Frap Tools: Finally we ACTUALLY PLAYED a modular synth!

video upload by Frap Tools

"In today's study, ‪@francescogennarimusic‬ guides us through the construction of a fully-functional polyphonic modular synthesizer that can be played with a keyboard AND sequenced at the same time! Check out the video to see how he managed to get FIVE voices, one of which with the unique character of formant oscillators."

Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:23 Modular performance
04:22 Track structure overview
04:49 4-Voice polyphonic synth routing
07:33 Usta sequencing and modulation
08:04 Formant oscillator with Falistri
10:27 Bass line
11:02 Effect section: Desmodus Versio as reverb
12:15 Effect section: FX AID XL as chorus

Original track 'Studio No.7' composed by @francescogennarimusic
Instagram: / fncgennari
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/francesco.gennari
Bandcamp: https://francescogennari.bandcamp.com...
Soundcloud: / user-351738626
‘Studi’ takes its cue from the tradition of the Étude, treating each track as a focused investigation into sound, structure, and technique.

Artwork by Daniel Hicks
Instagram: / mrmrsir
Website: https://danielhicksart.com/

On counterpoint, cross-FM, and analog+digital timbres | Studio no. 5 performance & patch breakdown

video upload by Frap Tools

Today Francesco explores one of the harshest timbres ever created by mankind: the cross-FM. And if that wasn't enough, he will use both digital AND analog FM at the same time, blending Brenso and Hertz Donut mk. 1. How can we tame such wild beasts? Through a careful composition in the spirit of the great counterpoint masters.

Original track 'Studio No.5' composed by ‪@francescogennarimusic‬"

Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Modular performance
03:14 On counterpoint
03:55 Track structure overview
04:24 First voice: Brenso + Doepfer LPG + QSC
05:39 Layering the first voice
07:16 Second voice: Hertz Donut MKI + Optomix + QSC
09:33 Third voice: Falistri + SEM VCF + QSC
10:24 Usta clocking Sapel, Bagai, and Empress Zoia Delay
10:52 Disting EX: Ping Pong Delay and Reverb
11:33 Desmodus Versio: Final Reverb
11:51 Mute Hack with Usta and 411 VCA

On tape loops, clocks, and sequences | patching Studio No.4 with Francesco Gennari

video upload by Frap Tools

"In his fourth étude, ‪@francescogennarimusic‬ crafts a meditative track by integrating a tape multitracker and a modular synth. The key feature of this patch is the synchronization of the two machines, achieved by using a tape track as a clock for the Usta sequencer, which in turn clocks everything else, from Sapèl to the ‪@empresseffects‬ Zoia."

Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Modular Performance
04:13 4 Track Tape Loop Overview
05:08 How to sync a modular with a Tape Multitracker
05:48 Fostex Routing and Signal Flow
06:17 First voice: Brenso + Falistri + QSC
07:49 Second voice: Falistri + Doepfer SEM Filter
08:19 Third voice: Brenso + Doepfer LPG
08:33 Gate randomness with Usta Variation
09:25 Writing melodies on Usta with external keyboard
10:09 Clocking Sapèl
10:30 Processing the tape with the Random Source Wave Multiplier
11:41 Empress Zoia - Dual independent Effect Chains

It's all Voltage | The Modular Classroom | Lesson 1 (feat. Serge DUSG and GTS)

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"OK, here's episode 1 of my modular classroom series. Again. I had to reupload due to editing errors. So I worked on it some more, added some stuff and removed a segment that went to Lesson 2.

I had to pick a reference because we all own different case layouts. I assume everyone can follow and try some of it if you own a Maths, Falistri, Rampage or Abacus. I'll be using Serge DUSG and GTS for most of this video. I did not include the 281T quad function generator because it will get its own lesson.

We're going to be taking about rise and falls a lot. They're the foundation for modular sound generation and movement. It's all voltage. When we think of a triangle wave as a basic waveform, we can break it apart and see it as a rising voltage, a falling voltage in a repeating cycle over periods of time. Time will determine if it's a VCO or LFO."

Slope Language | The Modular Classroom | Lesson 2 (feat. Maths, Rings and Clouds)

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"In Lesson 1 I introduced a hidden sonic world of rise and falls, a foundation for making sounds and movement and for interaction with other sounds and movements. I realized it's hard to make lessons without reference gear and I picked Maths as the No. 1 module to explain the core concepts of low level synthesis. While making this lesson, I figured out this 'slope language' which could be an alternative to patch diagrams. Diagrams only work on a system with a fixed layout and modules. In modular this just doesn't work because all modulars are different and personal.

I also needed to find a way to combine high level music making with low level modular techniques and explain why it's worth it to dive a bit deeper. I used Rings and Clouds as a methaphor for 'fastfood' because it's really easy to make great music. This often sounds like a bad thing but it's not. Too easy is good. It confirms that modular synths can be cool. But it's even cooler to hear what happens when we add a bit of low level movement. Sticking to the metaphor of cooking with sound, it becomes a Chef's kitchen, where Rings/Clouds are the signature ingredients, and Maths is the secret sauce.

The goal for these classes is to learn how to think in voltage slopes (rise and falls) and these 'slope language' diagrams seem to work for lots of module combinations. I was able to 'translate' a Maths patch to Tides and Blinds. It works because we're taking a step back from the panel layout, and focus on what the voltage is doing. The recipe. For me, it felt like a missing link that really helps me to explain things. Now let's hope this works for you too."

Super expo shapes and double quadrature with FALISTRI!

video upload by Frap Tools

"Falistri has plenty of controls, but it offers functions so pure that we can bend the rules and use some cross-patchings to go where the knobs don't dare.

#fraptools #modularsynth #eurorack #synth #analogsynth #electronicmusic

00:00 Introduction
00:12 Double quadrature with the four-quadrant multiplier
05:33 Super exponential shapes with the four-quadrant multiplier or cross-patching"

How to get a "liquid filter" sound on the Frap Tools Cunsa

video upload by Frap Tools

"Music is full of weird adjectives like 'warm', 'gritty', "growly', and so on. However, concerning filters, one of the most frequent is 'liquid'. What it means is very subjective, but we tried to figure it out in this video!

00:00 Introduction
01:38 Finding the "liquid filter" settings
05:05 Faking an ADSR with Falistri
08:20 General tip: don't always reach for the highest levels
08:53 Quad filter stereo liquid patch!"

Formant arpeggios patch breakdown: a classic Falistri patch!

video upload by Frap Tools

"Arpeggios without an arpeggiator? That's no magic, just the power of sub-harmonics!

We've been doing this patch for quite some time now, but we never released a complete, step-by-step tutorial on YouTube.

By using Falistri as a frequency divider, we can obtain perfect intervals in the minor scale by sweeping the rising and falling stages. It's roughly the same principle as Oskar Sala's Mixturtrautonium!

00:00 Intro
00:18 Using Falistri as a frequency divider
05:03 Using Sapèl to sweep through the sub-frequencies"

Six interesting timbres with one FALISTRI (a patch-saving hack)

video upload by Frap Tools

"It happened to all of us: we're in the middle of a patch, and we ran out of complex sound sources. Luckily we have a spare Falistri, so here are six ways to get interesting timbres out of it!

00:00 Introduction
00:39 Number 1: The fake flip sync
03:31 Number 2: The force loop sync
05:54 Number 3: The Max output
08:34 Number 4: AM and RM
10:48 Number 5: Sub-octave-ring-modulated-flip sync
12:50 Number 6: Feedback ring mod"

Programming the bass sound of West End Girls on a Frap setup was a tough challenge (but we did it)

video upload by Frap Tools

"So we were asked to remake the bass sound of West End Girls by @officialpetshopboys with only Frap modules, and here's how we did it! It's not completely there but still seems like a fair approximation. Got other ideas? Let us know in the comments!

Interview with Stephen Hague:
http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/tra...

Modules used (all of them...)
BRENSO: https://frap.tools/brenso/
CUNSA: https://frap.tools/cunsa/
USTA: https://frap.tools/usta/
FALISTRI: https://frap.tools/falistri/
CGM: https://frap.tools/cgm/
321: https://frap.tools/321/
333: https://frap.tools/333/

00:00 Introduction and original patch breakdown by Stephen Hague
01:21 The FM 'thump' on the BRENSO
03:31 The Jupiter 6 sound on the CUNSA
05:37 The Emulator II kick drum on the CUNSA
07:59 Adding variation through the Ping input and decluttering the patch
09:23 Changing the envelope fall through the USTA sequencer
10:34 Balancing the resonance with USTA's COMBO mode
11:06 Adding an extra sawtooth to the Jupiter 6 sound through FALISTRI
15:14 Final result and closing remarks"

Bird-like sequences with bizarre clocks thanks to USTA and FALISTRI

video upload by Frap Tools

"Time to explore more quirky interactions between USTA and FALISTRI!"

Check the other video here.

00:00 Introduction and patch overview
01:23 Using gates to switch the clock on and off
04:42 Changing the gate patterns
05:55 Using preprogrammed patterns instead of random events
07:10 Using an envelope to add ornaments

Recreating Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" lead sounds with a Frap Tools system.

video upload by Frap Tools

"The idea for this video comes from this excellent tutorial by @AlexBallMusic , thanks a lot!

Full video by Alex Ball here: [posted here]

00:00 Introduction and patch overview: BRENSO and CUNSA
03:25 Adding envelopes and modulation through FALISTRI
06:18 Adding a wild distortion with the CGM creative mixer
08:22 Automating the filter sweep with the USTA sequencer
11:47 The final Smack My Bitch Up patch and closing remarks"

How does BRENSO generate its wave forms and how to win an extra analog sawtooth!

video upload by Frap Tools

"Today we'll explore BRENSO's core, its generation circuits, and by the end we'll add an extra waveform to the stock ones!

00:00 The 'canonic' analog waveforms: triangle, sawtooth, square, sine.
01:04 How does an oscillator generate a wave?
01:56 BRENSO's triangle and square waves
02:26 BRENSO's sine wave
03:27 BRENSO's sawtooth
04:47 How to create a second sawtooth with BRENSO, FALISTRI, and the 321
07:36 Double-sawtooth eas-coast fun and closing remarks"

FALISTRI workout ep. 3: Retrigs

video upload by Frap Tools

"Today's workout focuses on the different retriggering options that we can find on FALISTRI. Let's see how much we can get out of them!"

Unexpected sounds from FALISTRI

video upload by Frap Tools

"Vowels, fake filter sweeps, and frequency divisions: FALISTRI’s capabilities as an oscillator are way beyond its compact design!"

Flip Sync+tons of CV=groove!

video upload by Frap Tools

"In this patch, we set the green oscillator to Flip Sync, then we used the USTA sequencer to control the integration time, creating a varying glide effect. Then, we used FALISTRI to change its pitch as well, creating these snappy sync sweeps. Thanks to Oliver for suggesting this patch in our workshops!"

Clock processing with USTA and FALISTRI | Frap Ideas

video upload by Frap Tools

"Today we'll see how to use FALISTRI as a clock divid... Dela... Multipl... Well let's say clock PROCESSOR. Check out this cross-patching technique with the USTA sequencer!

USTA: https://frap.tools/usta/
FALISTRI: https://frap.tools/falistri/

00:00 Introduction and patch description
01:07 Using FALISTRI as a clock
02:20 Clock delay / clock divider / wacky clock multiplier
04:52 Modulating the clock with the USTA"

Frap Tools FALISTRI Workout Episodes

FALISTRI Workout ep. 1: Four-Quadrant Multipliers
video upload by Frap Tools

"Wanna get the most out of your FALISTRI? Join today's workout on four-quadrant multipliers! No other modules allowed for extreme FALISTRI focus. Drink a lot of water and join us for this HIIT training!"

FALISTRI Workout ep. 2: Gates
video upload by Frap Tools

"Another HIIT session with two FALISTRI, this time we even managed to get some dynamic timbre modulation! Wanna see how? Join the workout, drink a lot of water and follow a healthy diet."

FALISTRI Workout episodes

Wiggly LFOs on the BRENSO (credit: Make Noise)

video upload by Frap Tools

"When we saw this video on Make Noise's channel, we thought it was a great patch! [posted here]

So we wanted to recreate it on the BRENSO oscillator and use this technique in a different context. Basically, we're using an offset to throw the yellow oscillator at sub-audio rate and use the timbre modulation section to create some weird-shaped LFOs. We further expanded it through FUMANA, USTA, and FALISTRI.

Thanks again Walker and @MAKEN0ISEMUSIC for the inspiring patch!

00:00 Introduction
00:57 BRENSO yellow LFO
04:56 Adding a FUMANA Feedback
06:47 Clocking the USTA sequencer
10:00 Introducing a clock divider
12:20 Adding a second melody"

First patch with only Frap Tools Eurorack Modules long Version

video upload by Tiefengrund

"Frap Tools Brenso, Fumana, Falistri, Sapel, Ustra and other."

"Mare lunaris" a modular composition by GATTOBUS

video upload by gattobus

"Headphones or a good pair of speakers recommended.
This is a live recording of me playing withy my modular.
I'm playing over two overlapping sequences, each with different measures.
This patch is quite simple, just a DPO drone, Bresnso going into a stereo filter (Popple) with Falistri used as double-envelope. Everything was driven by Fraptools Usta sequencer. Some randomness here and there using Fraptools Sapèl."