Of cyclotrons and sequencers: recreating a 1974 “probability controller” in Eurorack

video upload by Electrum Modular

"This is the first video in a new series exploring the University of Iowa’s Electronic Music Studio. In addition to presenting its historic instruments (including a 1968 Moog IIIP with custom-made modules), and the famous musicians who have used them, these videos will extrapolate ideas to use in your own modular systems. This episode examines a unique random sequencer that was developed in 1974 by Paul Dingman, an electrical engineering student at Iowa. It then shows how it might be recreated using the third lane ('time') on Make Noise’s 0-Ctrl. NOTE: several other Eurorack sequencers also have this feature, as indeed does the Moog’s own 960 sequential controller; alternatively, use an LFO to clock any sequencer and patch the sequencer’s second lane/channel (if it has one) back into that LFO’s frequency input.

0:00 University of Iowa's Electronic Music Studio
0:42 Introducing Dingman's Probability Controller
1:58 Demonstrating the Probability Controller
3:50 Recreating the Probability Controller in Eurorack

My new album:



CREDITS

Thanks to Paul Dingman for answering my questions over Zoom.

Film sequences:
'Atom Smashers' (Encyclopaedia Britannica Films in collaboration with the Division of the Physical Sciences and the Institute of Nuclear Studies at the University of Chicago, 1952)

'The Meaning of Time In Science' (Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, d. Kent Smith, 1973); both archive.org

Portrait of Peter Tod Lewis: https://composers.com/collections/pet...

Music: Peter Tod Lewis, 'Gestes II' (1974), from the Mnemothèque Internationale des Arts Electroacoustiques (University of North Texas Music Library). Program notes for an EMS concert on April 13, 1979, described “Gestes II” as “the generation of musical gestures through coordinated operation of sequential controllers programmed to produce a large but finite collection of voltages, controlling variously oscillators, amplifiers, and filters” (University of Iowa Music Library)."

Ableton Air & Ciat Lonbarde Plumbutter 2

video upload by Akihiko Matsumoto

Sequencer: Ableton Air https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store...
Delay: Shoegazer Reverse Gate https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store... "Ableton Air
Inspired by Timeless Techniques
'Air' draws its inspiration from Brian Eno's Music for Airports and the concept of overlapping tape loops. This Ableton Max for Live plugin translates these ideas into a modern generative sequencer, enabling you to explore infinite musical possibilities without repetitive programming.

Effortless Note Generation
Forget the constraints of the piano roll. 'Air' generates notes autonomously, creating endless variations of melodies, rhythms, and harmonies. Your music becomes a living, breathing entity that evolves over time, making each moment unique.

Perfect for Experimental and Ambient Music
Whether you're crafting immersive ambient soundscapes, exploring experimental electronica, or composing intricate minimal music, 'Air' provides the tools to elevate your creativity. Its generative approach ensures that no two performances are ever the same, offering a fresh perspective with every playback.

Features Designed for Limitless Inspiration
Evolving Sequences: Generate infinitely unique patterns that never repeat.
Customizable Settings: Fine-tune parameters to align with your artistic vision.
Seamless Integration: Designed for Ableton Live users who value creativity and experimentation.

Create Music That Breathes
'Air' is more than a plugin—it's a partner in creation, designed for musicians who embrace unpredictability and seek to push boundaries. Unleash the power of generative composition and let your music take flight."

The World's First Programmable Synthesizer and its Pulitzer Prize Winning Music

video upload by ITSPmagazine

"This synthesizer is the world's first programmable music synthesizer. The first piece of electronic music to win the Pulitzer Prize was made on it.

basically a two voice synthesizer with tone generation and composing in the left hand side and processing on the right hand side, including manual binary for the, uh, ordering of the effects processes. Um, which for its time, uh, essentially like a uh, touring computer. Um, uh, was it You know, one and a half tons, seven feet tall, 14 feet wide, it's quite a behemoth, but now it's a very large paperweight.

Watch the full video:" [The above comes in at 22:41 - vintage Buchla, Serge & more follow. See this post for the red Buchla LSD module]

How Technology is Changing the Way We Make Music | A Conversation with Seth Cluett

video upload by ITSPmagazine

"Guest: Seth Cluett, Director of Columbia University’s Computer Music Center | On LinkedIn: / seth-cluett-7631065 | Columbia University Computer Music Center Bio: https://cmc.music.columbia.edu/bios/s...

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/

Show Notes

Music and technology have always shaped each other, and few places embody that relationship as deeply as the Computer Music Center (CMC) at Columbia University. In this episode of Music Evolves, Sean Martin sits down with Seth Cluett, Director of the Computer Music Center and Assistant Director of the Sound Art MFA program at Columbia, to explore the center’s rich history, its role in advancing music technology, and how it continues to shape the future of sound.

The Legacy and Mission of the Computer Music Center

The CMC is housed in the same 6,000-square-foot space as the original Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, which dates back to 1951 and is one of the world’s oldest university-based electronic music research facilities. This was the birthplace of early electronic music, where pioneers learned to use cutting-edge technology to create new sounds. Many of those musicians went on to establish their own studios around the world, from Egypt to Japan.

The center has played a role in major milestones in music history, including the work of Wendy Carlos, a former student known for Switched-On Bach, the score for Tron, and The Shining. The first piece of electronic music to win a Pulitzer Prize was also composed here. Today, under Cluett’s leadership, the focus remains on creativity-driven technological innovation—allowing composers and artists to explore technology freely and push the boundaries of what’s possible in sound and music.

One of the center’s guiding principles is accessibility. Cluett emphasizes the importance of lowering barriers to entry for students who may not have had prior access to music technology. The goal is to make sure that anyone, regardless of background, can walk into the studio and begin working with 80% of its capabilities within the first 20 minutes.

Exploring the Labs and Studios

The episode also includes a tour of the labs and studios, showcasing some of the center’s groundbreaking equipment. One highlight is the RCA Mark II Synthesizer, the world’s first programmable music synthesizer. Built in the late 1950s, this massive machine—seven feet tall and weighing over a ton—was instrumental in shaping the sound of early electronic music. The system worked by punching holes into paper to control sound generation, similar to a player piano. While no longer in use, the CMC has collaborated with iZotope to model some of its effects digitally.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Stylophone DS-2: Seven Fun Patch Ideas to Spark Your Dronespiration!

video upload by Oscillator Sink

"From the comments on my last DS-2 video it seems that a lot of folks are having fun exploring sounds on this little box - me too! Because I'm a nerd, I've been making notes on some of the fun things I've found and I'll share seven with you in this video to try out on your DS-2!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:52 Beautiful Sines
04:20 Filthy Filter Self Modulation
09:21 Stoopid Arcade Sound Patch
11:07 More LFO Shapes
14:00 Always Be Pingin'
19:11 Delay Pitch Shifter Sequencer Thing
24:01 The Inevitable Groovebox Patch"

Ambient | MEGA SYNTHESIS(Y.BR2) & Ableton Air

video upload by Akihiko Matsumoto

"Ableton Air: https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store...
Inspired by Timeless Techniques
'Air' draws its inspiration from Brian Eno's Music for Airports and the concept of overlapping tape loops. This Ableton Max for Live plugin translates these ideas into a modern generative sequencer, enabling you to explore infinite musical possibilities without repetitive programming.

Effortless Note Generation
Forget the constraints of the piano roll. 'Air' generates notes autonomously, creating endless variations of melodies, rhythms, and harmonies. Your music becomes a living, breathing entity that evolves over time, making each moment unique.

Perfect for Experimental and Ambient Music
Whether you're crafting immersive ambient soundscapes, exploring experimental electronica, or composing intricate minimal music, "Air" provides the tools to elevate your creativity. Its generative approach ensures that no two performances are ever the same, offering a fresh perspective with every playback.

Features Designed for Limitless Inspiration
Evolving Sequences: Generate infinitely unique patterns that never repeat.
Customizable Settings: Fine-tune parameters to align with your artistic vision.
Seamless Integration: Designed for Ableton Live users who value creativity and experimentation.

Create Music That Breathes
'Air' is more than a plugin—it's a partner in creation, designed for musicians who embrace unpredictability and seek to push boundaries. Unleash the power of generative composition and let your music take flight.

Ambient Drone Sample Pack https://akihikomatsumoto.bandcamp.com..."

The Swarm by Atrium Instruments

video upload by DECIMA1



DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

​Knob-For-Knob Functionality
We at Artium Instruments are committed to knob-for-knob functionality. Every feature of The Swarm is directly mapped to a knob, button, switch, or jack, ensuring effortless control. There's no need for menu-diving or complicated sequences of button presses to access features; everything is conveniently accessible at your fingertips.
​
Curated, Onboard Effects
With over a decade of experience in the effects industry, we have carefully curated a selection of effects that seamlessly complement the synth core. Unique to The Swarm is its capability to use the onboard effects with other equipment, allowing you to route external audio through the inputs on the back.
​
Plug and Play Functionality
The Swarm utilizes a USB-C MIDI host for simplicity and ease of use. Most modern class-compliant MIDI controllers with USB functionality should plug in and work immediately with zero setup. Additionally, The Swarm provides power to your controller, streamlining your setup process. For older controllers that only have DIN connections, a USB to DIN converter can be used to ensure compatibility. (These converters typically cost $10-20)
​
Quality Craftsmanship, Intentional Design
We've invested considerable thought into crafting the overall feel of the instrument. From the layout of the knobs to the choice of colors, artwork, and the weight of the enclosure, every detail has been considered. These details matter to us because we recognize that the connection a user forms with a piece of gear is almost as crucial in the creative process as the sounds it produces. We hope you can feel the love and passion we've poured into every aspect of The Swarm, from its sonic capabilities to its design aesthetics.​
​
Open Source Platform
Artium desktop synths use an open source platform known as Axoloti or Ksoloti for development and implementation of its products. Click here for details on the open source platform being used.

SYNTH CORE

Oscillator
The Swarm features a SuperSaw oscillator with 8-note polyphony. This oscillator is composed of seven individual saw waves stacked on top of each other. The magic unfolds when you detune the waveforms by applying a frequency offset, resulting in one of the most massive synth sounds available.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Euclidean Beats on DivSkip

video upload by Making Sound Machines

"Getting ready for Machina Bristonica 2024 in Bristol UK, coming up this weekend! We are having a workshop on Saturday starting 14.00 where you can build our DIY kits or a @plinkysynth with us! And on Sunday at 14.15, we will be on the DivKid stage chatting with Ben about Life, the Universe and Modular. Come meet us there, and bring your best questions!

In this last-jam-before-the-flight-leaves, we are exploring the Euclidean Modes built into DivSkip, our module collaboration with @DivKid.

Euclidean rhythms are a fun and intuitive way to generate looping musical patterns. #DivSkip has two modes that generate Euclidean rhythms. The one used here, Euclidean Split, always sets three steps and distributes them over a pattern length that can be adjusted using the knob.

In this patch, Enrica adjusts the length of the pattern which in turn advances alternating bass and chord notes played on the @WeAreElektron Model:cycles. This results in cool syncopated, rhythmic shifts throughout the sketch.

She adds a shifting pattern of ghost notes with a clock divider on DivSkip's channel 3, set to three steps. The sound is generated using Mutable Instruments Plaits, with the A and B outputs triggering alternating CV settings using @vaskiembedded's ECS-4 Triggered Switch module.

DivSkip's channel 1 is set to play a four-to-the-floor pattern on Out A and B, going to kick and snare on @VladimirPantelic's VPME QD quad drum voice.

Enrica mutes and unmutes each channel on the fly with a click of the push potentiometer.

DIY Kits are in stock at @ThonkSynthDIY (UK), @explodingshed5542 (EU) and @NightlifeElectronics (CAN - DIY and built)

Built modules are available at @signal-sounds (UK), @PerfectCircuit (US), @Elevator-Sound (UK+EU) and @schneidersladen_berlin (EU)"

Behringer Proton Modular Patches. No Talking Sound Demo

video upload by Anton Anru

"Behringer Proton «Sound Diver» is a collection of 50 patches: 14 leads, 12 basses, 14 plucks, and 10 paraphonic timbres.
Exploring Behringer's new synthesizer was an exciting process for me. It boasts an impressive feature set, including two powerful oscillators capable of generating a wide range of tones, two advanced LFOs, two multi-mode filters, and a wavefolder that adds rich sonic textures. Additionally, it comes with two extra envelopes that can loop, essentially turning them into additional LFOs, and, of course, the patch panel, which opens up endless experimentation possibilities.

📌 Get the soundset: https://antonanru.sellfy.store/p/prot...

🔧 With this sound bank, I wanted to dive deep into these features and create medium to highly complex patches. The title «Sound Diver» reflects this desire to explore the sonic depths while keeping the sounds usable and adaptable for a wide range of music and performances. My goal was to strike a balance between experimental and musical sounds.

🎨 The presets cover a wide sonic palette, including warm, noisy, detuned, distorted, as well as soft, clean, punchy, dark, bright, deep, and airy tones.
Some timbres are designed to take the lead in a track or jam session, while others work perfectly as complementary elements. While the patches are ready to use as they are, I highly recommend tweaking the knobs during your performance to further develop the sound and enhance your creative experience.

♬ The pluck patches are excellent when paired with arpeggiators or sequencers. While the Behringer Proton doesn't come with a built-in arpeggiator, you can easily integrate your favorite arpeggiators or sequencers from your DAW or MIDI controller.

🎹 I particularly enjoyed working in Paraphonic mode, which allows both oscillators to be split into two separate notes. While it doesn’t create full chords, it does give the illusion of one. The result is a collection of analog pads, textures, and keyboard sounds that are slightly detuned, filtered, or distorted using the wavefolder. This type of sound is hard to replicate on a digital polyphonic synthesizer, adding a unique analog character that feels rich and organic.

🥁 These presets are versatile and suitable for a wide range of genres, including ambient, electronica, IDM, deep techno, house, progressive, trance, lounge, downtempo, pop, chill out, new age, cinematic, breaks, synthwave, retrowave, dub, and more.

📚 The soundset is provided as a PDF document, with each page containing detailed notes that explain how each patch works, which parameters are worth tweaking during playback, and how to evolve the timbre during a performance. By following these notes and making adjustments consciously, you’ll not only get the most out of the patches but also gain a deeper understanding of the synth itself, uncovering its full potential and creative depth.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Meet MIDINA - 16 Track Polyphonic Midi sequencer and Recorder / Song Arranger

video upload by Meltchya

"Hi all... meet MIDINA :)

She's a 16 track polyphonic midi sequencer and recorder / song arranger that can record pitch bend, MIDI CCs, and aftertouch. She's got 128 songs, 16 blocks per song, and 16 tracks per block.

Each block can be up to 2048 steps, and each track can be up to 2048 steps. Blocks automatically sequence at the end of the previous block, and you can jump freely between any blocks by tapping them in the scroll menu. Each block can have its own set of 48 program change messages to trigger new programs in sync with the block changes. You can change songs with no load times and no hitch. She's got 30 NeoPixel MX switches that can be freely customized or changed, 8 push-switch rotaries, a 5" touch AMOLED screen, and the software is going to be fully open source from day 1. The unit seen here is the first tactile prototype, but I've started production run for the first batch and I'm getting ready to launch it next month.

It's been a year of hard work and this is the first tune I've actually gotten to make, I'm excited to be able to make music again and not have to focus so much on the software and hardware side of things. I'm a little bit out of practice, it's hardly a perfect performance, but it's always fun! Thanks for listening in and checking it out :)

Here's unit #002, with red anodized aluminum, black knobs, pudding keycaps, and smokey black sequencer key caps. All of this is fully customizable to taste, and each unit will be built and tested personally by hand."



Currently on Kickstarter

"What is MIDINA?

Midina is an open-source sequencer born from a passion for electronic music and technology, designed to be powerful and accessible.

Midina stands out with its ability to record pitch bends, aftertouch, and MIDI CCs, providing you with a versatile and expressive sequencer. There are easy ways to trigger program changes automatically or manually. The linear sequencer within each Song provides a clear Block Order, designed to help you make music that moves. It supports extended track and block lengths, enabling different creative methods of song building to be explored. Additionally, for those who enjoy a traditional approach, Midina offers robust step sequencer options that will only get better with time.

One of the core philosophies behind Midina is community engagement, iterative software development, and the support of customization through community contributions to both software and hardware. I believe that anybody who wants to contribute should be welcome to contribute. By opening the code, I hope to see others tailor Midina to their personal needs, enhancing their creative process and the project offerings along the way.

Midina is built on the versatile Raspberry Pi platform, making it an accessible and affordable choice. Its open-source nature means that you have the freedom to explore, modify, and expand its capabilities.

Midina is still young, but it is a project I am committed to developing and improving for the long haul. I set out to build a sequencer which fits my own production needs in a live environment, and I am happy with what it currently offers.. At the same time, I know it can do much more over time, and I am excited to iterate and improve as the days go on.

Thank you for exploring Midina. I look forward to hearing the music you create with it.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Enter the Moog Labyrinth

video upload by Moog Music

Labyrinth | Moog Demo Library
video uploads by Moog Music

User videos:



Playlist (use the player controls to skip around):

1. Perfect Circuit: Moog Semi-Modular Comparison 2024: Labyrinth, Mother-32, & More (feat. Sarah Belle Reid)
2. Sarah Belle Reid: Moog Labyrinth Semi-Modular Synth: Overview + Explorations
3. Loopop: Moog Labyrinth // A Synth that’s a Generative Idea Machine // 13 patch ideas, review & tutorial
4. mylarmelodies: Moog Labyrinth Demo: Explanation & Generative Techno Jams
5. Reverb: Exploring Generative Synthesis with the Moog Labyrinth
6. Jorb: Moog Labyrinth // Generative Synthesis At It's Best
7. SUTURE SOUND: A ton of Moog Labyrinth sounds (no talking)
8. Bonedo Synthesizers: MOOG Labyrinth Sound Demo (no talking) - Preset Sheets
9. Limbic Bits: MOOG Labyrinth Sound Demo (no talking): 6 Improvisations on the Labyrinth
10. Starsky Carr: Moog Labyrinth // 3 Minute Manual + Full Review & Demo

AN UNEXPECTED PATH FORWARD

Labyrinth introduces a classic West Coast sound into the Mother Ecosystem experience rich analog synthesizer history in both surprising and recognizable sonic textures. Two generative sequencers bring to life sounds that bloom over time, letting you control their evolution and scale, then play them off of each other for striking polymetric melodies.

With parallel analog signal paths, this adventurous instrument shines when adding color to the steady backdrop of a drum pattern or bassline.

GENERATIVE SEQUENCER
The beating heart of Labyrinth is a robust dual sequencer, which uses chance calculations to generate two unique eight-step paths which twist and curve around one another.

SONIC WANDERING
A parallel voice processing path with a voltage-controlled blending allows you to morph sounds over time.

VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED WAVEFOLDER
A fresh interpretation of the Moog sound via a voltage-controlled wavefolder. Two oscillators drive duophonic melodic counterpoints, metallic FM tones, and analog synthetic drums.

Moog's semi-modular lineup expands to include the Labyrinth, a generative synthesizer that brings you two parallel sequencers, two oscillators, and endless possibilities. Based around a core sine VCO and a triangle Mod VCO, these sound sources have independent level controls, as well as a Ring Mod and Noise level control that all feed a saturating mixer that can add a touch or grit. From the mixer, we have the switchable option to go into a voltage controllable wave folder then into a classic Moog filter, the opposite with our filter going into the wave folder, or have both of these run in parallel.

The heart of the Labyrinth is the sequencer section. A dual 8-step sequencer gives you interactive quantized melodies that can affect various parameters, based on the labeled trimmers. These sequencers send out both notes CV and triggers and with a Trig Mix you can get rhythmic interplay that is quite satisfying. Each sequencer has a Length settings and a Bit Shift when adjusts the position of activated steps. The Bit Flip and Corrupt parameters present gives you more randomness and serendipity allowing you to create evolving patterns.

As with all of their semi-modular synths, Moog gives you access to 32 patch point patchbay with 12 outputs and 20 inputs. This gives you the option to self-patch and integrate it into your existing Eurorack ecosystem. Moog's Labyrinth is the perfect expansion to your existing system or a great starting point as an entry to modular synthesis, especially for those who are looking to get expressive rhythmic patterns quickly.

LABYRINTH FEATURES

- Parallel generative analog synthesizer

- Two oscillators, a sine-based and triangle-based

- Switchable wave folder to filter, filter to wave folder, or parallel processing

- Diode-transistor hybrid wavefolder with smooth Fold and Bias control

- Morphable Low pass to Band pass 2-pole filter

- Adjustable decay time for both decay envelopes

- Blend Sequence 1 and Sequence 2 triggers for complex rhythms

- Each sequencers has options to adjust length, per-step adjustments, adjustable randomness (Corrupt), and shifting the pattern on-the-fly

- Quantizable pitches to 16 different scales

- 32-Point patch bay, 12 outs 20 ins

CLICK FOR MORE »

Meska's 32 presets for Plinky

video upload by Meska

Here a sound demo of the 32 preset i have made for plinky, they are mostly on the 'noise' & 'wonky' side of plinky Plinky website : https://plinkysynth.com/
Linck to the preset : https://plinkysynth.com/presets/Meska... "

Explore the dark side of Plinky - 32 free presets by Meska

video upload by Making Sound Machines

"New sounds for your Plinky! This awesome new bank of 32 presets by @Meska_Statik draws focus to the "dark" side of #Plinky, exploring lush delay, cavernous reverb, pitch drift and gnarly saturation.

The bank includes the #preset file, 8 samples and individual links for the browser-based patch editor. It works for all generations of Plinky and is a #free download at https://plinkysynth.com/presets

We already gave a little sneak peek of these sounds at @superboothberlin, so for this little snippet we broke our #Superbooth setup back out to give you a little musical demo showcasing one of the sounds, Preset 4: Footstep. We recorded a couple of clips showing one sound each in musical context, as a companion to Meska's overview of all sounds at • My 32 presets for Plinky [Meska's video above]

In this patch, Plinky plays back a recorded sequence and is synched via MIDI clock to our Stolperbeats drum trigger sequencer for Eurorack. Enrica plays the touch surface to insert individual notes into the arpeggio, and tweaks the A knob to adjust sensitivity on the touch grid to get a grittier sound.

Plinky's pitch CV drives a @Befacosynth evenVCO through their clever A*B+C VCA for a warm, subdued bassline.

The drum sounds from the GRRL x Made of Oak Configuration sample pack on @splice - check out their EP GXM Inertia, and the 10 year @sylvanesso anniversary release for some amazing music.

The samples are played using the Samples II module by @soundforce_nicolas and processed through our Farbshaper and Farbhighpass modules. The shaper adds some extra dirt, the transistor ladder highpass is used with the kick envelope to get a ducking effect by modulating its cutoff.

The metering tool at the top right is the incredibly clever and beautiful @vaskiembedded 2HP Lights Stereo Visualizer #audio #visualisation module, engineered by our friend Lauri. The Eurorack case itself is a beautifully crafted FenixIV case made by our friends @thisisnotrocketscience3942 from Amsterdam.

Plinky is an #expressive #polyphonic #touch #synthesizer, designed by mmalex and available as a #DIY kit from @ThonkSynthDIY"

RYK Introduces ALGO - Complex Oscillator Eurorack Module

RYK ALGO Demo - eurorack Complex Oscillator module
video upload by RYK Modular

User videos below.

"All knobs and no menus, an FM synth engine with hands-on control

Introducing ALGO, from RYK Modular

ALGO's four oscillators can be configured in series or parallel combinations, to create Complex FM or additive sound textures.
A unique Algorithm Display indicates the signal flow from one oscillator to another - easy to understand FM with pretty twinkly lights !

CHAPTERS:

00:00 -- ALGO !

00:04 – The Algorithms of ALGO

00:11 – Drone with FM and Global Detune

00:36 – M185 Sequencing ALGO. Tweaking the Harmonic Frequency of the oscillators for various levels of wildness !

01:16 – Drone demo showcasing built in Chorus effect

01:30 – Alien Torture sounds ! Batumi modulating oscillator harmonics, and cross modulation amount

01:53 – Dual ALGO Dub action. RHS playing the chords with various tweaks to the amount of cross-mod and harmonics. LHS used for the bassline. Sequenced by split seq on M185, 3xFEG envelopes modulating the internal VCAs of the ALGOs

02:45 – String/Pad chord setup on ALGO. Batumi modulating Wave Warp. Gliss used for modulating cross modulation amount

03:17 – Dual ALGO Pam's sequence. Pam sequencing pitch and harmonic offsets on RHS ALGO, also slower melody notes from LHS ALGO. 3xFEG envelopes modulating the internal VCAs of the ALGOs

04:14 – Conclusion Drone !!"

"ALGO's four oscillators can be configured in series or parallel combinations, to create Complex FM or additive sound textures.

A unique Algorithm Display indicates the signal flow from one oscillator to another - easy to understand FM with pretty twinkly lights !

Each oscillator has controls for Level and Frequency, allowing easy adjustment of FM timbres, no menu diving snorkels needed.

Modulation inputs for Frequency or Level for each oscillator - patch in a couple of Envelopes, and you have an instant FM synth voice.

Bored of Sine waves ? A generous Wave Warp control bends things through Triangle to Pulse wave and back again.
Wave Warp can be applied to Carrier, Modulator or both types of oscillator.

For the more discerning mangler, Wave Folding is also available in three delicious flavours; Symmetric, Asymmetric and Soft Clip !

A Global Detune spread control with CV input is great for creating Netflix apocalypse drones that descend into the abys.

Lastly an onboard Stereo Chorus can add a vivacious 1980's shimmer to all your FM creations.

Oh, nearly forgot. It's Stereo !"

FM synths can be easy and fun: RYK ALGO Eurorack Module Demo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"This is a demo of the RYK ALGO: A 4-oscillator stereo FM eurorack synth module with waveshaping and wavefolding, stereo chorus, and with a bunch of algorithms to interconnect the VCOs with. FM & PANEL EXPLANATION: 1:55 / SOUND DEMOS: 14:06 Onwards."

CHAPTERS
00:00 A taste of what's to come
00:43 What is this?!
01:55 Algo (and FM) Explained
14:06 Jams: Fast Footwork
17:35 Aphex Bass
19:35 Plinktown
20:44 Low n Slow
23:49 Woof!
25:18 The Righteous Chord
29:13 Hellscape Acid

RYK Modular Algo improvised play with friends

video upload by Molten Music Technology

"My first play with the RYK Algo FM module. Using an 8-step loop from the Oct Tone, a bit of delay from the Milky Way, some reverb and cassette saturation from the Chroma Console. I then foolishly threw in a VCO from the Batumi II through the Sqwk Dirty filter and sequenced from the meloDICER, all of which I'm using for the first time. I'm not sure it gels all the time, but I was having a lovely time exploring."

Introducing Digitakt II

video upload by Elektron

Pics & details previously posted here.

"We are delighted to announce the release of Digitakt II - Send yourself to another sampling dimension, weaving splinters of sound in stereo, ripped from the moment and brought to your fingertips for marvelous audio manipulation and beat arraying. Preserve or distort reality as you so desire with 16 tracks ready for stereo or mono samples, or MIDI. Choose from several swappable filters for each track and utilize a wide assortment of effects and modulation, pull on massive processing power, and enough memory for a lifetime of samples. And with further tasty features like a Euclidean sequence generator, an extended 128 step sequencer, kits, trig modes, an extensive sample library, and a modular workflow to play with, your sonic-montage sculpting potential will know no beat-making bounds.

Digitakt II is available to purchase from the Elektron website or from retailers carrying the Elektron range of products. Pricing on elektron.se is 999 USD/1049 EUR."

Digitakt II — At A Glance

video upload by Elektron

"Digitakt II offers endless drum collage with 16 audio tracks all ready for stereo or mono samples or MIDI, swappable filters, 3 LFOs per track, a 128-step sequencer, expanded memory and power, and so much more. Here, Risa T talks through a bunch of the awesome features on offer, and takes us all on some sweet sonic escapades."

Review: DIGITAKT II vs OG Digitakt // Everything new in Digitakt 2 // Detailed tutorial

video upload by loopop

Timeline below.

Digitakt 2 - Beginner's MEGA TUTORIAL

video upload by True Cuckoo

Timeline further below.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Elmyra 2 - 2.2 Firmware Update: Exploring the new features

video upload by Oscillator Sink

"The new 2.2 update for the Elmyra 2 was recently released and it ticked off almost everything I had on my wish-list in terms of new features - so, that's nice! In this video, rather than just reading out the release notes, instead I decided to put together a patch which just happened to make use of all of the new features in the update - almost as if I planned it.

Transparency notice: the Elmyra2 was kindly provided to me by Neutral Labs for free for the purposes of making videos on it. No editorial oversight has been provided to Neutral Labs and no other payment has been received. As always I'm only interested in featuring instruments that I'm genuinely excited about on the channel.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:00 Introduction
01:16 Magic numbers (and the need for cheatsheet)
02:31 Chord Mod Mode
05:09 Octave Shift
06:18 Sequencing some chords
09:55 Stepped/Smooth Random (S&H LFOs)
15:06 Signal Routing - Swapping the delay and filter order
17:47 Dual Filter Modes
22:55 New LFO Wavetables/Shapes
27:42 Complex Waves for LFO1
29:13 Patching some more because we can"

SOMA Labs Introduces METACONFORMER Modular MIDI Processor

demo video upload by Vlad Kreimer



"Metaconformer is a modular MIDI processor designed to expand the capabilities of musical instruments and to simplify the interaction between a musician and their MIDI instruments. It offers new ways of playing music through innovative and groundbreaking MIDI message routing capabilities between multiple instruments.

The MIDI protocol is an efficient engineering solution used reliably for decades by musicians. However, in many situations it does not take into account the musical context, which is essential for the artist. Metaconformer changes this. Located between the MIDI controller and your instruments, it coordinates human ideas with the language of hardware.

Metaconformer’s capabilities provide new ways of playing instruments, by combining MIDI instruments and exploring their interaction . You will be able to play multiple instruments at the same time as if they were part of one larger instrument. Metaconformer also opens up the possibility of sound control through pressing the keys on your MIDI keyboard, instead of having to reach for the knobs on your gear. This will allow you to discover and unlock new facets and possibilities of your favorite instruments!

The idea behind the Metaconformer is to give musicians a new way of looking at their instruments and what else they can do with a little creativity in MIDI.

SOMA is closely related to the idea of organismic synthesizers . Each of our instruments aims to give the musician the experience of interacting with a system in which several independent modules can influence each other and create more than the sum of its parts.

Metaconformer is no exception. It breaks down at least two barriers that have stood in the way of all MIDI musicians for decades. It establishes a dialogue between different instruments, breaking the barrier of parallel universes of MIDI channels. And Metaconformer also allows you to enter the values of synthesis parameters not by turning knobs on your synths, but by pressing keys on your MIDI keyboard, breaking the barrier of the one- dimensional universe of notes and creating a multi-dimensional universe of parametric chords."

Buchla Thunder + ASM Hydrasynth | Noise Improvisation

video upload by Ryan Gaston

"I recently took delivery of a vintage Buchla Thunder—a MIDI controller I've been dorking out over for years. In this video, I'm exploring a tiny bit of what it can do when combined with an ASM Hydrasynth desktop module...in the form of a mostly noisy/textural improvisation. (Note—the laptop is there purely for the sake of recording. All sounds and effects are coming from the Hydrasynth.)

Released in ~1990, Thunder is bonkers. Like many of Buchla's prior instruments, it uses touch-sensitive plates as a way of interacting with electronic sound engines. There's no "default" setup...you have to program everything that it does from scratch. It can translate touch directly into MIDI notes, or your touches can be used to initiate/conditionally influence programmed strings of events. Keys can even be used to conditionally modify one another's behavior—it's very deep, and things can become complex quite quickly. That's much of its charm: it's very easy for simple interactions to unwind into complex, unexpected flurries of sound.

So it's quite powerful...but given that I've had it for only a short time, I'm still barely scratching the surface. That said, it's already proving to be super inspiring to play, and I'm excited to keep digging in from here."

The legend of BRENSO’s pulse-width modulation

video upload by Frap Tools

"PWM is a huge part of everyday electronics, but it is also a classic synth sound, to the point it reached a cult (if not meme) status.

A Eurorack oscillator like BRENSO wouldn't have been completed without a PWM section, and today we're exploring it in detail. It might not be the most obvious feature, since it is nestled into the timbre modulation section, but it is capable of wild timbers.

Check also this PWM patch: [video below]

Timbre and Amplitude modulation:
BRENSO Waveforms: [posted here]
Overtones: [video below]

00:00 Overview
02:36 What is a comparator and why it's important for pulse-width modulation?
03:36 The difference between BRENSO's square waves.
04:37 Modulating the comparator threshold to change the pulse width.
05:04 What are the harmonics of a pulse wave?
06:09 How to fake more oscillators through PWM.
07:15 Pulse wave symmetry and phase.
09:51 Feeding BRENSO's comparator with the triangle shaper

Pulse-Width Modulation and Sync with BRENSO | East Coast Sounds 1 | Frap Ideas

video upload by Frap Tools

"A recent article on @PerfectCircuit’s blog inspired this exploration beyond the label of "West Coast" synthesis. We thus focused on two techniques for the BRENSO oscillator that go beyond the classic complex oscillator's palette: PWM and sync."

Ryan Gaston’s articles:
Pt.1 https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal...
Pt.2 https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal...

00:00 Introduction: East Coast and West Coast?
02:20 Pulse-width modulation (PWM) on the BRENSO
13:29 The "AAAAAH" moment
14:05 Flip Sync


What are overtones and why they might be more important than you imagine

video upload by Frap Tools

"Today's topic ties together notes, harmony, tuning, timbre, and even more. It's the overtones, and this is our introduction!"

00:00 Introduction
00:22 What is a note?
02:11 What are overtones?
04:06 Harmonic and inharmonic overtones
06:24 Electronic waveforms and overtones: triangle, square, sawtooth
09:42 Isolate waveform partials through CUNSA bandpass filters
12:56 Create a complex wave through harmonics in analog
15:04 From the harmonic series to the dominant chord: closing remarks

New Batch of Synthfest UK 23 Videos

video uploads by sonicstate

Playlist: (you can use the player controls to skip around)

1. Synthfest UK 23: Sequential - Trigon 6 Desktop

At SynthFest UK 2023, we had the opportunity to chat with Chris from Sequential, a part of the Focusrite group. Chris introduced us to the Trigon 6 Desktop, the latest addition to Sequential's synthesizer lineup. This compact desktop version of the Trigon 6 packs a powerful punch, offering three oscillators and a distinctive Dave Smith ladder filter. Designed for those seeking a space-saving solution without compromising on sound quality, the Trigon 6 Desktop retains all the features of its larger sibling, including patch recall, a versatile effects section with various modulation possibilities, and the distinctive feedback control that allows you to sculpt sub-harmonic richness.

Trigon 6 Desktop Price: $2,499

https://www.sequential.com/

2. Synthfest UK 2023: Calc And the Prophet X

At Synthfest UK 2023, we caught up with Calc from Sequential, and he gave us the lowdown on the Prophet X. Now, you might be thinking, Prophet X? Haven't we seen that before? Well, you're right, but this hybrid instrument has been quietly making waves in the music world. It combines digital and analog elements, with digital oscillators and a unique twist in the form of multi-sample-based instruments. Yes, you heard that right, it's not just your run-of-the-mill synth; it's a full-on sampler too, boasting an impressive 50 gigabytes of memory for your custom samples. You can treat it like a rompler, a sample player, or even use those samples as oscillators, creating a whole new realm of sonic possibilities.

Plus, it's packed with stereo goodness, allowing you to explore a wide soundstage with ease. It's not your typical synth, and that's what makes its a favourute of Calc's

Looking for some more info on the Prophet X? Check out Sequential's official page: www.sequential.com/prophet-x/

CLICK FOR MORE »

TitpTop Audio Art Octopus, ATX1 and Vortex, O/C module and Error Instruments White Rabbit

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Another short session with the new TipTop Audio Art modules.
I was exploring the Poly Voice Management of the Octopus, the module that ‘conducts’ the three ART oscillators. In the first part, the simple arpeggio played on the Arturia Keystep is reproduced in order by the first ATX1 (Midi channel 1), the second ATX1 (Midi channel 2) and the Vortex (Midi channel 3). It is easy to follow the change by looking at the red LED that lights up on the modules or the ADSR that is activated on the O/C in the case of the first two oscillators. Things get interesting when you manually switch from Mono 8 mode (one midi channel for each oscillator) to Poly 3, Poly 4, etc. These modes are designed to use oscillators in polyphony, playing chords as you do on a polyphonic synth. By sending a sequence instead, the notes are distributed one after the other among the different oscillators which, with different settings, create an ever-changing melody. A very unique way to make a sequence more interesting I think.
P.s.
The drone you hear comes from the TX-6 while the delay is the White Rabbit by Error Instruments."

Pilot 🧭 (TR-6S with new "808 Chromatic Bass", sequencing MAM ADX1 + Timeline // Sequential Take 5)

video upload by 2-Minute Warning

"In this jam, I'm exploring the Roland TR-6S' capability to sequence external instruments, in this case the MAM (Music And More) ADX-1, 5-voice analog drum module 🥁!

I used 4 tracks (white illuminated faders, labeled LT, HC, CH and OH) of the TR-6S to sequence 4 parts of the ADX-1 (named Synth, Snare, Hihat and Metal). I even used the "alternate instrument" sequencing feature of the TR-6S to sequence for example the closed/opened Hihat of the ADX-1 (i.e. sending 2 different notes to only one part of the ADX-1) 😃

At first I only wanted to use the TR-6S as a sequencer (not its internal sounds), however I ended up using on Track 1 its "CR-78" kick, on Track 2 its new "808 Chromatic Bass", and also layering the parts played by the ADX-1 with sounds from the TR-6S (4 last tracks). Fun fact: I didn't use any samples here 😉 All the sounds coming from the TR-6S are from the modeling ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) engine!

To be able to change the bass pitches coming from the TR-6S, I used different "variations" of the pattern, with different tunings of the "808 Chromatic Bass".

It was not very easy to jam with the Sequential Take 5 synth and change the pattern's variations at the same time, but nonetheless still fun and challenging 😅


* Hardware used *

// PERCUSSIONS:
- Music And More (MAM) ADX-1 (5-voice analog drum module) + Strymon Timeline (digital delay)

// DRUMS, BASS & SEQUENCER:
- Roland TR-6S (digital rhythm performer drum machine)

// PADS:
- Sequential Take 5 (5-voice analog synth)"