What if every voice modulated its neighbor?

video upload by Vadjuse

"What happens if you take four identical timbres, make them exchange signals, and make each track change not itself, but its neighbor?

The idea behind this patch is a ring interaction between the tracks. This has nothing to do with ring modulation.

I created four identical saw waves. Each track has its own volume envelope length and melodic sequence length, so the notes and rhythms are constantly mixing. All four tracks are tuned to Just Intonation, which makes the resulting frequency relationships sound more stable and, at the same time, more pronounced than in equal temperament.

I connected the four tracks in a ring with modulation.
The volume envelope of each track reduces the MIDL parameter of the next one. The louder one voice becomes, the less energy its neighbor receives: it loses high harmonics and becomes less saturated, so even the filter resonance can no longer emphasize an individual harmonic as effectively.

All Modulation Envelopes operate in Envelope Follower mode. EF1 opens the filter of the neighboring track, EF2 changes the rate of the next volume envelope. Volume Envelope destination 2 increases release time of the previous voice.

Thus, one voice simultaneously affects the brightness, volume, rate of volume change, and decay time of another. In addition, the tracks modulate each other through FM synthesis: FM changes the spectrum, the spectrum affects the Envelope Followers, they change the parameters of the next and previous tracks — and the change returns to the system again.

This creates a closed system with multiple paths for energy transfer.
I became less interested in creating a beautiful sound and more interested in exploring its behavior: which actions amplify the dynamics, which suppress them.

Even more interesting is what happens when one voice is turned off. The feedback almost immediately collapses: the ring system requires all participants to be active, and turning one off breaks the chain of energy transfer.

You can recreate this system on your own hardware — I’d be very interested to see what you come up with.

The system from this video can be loaded into your own Kaleidoscope and explored yourself.
http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

Kick & Bass Dialogue Programming | Full Workflow

video upload by Vadjuse

"What if the conflict between the kick and the bass wasn't something to fix, but something to compose with?

In this video, I build a self-interacting kick and bass patch from scratch using Kaleidoscope. Instead of relying on randomization, automation, or sidechain compression, the two voices constantly respond to each other through a network of feedback and modulation.

You'll see how to:
Design the kick and bass sounds
Program the rhythmic patterns
Connect the instruments so they influence each other
Explore how simple interaction rules create evolving grooves

The result is a system that feels alive. Every change to the drive, envelope release, or filter resonance changes the behavior of the entire patch.

This is the core idea behind Kaleidoscope: don't just design sounds—design the relationships between them.

If you're interested in generative music, experimental synthesis, modular workflows, or new approaches to sound design, this video is for you.

🌐 Learn more about Kaleidoscope: https://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

Self-developing generative melody using sample & hold. KALEIDOSCOPE

video upload by Vadjuse

"I was experimenting with using one looping envelope as the sampling clock for another.

Every End-of-Cycle trigger captures the current value of the modulation envelope. Quantizing those sampled values turns a continuous modulation into a melodic sequence.

Small changes to the relationship between the two envelope periods completely change the resulting phrases, even though the patch itself remains very simple.

Then I added another layer by letting the modulation influence the amplitude envelope pattern itself. Since that pattern determines when sampling happens, the melody starts affecting the mechanism that generates it, creating a feedback loop between rhythm and pitch.

I like building systems like this, where musical structure emerges from interactions rather than explicit note programming.

http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

KALEIDOSCOPE. Random Sequencer Teaser.

video upload by Vadjuse

"In this video, I use only one kaleidoscope track. The note changes are generated by a step modulator, which modulates the oscillator frequency.

The timbre is a sawtooth. The filter with resonance is opened by a volume envelope in a cyclic mode. The envelope also suppresses the feedback of the comb filter. By adjusting the envelope decay time, we also control the strength of the feedback ducking.

During the video, I increase the FM synthesis level, overdrive, and feedback of the comb filter to radically change the sound."

KALEIDOSCOPE. Multitimbral Harmony Experiment

video upload by Vadjuse

"Hi. In this video, I want to explore how a harmonic progression would sound if, instead of identical sounds on each track, there were different ones.

I also added some FM interaction between the tracks. Patch details below.

Track 1. This is a regular bass with a glide.
Track 2. This is a sawtooth plus an opening filter with resonance.
Track 3. This is a triangle that morphs into a sawtooth.
Track 4. This is a copy of Track 3.

Track 3 experiences FM modulation of the sounds of Track 1 and Track 2.
Track 4 modulates Track 1.

Track 4 sidechains the volume of Track 3.
Track 3 sidechains the volume of Track 2.
Track 2 sidechains the volume of Track 1.
Track 1 sidechains the volume of Track 4.
This adds even more dynamics to the sound.

In this patch, the order in which the notes are played is very important. The interval between different voices also becomes a ratio for FM synthesis. Some intervals sound harmonious and bold, while others add inharmonic notes, which sounds very cool.

Skilled keyboardists will probably find this a new direction for sound exploration.

Website: http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en
Presets: https://disk.yandex.ru/d/T3fZoPYqTkyjUg"

TB303 Day. Acid house with Kaleidoscope

video upload by Vadjuse

"Patch notes.
Track 1 is a classic acid bass. A saw with an opening filter. And a bit of glide.

Track 2 is a kick drum—a triangle wave with pitch modulation.

This is where the magic begins.

The bass volume envelope on Track 1 modulates the decay of the kick drum on Track 2. The louder the bass, the faster the kick drum rolls in.

The kick drum volume envelope (which the bass modulates, don't forget) on Track 2 modulates the modulation depth of the volume envelope, which modulates the opening of Track 1's filter. This is what makes the bass sound so unique.

You won't be able to get this sound on a TB303 or other high-end grooveboxes. Because their modulations can only exist within a track and don't extend beyond it. In this video, the sounds of both instruments are closely linked and influence each other.

Link: http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

KALEIDOSCOPE. Standalone Rehearsal.

video upload by Vadjuse

"In this noisy and deep track, I use all four tracks from Kaleidoscope.

Tracks 3 and 4 are two bass sounds, tuned to a common MIDI channel to work in unison. Their frequencies are shifted by a fifth and an octave. I change this interval as the track progresses. These sounds FM-modulate each other and themselves. They also have different glide values ​​so that when the frequency is changed, the FM synthesis produces more fat and dirt. I also added distortion after the comb filter to make the sound as thick as possible. I was inspired by LORN.

Track 1 is a kick drum built on pitch modulation of a sine wave. This sine wave can be mixed with noise from a wavefolder. The modulation envelope increases the distortion level. The kick drum also has a very high feedback value of the comb filter, so we hear multiple echoes that act as a source of FM modulation for this kick drum. The comb filter's delay length is adjusted so that the echoes are precisely timed. The kick drum's filter is slightly closed to reduce the noise level.

Track 2 is a solo lead that has no internal modulations—just a sawtooth. However, it does have a cyclical volume envelope, which adds dynamics. This volume envelope also opens the kick filter on track 1, letting noise into the mix that feels like percussion. Track 2 experiences the FM modulation of track 3, which significantly complicates the timbre. I use this track for melodic movement—I play around with the transposition and try to keep the sound from becoming too dissonant.

Presets from this composition can be downloaded and loaded into your instrument using the link. https://disk.yandex.ru/d/T3fZoPYqTkyjUg

Order Kaleidoscope: vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

KALEIDOSCOPE. Standalone Journey

video upload by Vadjuse

"In this noisy and deep track, I use all four tracks from Kaleidoscope.

Tracks 1 and 2 are ambient backgrounds created by the interaction of two notes via FM cross-modulation.

Track 3 is a pitch-modulated hi-hat. The hi-hat itself is created via a wavefolder. The resonance of the high-pass filter also adds a stable note. This voice modulates itself via FM, which is why the noise appears in the sound.

Track 4 is an explosive, distorted kick drum created via modulation of the high-pass filter. This track goes into an endless, noisy self-oscillation because the distortion is placed after the comb filter.

This self-oscillation is suppressed by the volume envelopes of Tracks 1 and 2 by reducing the feedback of the comb filter.

Presets from this composition can be downloaded and loaded into your instrument using the link. https://disk.yandex.ru/d/T3fZoPYqTkyjUg

Order Kaleidoscope: vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en

Getting Started with KALEIDOSCOPE. Pt 1

video upload by Vadjuse

"Video about PRESETS, AUDIO OUTPUT, INTERFACE and CONFIGURATION:

00:06 Connection
00:23 Interface
01:51 Pages
03:43 Display
04:28 Audio Outputs
05:48 Track Selector
07:15 Scope Settings
07:41 Preset Architecture and Loading
09:17 Sound From Scratch
11:39 Saving the Preset
12:30 Naming the Preset

Join the waiting list to get KALEIDOSCOPE:
http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

KALEIDOSCOPE. Factory Presets Demo (No Talking)

video upload by Vadjuse

Also see KALEIDOSCOPE. Additive Parameters Page Explained, and additional posts here.

"Waiting List and Manual: http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en

Kaleidoscope is a 4-track multitimbral synthesizer for creating generative music.
It supports additive, subtractive, physical modeling, and FM synthesis.
It has a built-in generative sequencer.
Tracks can be combined into polyphonic groups or joined into stacks.

Presets:
Intro
00:00 06042014
00:59 L1
01:40 SPACEHUNT
02:55 NEUROKICK
03:16 MOTOKICK

Basses
03:43 PWMDRON
04:49 ACIDRAVE2
05:21 SINEBURN
05:37 ASH

Leads
07:11 MELANHOLIA
08:08 ENERGYCORE
09:28 LOSTINSPAC
10:30 UNSTABLE
Arps
10:59 MARBLE
11:39 PONDFISH
12:20 SEMISIMMR
12:44 IAMWHOAMI
13:24 ORACLE
14:56 MOTOR

Physical Modeling
15:37 LAZERMERCY
16:52 ELECTROBOW
18:08 ELEPHANT
18:36 BUCKET
18:54 MEMBRANE

Perc
19:14 GLITCHx
19:53 NOISE
20:10 0b11001001
20:26 PUNCHFACE
20:51 MELOSNR
20:58 ROCKSNR
21:08 OLDBASTARD"

KALEIDOSCOPE. Additive Parameters Page Explained

video upload by Vadjuse

Join the waiting list to get KALEIDOSCOPE:
http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en

00:00 Intro
00:30 Preset Loading
00:56 Parameter MID
01:05 Parameter MIX
01:25 Parameter FOLD
02:16 Hardsync
03:16 Parameter DRIVE
04:26 Chaotic Noise
05:25 Jam and Tweaking Parameters.....

See the Vadjuse label below for additional posts.

An Update on KALEIDOSCOPE by Vadjuse

video uploads by Vadjuse

"Kaleidoscope is a compact 4 track digital multitimbral synthesizer for creating generative music

Waiting List and Manual: http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

Playlist:

1. Introducing KALEIDOSCOPE
2. KALEIDOSCOPE. 10 Features of Control System and Generative Sequencer

00:00 Intro
01:08 Control
02:31 Octave Values
04:03 Cyclic Envelopes
07:16 Rhythmical Octaves
08:58 Pattern-Mask
13:31 Modulation Sources
17:28 MIDI Modulators
18:51 Assignable Keytracking
21:25 Flexibility of Modulators
24:38 Modulation Envelope Quantization
28:36 Outro

3. KALEIDOSCOPE. 10 Фишек Системы Управления и Генеративного Секвенсора [same as 2 but in Russian]



Kaleidoscope has 4 tracks, each with its own timbre. You can assemble a whole ensemble: drums, bass, leads, strings, percussion, drones, noises and others...

If you place the same timbres on all tracks, you will get a classic polyphonic synthesizer.

Use the methods:
subtractive synthesis
additive synthesis
synthesis of physical modeling
FM synthesis

Kaleidoscope has on each track:
complex oscillator for creating multiple waveforms
wavefolder
hardsync
filter with resonance
combo filter for creating echoes and resonances
overload
FM mixer router
audio mixer router

Generative Sequencer

Kaleidoscope has a built-in generative sequencer for creating rhythmic and parametric patterns.

It is based on functional methods for creating control signals and triggers.

Such a sequencer works as an add-on to the control system and does not conflict with external sequencers.

The generative sequencer can be used to create rhythmic patterns and parametric arpeggios.

Modulation matrix

Each envelope generates a trigger at the end of its attack-decay cycle . This trigger can be passed to any other envelope to trigger it.

If the envelope triggers itself, it becomes something like a low-frequency oscillator (LFO).

If the envelope trigger exchange is disabled, it operates in normal ADSR mode.

Modulation matrix

Almost all synthesizers on the market have a two-dimensional modulation matrix.
You select only one parameter for the modulator (envelope or LFO) from several available track parameters.

Kaleidoscope has a three-dimensional modulation matrix .
You select not only the parameter for the modulator, but also the track on which this parameter is located.

You can combine modulators in any way you like.
Assign multiple modulators to one parameter.
Modulate the envelope duration or pattern.
Create feedback loops. Negative feedback loops stabilize behavior. Positive feedback loops, on the contrary, destabilize it and turn it into chaos.

In Kaleidoscope you modulate not only the timbral parameters, but also the dynamics of this modulation. This opens up a new dimension of sound exploration.

Similar possibilities can be found in the world of modulars, but not in the world of standalone synthesizers.

See http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en for additional details in Russian, or Google translated to English here.

Note the ability to enable and disable the multiple envelop stages.

waiting is almost over

video upload by Vadjuse

"The preparation for the release is almost finished: the site, the manual, the demo and the first tutorial. I will publish all of this soon.

But I know that there are already many people on this channel who have been waiting for Kaleidoscope for a long time.

Especially for you, I am publishing a link to the site here so that you can be at the very top of the waiting list.

Thank you for your support, expressed in the form of likes and enthusiastic comments. Soon you will be able to support me with your cool music made on Kaleidoscope.

http://vadjuse.ru/kaleidoscope_en"

See the Vadjuse label below for more.

Swarm Intelligence. Generative Dark Ambient.

video upload by Vadjuse

"This demo shows what can do Kaleidoscope FM synthesis with the on-board generative sequencer."

See the Vadjuse label below for additional posts.

New Kaleidoscope Mini Desktop Synth Incoming

video uploads by Vadjuse

This one was spotted and sent in via Meska.

Playlist:

1. Teaser. Kaleidoscope mimics a blip blop machine.

2. Teaser 2. Kaleidoscope mimics a boom-tysch machine.

Some raw drums exploration.

3. Kaleidoscope. Reload Zone. Post-Apocalyptic Ambient.

In this video I experiment with the generative sequencer of the Kaleidoscope.

The pattern is relatively simple:

1. VCA1 (which means it belongs to track 1) works in a cyclic mode, i.e. it restarts itself.
2. With its end it starts VCA2 (which means it belongs to track 2).

3. VCA2 modulates the period of VCA1, and VCA1 modulates the period of VCA2 (fm synthesis at the rhythm level). Because of this, the length of the pattern wanders a little and creates a pleasant dynamic.

4. Modulation envelope 1 (MODENV1) also works in a cyclic mode and restarts itself, but with a completely different period than the VCA1. This creates an additional rhythmic layer in the overall sound.

5. MODENV1 modulates the wavefolder level of track 2.

6. Track 1 modulates the frequency of track 2, and track 2 modulates the frequency of track 1.

7. All this is seasoned with a comb-filter in delay mode, which creates another rhythmic layer.

The presets for track 1 and track 2 used in this video can be downloaded and loaded into your Kaleidoscope. After the release of the synthesizer, I will publish these and other patches so that you can play with them and modify them yourself.

4. Kaleidoscope. Hypnotic Resonance

On the home stretch, Kaleidoscope will be released soon.
On the video new PCB version with
typeC plug
4 channel DAC
improved encoder filtering section

In this video I experiment with a relatively simple patch.
The cyclic modulator changes the symmetry of the triangle wave. From a symmetrical triangle to a saw. This changes the spectrum.

As a result, the filter resonance periodically amplifies individual harmonics. The filter frequency is modulated by the volume envelope.

Since the filter frequencies can be precisely tuned to the MIDI note frequencies, the modulation results in all the natural harmonics of only one octave being cycled through. This makes it seem like there is some kind of sequence in the patch, although in fact there is none - it's just a native process.

At high resonance values, the signal is overloaded in the filter feedback circuit.

The signal is also additionally overloaded in the overdrive block.

All this gets into the comb filter, which works as an echo.

I've been glued to this patch for about a day, which makes me a little sick of it, but I still like it.