the position of the mod wheel, giving access to the mod controller functionality to outboard midi gear when using taiga keys as a midi controller.
• Rewrote the mod wheel functionality to make full use of all 13 scalings for each mod mode, and added more behaviors to the mod modes that are selected with the octave buttons:
• 0-5v Mode
• Added 4 Sub-Modes
• 0-5-0v center low, edges high
• 5-0-5v center high, edges low
• 5-0v Inverted
• 0-5v
• LFO Mode
• Increased the range of the LFO, and fixed the phase relationship, also made the
LFO update after changing rate rather than after finishing a full cycle to make it more responsive at low frequencies. Also, added 4 Sub-Modes
• Sine Wave
• Triangle Wave
• Saw Wave
• Square Wave with PWM control rather than gain control
• Envelope Mode
• Fixed envelope length so that the mod mode value changes the length of the
envelope, rescaled the envelope lengths for all 13 values. Also, added 4 Sub- Modes
• Percussive Envelope
• Swell-y Triangle Envelope
• Reversed Percussion Envelope
• Sustain-y Envelope
• Random Mode
• Increased the number of different randomness timings, and increased the range of
these timings, and made them be more useful values that scale the randomness in a more naturally musical way. Also, added 4 Sub-Modes
• Soft Random Expression Generator
• Triangular Random Expression Generator
• Sawed Random Expression Generator
• Sample and Hold Generator

Man what a messy room

video upload by Steve Turner

http://www.five12.com

Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2 Overview Videos

Walkthrough Series video uploads by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

Playlist:
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Oscillator 1 Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Oscillator 2 Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Function Generators Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Dynamics Controllers Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Florist and Echos Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Controls Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Utilities Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Touch Controller pt.1 with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Touch Controller pt.2 Manual with Starsky Carr
Voltage Lab 2 Laboratory Touch Controller pt.3 Manual with Starsky Carr

How to Update Taiga Desktop Firmware

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"Firmware download, instructions, and change log are available at https://pittsburghmodular.com/taiga"