Live Set Re-recorded - from Superbooth25, feat AJH SYNTH all-analogue modules

video upload by AJH Synth Official

"This is a re-recording of a 20-minute live set by @DreamsOfWires for Superbooth25, and consists of two old tracks from my video back-catalog. It's quite a minimal rig, configured as two all-analogue synth voices - one for melodic patterns, one for pitched drone parts.
The actual performance at the event suffered technical problems as a result of failing cables and a dodgy musician's inability to recover much from it. As a result said musician decided to record a version of it after returning home, demonstrating how it should have sounded.
In my defence, this rig had been on display for 3 days at the AJH Synth booth, demoing modules, being re-patched, fiddled with, then re-patched, etc... but then again, a bad workman always blames their tools :P
I hope this version is more audible.

Modules used:
(AJH SYNTH)
Matrix VCF
Transistor Ladder Filter
Sonic XV Diode Ladder Filter
Vintage Transistor Core VCO x4
Sample Hold & Slew
Contour Generators
Wave Swarm
Ring SM
Muting Mixer
Discrete Cascaded VCA
Glide + Noise MkII
Dual LFO VCA
(Other brands)
Squarp Hermod+ sequencer
XAOC Devices Sarajewo analog delay
ALM Busy Circuits MFX for reverb
Cosmotronic Cosmix
Happy Nerding Isolator
Homemade case powered by Konstant Lab BoardPWR

The AJH SYNTH Eurorack modular range consists of high-end modules, all hand-made in the UK, most of which are based on classic, vintage designs, authentically recreating the circuitry of much sought-after analogue instruments and technologies of the past, whilst greatly expanding them, and bringing them to modern Eurorack levels of convenience, limitless flexibility, and reliability.
Official website page: https://ajhsynth.com

Check out the AJH Synth playlists for module 'User Guides', and 'Patch of The Week' videos, which will be either performances or 'how to' guides, detailing functions/methods, and a range of sounds, some familiar, some less so, containing a patch sheet at the end to show you how to construct it for yourself.

Cosmotronic Aphelion - Stereo distortion and filter - demo

video upload by Cosmotronic

"Demo of the Aphelion stereo distortion
Samples by Samplesound, Bries, Cosmotronic
Second demo by Wiilx

About Aphelion ( 8HP)
Aphelion packs a stereo distortion and low/high pass filter into a compact 8HP design.
It features three unique stereo distortions in parallel with a continuous crossfade between them, controlled with the character knob or a cv input.

The first circuit is an overdrive that adds a lot of warmth and fattens up the sound without becoming too harsh. The second one is a saturating wavefolder, that can add interesting extra harmonics depending on the waveform of the material. The last distortion is inspired by the classic RAT guitar pedal. It adds an aggressive feel and grit to the sound..

A mix knob lets you blend the dry input signal with the distorted signal, before it hits the filter. Setting it fully dry bypasses the distortion effect.

If you need even more dirt, there's a handy +12dB gain switch, to really overdrive the circuits. If you want to keep your low-end undistorted, you can switch on the Low-cut filter.
The non resonant stereo filter combines a low pass and high pass stage, and uses an IC based on the classic SSM2040.

This filter is also overdriven, adding some warm distortion and extra harmonics to the original signal, and limiting the output level.
The cutoff knob becomes a a low pass filter when turned counter clockwise, and a high pass filter when turned clockwise. It's possible to control the low and high pass filter cores independently as well using CV.

The filter bypass switch can be used for instant reintroduction of all frequencies into the mix upon release—a great tool for live performers. Lastly the level knob attenuates the output volume.

Power:
+12v - 90mA
-12v 80mA
MSRP 270 euro"

SUPERBOOTH 2024: Cosmotronic - Aphelion Distortion Module

video upload by sonicstate

"At Superbooth 2024, Matthijs from Cosmotronic showcased the latest offerings from the company, including the new module called Aphelion*. *Matthijs described Aphelion as a stereo distortion and DJ-style filter with three different distortion options: overdrive, wave folder, and one inspired by the ProCo Rat pedal. The module also features a character knob for morphing between the circuits, as well as a combined low pass and high pass filter after the distortion. With additional features like a bypass switch and low-cut option, *Aphelion *promises a dirty yet versatile sound. Another highlight from Cosmotronic is an expander for the *Cosmix Pro*, offering a three-band EQ, additional aux bus, and gain control for the four mono channels.

Available soon. Aphelion Price: around 250 Euro"

Moog Mavis, Prophet 5, AJH Synth large Eurorack modular synth Performance

video upload by DreamsOfWires

"Performance using Eurorack and Sequential Prophet 5. The modular consists mostly of AJH Synth modules (list below), a Doepfer Mini Synthesizer Voice and a Moog Mavis.
This is a slightly simplified section of something I've been recording for Bandcamp. A reflection of the present with an ear to the past. It'll be released on Bandcamp soon if I'm satisfied with it once it's finished, no promises.
I wanted to build a piece around a simple, analogue, un-quantised sequencer. The manual scaling and slowing of the sequence was inspired by Tangerine Dream's 'Phaedra', which begins rather chaotically, before the sequence morphs and slows to become more melodic. A fascinating piece of music and synth tweaking from the early 70's.
The ambient drone sounds and polyphonic Prophet presets (which I also created) are more inspired by the movie and television soundtracks of the past, if anything, or at least in my imagination of them.
This was entirely recorded within the Eurorack modular system - the mix isn't the best, but I like creating something in this way, set in stone, frozen in time, warts and all, perfectly imperfect.
My music: https://tomorrowthecure.bandcamp.com

Modules used:
Sounds - 2 full AJH Synth MiniMod voices (equivalent of a Minimoog), with 1 using a Sonic XV instead of a Transistor Ladder Filter. Additionally, a Fixed Filter Bank 914, Wave Swarm, Tone Science Triple Cross, Precision Voltages, Ring SM and CV Mix (for scaling the sequence), Dual LFO, 2x Muting Mxer. Doepfer A-111-5 (same voice as a Dark Energy), Moog Mavis, and Music Thing Modular Radio Music (Japanese funeral ceremony sample).
Sequencer - Erica Synths Sequential Switch with CV Expander.
Effects - Happy Nerding FX Aid (master reverb), ALM Busy Circuits MFX (Mavis drone reverb), XAOC Devices Sarajewo analog 'bucket brigade' delay.
Mixing - Cosmotronic Cosmix.
Audio recorder - Expert Sleepers Disting Mk4 (as WAV recorder)."

Verby Kicks and Plinky Clicks With Susie | LIL TECHNOBOX | WMD Crater, Addac T-Networks

video upload by Bilijie

"How you like your kicks? How you like your blips?
Big and boomy? Tight and snappy?
Clicky and poppy? Stiff and twangy?

This is the third in a short series of videos is all about making techno-ish dance music with a specifically-tailored eurorack case. This time we're comparing a short, brighter percussive kick to a darker, boomier kick using the same module WMD Crater. We're also adding some short plate reverb to the kick and toms so they start to ring out a bit. I find that makes the T-networks clicks and pops sound like Chinese New Year firecrackers.

Shout out to Susie

I'll be releasing completed mixes of these one-shot improvisations later this month.
To hear more of my work with modular techno, check out
https://soundcloud.com/bilijie
Or buy stuff at https://bilijie.bandcamp.com
Also Spotify if you must

Sequencing:
Acid Rain Constellation, Clank Chaos

Voices:
WMD Crater, Addac 104 VC T-Networks, SSL Thundrum, Erica Synths Pico Drums, Prok Drums flashed as Music Thing Radio Music, Befaco Pony

Filter:
WMD C4rbn

VCA:
Bastl Aikido

Function generator:
Cosmotronic Delta V

FX:
Happy Nerding FX Aid

Mixing and EQ:
Worng Soundstage II, Nano CEQ, Make Noise XOH"

'Dark Energy' Mini Synth, AJH Chance Delay, Penrose, Vox Digitalis, Radio Music sample/wav player

video upload by DreamsOfWires

"Melodic Eurorack performance with Doepfer A111-5 Mini Synthesizer Voice, the new AJH Synth Chance Delay probability/gate delay, Sonic Potions Penrose quantizer, Music Thing Modular Radio Music wav/sample player, Doepfer A118-2 Noise Random S&H, Noise Engineering Vox Digitalis sequencer, Happy Nerding FX Aid XL, Cosmotronic Cosmix, Expert Sleepers Disting Mk4 as wav/audio recorder, Happy Nerding Isolator headphone/audio output.

A small 84hp rig in a DIY case with 4MS power. I created the sample loops in Audacity from some choir music. FX Aid algorithm is delay into reverb. LFO2 from the Mini Synth triggers the sample & hold clock, this sends random voltages to the quantiser, which converts them into the chosen notes on it's keyboard.

LFO2 also triggers the Chance Delay, which is using the Length control to convert the incoming LFO pulses (square wave) to very long gates - each gate will be completed before it responds to another incoming pulse, meaning it can be used as a clock divider with continuous control, rather than simple preset divisions.

The Chance function determines the probability of the module outputting a gate signal - here I'm using it as a switch to trigger the Vox Digitalis, so with Chance at zero it won't advance the sequencer, whilst at full/100% it will trigger it on every gate it generates. Since those gates are a division of the incoming pulse rate, this means the sequencer will change samples on the Radio Music at a much slower speed than the notes produced by the Mini Synth, which is runs at the same rate as LFO2 and the sample & hold.

Mini Synthesizer Voice is the Eurorack version of the Dark Energy standalone synth.
More Dark Energy here: [posted here]
Performance using Chance Delay: [posted here]
My music can be found here: https://tomorrowthecure.bandcamp.com"

MAKING A MASSIVE BASS LINE WITH THE SEQUENTIAL TAKE 5 SYNTHESIZER

video upload by Lido Pigeon

"Equipment list:

Bass: Sequential Take 5
Pads: Korg Prologue
Lead: Roland SH101
Drums: Weston Audio AD110

FX: Strymon El Capistan and Blue Sky, Make Noise Mimeophon, Music Thing Twin Drive

Mixing: Cosmotronic Cosmix"

ADDAC 601 / 8 band voltage controlled fixed filterbank / processing some noise / quick overview

video upload by BRiES

"In this quick video I run a mix of noise through the ADDAC 601 to demonstrate how the bands sound and how they respond to modulation for the VCAs on the seperate bands. I use the EVEN and ODD outputs panned left and right, and the WET output as well.

The mute switches only effect the sound at the WET/MIX output. The knobs and built in VCAs control the level of the bands for every output.

Cosmotronic VORTEX sample pack: https://ko-fi.com/s/ac0e178035"

Vortex | A Complex Oscillator by Cosmotronic

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"In this video I'll dive a bit deeper into the Vortex. At first glance it's just another '259 inspired' machine, but I feel it goes way beyond the standard features of a complex VCO. You really need to read the manual to get the most from it - which is a lot.

This is a spin-off episode for the '259' series, so it will be in the same playlist. The series doesn't go deep into individual modules but is more about design concepts in general. I'll start with Episode 03 next week and I am planning spin-off's for the Cs-L and the DPO."

You can find additional Cosmotronic Vortex posts here.

Buchla 259 | Episode 02 | Playing the Oscillators

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"In episode 01 I started with the Main/Principal oscillator. But a complex oscillator also has a modulation oscillator. In episode 02 I am going to focus on the 'dual oscillator' side, which could be useful for anyone with two VCO's in a case. The original title was 'surfing the oscillators' because it's inspired by a @vgermuse Todd Barton live improvisation from 2012 where he actually played the 259 on instinct, just fiddling knobs. Part one of the video is music from the actual recording: https://soundcloud.com/user7621213/bu...

Playing the oscillators by hand is possibly the most fun and gratifying experience with your modular. Just have a big reverb nearby! So I hope you have FM inputs to play with. I am saving the modulation/FM bus for episode 03 and I may finish the series with a 'build your own complex oscillator with anything you can find'. In this episode I am also revisiting the Furthrrrr Generator with the 'strong zero' core. I mentioned that the digital core may not be the best choice if you're looking for an analog 259 experience but this does not mean it's bad. It's quite the opposite.

We'll stay in complex territory this month. Next up will be a Cosmotronic Vortex video because all the material I shot for this series deserves a separate item. If all goes well, I'll have a Cs-L video planned and finally a Lubadh 'reel life' episode with 2.0 firmware. So plenty to study and hopefully something to look forward to."

Cosmotronic COSMIX PRO / high quality stereo mixer for eurorack / playthrough

video upload by BRiES

"The COSMIX PRO by Cosmotronic was designed to have great headroom, which isn't an easy feat in the eurorack world. It has a very useful feature set that includes center indents for the panning knobs, CV control over the panning/balance of the stereo channels, 2 aux sends and returns (1 mono and 1 stereo), clickless mutes, low cut filters and gain boost switches. It comes in a black version and a silver version (the front panels are made of aluminium). In this video I do a quick rundown of all the features of the COSMIX PRO."

DISFAT / Cosmotronic COSMIX PRO / samples through filters / eurorack jam

video upload by BRiES

"In this patch I'm running a piano sample through a bandpass filter (using the Soundforce DUAL filter as a HP/LP combo to make a very narrow band with a lot of resonance on both sides).
The drums are a drumloop through a BP for the percussive part (the filter is modulated which causes the pitch changes) and a MA35 low pass for the deep kick/bass. Crater does some additional percussion, delayed by the wonderful 1 BIT Multitap Delay Feedback Modules sent me."

Cosmotronic Modules Demo

video upload by Bonedo Synthesizers

Cosmotronic Vortex Complex Oscillator RAW SOUNDS DEMO

video upload by brandon logic

"Raw sounds recorded straight from the outputs.
All analog wave folding, wave shaping, filtering, ring mod, phase mod, TZFM through zero fm all on board!"

Update:

Cosmotronic Vortex + Natural Gate + Magneto SOUND DEMO

video upload by brandon logic

"sequence into carrier oscillator, random voltage into modulator oscillator, and random into Natural Gates decay time."

Superbooth 22: Cosmotronic - 5 Modules

video upload by sonicstate

"Matthijs started Cosmotronic 2 and a half years ago, and a pretty tumultuous time it's been, so it's great to finally see these modules at Superbooth.

Vortex is a complex oscillator, with 2 VCOs, each with their own unique signal path and filters. They can be cross-modulated and phase-shifted through-zero opening up a wide pallete of sound. We also get to see Delta-V - a dual function generator, Peradam, a side-chained distortion, Messor a stereo compressor, and Cosmix, a stereo mixer and dual band distortion with 4 mono channels, with panning and aux send (pre/post fader) and 2 stereo channels.

All modules available now.

Vortex Price: 750 euros. Delta-V Price: 220 euros. Cosmix Price: 270 euros. Messor Price: 230 euros. Peradam Price: 270 euros"

Complex oscillator comparison - Cosmotronic vs. Hexinverter

video upload by John Schussler

"Unlike the Verbos and Sputnik complex oscillators I looked at last time [posted here], which are fairly straightforward, the Cosmotronic and Hexinverter complex oscillators are...definitely more complex.

They both add phase modulation to the wavefolder, and include more elaborate modulation buss control. Plus more intermodulation capabilities.

They're set up sufficiently differently that a direct feature-by-feature comparison would be hard to do in a sensible way. Or in under 3 hours. So this is really a long, meandering, very skip-around-able video to sample both flavors.

And when you're done, go listen to the Verbos and Sputnik. It's an interesting comparison.

Sequence: Stochastic IG. Envelope: Zadar

00:00 Intro
00:20 Vortex sequence
21:38 Vortex drone
28:28 Mindphaser sequence
47:22 Mindphaser drone"

Cosmotronic Peradam eurorack overdrive

video upload by John Schussler

"The Peradam is an overdrive module with a unique architecture: rather than just overdriving the signal into a square wave, it makes a copy of the source audio and then manipulates it to modulate the original signal.

If you really want to understand how it works, the architecture diagram in the manual is probably your best bet. tl;dr: it's complicated.

But you don't have to understand how it works to move the knobs and sliders and get interesting results. That's basically what this video is: me moving around knobs and sliders to get a basic feel for what kind of sounds the module makes.

Source audio: SE Oscillation. Sequence: Stochastic IG. Envelope: Zadar.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Sweeps
03:20 Sequence, drive off
07:45 Drive on
13:28 Square wave, sub
15:00 Faster sequence
16:00 FM"

See this post for additional details on the Cosmotronic Peradam.

Cosmotronic Peradam - Sidechained Distortion

video upload by Cosmotronic

"Peradam is an analog distortion module with an internal sidechain, like a compressor's twisted brother. The input signal is split up in a main signal that goes into a VCA, and side-chain. The side-chain is first phase modulated, and then ring modulated by itself, to create a signal at twice the frequency of the original. This signal then modulates the amplitude of the VCA, creating complex self distortions in the main signal.

That output then goes into a dual band drive circuit, similar to the one found in Cosmix, before entering a soft clipper output stage. Things get really wild when you start feedbacking this output back into the input, creating very rich feedback tones.

The module even goes into self oscillation at high feedback levels, producing all sorts of crazy sounds. Modulating all these parameters gives a broad palette of distortions, from subtle saturation to massive clipping and complete destruction.

Need a bit more drive? There's a handy +6dB gain switch on the input for that. A blend slider allows you to further dial in your tones, and mix in the distortion to taste.

MSRP € 270
Pre orders open now
Estimate shipping date: January 2022

For a more musical context please check it out in Colin Benders live set."


Live Setup PT 2 | Modular Mayhem With Colin Benders | S3E14 | Eurorack Jam Sessions

video upload by Colin Benders

About 8 minutes in.

"Modular Mayhem is back!!!!
we'll have a fresh episode and a whole season ahead of us! expect lots of nerding with gear, lots of patches, lots of modular things and lots of music.
All under the watchful eye of the most amazing community I could have wished for. Streampunks baby!"

Cosmotronic Messor - Stereo Compressor

video upload by Cosmotronic

"Messor is an analog stereo compressor with lots of tricks up its sleeve in only 8HP.
From squashing drums, sidechaining kicks and sculpting transients, to glueing a mix together, it's a very versatile dynamics manager.

At its core it's a VCA based feed-forward compressor with a low noise signal path. The magic is in the internal sidechain that shapes the gain reduction envelope. This starts with a a switchable high-pass / low-pass filter, before going into a precision envelope follower, controlled by familiar parameters: the attack, release, threshold, ratio and makeup gain.

The ratio can go past limiting and into over-compression, which can completely reshape transients, a great tool for sound design.

Being modular, of course there are CV inputs for Attack, Release and the side-chain Filter cutoff. The Gain CV controls the makeup gain, but also doubles as a Stereo VCA with the Gain knob turned fully CCW.

The gain reduction envelope is also available as an output, for turning filters or other VCA's into compressors for example, or as a standalone envelope follower.

There's a bypass switch, and a Warm mode, that can bring in a bit of additional saturation and compression in the form of analog tube simulation circuitry.
Lastly there's the possibility to insert an external sidechain, for that classic kick sidechain compression.


MSRP € 230
Pre orders open now
Estimate shipping date: January 2022

Drum loop by samplesoundmusic.com"

Cosmotronic Vortex - Complex Oscillator (Demo)

video upload by Cosmotronic

"Two VCO's, each with a unique waveshaper and folder and a 2-pole low pass filter. An FM index bus lets you patch complex cross modulations using exponential and thru zero linear FM. The left VCO can be phase modulated, while the right VCO can be amplitude modulated, and everything under CV control.

All sounds coming from Vortex, envelopes and vca's come from Delta-v.
Everything 100% analog.

Timecodes:

0:00 Right VCO - Noodling
3:37 Duophonic patch
4:57 Right VCO Sine out: Waveshaping, AM, FM
6:17 Right VCO jam, using CV envelopes
11:02 Right VCO main out, raw waveforms
11:28 Left VCO, raw waveforms
12:29 Modulation madness"

See this post for additional details on the Cosmotronic Vortex.