Morbus Legio | The filthy beauty of Engineered Noise.

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"It's always cool to try a new Noise Engineering firmware. But I had my doubts with this one, because it's just a Noise generator and it will not have a dedicated hardware module. It's a freebee. But that's not all, because Morbus means 'disease' in Latin, hopefully in the context of it being a 'sick' firmware.

My doubts were confirmed at first patch. It accepts external sounds, but only to wavefold them in three different levels of destruction. The noise itself has colored noise, covering the rainbow between black- and white noise, but it also allows you to reduce the sample rate, producing something we'd all want to avoid. Who'd want a module with a digital noisefloor of 0 dB?

But they call themselves Noise Engineering for a reason, and Morbus turned out to be an amazing asset to any Eurorack setup. If you love an occasional dark ambient heavy industrial tour, this module will be a lot of fun. However, you'll need to spend some time with it to find all the sweet spots, and try as many of external sources as you can. Wavefolders work best with simple waveforms, and will trash the more complex ones.

I couldn't help thinking of Mordor while patching it. And then, patching a Mutable Rings was just meant to be. Inevitable. Precious. We all love Rings into Clouds. But it belongs in Mordor."

Building a Buchla 248 MARF with Stages, Stages, Stages and Marbles

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Sorry about that title. The MARF is short for the Multiple ARbitrary Function generator, a huge Buchla design carrying the model number 248, and is part of the 200 series. It's not easy to compare it with anything, but you could see it as a 16 step 0-CTRL, a Rossum Control Forge and maybe even the 250e circular Dual Arbitrary Function generator (DARF) like Frap Tools USTA. I contacted Todd Barton (thanks so much!) to be able to study a few MARF images. The sliders made me think of Mutable Stages, and the control section reminded me of Marbles. While getting lost on the way, I finally got a patch that sounded similar: 'music that sounds like dancing butterflies'.
The recipe involves variable timing, notes, a quantizer, and a transpose. You may also need a trigger or gate when a segment runs or finishes. There's a lot to explore here, and I don't think you can find a MARF in a single eurorack solution. I tried to approximate it, but I also needed Maths to do envelopes and gate extraction. It took a while to make this video and I wasn't sure about the results until the very end. Then suddenly, it worked.

You'll need a lot of stuff to do it, but there may be smaller solutions. I'll revisit this idea when my Control Forge arrives and I'll be able to combine USTA with the CF.

This is a complex video so I hope it will make a bit of sense. It would have been better to figure all this out and then make a video. But you'd be missing the fun of exploration. There are plenty of useful examples of how 'factory' Stages can be used, but I installed the Qiemem firmware for max flexibility. In the end I only used its 'random segment' feature in this video, but it doesn't play a role in the MARF patch. You can do this with factory Stages but it still requires a chain of 2 or 3. You can use any sequencer with a clock input for this. A DFAM will also help you to cover the time/level sequence.

Installation requires playing a .WAV into the module which can be bit of a drag. I recommend using a eurorack sample player like the BitBox for a high success ratio. Using a phone, PC or pad can be a nightmare. Also, I am not sure if the firmware works on a clone, please comment if you tried it.
https://github.com/qiemem/eurorack/re...

I am still trying to wrap my head around it. Even though Stages and Marbles are now discontinued, they're easy to find as fully functional clones. With Eurorack, we have the 'power' to build our own synths, or get inspired by designs which are still amazing and modern after +50 years. I hope it inspires you too."

Songs From The Periodic Table

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"If each element in the periodic table has a spectrum that can be used to idenfity it, each color in the spectrum can be converted to a frequency. So each element has a distinct sound signature, a scale. It's not easy to make them audible, but with a stack of tone generators you should be able to set it up. You can approach this with additive synthesis - creating sinewave partials for each frequency band, but approaching it as scales is much more intriguing. Each element has its own 'microtonal scale' and some of them are quite beautiful when you compose in the key of Mother Nature.

This experiment feels like actual sonic Alchemy where you can turn the sound of Lead into the sound of Gold, the sound of water - or even 'listen' to the five elements of our DNA. Also, these frequencies have nothing to do with the actual vibration frequency of a atom. Oxygen, for instance, vibrates at 60 GHz and there's no way you can hear it.

I used Droid Master with an array of LFO's running at audio rates to recreate a spectrum's frequency bands (with two digit decimal precision). I found the conversion tables on https://musicoftheperiodictable.com."

Sinc Legio | by Noise Engineering

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The Sinc Iter was a small 4 HP utility oscillator and the second VCO created by Noise Engineering. It's been discontinued for a while, but now it's back in glorious stereo. One would expect an 'Iter' to return on the Alia platform, but Alia is mono, and can't handle a stereo audiorate CV source.

The Sinc is a modest, civilized VCO in its core. You are supposed to use the Phase Modulation inputs, morphing basic waveforms, the wavefolder and chorus to sculpt our own sonic treasures. Sinc Legio is available as a free firmware for all Legio owners. Personally, I feel this is one of the most versatile and enjoyable firmwares in the NE VCO collection.

Happy flashing!"

Dark Easel | Buchla LEM 218e, 0-Coast & Strega

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"This is a freeform improvisation with 0-Coast and Strega in three takes. The first take is 0-Coast doing plonks and textures, the second take is Strega doing a pad and the third take is a solo over the pad. Nothing fancy, and quite linear. More like parts - or movements - instead of overdubs. I am trying to show you that a DAW can turn a small set of modules into a huge wall of sound too. Doing everything in one go is really hard and only necessary if you need to perform live. I am happy I don't have to.

The Dark Easel is the nickname for the 0-Coast, Strega and 0-Ctrl trinity. As you may have seen in previous videos, I've been on a quest to recreate something close to the Buchla Easel in Eurorack. My quest came to an end when I took a leap of faith and got the Buchla 218e, which is the 'simple' 50% of the Easel case. However, I did not expect these capacitive touch keys to be such a big component of the authentic Buchla Easel sound.

It's a very big investment for a little keyboard, but I can't emphasize how happy I am with it. I am not a good keyboard player, but sliding over the surface finally allows my fingers to keep up with my brain. But it also feels like I am playing a bit of synth history. As I describe in the video, this combo is like a classic Corvette towing a skateboard. It's not intended as a disrespect to the 0-coast, but there are a lot of skateboards at the MN office in Ashville. Besides, 0-coast definitely qualifies as a great entrypoint into modular westcoast synthesis and honestly, I learned a LOT from this little machine. Like 'everything is voltage'. This time it's not racked and used as intended. With keys.
I am sure you'll get similar results with your Keystep or a more fancy controller.

I know there are a few Spartans out there who want it raw, with nothing but the bare machine. But it has a contour and sustain tightly related with holding down a key. And then, ofcourse, there's midi. In this video, I completely overlooked using the 0-coast with the midi output from the 218, but I don't feel like going through those PGM A | B pages. I will check it out later, because I wonder what would happen if I enable the Coast's internal sequencer AND an external one (e.g. BeatStep Pro). If it's any good, I'll post it. For today, I just wanted to cruise the Ease Coast."

Erbe-Verb B&G | Shared System 'X' | Episode 03 | Back in Black

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Yeah. I made episode 03 before I was able to finish episode 02 so I decided to post them both. There's no need on this channel to manage posts to maximize views, I just want you to be able to find information when you need it and I just LOVE to make content like this. I made a lot of videos about the EV in the past and it's covered in the old Shared System tutorials (link in video). In this video, I am going to try something new.

In this episode, I'll only use Erbe-Verb and DXG in a feedback loop. So no fancy 7U case layout this time, I made this video to find out if it can still be relevant in 2024. Since I am totally biased, you'll need to decide for yourself. Honestly, if you need a regular reverb, maybe a stereo module would serve you better.

Erbe-Verb is going for a limited rerun in black and gold, so this also means it's getting old and possibly moving to retirement. Without speculating too much, it's possible that MakeNoise is working on a successor now they have this amazing new ARM DSP board. But again, I have no idea. What we DO know is, that Erbe-Verb is widely considered as one of the best reverbs in eurorack, even though it's not the best reverb as a reverb. Que? It excels in creative use and abuse. It will never get old and whatever comes next, it will pair well with the EV (it pairs really well with a Mimeophon, StarLab, Sealegs or Desmodus Versio).

Apart from the sound design fun, Erbe-Verb plays a big role in the Shared System signature sound. While it's partly overshadowed by the more recent Mimeophon, the Mime's 'halo' only adds a little space. It's nothing compared to the 'icy sheet metal in deep space' sound from the EV, which can easily double as a classic spring- or plate reverb when 'absorb' and 'tilt' are used to tame the high end. I've never been a fan of the predelay, but it can do amazing things with modulation and gates/triggers.

The Erbe-Verb is 'mono IN' so it needs to be used as a send/return with a stereo voice like XPO or Spectraphon. Here's where a ModDemix comes in handy. You can use CH1 and CH2 to pass on your stereo mix to let's say an X-PAN, and use the Sum out to EV. Then you can patch the EV's stereo out to X-PAN's aux inputs. It's a lot of patching and modules for a verb, but it provides a lot of freedom."

Dual #XPO | Shared System 'X' | Episode 02 | 259 is here again

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"This series is about getting creative within the confinement of the 7U case with black and gold modules which are available in retail. The goal is to build something like the original Shared System B&G where the collection and order of modules deliver a logical and intuitive synthesizer ecosystem.

The heart and soul of the original Shared is the DPO, which is a dual complex VCO, inspired by the Buchla 259 from the '70's. There's 'two five nine was here' printed on the circuitboard. While the DPO is still available, it's only available in silver, and it may not be restocked in the EU because it has a vactrol to strike the wavefolder. Without speculating too much, DPO will either leave the stage, or return as a 'green' revision borrowing a DXG strike. Who knows.

Even though I love Spectraphon, which also has a '259 inspired' design, it doesn't sound like an analog DPO. It doesn't have the raw sound of fresh timber. I've been experimenting with dual XPO's for a while now (there's a link to my XPO vs DPO video) and I've 'discovered' that adding a moddemix as a bus really approximates it, but can also go beyond any complex VCO I've heard. The output count is outrageous, and having the 'FM/MOD bus' on the outside brings you very close to a Serge design. It takes a bit more patching, but it also delivers tons of fun.

I am aware this series is a bit like a buying guide mixed with a MakeNoise ad but I am not affiliated with MakeNoise except that I am a groupie. I make fan films. We all have our favorites and MN was my entry into modular. I am totally biased. But these layouts also work with other brands and they're shared for inspiration. It's not the brand, not the modules, it's the roles, order and interaction of modules that turn a patch blanket into an ecoystem."

Elmyra2 Revisited with Imitor, Melotus & Desmodus Versio

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"It's been two months since I supported the Elmyra2 launch wave. But it's not gathering dust. It's maturing like good wine. This video doesn't add much to the first one, except I'll be using a lot more CV and starting RAW with no effects. Indeed, it reminds a bit of the Lyra-8 sonically, but the Elmyra is much easier to control and there's no built in FM. You'll need a masterclass for Lyra-8, but you can just play Elmyra and make dark organic drones, textures and music. I've included some short Lyra-8 snippets for you to compare. Elmyra 2 can't go to the high notes, where Lyra-8 can go higher than you can hear. So I will not compare them, but enjoy them both."

Natural Gate by Rabid Elephant | It's REALLY good. But why?

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The NG is often considered as the best sounding LPG you can get - if your fortunate, lucky and patient. It's analog, but it doesn't use a natural vactrol decay because it can ring much longer thanks to the Decay slider. I guess the term 'natural' applies more to the physical properties of hitting something soft, hard, slow or fast, where the materials and pitch also matter. A classic LPG has a static hit, but DXG is advertised as dynamic. To get the most out of our not-so-natural LPG's, it's cool to demystify these physical properties and try to patch them up so we'll understand them better. They can make a lot of difference. So this is not going to be a 'look what I got' video because it doesn't help anybody. There's a big section about advanced envelope patching with Maths and Optomix to add physical properties like pitch dependent decay and strike intensity. But it's not easy, and it doesn't sound as natural as the NG.

When I was hooked on Optomix, I 'protected' myself from non-vactrol LPGs like the NG and the SSF SSG. I often said, if it doesn't have vactrols, it's not an LPG. I've been biased and prejudiced and it happens to all of us from time to time, considering the endless analog vs digital discussion. Technology serves a result, and when the result is excellent, it's great technology. I've been expecting wonders from the NG and in the confined realm of classic LPG's it really delivers. But I am not sure if it can compete with the fun that comes with a module like the SSG. The NG is one of the very best. But the best one is the one that helps you make the music you love most. Honestly, I think the SSG will serve more genres and styles.

The African track is composed and performed by me when I was still in the box and used NI Maschine a lot. It's named after the expansion pack 'Global Shake'."

23

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The latest Soma Digest (16) had a link to a #Pulsar23 'diode' experiment by Conatus Modulari from Rotterdam, NL. I am not sure how many of you own a Pulsar, but I see it shine at many live gigs by many people, and recently Johno Wells dedicated a whole show to it. Anyway, this 'diode' trick is amazing. Basically you'd combine an LFO with a Clock, LFO patched to the right side, Clock to the Left. Also clock the LFO with something. Then, patch/pinch/clip another line from the Clock side to your kick trigger and adjust to taste. I don't know how it works, I just know I love it. It reminds me of euclidian rhythms, but there's no code, no logic, just analog magic.
There's a video to Conatus' video where he explains how it works so I can just jam and experiment with the Buchla keys."

New Life | Westlicht Performer alt firmware, Rings, Streams, WMD TrshMstr

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"It's spring! It's probably my favorite season of the year. This video showcases a few new ideas with Rings & Streams, add some rock with the WMD TrashMaster while Westlicht runs an 'alternative' firmware.

I got a tip from a subscriber there's a new firmware for WestLicht Performer. I checked it out and noticed is a 'fork' by Mebitek. A fork is a sidestep from the original code, where developers can try things out, and merge good stuff back into the main firmware 'branch'. I am not sure if this is ever going to happen because there isn't much going on in Westlicht development. So you'll need to see it as an alternative firmware, it may not be supported and it could bring new bugs to your module.

However, this firmware adds stochastic tracks, gate length variation probability, scale overrides and note repeats. I also noticed a few small bug fixes. Transposing from another channel now works as expected.

You can find the firmware here if you're interested: https://github.com/mebitek/performer/...

You only need to download UPDATE.DAT, put it on an SD and press the encoder while booting the module. Then follow the instructions. You can always go back to the factory release, so make sure you have a backup somewhere, and make a backup of your original SD including presets.

I think the firmware is great and it brings 'new life' to the module, but it's not very interesting if you don't have a Westlicht.

Streams also needed attention after keeping it stored for six years. It's a unique take on a low pass gate, and it brings new life to anything that's supposed to sound organic. So I gave it a shot with Rings. Since you can push Streams into saturation and clipping, I wanted to run Rings through WMD Trash Master. 'New Life' also qualifies for WMD. This great brand is back in business after the Covid-19 electronic parts nightmare. So yes. Winter is over."

Lo-Pass Gates (LPG) | From the Buchla 292 to Mutable Streams

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"I've been using a lot of LPG models, including a few that don't use vactrols. However, I use the Buchla 292 as a reference because it represents the original design. If it doesn't (at least) sound like a 292, it's not a LPG in the classic sense. But it can still be something better or cooler. Manufacturers have the freedom and creativity to build on it, and make it their own, like the QMMG, Streams and the Steady State Gate.

The MakeNoise modules are strongly represented, because it's cool to see all the subtle (and not so subtle) differences between modules. They're all unique signs of the times.

I wish I could include the Rabid Elephant Natural Gate because it may be the most natural gate around, and seriously missing in this collection. It is advertised to be 'strike speed aware', and it also knows that a high note rings shorter. I managed to find a reasonably priced one in Germany and it's on its way to the Lab. It also seems the Rabid Elephant website came back to life, so hopefully they're producing again.

It's funny, but I got Mutable Streams about six years ago and couldn't position it next to the Veils VCA. I remember buying it for the compressor. At the time I had no idea what a LPG was. The manual talked about Buchla, but what the hell did I know. I remember watching DivKid's video, but at the time it sounded like Russian poetry.

Now I know what an LPG is, but my encounter with Streams is about 24 hours young. I remembered a little vactrol symbol on Streams (I am blessed with photographic memory), so I looked it up in my box of forgotten modules, read the manual and was surprised to read it's a dedicated LPG module. All modes have something to do with a low pass gate. I patched it up and was blown away by the possibilities you probably already know about. But I need to learn too, especially stuff I have lying around unused for many years.

00:00 Introduction
00:21 Plaits 2 OP FM as a source and the built in LPG.
01:27 Buchla/TTA 292T - The Reference
03:32 MN Optomix LPG
04:26 MN Dynamix VCFA
05:46 MN LxD
07:29 MN DXG
08:51 MN QMMG
10:18 SSF Steady State Gate
12:39 Noise Engineering Sinc Bucina
13:28 Endorphines Sqwk Dirty
14:14 Mutable Instruments Streams"

XAOC Sopot | Magic Duct Tape for your audio puzzles (w. MakeNoise RxMx, Plaits & Frames)

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"I got Sopot a few weeks ago, but got focused on the Leibniz modules and forgot about it a bit. It almost never made it to a case because space is limited and I had to make choices. Yesterday I checked out the manual, tried some patches and a wealth of new ideas just popped up. This is a simple 6HP utility, costing around 90 euro, but it can solve a fortune of mixing challenges when a big fancy mixer is not an option.

In short, Sopot is a summing mixer with four stereo inputs (!) four mono inputs (!!) and mid/side outputs, or mono/stereo if you wish. The mono inputs are normalled to the center, but can be panned 50%/50% with a little center spread. This design is amazing. Highly recommended."

XAOC Leibniz Binary Subsystem

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"In episode 1 [posted here], it was fun to dive in. Then I found out that the system isn't just a matter of putting all modules in a case, wiring up the I/O on the back and get to work. It's modular (duh) so it's more a matter of recipes where the order of modules isn't fixed. Having all modules in a case doesn't exactly help to understand them either, there's just too many variables and it's extremely easy to make a wrong connection with the 'pale pink stripe' down or up on the LBZ ribbon cables. You really need to double check and then again. XAOC, make them red. Please.

In this episode I tried to get the Rostock module to work. It's a bucket brigade 'delay' with 64 memory locations. Or a shift register. Anyway, it allows you to accumulate values from the bus and store them so you can loop it. However, with a clock running at 2 mHz you don't hear 64 bytes when millions come by. If it's even audible it's in the nanosecond range. I had to slow down to actually see the module work.

XAOC has provided cool patch examples in the manual and I focused on delaying/looping rhythms with Rostock, Lipsk (bit inverter) and Poczdam (router/binary output). I am also using Odessa in the video, which is a truly amazing VCO which also has a Leibniz header on the back to control partials with bitmaps. I absolutely LOVE this system and can't wait to get started on episode 03."

Buchla LEM 218e V3 | With MakeNoise Strega, DXG and the Shared System B&G plus.

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"This is probably my first and last genuine banana Buchla 'module' because I really want to stick to Eurorack. But since I love Westcoast synthesis a lot, I think it's a must-have keyboard for anyone serious about MakeNoise, the Buchla/TTA 200T series and any brand that gets inspired by Don Buchla designs (e.g. Frap, Verbos, Serge eurorack). I tried so many keys, controllers, pads, etc, but most of them require MIDI to CV and most of them are designed for polyphonic MIDI with a few extra CV outs. The LEM218e is the orginal keyboard for the Buchla Easel from 1973. It may not be perfect, but it's perfect for the music I love most."

XAOC Leibniz Binary Subsystem | Episode 01 | Intro & Drezno II

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"My first ignorant impression was 'it's a fancy bitcrusher' which may be 10% right. It's about musical applications with binary logic. Thanks to Bries and Tom Churchil for their masterclasses so I may be able to figure out the other 90%.

As always, I am not sponsored by XAOC. I wish, but it's too late now. I have Lipsk in backorder and that will probably conclude my case.

Dear XAOC if you feel thankful while this series progresses, I still have a short wishlist like Odessa, Batumi, Samara, Belgrad and a mixer. But I am already happy you made these modules!"

Aurelia | Kaitlyn's Easel Patch on the MakeNoise Shared System

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Nine years ago (time flies) Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith posted one of the most inspiring Buchla patches ever created [links below], puzzling and inspiring the Buchla community from all over the world. Maybe this is the fist video that brings the recipe to Eurorack and the Shared System is a great system to try and cook it. While Kaitlyn's patch is haute cuisine, this is a bit closer to fast food thanks to Rene V2. It's not exactly an Easel keyboard, but a patch like this makes you realize how powerful it really is once you get your head around it. It can turn any CV source into an arpeggio. I am using Brains to sequence good ol' Pressure Points, but since Rene is doing all the heavy lifting, you'll have plenty of time to add some personal expression."

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Buchla Music Easel

Kaitlyn's Elegant Patch by Todd Barton

Chasing Ghosts

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Hi All,
It's been a while since my last video and it will take a while to get back into the routine. I came down with a flu from hell and I've been out of order for two weeks. It's the first time since 2020 and I can't remember flu hitting this hard, not being able to sleep, eat, listen to modulars or watching TV. I tested negative on Covid-19, but maybe it's Covid-24. Who knows.

On January 30 I posted the 'Where's the Easel' video. I made a decision to go for Eurorack in 2020 and 'never' wander Buchla's official banana path. So while it's easier to just buy an Easel, spending $6K in a different universe is just not an option. So the Quest continues.

This is a video full of dead ends. I was pretty convinced I could approximate the Buchla with Endorphin.es Shuttle System and the Sensel Morph controller but only got one aspect of it. Using the Beatstep Pro only confirmed how important that Electronic Music Box touch keyboard is.

It confirmed how close the Shuttle is to the Easel Command, and yet so far away. I thought the Verbos Touch Keyboard would be a solution, but it was not. I found a used one, but it felt unresponsive and didn't track pitch. Fortunately I managed to calibrate it, but my fingers and touchplates are not compatible.

Again, tunnel vision made me completely overlook the Buchla LEM 218E V3 touch keyboard - which now comes with Eurorack outputs on the side. So I took a leap of faith and ordered the 218E. Hopefully the Quest comes to an end just before March, hoping the Easel is more than a Eurorack ghost. Speaking of Ghosts, I also tried to fit the Endorphin.es Ghost delay in the Shuttle, another dead end, which are actually u-turns. This was a tough video to make for many reasons and it felt like chasing ghosts. It's all over the place. But I think I am getting somewhere now, and learned a lot."

Buchla/Tiptop 207T | Classic Six Channel Mixer with Mic Pre-Amp

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The 207T may be a no-brainer for 200T series collectors and I love every HP of it exactly for that reason. But outside the 200T universe it may be too big and too limited. It doesn't have volume VCA's or any form of automation except for panning the outer channels. The idea is to use the 292T for VCA duties. There's no master volume either, but my final case output takes care of this. It allows send/return patches and six channels is more than enough to combine most modules in the 200T series. The Pre-Amp however, is a winner. During #jamuary2024 I had a few issues with bringing my 'alchemist' box to modular level. With the 207T it just works and sometimes it even came in too hot."

Where's the Easel? | Exploring the Buchla/TipTop 200T series

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Ah, last jam of the month. I've been interested in the Easel for a long time. Today I finally found out that many of the Easel's components are present in the current 200T lineup. But for some reason, Easel performances almost always sound more musical. So why is that? I think the answer is 'keys'. 50% of the Easel is a touch sensitive keyboard, while a case full of 200T modules will just bleep. So for this jam, I added a keyboard."