Why can I never have enough VCAs? Part 3 - Wrapping up modulation and a few other pointers.

Published on Mar 2, 2016 Frank Murder

"Why can I never have enough VCAs? Part 3 - Wrapping up modulation and a few other pointers.

We look at the Intellijel MicroMod2 or uMod II."

All parts here.

Adventures in Synthesis: Pure Data drum machine + DIY modular

Published on Mar 2, 2016 Chris Beckstrom

"More about this project:
http://www.chrisbeckstrom.com/portfol...

Get the drum machine code here:
https://github.com/chrisbeckstrom/pur...

I've been building a Pure Data - based drum machine / sequencer that runs on iOS using the fantastic MobMuPlat iOS app. Basically it lets you run Pure Data on your device and allows you to build a GUI for it. This is the first patch that uses my new drum machine. It's still a work in progress, but many of the features work.

Why build my own drum machine when there are so many great-sounding iOS apps and other software synths available? Because why not! None of the apps I've tried have the exact features I want, so I'm building my own. In my Pure Data programming I'm keeping to my DIY modular aesthetic: simple modules, analog-style sound, and basic waveforms that can be manipulated and combined.

Here's an early morning jam featuring the CB-100 Sound Sequencer (tentative name) combined with my DIY modular synth.

Patch notes:
The left channel of the iPad audio output is the master output from the drum machine, and the right channel is a very short pulse on every 16th note. This pulse is patched into an amp in the modular and then used to clock the sequencer, clock divider, and various envelopes.

The drum machine goes into a preamp to get it up to modular level, then into a mixer. I'm always amazed at how nice and warm things sound when you run them through even a single analog gain stage! Straight out of the iPad the drum machine sounds pretty digital and cold, but that preamp warms it right up and adds some crunch when turned to 11.

The sequencer is set to open a VCA every 8 16th notes (on 2 and 4); the input of the VCA is the drum machine and the output is patched to the delay. Basically that means the delay only gets signal on 2 and 4, which I think sounds cool. (It's not exactly JUST on 2 and 4, because the VCA is a double vactrol VCA, and when one LED is turned on it has a tendency to bleed through the loads of electrical tape and influence the other VCA. Ah, such is the DIY experience!).

The sequencer modulates the frequency of a single saw oscillator, which goes into the low pass gate before joining the other sounds in the mixer.

The drum machine clock goes into a clock divider, and four of those outputs go into an R/2R ladder to generate CV to modulate the frequency of a square oscillator. That oscillator goes into another VCA, then into the mixer to join the other signals.

I have a few square waves going into a diode-based pseudo-ring modulator which then goes into yet another VCA (you can never have too many VCAs!!). This VCA is opened by me pressing a button on the far left of the modular, which sends 9V to the VCA and lights the vactrol LED. The button also sends a trigger to an A/D envelope generator which controls the pitch of one of the oscillators, which adds some nice pitch variation like some sort of weird drum.

Finally, the output of the whole modular gets split into two paths: one directly into the mixer, and another into an Alesis Microverb II digital reverb unit spitting out 2 channels of delicious lofi digital reverb. These three channels (reverb + modular) are mixed together and head into the computer onto a single stereo track in Bitwig Studio."

Author & Punisher @ Elektron Studios

Published on Mar 2, 2016 Elektron

"Tristan Shone aka Author & Punisher stopped by Elektron Studios for a performance and a quick chat."

Korg Minilogue Sonic LAB Review - Envelop Re-trigger Fix?

Published on Mar 2, 2016 sonicstate

"We review the affordable analogue four voice poly synth from Korg. And show you how to fix the envelope retrigger issue [At 4:05]" See this post for reference.

KORG minilogues on eBay | Korg minilogues on Amazon

Low-Gain Elecronics 2-Bits Examples demo 1

Published on Mar 1, 2016 LowGainElectronics
Update: Re-Published on Mar 1, 2016 LowGainElectronics

"In this video I'm demonstrating using the 2-Bits as a preset voltage for DC offset of a sequence coming in from the Verbos Voltage Multi-Stage. I also used the Trigger output on the 2-Bits to fire an EG provided by the MakeNoise Maths which is being sent to the 'Effect' CV Input on the SynthTech E950 CircuitBent VCO.

950 VCO into LXD into ADSRVCA into ProOuts into Protools: processed via 1/8note simple delay and reverb."

The MIDI Thing (TMT) - MIDI over Bluetooth Wireless Bridge For any MIDI Device

Published on Feb 26, 2016 TMT Kickstarter

Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, The MIDI Thing is essentially a single MIDI IN/OUT cable with a bluetooth adapter in the middle. You plug in the MIDI IN and OUT ends into your MIDI keyboard or controller of choice and it becomes a Bluetooth MIDI controller.  Curious if it will work with MIDI OUT ports only, or do you need to loop it back into a MIDI IN port for any reason? Some keyboards like E-mu's XBoards only have MIDI OUT port.  I'll see if I can find out.  Here's a demo of it with an iPad:

TMT - Sports Charge Stadium Organ Tune

IN BROMINE CHAMBERS

Published on Mar 1, 2016 Ebotronix

"2x Talking Synth Module cv by Jag ~ choices
TSM² audio to TWF² , RS 360² ~ RS110², Optomix, QMMG
A147 for panning & clock via A152 to EHX Deluxe Memory Man
- ~ +
Flame Talking Synth Module²s
4ms Peg , QCD/Expander, RCD²
Analogue Systems RS 100², RS110²²
Bananalogue Serge VCS
Doepfer R2m², A101-2, A133², A134², A143-9,
A151², A152, A175², A138abc
Flight of harmony choices
Make Noise Brains, PP²(Peg division), Maths,mdm²,
Optomix, QMMG, René, Wogglebug²
Malekko, Jag
MoogTaurus 2
Toppobrillo Triple Wave Folder²
Logic masterclock to Kenton Pro 2000
FX : Lexicon MPX 100 Infinite Reverb
EHX Deluxe Memory Man TT 550
(Tap SW in by A 152, Exp Pedal in by A133)
mackie the mixer²
vid #1469"

Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms Kb

Published on Mar 1, 2016 opsysbug

"Fun with the new Pittsburgh Modular Keyboard. Fist impressions: awesome. Tiny and easy to grok. Sensitive and fun!"

Minilogue Unboxing (minilogue sounds only - feat. Korg microSAMPLER)

Published on Mar 1, 2016 Arrayzable

"All the sounds in this track are exclusively minilogue. Tweaked presets and a single shot of a minilogue kick drum too.
This video is an unboxing video with an original track by me.
At the end of the video my wife is playing and singing a little snippet of Michael Jacksons 'Man In The Mirror' (and NO, I don't own the rights to that song. It's just a cover) :)

As always live play with synths and sequencers.

Used in this track:

Korg minilogue
Korg microSAMPLER
Korg miniKaossPad2 (for recording)"

KORG minilogues on eBay | Korg minilogues on Amazon

Sequential PROPHET-12 MODULE Demos by Chris White

Published on Mar 1, 2016 Chris White

"An exploration of the Sequential Prophet 12 Desktop from Dave Smith Instruments, a 12-voice hybrid digital/analog synthesiser module.Further exploration of the Sequential Prophet-6 Module. The 6 Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesiser from Dave Smith Instruments.

on https://twitter.com/chriswhite_HQ
on https://www.instagram.com/chris_white...
on on https://chriswhitestore.bandcamp.com"

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/product/prophet-12-module-2/

DSI PROPHET-12 MODULE Part2

Published on Mar 11, 2016 Chris White

"Further exploration of the Prophet 12 Desktop from Dave Smith Instruments, a 12-voice hybrid digital/analog synthesiser module."

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