Using CV (Control Voltage) with Ensoniq ASR-10 Sampler via Modular Synthesizer

Published on Jan 12, 2017 TheDaydreamSound

"Yep! It’s possible to modulate Ensoniq samplers with Control Voltage signals. For the longest time I saw that Pedal*CV input jack on the back of the Ensoniq Samplers and didn’t really care too much about it. Yeah it would be nice to have one of those CV pedals that was as far as my interest went. Now that CV products are widely available from the rise of Modular Synthesizers that little CV jack means a whole lot to me.

In this video I’m using an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) sinewave signal to modulate various destinations of there instruments on the ASR-10. In addition, I’m feeding the audio output of the ASR-10 into the modular synthesizer, combining it with a Pulse wave and modulating the both signals with a -24db ladder filter.

There are a few steps that must be completed before this your Ensoniq sampler will recognize your CV signal. It’s important to note that all Ensoniq samplers have this feature with the exception of the Mirage and the ASR-X/PRO.

Below are the steps to take:

1. Press the “EDIT” followed by the “System*MIDI” button to get into the system menu.
2. Scroll until you see the “PEDAL” page.
3. Here you will have two option one will be VOLUME the other will be MOD.
4. Set the option to “MOD”.

That’s it! This will allow the incoming CV signal to modulate any of the Ensoniq’s modulation destinations the same way you would with any of the internal modulation sources. If your looking for this modulation option source the CV input is called “PEDAL”.

Have fun!"

Buchla 208r - Easel Sound Engine Clone by Roman Filippov

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"Buchla 208r in excellent condition. Built by Roman. Works perfectly and sounds incredible. This is the sound making part of a buchla easel minus the keyboard. Just like any other synth module it can be played from triggers and voltage..this one is calibrated to standard 1v/ octave to play with 'normal' gear, but can easlily be set back to buchla standard. If you want buchla sounds but don't want to go all the way down the rabbit hole this is a great way to do it."

Word is this is closer to the original Buchla Music Easel, compared to the BEMI Easel, as it is a direct clone of the original.

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EURORACK SYNTH

Published on Jan 12, 2017 TubeSamsa

"Sequence clocked by Gatestorm"

MAKE NOISE n/0-COAST // ERBE-VERB // Session 2/2

Published on Jan 12, 2017 LESINDES

"First Session with the west coast dwarf -- self contained modular synth -- with some help though from ERBE-VERB and other A-100 modules: LFOs, cycled ADs...."

Live Sessions // 09

Published on Jan 12, 2017 Dualtrx

"Hi guys. I made a new video using the new added to my rack tELHARMONIC from Make Noise. And ofcourse other gizmos like Novation Circuit, Korg Volca.
likes & shares are much apreciated.
Cheers."

How to make a Berlin School track in a few minutes and with minimum gear

Published on Jan 12, 2017 Alba Ecstasy

"How To make a Berlin School track in a few minutes and with minimum gear. Sure, this is a simple track, but starting from here you can add layers of sounds.

I used:
- for sequence: Volca Keys in different modes. Volca Keys is sequenced by the Circuit in Cmin. For reverb I used Clouds.
- for pads: Volca Fm - and I played on it with the Beatstep Pro, because the keys are very small to play nice pads. For delay I used Roland Demora.
- for drums: Novation Circuit.
And this is it! I even not played the internal sounds of the Circuit, so if I'm adding a new (bass) sequence from it, the track can be improved a lot!
All the above gear are directly recorded into the Logic Pro X via my audio interface Echo Audiofire 12. No other FX were added."

Announcing Bitwig Studio 2

Published on Jan 12, 2017 bitwig

"Today Bitwig GmbH is proud to announce Bitwig Studio 2 - the new version of the highly acclaimed music creation software for Windows, macOS and Linux."

I almost skipped this announcement as Bitwig of course is a DAW, not a synth. However, it does include a few synth features and they added VST3 support. As you can see in the video above, the current release has a big focus on the modulation capabilities of Bitwig. Below is an excerpt from their site.

As for specific soft synths included in Bitwig, they list the following 11 Devices: Drum Machine, E-Clap, E-Cowbell, E-Hat, E-Kick, E-Snare, E-Tom, FM-4, Organ, Polysynth, Sampler.

"A WORD ON MODULARITY

From the beginning, the idea of modularity has been central to Bitwig Studio. While digital audio workstations (DAWs) aren’t known for taking a modular approach, creating Bitwig Studio from the ground up allowed us to rethink previous assumptions. This led us to focus not just on individual devices but on strengthening the ways they interact with and support one another. And this ideal has born interesting, user-friendly fruit.

BITWIG STUDIO 1

Nested Device Chains

The first outcome was nested device chains, which allow you to house devices within other devices. A seemingly simple benefit of this is that device presets can now contain multiple devices, but this also opened up novel signal routing possibilities. For example, what if any device or plug-in could be used in a multiband configuration? Or if it was easy to add effects to just the wet signal? Or if devices could be added to a feedback loop..?
A core principle of modularity is that different users with different wants and needs can use the same tools in equally accessible and unique ways. Nested device chains allow newcomers to focus on richer sounds while initiated users can use additional devices as a way of extending their sonic palette. Win, win.

Modulation Sources

Another powerful outcome of modular thinking in a DAW was modulation sources. First, we created an elegant, efficient way for modulation signals to be assigned — simply clicking an arrow to go into routing mode, and then using parameter knobs themselves as attenuators. With a clean interface, it became possible to create and manage an unlimited number of modulations, all operating at audio rate.

And from there, all nested devices can be modulated as well. So instead of putting an LFO on our synth’s cutoff filter and then spending a lot of time trying to rebuild a synced LFO-effect on the distortion amount, we just assign the synth’s LFO to both the cutoff and the distortion amount. Additionally, Bitwig Studio 1 had devices made just for modulating other devices (like a standalone LFO, or a routable audio sidechain effect). A lot of freedom was provided by these early modulator devices, but at the cost of having to nest any devices you might want connect to each other.

BITWIG STUDIO 2

Modulators

The idea of modulators has been reclaimed in Bitwig Studio 2. Instead of using a standalone “modulator” device to modulate a single device, each device now has slots that can house true modulators. This means any device (or plug-in) you are using can now have an envelope added to some of its parameters. Or a stepper, or audio sidechain effect. Or 12 LFOs. As modularity dictates, how you use the tools is completely up to you.
This also serves to make things more efficient for both CPU cycles and screen real estate. Instead of building an arbitrary number of control devices onto each instrument — say, two LFOs — the user can now add and subtract these options as they see fit. And again, presets from Bitwig Studio 1 and 2 will load properly, with modulators added as needed.
We don’t add a chorus to every instrument just in case the user wants it. Instead, we create a good chorus device that you can add when you want it. We are just applying this concept to modulations now, and we look forward to what you will do with this extra flexibility.

LOOKING AHEAD

Modularity will continue to play a key role in our upcoming releases, both for users and under-the-hood. Additional devices are always under development, including some which will bring modular concepts more directly to the user. And a little bit down the road, our internal development tool for programming Bitwig Devices will be available to anyone who wants to go down that road. (You’ve probably seen some older screenshots of that environment; new paint and programming languages are coming.) We look forward to inviting you in for these enhancements and much more…
Thank you for having read this far. If you don't own Bitwig Studio yet, then come join us on our journey. We’d love to welcome you as part of the Bitwig community.

Best wishes,
The Bitwig Team"

Red ROLAND SH-101

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ROLAND Vocoder VP-330 MK1 SN 951350

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Reaktor Blocks - Controlling & Expanding A Modular Synth Voice

Published on Jan 12, 2017 DivKidVideo

"Here's a similar patch to the Blocks ES-3 AJH jam video I put up earlier this week. Native Instruments Reaktor Blocks is controlling the entire voice with pitch information, modulation, rhythms and triggers etc. Everything. The focus is around the Pitch CV Out Block which gives out pitch and gate CV and offers calibration of your oscillator (and other things that oscillator but don't track) to give pitch perfect and reliable tracking."