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."

259 | Episode 03 | Modulation

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"3rd and final episode of the 259 series [all episodes here], where I take a closer look at the impact the Buchla 259 had on contemporary eurorack gear. This episode is about the center modulation bus which still translates very well to the VCO feature lists of modern complex oscillators.

00:00 Introduction
00:27 Modulation types
02:23 Furthrrrr Generator - Strong Zero Core 05:38 Commercial Break (ShapeShifter)
06:02 Furthrrrr Generator - Analog Core
08:57 MakeNoise DPO
12:12 Mutable Instruments Blades (patch your own 259)."

Buchla 259 | Episode 02 | Playing the Oscillators

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"In episode 01 I started with the Main/Principal oscillator. But a complex oscillator also has a modulation oscillator. In episode 02 I am going to focus on the 'dual oscillator' side, which could be useful for anyone with two VCO's in a case. The original title was 'surfing the oscillators' because it's inspired by a @vgermuse Todd Barton live improvisation from 2012 where he actually played the 259 on instinct, just fiddling knobs. Part one of the video is music from the actual recording: https://soundcloud.com/user7621213/bu...

Playing the oscillators by hand is possibly the most fun and gratifying experience with your modular. Just have a big reverb nearby! So I hope you have FM inputs to play with. I am saving the modulation/FM bus for episode 03 and I may finish the series with a 'build your own complex oscillator with anything you can find'. In this episode I am also revisiting the Furthrrrr Generator with the 'strong zero' core. I mentioned that the digital core may not be the best choice if you're looking for an analog 259 experience but this does not mean it's bad. It's quite the opposite.

We'll stay in complex territory this month. Next up will be a Cosmotronic Vortex video because all the material I shot for this series deserves a separate item. If all goes well, I'll have a Cs-L video planned and finally a Lubadh 'reel life' episode with 2.0 firmware. So plenty to study and hopefully something to look forward to."

Buchla 259 - Episode 01 - In the Beginning...

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Many - if not all - contemporary complex oscillators are inspired by Buchla's original 259 from the 1970's. I don't think there's anything before that, except maybe the 258 ('60s) and FM radio ('50s). John Chowning is considered the father of digital FM synthesis - also in the 70s - but even in 2017 scientists were breaking their heads over 'how to make a digital wavefolder'. I guess eurorack would be far less interesting without mr. Buchla's work. In this episode I'll focus on the main/principal oscillator of the complex VCO design. I am unable to hear the original sound of the 259, but the Furthrrrr Generator from Endorphins is the most faithful recreation I know. We'll check out the DPO and the Cs-L while being guided by the 259's panel (thanks to mr. Todd Barton for shooting some great images), but even mr. Barton's 259 is a clone. I learned a lot by just looking at the panel. The 'autotune' on the original is not implemented on the clone PCB's so DIY people wonder how it would have worked. So this video contains inevitable speculation but even that is very inspiring. I'll try to get a Verbos CO for episode 02, since Mark Verbos actually built original 259's in Buchla's garage. It brings back memories and visions I can't possibly have, but it only confirms the 259 is - and will always be - special."