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Showing posts sorted by date for query Bertolt Meyer. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Tuesday, February 09, 2021

The DROID: The CV module replacing all other CV modules (ADSRs, Turing Machines, Quantizers, LFOs..)


video by Bertolt Meyer

Review of the DROID multipurpose CV processing module for the Eurorack format by Der Mann mit der Maschine, including an explanation of its internal patching language and its concept of "circuits".

Chapters:

00:00​ Intro: One CV module to replace them all
00:53​ DROID Module and P2B8 Expander overview
02:52​ Example 1: 3 Envelopes with one pot-controlled parameter each
05:23​ Example 2: Quantized turing machine
07:39​ Example 3: LFO
08:00​ Changing the DROID's settings
08:53​ Final thoughts, price considerations, and recommendation
09:43​ Acknowledging the manufacturer
10:24​ How to pronounce 'Der Mann mit der Maschine' correctly
10:50​ The gates expander
11:15​ How to write a Patch for the DROID: Coding example



via Der Mann Mit Der Maschine

The DROID is a very flexible generic CV processor for modular synthesizers in the Eurorack (Doepfer) format. It has 8 CV inputs and 8 CV outputs, all ranging from -10V to +10V. The DROID can do almost any CV task you can imagine, such as sequencing, melody generation, slew limiting, quantizing, switching, mixing, working on clocks and triggers, creating envelopes and LFO or other fancy voltages, or any combination of these at the same time. While doing this, is very precise both in voltage and in timing.

You tell your DROID what to do by means of a simple text file called “DROID patch”, while is located on a micro SD card. No special software is required for creating that file. A simple text editor running on Windows, Linux, Mac or any other device is all you need.

Controllers and expanders

By attaching up to 16 P2B8 controllers, each having two potentiometers and 8 push buttons, you can control any parameter you like while playing your music.

The G8 expander gives you 8 more jacks, which can be used for gate or trigger inputs and outputs.

The Circuits

The building blocks of a DROID patch are called circuits. Every type of circuit performs some specific task. A circuit is very much like a Eurorack module itself. Some of these do basic things like slew limiting, sample & hold or switching. Others are much more comlex, such as an advanced trigger sequencer with algorithmic extensions. Just like a Eurorack module, each ciruit has inputs and outputs. You can wire these either directly to one of the 16 jacks, or even connect them internally. Every parameter can be CV controlled.

Here are a few examples of what your DROID can be for you. As long as you do not run out of inputs and outputs you can implement as many of these functions at the same time in one DROID. You also can connect them together internally.

LFO
Envelope generator
Melody and trigger sequencer
Random generator, bernoulli gate
Sample and hold
Precision adder
Slew limiter
Clock tool with divider, multiplier and delay
Logical and mathematical functions
CV looper
Euclidean rhythms generator
Versatile musical quantizer, octave switch
Addressable and clockable CV switch
CV mixing and routing matrix
VCO precision calibrator
... and many many more...
You can use these circuits either directly - just like normal Eurorack modules - or combine them internally in order to implement more complex functions. Then you can assign pots and buttons of your "P2B8"-controllers for switching, tuning and live performing with these. Basically you can transform your Eurorack modular system into your own custom instrument. Or you simply use the DROID as a replacement for several utility modules, because it is very space efficient.

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

How to connect a modular synth to your body with the ADDAC 303 Muscle Sensing Module


video by Bertolt Meyer

"The ADDAC303 Muscle Sensing module brings EMG muscle sensing to the eurorack format. It allows you to control a modular synthesizer with muscle signals that the module picks up with medical electrodes that you can stick to any muscle. I used two of those in my last generative ambient piece [posted here]. I felt that the module doesn't get enough love on YT, so I followed up with an introduction to this quirky module. I explain the overall principle, the best way for electrode placement, and the optimal settings for getting a clean signal."

Also see the Unborn Baby MIDI Controller in Luca Yupanqui's Sounds of the Unborn posted earlier today.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Ambient piece for phantom limb and generative modular synth (no talking)


Bertolt Meyer

"Generative ambient patch in which my phantom limb - my missing imagined left arm - controls the gate of a voice and the routing to the LZX Cyclops laser controller through tiny muscle signals that usually control my myoelectric prosthesis. Muscle EMG sensing is done with two ADDAC 303 muscle sensing modules that work really well once you find good settings. The patch is based on a Turing Machine that goes to a new random sequence after 16 repetitions of the given random sequence. The pitch CV goes through a 2hp Arp and subsequently through the ADDAC Intuitive Quantizer before being sampled with different trigger patterns with the excellent DivKid RND STEP. From there, the pitch branches off to three voices: A QU-Bit Chord, two Doepfer A-110s, and a MI Elements. The phantom limb does the gates for the two A-110s - it feels really weird, because I just have to think about moving the prosthesis THAT I AM NOT WEARING and the voice plays a note."

You can find additional posts featuring Bertolt Meyer here.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

SynLimb live modular set as aired on modular.world Ep 3 (June 13 2020)



"Live modular performance with our SynLimb arm-prosthesis-to-CV hack. I've been practicing a lot and am slowly getting there. The modular is sequenced by the Winter Modular Eloquencer in the first half; I then transition to the Toraiz Squid. It was a lot of fun to play this in our living room. Thanks to my husband Daniel for filming. This was aired on modular.world on June 13 2020 with a Q&A afterwards:"

Modular World-Ep. 3-Bertolt Meyer, Probbie, Death Whistle, Eden Grey and Hawthorn

Modular World

"Featuring: Bertolt Meyer (Germany), Probbie (U.K.), Death Whistle (Spain), Eden Grey (U.S.) and Hawthorn (U.S.)"

Friday, February 14, 2020

Hacking an Arm Prosthesis to Output CV for Thought Controlled Synthesis

Hacking my arm prosthesis to output CV so that it plugs into my synth: Thought-controlled music!

Published on Feb 13, 2020 Bertolt Meyer

"Together with Chrisi from KOMA Elektronik and my husband Daniel, I am in the process of building a device (the 'SynLimb') that attaches to my arm prosthesis instead of the prosthetic hand. The SynLimb converts the electrode signals that my prosthesis picks up from my residual limb into control voltages (CV) for controlling my modular synthesizer. The SynLimb thus allows me to plug my prosthesis directly into my snythesizer so that I can control its parameters with the signals from my body that normally control the hand. For me, this feels like controlling the synth with my thoughts. I show the prototype(s), explain how we put it together and how it works, and do a little demo.

My Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bertolt-meyer
Daniel's Art: https://danieltheiler.de

The inspiration to just try this despite not being an engineer came from wonderful Sam aka lookmumnocomputer
The inspiration to venture into modular synthesis in the first place came from the wonderful mylarmelodies"
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