MimeoPlexus - Adventures in Time, Space and Spacetime.

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

Cinematic Laboratory Plexiphon posts

"Welcome to episode 02 of my Plexiphon exploration. I must admit I’ve been a bit underwhelmed by it because I was hoping for more like a network behavior where sounds from the past could suddenly return into its input.

Kind of like Mimeophon’s long repeat that remembers almost a minute. It became more and more clear that Plexiphon is indeed an Erbe-Verb V2. Even the CV out is ultimately intended to ‘push back’ the infinite wash so it can be controlled. I guess it’s now a stereo space folder, and once you accept that, it’s quite a cool and creative reverb. But that’s not why I run this channel. People who got themselves a Plexiphon most certainly also have a Mimeophon. And if not, one should at least consider adding one, so one can build yourself a Mimeoplexus. This basically answers my question why there isn’t a bit more ‘plexus’ in the Plexiphon. It’s because Mimeophon already took care if it a long time ago.

In this patch, I’ll use a mono source. In this case, I’ll pick Plonk again so it’s easier to follow what happens to a single mono modal ‘plonk’. MP’s left output goes to left PP input. MP’s right output goes to case out. And then: the loop: PP’s left output returns to MP’s right input.

PP’s right output goes to case out. So the combo pans a bit hard L/R, but the reverb runs through a feedback path. PP can now ‘save itself’ in MP’s long buffer and it can receive its own output many seconds later. Meanwhile, MP can change the delay times, direction, skew, colors, etc. We can’t just fold space, we can fold time too, and make it run backwards.

Now be honest, when was the last time you could creatively mess with relativity?"

Why doesn't Digital Feedback Blow Up Like Analog?

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"When I posted my first Plexiphon video, I got a few comments like ‘how about Bruxa x Plexiphon’, or better, ‘how about two Bruxae x Plexiphon’.
I think I can answer that now. Bruxa is a dominating module. This simply means, whatever you patch up, Bruxa is going to demand all attention. New to modular? Bruxa is a Bruxa is a delay/filter using a crappy karaoke toy chip. Sorry, it’s the ‘lo-fi delay’ that reached a cult status in the legendary Soma Lyra-8 Orga(ni)smic Synthesizer.
And then there’s the PoliMaths vs Maths discussion. Maybe they should have called it the PolyFunction, because it’s not Maths. It’s more like a ‘polyphonic function sequencer’, where a function is nothing more than a rise and fall. A slope or envelope depending on the Coast you’re on. It’s an attack/decay shape to sculpt a sound.
In this patch, I am using Echophon – the echo – as a clock, using the clock divider output. It’s a cool example of working with limitations. There’s no clock module in this case, but any ‘repeat’ that ticks is a clock. So today it’s not a tape delay, it’s just sending blips to PoliMaths’ activation IN. PoliMaths is like an eight channel sample and hold. When a trigger comes in, the module ‘activates’ by reading all knob positions (sampling) and holding them until the next activation. The channel index will decide which of the eight channels is affected. Depending on the SPAN mode/color, the channel will either be addressable (white), rotating (yellow) or fire all (cyan blue). If you’ve updated your PM, there’s a purple mode too (binary logic).
In this patch, the eight envelopes are distributed to various effect modules like Bruxa, more Bruxa and Plexiphon. Depending on knob settings (and especially ABSORB) Bruxa can make percussive sounds with its crappy chip. So what can we do with it? We can make a drum machine that nobody else has.
The patch itself is turning my effects units into an improvised lo-fi CMOS drum machine and Plexiphon is adding a bit of reverb. Even on full strength it can’t compete with the two Bruxae.
There’s an intermezzo where I’ll patch a long loop between Echophon, Mimeophon, Bruxa 1, Bruxa 2, Plexiphon and QPAS. In plain English, it’s making a long FX chain, but the end of chain is also the beginning. A snake biting its own tail. It’s like taking ugly feedback noise, and then try to sculpt it into something that faintly sounds like music – or a score from an 80’s horror sci-fi B movie with lots of sax and violins.
I was expecting something like throwing a mentos in a bottle of Coca Cola, but it didn’t happen. Instead, a nice abstract feedback patch emerged. It turned out to be pretty civilized.
In this video I discovered that feedback patching with digital modules is very different from using analog modules. A well designed digital effect doesn’t explode, it stays clear from crashing into digital brick wall and self destruct. In fact, digital feedback patching is more like continuous sound on sound dubbing. If you’re into chaotic feedback patching, you’ll benefit from adding at least one analog module, like a Serge wavefolder, waveshaper, filter or resonant EQ – or any other brand. Just make sure it’s using real analog components and real voltage instead of coded error handlers, limiters, exceptions and guardrails. In the analog domain, chaos is only bound to the rules of Mother Nature.
The ‘crappy drum machine’ patch is decorated by a second take with Error Instruments x This Is Not Rocketscience Kharper. I am running it through dual Bruxae and Plexiphon, where the PP gets modulation from Bruxa’s mysteriously labeled CV outputs. They basically contain CV related to Bruxa’s internal chip rumble. Nothing special, but super cool as a mod-source."

Plexiphon | The World's Most Haunting Reverb Is Back

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Nobody has said it out loud, but Plexiphon is definitely Erbe-Verb 2.0.
I will prove it by running it with the old Shared System. I replaced Echophon and Erbe-Verb with Mimeophon and Plexiphon but the Shared remains the Shared. However, when experimenting with different sources - and you'd love the #VHIKK X as a guest - Plexiphon suddenly sounds as new as it's designed to be. When I made the 'What is a Plexus' video, I used XAOC Samarkanda to make my own network so if you want to learn what a plexus is, check it out."

Additional Plexiphon posts

What is a Plexus | feat. XAOC Samarkanda and WMD Sequential Switch Matrix

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Yes, I want to make a PlexiPhon video too. It's always a joy when MakeNoise announces a new Tom Erbe collab, and always a drag to wait for it to cross the Atlantic. I have it on pre-order since I saw the first video. As far as I can tell, MakeNoise didn't explain what a 'plexus delay' is and how it differs from, let's say, a Mimeophon. At first listen they sound like very close family, maybe even too close. However, MakeNoise did a follow-up video where we could hear how the PP changes its delay line like a chameleon, depending on whatever goes into the module and I had a clear WOW moment.

But I still didn't know what a Plexus was, and since I am writing a Book that's supposed to last at least 50 years, I had to do some research. The term is mainly used in biology, describing complex junctions in our nervous system. The term is adopted by networking and represents a complex node to node network. Now it's a small step from a delay line to a delay network, and from a delay network to a reverb. The fun part about a closed plexus is that it can re-encounter elements from anywhere in the chain. Imagine taps that can select crossroads and take a long way home.

I explored the concept with XAOC Samarkanda Quad Delay, which allows me to 'patch program' any combination of four delays with four feedback paths. It's a plexus, but a very simple 'square'. I decided to use the WMD Sequential Switch Matrix so I could patch the I/O in a 4x4 grid. It still doesn't sound like much, but now a 'tap' can travel over 65.536 different routes (2 to the power of 16) which is more than enough to create a vast diffusion network.

I am aware it's a lot of patching and most of you won't be able to follow, but you can freely experiment in VCV too, and learn a LOT. And let's not forget the PlexiPhon can be on its way to the stores right now, which could downsize my experiment into one convenient little module. I can't wait to get my hands on one. But honestly, if you own a Samarkanda, experiment with it first, and only buy new stuff if you really have to. Remember this: It's not the module, it's the behavior!"