Moog Subharmonicon + Boss DM101 // Analog does it better.

video upload by Dexba

"Moog, Roland: YES, please, more of THIS.
Blablabla limitations, blablabla the future.
I – DON'T – CARE. This sounds so good, it reminds me of the amazing Matriarch, which has the gorgeous delay built in, and that characterful Moog sound. Boy, I miss that keyboard.
Anyway, this is why I fiddle with hardware synthesizers: living these moments of bliss when everything aligns, the chord strikes perfectly and the BBD provide you with that nostalgia of times and places you've never visited. Lovely.
I hope you'll get to experience the same, both here watching this video and in your sonic explorations!"

SERGE INORI // Saigon 1975

video upload by Dexba

"50 years since the end of the war that showed the world how foolish wars are.

It's not a regional thing, it's not a sporadic thing: it's the core nature of war, that, finally, people were able to see towards the end of the Vietnam War.

When the plot gets so lost nobody even knows where they are going, who they are really fighting, what and why they are fighting, the blind brutality of the conflict becomes finally clear: the war for the war's sake.

This piece is an expressionist recording of the overstimulating nature of an armed conflict – there are helicopters, indistinctly passing by and falling, monkeys (who maybe were once humans?) screaming from the jungle, there is warfare, and it's relentless.

A quick note on the instrument: without my SERGE system, I would have never recorded this piece. It's hard to state if it came first the egg of wanting to record this genre of music or the chicken of my 4U modular, but the only unequivocal is that, to me, Serge means first and foremost an artistic legacy, and without even naming names, I always felt the pressure to make my time spent with the instrument worth a bit more than the quick enjoyment of some electronic strumming.

The freedom of the highest latitude of exploration possible with a SERGE instrument is what made it possible, having the confidence that my creativity, and my skills, were the only limiting factors in the equation, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do this and share it with all of you."

Buchla & Tiptop Audio Introduce the Quad Sample & Hold and Polyphonic Adapter Model 264t

TipTop Buchla 264t – What is a quantizer anyway? video upload by Dexba

"We finally have a quantizer in Buchla form, but that poses some questions: what even is a quantizer?
Why is not called that? And how did they handle polyphony in modular 50 years ago?"

264t Quad Sample & Hold & Polyphonic Adapter module demo - Tiptop & Buchla

video upload by Stazma

"Today we are going to check out the new module from the Tiptop & Buchla 200t serie: the Quad Sample & Hold & Polyphonic Adapter Model 264t!

So we will talk about ART a lot, and even play around with TWO 259t to create four voice polyphonic patches."


264t Poly Patch video upload by Todd Barton

"This patch was first unfolded by Kyle Swisher on his Source of Uncertainty Podcast: https://www.amazon.com/Colour-Ink-Jas..."

Also see Todd Barton's original Buchla 264 experiments: • Buchla 264
You can find his Patreon with additional resources here: / synthtodd

via Tiptop Audio

Message from the Mothership to all 200t users on Planet Earth!

We are thrilled to bring you the Quad Sample & Hold and Polyphonic Adapter Model 264t. The module is now shipping, and pre-orders are open at our dealers. Price: $265. [check with dealers on the right for availability]

Don Buchla designed the original 264 in 1970, but only a few were ever mad,e. This module features high-speed sample & hold circuits that can also switch to track & hold, delivering the exceptional performance you’d expect from a Don Buchla design. To push the boundaries further, Don added a groundbreaking feature: the Polyphonic Adapter. This was a bold vision at a time when polyphony was virtually unheard of, synth pioneer Tom Oberheim wouldn’t introduce the world’s first polyphonic synthesizer, the SEM, until 1975. With the 264t, we’ve taken Don’s polyphonic concept one step closer to full realization. We’ve added ART outputs that can drive multiple oscillators equipped with ART, such as the 259t Complex waveform generator. Plus, we’ve incorporated built-in scales, adding a complete ART quantizer working seamlessly alongside Don’s original analog circuits.

Teenage Engineering OP-XY // Sunrise Sketch

video upload by Dexba

"Honestly, I would have never hoped to own one of these.
But then I got lucky, and a crazy deal struck, so here I am.
And I am loving (almost) every part of it, especially the pitch bend ribbon, which is incredibly expressive and more usable than you might think.
Sound quality is pristine (these are all the internal synth engines), with a sprinkle of sequenced Brain, Step Components™ (yes, it's trade-marked) and Punch-in FX (this is not ™, if I remember correctly).
It's here to stay 🧡"

TipTop Buchla 242t – Tonal Tutorial

video upload by Dexba

"The first thing I noticed about the 242t was the number of steps, and since 'pitch is a vibration, everything is rhythm', I decided to show you this side of the new module by Buchla.
More "traditional" showcases will surely follow, but here we go!"

SERGE Modular INORI // Making chords with Quadslope

video upload by Dexba

"Sometimes it's not about using ALL the patch points, going crazy on the modulations or whatnot.
A simple idea: INORI has 6 oscillators, even 7 if we count the filter, and today I wanted to use the Quadslope as a bank for chords.
What makes it quite lovely is the fact that the 1V/Oct goes only to the two left envelopes of the pairs, so chords are always accompanied by a droning voice.
The second oscillator of the PCO which can act as an LFO is going to the VCF frequency, and I am modulating by hand the frequency of the LFO and the amount of modulation of the filter.
The SQP4+ is criminally underutilized, but acts as a quick control over the chords, with A line going to the first pair of slopes and B going to the second one.
Sound quality is the most important aspect, and ‪@serge-modular‬ never disappoints.
Just a hint of ‪@EventideAudio‬ H90, for some simple (maybe subtle is better?) delay and reverb.
Now I just want to spend more time with this setup 🧡"

SERGE Modular Siegfried (VC Resonant EQ) // Soundtrack for the end of the world

video upload by Dexba

"Such a privilege to finally have a SERGE Modular (or Random Source?) Siegfried in my system. This is definitely just a first test, but I was immediately captured by its raw beauty, there is something that makes it feel alive.

Yes, it could be the presence of VC (Voltage Control) in the name, so that I can use the 4 slopes on my INORI to modulate different bands (which actually behave more like different instruments, rather than parts of the same filterbank). There is so much more to explore, so stay tuned, so I can put some more SERGE and also more Siegfried on YouTube, which is definitely lacking at the moment 😄"

Meng Qi Wing Pinger + Eventide H90 // Shadows and Lights

video upload by Dexba

"The Wing Pinger is not easy to process: it sports two outputs which are... double mono?
Not really, and I will show you why soon in the upcoming tutorial (long in the making, I know).
But that's also why I decided to keep one pedal, and that pedal is the H90, which allows for extensive customization of the inputs, and it's modular in its own way.
I created this new preset for the Eventide H90, called Noise Glue, which is a combination of a 4-head delay + tape saturation to keep everything cohesive, and I think it complements beautifully the sound echoing war chants and drums on the battlefield, juxtaposed to the few plucks of melodic rain here and there.
It is always very hard to share a recording of the Wing Pinger, because the lengthy drones and ear-massaging FM sounds do not translate well as a format on YouTube or as a recording: it really is an instrument to be touched and felt."

Buchla by TipTop // Buchla Serenade by the Lake

video upload by Dexba

"So I went out and bought a power bank capable of powering my modular system, and I sat by my favourite lake, duetting with the birds around, the Buchla system and my OP1 Field.

The system is fairly simple in its parts, but I am very proud of the deeper complexity I was able to reach in the texture of the patch.

A patch not repeating itself for a very, very long time, thanks to the integration with very interesting features on the Strymon Magneto.

I recorded it on my OP1 Field, improvising on top of it, and I am very pleased with the result.

This is exactly how I want my music to be: outside, in and with nature, programmed but also spontaneous. I hope you'll enjoy it too!"

SERGE Modular INORI & TKB // First study on the use as a synthetic clarinet

video upload by Dexba

"Little snippet of my first exploration of the Pressure output from the Touch Activated Keyboard Sequencer (or TKB) and the INORI sound module, both from Random Source.
I am using the filter as a VCA, running one oscillator through the legendary Wave Multiplier (the middle one), while using the top one as a VCA for the vibrato amount, given by the second oscillator used as an LFO.
Very simple patch, I just wanted to practice the feeling of the keyboard itself, tuned to a hirajōshi scale."

Meng Qi Wingie 2 & Synthstrom Deluge // The process IS the performance!

video upload by Dexba

"The Wingie 2 by @MengQiMusic changed my musical approach (for good).
It made me embrace the environmental noise, it made me start thinking a bit outside of the "synthesizers are for synthwave" box, and its portability, its cuteness, made me more willing to open up and breathe a bit more.
It's hard to explain, but after getting a Wingie I started to reconsider microphones, I got an Arbhar, I got a Befaco i4, I repaired my OP1 Field mic, I even sang into my modular (and you've seen that video already), all things I would have found sacrilegious in the recent past.
The fun part is that all those other instruments cost more than the Wingie, and yet the Wingie is still the tool that forces me to plan more a recording, while also requiring me less effort in doing so.
Love it.
Here it is being controlled by the Deluge by Synthstrom, in the new OLED version, which finally gave me the appeal and strength to study it better, and put it to good use. And I've owned a Deluge since 2018 😄
I hope you'll enjoy this little moment of calmness, my musical way to cope with the incredibly noisy neighbour I have, through resonation."

Tiptop Buchla Performance

video upload by Todd Barton

"My performance for the Modular World Tiptop Buchla Spotlight this past Sunday. [video below]

One of many amazing performances featuring the range of Tiptop Buchla modules. This performance features all the currently available modules including the external preamp input of the 207t mixer with my shakuhachi. Enjoy!

My Patreon: / synthtodd"

Ep43 - Spotlight: TIPTOP/BUCHLA

video upload by Modular World

"BUCHLA FOR THE PEOPLE!
Gur Milstein (TipTop), is working with Buchla under the consultation of Todd Barton to reissue the legendary 200 system from the early 70's. The best part--the modules are affordable.
I know Don Buchla would be very proud to see the kind of legacy that he has left behind if it means that more people could afford to touch his creations.

Modular World will always stand with stories about people, and the passions that push them to stand out. Gur Milstein (TipTop) told me that working with Don's old schematics to recreate these designs has been the greatest honor of his professional life. Yes.

Grab your popcorn and have a seat. With 18 performances and two amazing interviews, this is going to be good."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Meng Qi Wing Pinger & Chase Bliss Mood mk2 // Meditation through pings, an intimate process

video upload by Dexba

"Playing with the Wing Pinger by @MengQiMusic is a meditative practice. 🪷
While it looks simple (and beautiful) on the outside, the balance required to achieve something to be proud of is considerable.
That’s the reason why, even though I play frequently with this instrument, I rarely record with it, because it feels like being naked and vulnerable.
The right output (the lower note) is going back into the left input, in order to get a mono output that can go into the Mood mk2, since the pedal didn't handle well the double mono nature of the Wing Pinger.
I hope you'll enjoy the meditative nature of this video with me!"

Neutral Labs Elmyra 2 - Drone Synthesizer // Demo, Tutorial and Opinions

video upload by Dexba

"SUBTITLES AVAILABLE (in many languages!) I've had the lucky chance to be able to check out the Elmyra 2, by Neutral Labs. It has a very interesting approach to performance and sound building: it looks easy, but it can get way deeper than you think. After playing with it for a long while, I decided to offer you a tour of its functions, plus my (unrequested) opinions, all in this desktop configuration. Since the video was getting pretty long already, even by just covering the basic functions, I decided to keep the eurorack approach for a later time, also because that would have prompted me to give even more (unrequested) opinions, and the possible combinations of modules would have been endless (except for the mandatory huge reverb!). In this video, I used the very good reverb on the Dirtywave M8 Tracker, which was very handy because of its 3.5mm jack and the capability of isolating just the active channel on the cable. I hope you'll find the video useful, in its "overview" part, and I hope the "opinion" part could spark some constructive debate."

0:00 Jam Excerpt
0:29 Intro
1:10 What is an Elmyra?
4:07 Voice Controls
6:20 Delay
7:12 Advanced Settings Intro
7:57 AS - Onboard Reverb
8:56 AS - Mix Saturation
11:13 AS - Miscellaneous
12:21 AS - Filter Type
14:41 AS - Octave Switch
15:28 AS - Miscellaneous
16:04 MODP - Red
16:51 MODP - Green
17:59 MODP - Mint
18:56 MODP - Purple
19:23 MODP - Blue
20:05 MODP - Cyan
21:58 MODP - Yellow
23:16 MODP - White
24:23 MODP - Pink
25:25 MODP - Lime
26:03 Utilities
28:15 OUCH
30:15 Existential Crisis
31:55 Personal Considerations
38:37 Full Jam

Additional posts featuring the Neutral Labs Elmyra 2

Korg Monologue & Chase Bliss Mood Mk2 // End of the year!

video upload by Dexba

"I got a bit emotional, with my internal (and external) Monologue, both the instrument and the thoughts.
Plus, since 2023 has been very frustrating in all of its parts, even this video has been compromised by everything that could go wrong: dead batteries, bugs in the Mood (first time ever), the camera shut itself off in some other recordings, and so on.
Two years ago I was playing with a $2000 Moog Matriarch going into a $1.100 CXM1978, now I am running a $200 Korg Monologue through a $400 Mood Mk2, and I am ultimately sad that everything around me seems to be turning into dust, but I am still here, and music is still by my side, and judging from the result, seems like once again music is still the most empathetic and sympathetic friend I have.
I hope you'll enjoy it! And spend some time with your loved ones 🧡"

Instruo Arbhar & Lubadh // Everything started with a resonant filter!

video upload by Dexba

"All did indeed start with a single ping from the Instruo I-o47, and then through the magic of recording many of them at different Lubadh's speeds... we got to this chirping forest of layers upon layers of magic!
Arbhar came last, providing some substance under Lubadh (and the reverb too!), so I could easily tweak the two decks without having moments of silence.
I left this going for hours, then I decided it was time to add some voice too, since I had been kinda singing along the whole afternoon, and here we go!
I am very proud of this, I know it will perform pretty poorly on YouTube, but I honestly care very little, since this is what I want from a performance, and I am happy to present it to you.
I hope you'll enjoy it!"

Buchla TipTop + Strymon Starlab // More than just blipblops

video upload by Dexba

"I wanted to be more regular with the uploads, but it turned out life always gets in the middle. But here we are: the most analog waves coming from the Buchla by TipTop Audio lineup crashing against the digital Strymon Starlab shore.
The setup is comprised of a double 258t (oscillator), one of which is producing the chords you've heard at the beginning, while the other is on modulation duty.
The main interest of the patch was going into the Starlab already in stereo, so the two channels of the 257t are used as mixers between Left Osc + Sum and the other Right Osc + Sum, in order to have stereo bouncing around more as an accent, rather than being too abrupt, all of this controlled by the S/H coming from the other oscillator going into the 266t. The infamous 292t gets to work both as a summing mixer and a normal VCA.
The extra two voices you hear (the higher one and the very low one) are from the oscillators used for the S/H process, which I tuned to be useful twice too!
Hope you'll enjoy it! 🧡"

video upload by Dexba

"I mean... it was on sale, how could I resist?
First day with the Polyend Tracker: this jam came out spontaneously while browsing the manual and familiarizing with the instrument (and the manual was mostly to double check before clicking something that could have destroyed the whole project!).
I've never used a tracker before, but everything came natural to me, with the modifiers, the lovely Fill modes (that on modular would have cost something around five million bucks), and let's be honest: the amazing design, both of the instrument and the interface.
Love it.
And probably the most 'track-like' recording I've ever put on this channel.
I hope you'll enjoy it 🧡"

Meng Qi Wing Pinger & OP1 Field // Welcome to my synthetic dojo

video upload by Dexba

"I finally managed to bring the Wing Pinger to the new house, and as soon as I plugged it in, I remembered why I got it in the first place: its range from mellow, realistic birds, to harsh and complex territories, in a single twist of a knob.
This time it can also make friends with the OP1 Field, acting as a recorder and FX for the Wing Pinger, in a somewhat small and portable experimental setup (there would be so much to sample!).
After I recorded this, I laid down for a while, simply enjoying the ever-changing soundscapes, and it was a very much-needed moment of bliss."

How to recreate the Hologram Microcosm in Eurorack (for just 10x the price)

video upload by Dexba

"Do less with more! Wasn't that the saying?
With this patch I wanted to recreate a simple two-voice setup, using two different sequencers but the same oscillator (the Instruo Cs-L), and then run them through a sort of Hologram Microcosm remade in eurorack.
As for the PROs, a little tune at the beginning, then the patch demonstration/tutorial/patch breakdown/something else I don't remember, and the final complete jam at the end of the video.
Enjoy! 🧡"

0:00 Initial Demo
1:11 Patch Breakdown
6:19 S/H little tutorial
9:46 Full Jam