Easel 9 5 25b

video upload by Todd Barton

"Arpeggiator fun . . ."

Tone Science Module No.10 The Final Patch (DiN:TS10)

"Now available as a double CD with an 8-page booklet & download

Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, concludes it’s exploration of the world of modular synth music.

Since the first volume in the Tone Science series was released in 2018, seventy-two musicians in total have joined in with this celebration of the musical possibilities of modular synthesis. These artists have been from a huge range of backgrounds but have all shared the unifying purpose of showcasing the incredible variety of sonic possibilities these instruments can offer.

Tone Science sub-label, from DiN records, concludes its exploration of the world of modular synth music.

Since the first volume in the Tone Science series was released in 2018, seventy-two musicians in total have joined in with this celebration of the musical possibilities of modular synthesis. These artists have been from a huge range of backgrounds but have all shared the unifying purpose of showcasing the incredible variety of sonic possibilities these instruments can offer.

The intervening seven years have seen the modular synth world expanding at an exponential rate and whilst one wouldn’t go so far as to say these synths are mainstream, they are certainly far more prevalent than in the past. It’s especially gratifying to see so many musicians now either play solo sets with them or to include them in their onstage arsenal.

Thus we come to this, the final instalment in the Tone Science series. Nothing lasts forever and certainly stopping at this nice round number of ten seems like a good way to not only end the series but to release the Final Patch, a real celebration of what has gone before and perhaps to hint at what is possible for the future. A beautifully packaged double CD featuring twenty artists who have appeared on previous iterations of the series, it really is a who’s who of modular synth musicians. The release is accompanied by an eight-page booklet with an essay by Neil Mason and some final words from the guiding force behind the whole project, Ian Boddy, label boss at DiN. And as Boddy so succinctly puts it in his liner notes, “for me, despite the technological nature of the equipment, the emotional quality of the music is the single most important factor”. The Final Patch certainly delivers on that ethos.

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New Tiptop Audio & Buchla 230t Tips and Tricks

video upload by Todd Barton

"Just a few ideas for patches with the Tiptop Buchla 230t Triple Envelope Follower. Also, checkout Stazma's video on the 230t:"

[The new Tiptop Audio & Buchla 230t announced in May is now out. Check with dealers on the right for availability.]

Tiptop Audio & Buchla 230t Demo

video upload by Stazma

"Today we are going to check out the new module from the Tiptop & Buchla 200t serie: the Triple Envelope Follower Model 230t.

It's a fantastic addition to the 200t echosystem, that will let you control dynamic or timing with external audio such as, microphone, samples, drum pads, electric instruments, field recording or anything in that spirit. It can also be used as an decay envelope in the system or in compression / expansion patches."

TipTop Buchla 230t – Triple Envelope Follower // Interact with your patches!

video upload by Dexba

"The Buchla 230 is here, and while it might not be the shiniest module (I know you're lusting after the tenth granular effect or the twelfth tape-inspired contraption), it's quite a useful and FUN one!
Not only does it stop the modular from being this separated entity, and it gives it back the ability to listen and interact with the real world, but analysing the internal signals can be a productive endeavour too.
In this video, I'll show you some cool patches, and I will introduce the concept of sidechain in the Buchla system, which in this case was used in the most common way we associate with the term, but it can also be a powerful tool to swell reverbs, make multiple voices arise in a sea of notes, and, in general, make more lively patches :)"

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

Additional 230t posts

Buchla 219 exploration

video upload by Todd Barton

"Today's little experiment of multiple sound streams/textures."

Buchla 219 patch evolution

video upload by Todd Barton

"Been experimenting with the Buchla 219 Compound Touch-Controlled Voltage Source."

Simple to Complex

video upload by Todd Barton

"A little exploration…
My Patreon: / synthtodd"

IM TZ Dual VCO demos

video upload by Todd Barton

"This and other great modules are available at https://www.infinitemachinery.com/

Also, there will be a booth at Knobcon next month https://www.knobcon.com/"

"The TZ Dual VCO is two full featured VCOs on in a single 16HP module. Both VCOs output sine, square, saw, triangle and PWM wave forms. Each VCO also has thru-zero and expotential FM input. The type of FM is selectable using a toggle switch. An important feature of TZ Dual VCO is the FM input for each VCO can be control by a VCA input. A potentiometer adjusts the overall maximum of the FM input while the VCA provides an amplitude envelope.

Each VCO has the following inputs:

1V/Oct
PWM CV
FM signal
FM signal VCA
Each VCO has the following wave form outputs:

Sine
Square
Saw
Triangle
PWM
Each VCO has these adjustment knobs:

Coarse
Fine
PWM
FM amount
The upper VCO can be synced with the square wave of the lower VCO. A three position toggle switch is used to select hard sync (up), soft sync (down), or no sync (center).

Current requirements - 130mA +12V, 130mA -12V"

Easel Shakuhachi Interlock

video upload by Todd Barton

"Spent the last couple of days exploring ways to interface/interlock my shakuhachi with the Easel. These are just the first little steps . . ."

Shakuhachi Easel Patch

video upload by Todd Barton

"Using my breath pressure to increase the speed of the mod oscillator."

GND Compendium IV

video upload by Todd Barton

"Definitely use headphones or studio monitors for these demos. My continuing explorations into the amazing new Gaston Nonlinear Dynamics. More on this instrument here: https://ryangastonmusic.com/

My Patreon: / synthtodd"

two explorations

video upload by Todd Barton

"I'm still fascinated by the simple things :-)
Patreon: / synthtodd"

GND compendium III

video upload by Todd Barton

"My explorations continue into this deep, exciting and surprising instrument by Ryan Gaston: https://ryangastonmusic.com/"

https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd

Dialectical Sequencing - Talk at Gray Area, 18 June 2025

video upload by New Systems Instruments

"Thanks to Ryan at the Creative Resource Library at Gray Area for inviting me! They have events like this every month, and lend instruments, too:

https://grayarea.org/create/creative-...

Discrete map is a Eurorack module for dialectical sequencing and other quantizing functions:

https://nsinstruments.com/modules/dma...

00:00 Ryan's Introduction
00:56 0. Introduction
2:15 0.1 The hierarchical model
4:33 0.2 The dialectical model
6:04 0.3 Art and philosophy
9:31 1. Dialectical sequencing
9:37 1.1 GWF Hegel
11:00 1.2 Quantity and quality
12:34 1.3 Quantity becomes quality
18:59 1.4 Dialectical sequencing 1
20:26 1.5 Dialectical sequencing 2
21:29 2. History and hardware
21:48 2.1. Cybernetics
26:15 2.2. Louis and Bebe Barron
28:20 2.3. Source of uncertainty
30:04 2.4. Todd Barton "Krell Muzak"
32:18 2.5. Discrete Map
33:20 3. Patches
33:31 3.1. Basic patch
35:34 3.2. "Natural" quantization
36:46 3.3. Beat frequencies
39:16 The end
39:59 Questions"

GND slow moves

video upload by Todd Barton

"In order to better understand, feel and hear the nonlinearity inherent in this amazing system I used just the Compact Oscillator Network (CON) and made two experiments: 1) slowly turning the Map Select from maximum to minimum 2) slowly sliding the f(C) slider from minimum to maximum. All sounds, effects and spatialization coming solely from the CON.
More info at: https://ryangastonmusic.com/hardware
My Patreon: / synthtodd"

GND Compendium II

video upload by Todd Barton

"Part II of my initial explorations into the new Gaston Nonlinear Dynamic system. Here's a link to part I • GND Compendium
More info on the system here: https://ryangastonmusic.com/hardware"

Random Exercises

video upload by Todd Barton

"Try this at home!"

GND Compact Osc Network

video upload by Todd Barton

"Here are just a couple of minutes with the Gaston Nonlinear Dynamics Compact Oscillator Network and all the diverse sonic universes it traverses just with these few slider moves . . . and this is definitely not even the tip of the iceberg. https://ryangastonmusic.com/"

GND Compendium

video upload by Todd Barton

"I've had the Gaston [Nonlinear] Dynamics system for just a week. Here is a little compendium of some of my explorations and experiments. This is truly 'next level' modular synthesis design and vision. A cohesive and deep system which encourages experimentation, curiosity and discovery!
https://ryangastonmusic.com/hardware
My Patreon: / synthtodd"

GeneMorphing with the MakeNoise Morphagene

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The Morph is 2-channel stereo, but this also means we can use it in dual mono and dub two sources at once. When we flip inputs, we can make amazing new textures. We can even loop the morph's output back in with a clever device like a matrix mixer. Let's bring some new life to the modules we already have!

I used Todd Barton's Waterphone video to harvest some sounds, used with permission. The best sounds are on YouTube! • Waterphone Demo: Waters-Hubbert [posted here]

Sidenote: I've been writing my own visual FX code over the last two weeks, trying to create nightvision filters and AI shape detection for shapes, hands, faces, etc. I needed to test them, so this video is a bit of a test case.I will use them sparsely, but not today. I know they're not top notch yet, but it feels different when you designed them yourself. Also, I want to bring a bit of the Cinematic Laboratory to a live show, allowing me to also visualize what I play when there's a big screen nearby.

Also, my efforts of exploring AI assisted coding may have brought me the opportunity to speak at a big ICT conference. I am sure some of you hate all of this, but the future is here and we can't stop it. Modular is my retirement hobby, but ICT made it possible. This is a time where I actually have to excuse myself for using AI. It's FAQ'ed up."

Discrete Map first explorations

video upload by Todd Barton

"Just scratching the surface of this versatile module. More to come. . . For a complete unfolding see Divkid’s deep dive • Bend & Twist Time with Voltage Addressed S..." [2nd video here]