John L Rice: MOTS At Lusio, A Night To Awaken

Published on Aug 31, 2019 John L Rice

"As per my usual, I didn't have any idea of what I was going to perform until the day before the performance, but for what it's worth, here it is! ;-) I had fun none the less and a big thank you to Mollie, Bradley, Chris, Philip, Justin, James, Kevin, everyone else who helped out, all the other great performers , and big hugs to the wonderful members of the audience!

If you want to know more about MOTS (Modular On The Spot) and Modular Nights shows, to either be part of the audience or to perform yourself, contact Modular Seattle:
https://www.modularseattle.com/

Learn more about Lusio here: https://www.lusiolight.com/

As per the MOTS tradition, I only used a modular synthesizer, you can get a good look at it at 2:35. I had three stereo patches on the modular, a sequenced background and then two different lead voices I controlled with an Arturia KeyStep keyboard and Mutable Instruments Yarns MIDI to CV/Gate module:

1) The background patch was the most complex, it was a four voice shift registered sequence featuring an Erica Synths Black Clock, a Division6 SQ816 sequencer, a VPME T43 precision adder, a Synth Tech E102 shift register, an Instruo Quad Performance Quantizer with micro keyboard, 4 Synth Tech E330 VCOs, a Modcan Quad LFO, a 2hp clock divider/multiplier, a Doepfer quad envelop generator, a Xaoc Devices stereo mixer, and a Strymon Engineering Magneto delay/reverb.

2) The rich fat typical synth voice was a Modcan Triple VCO into a Synth Tech E440 low pass filter along with an Erica Synths EG and VCA for voicing and an Audio Damage reverb module and then finally to a Circuit Abbey mixer.

3) The plucky voice was simply a Mutable Instruments Rings into Clouds and then to a second Circuit Abbey mixer. I had the patch set up in stereo where the output switched sides every time I played a note but unfortunately there was a problem with one of the cables so only every other note was heard! Whoopsie! ;-)"

JLR Live At Volunteer Park - MOTS Seattle - August 2018

Published on Sep 12, 2018 John L Rice

"This is actually part of the second piece I was going to perform at my live broadcast on KSER FM 90.7 the night before if there was time but it didn't happen so I used it for MOTS the next day! ;-) Here's the link for the KSER show video I made in case you missed it! ;-) [posted here]

Modules in the case:
4ms: ROW POWER 30
Qu-Bit: EON
2hp: Trim, Mult, LFO v2, Seq, Mix, Delay, Verb
Synth-Werks: Lamp3
Erica Synths: Pico Trigger
Happy Nerding: HM VCO x 2, MMM VCF, ADSR,
Division 6: Multiplicity VI
Synth Tech: E950, E951
Erica Synths: Pico DRUMS (not used)
SSF: ADSRVCA
Intellijel: Springray
Circuit Abbey: Unify

Direct audio recording by Bradley Millington
Video and additional audio content via John's Canon M5 camera
Post production by John L Rice using Sony Vegas Pro 13"

http://modularonthespot.com/

6 PM Intruder At Occidental Square

Published on Jun 19, 2018 John L Rice

Mellotron Setup:
Micro into a TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 pedal and then into a TC Electronic T2 pedal.

5U Setup:
Two Synth Tech MOTM-310 VCOs, one FMing the other, into a Korg Miku Stomp pedal then into a TC Electronic Flashback pedal and then into a TC Electronic Hall Of Fame pedal.

Eurorack Setup:
4MS: Row Power 30
Happy Nerding: HM VCO (x2), MMM VCF, ADSR,
Erica Synths: TRIGG, SEQ
2hp: LFO v2, Seq, Mix, Delay, Verb, Mult, Trim
Division6: Multiplicity VI
Synth Tech: E950, E951
Qu-Bit: EON
WMD/SSF: ADSRVCA
Intellijel: Springray v1
Circuit Abbey: Unify
Synthwerks: Lamp-3

There are additional shows scheduled at Occidental Square where I and many other wonderful performers will be doing free concerts of live electronic music. Please join us! :-)
July 17th 2018 4 to 6 PM
August 14th 2018 4 to 6 PM

Circuit Abbey Liquidus Intro & Sample Videos

Published on Jun 6, 2018 Brother Theo

"The new Liquidus filter by Circuit Abbey"

Circuit Abbey DLFO Intro Video

Published on Jun 6, 2018 Brother Theo

"New Dual LFO by Circuit Abbey"

Five Thoughts For Eurorack Modular

Published on Mar 2, 2018 John L Rice

"While this isn't a demo of the ADDAC214 VC Rotator, all five of these pieces use it in the patch. See patch details below:

Unless otherwise noted the following terms indicate:
ADDAC214 - ADDAC System ADDAC214 VC Rotator sequential switch
VCO - Synth Tech E330 Multimode VCO
EG - Modcan Quad Envelope
VCA - Bubble Sound VCA4p
Voice - VCO+EG+VCA
Mixer - Circuit Abbey Unify + expander
Sequencer - Division6 Mattson SQ816
Clock - Erica Synths Black VC Clock v2
LFO - Erica Synths Black Octasource
E102 - Synth Tech E102 Quad Temporal Shifter
QPQ - Instruo Quad Performance Quantizer
Delay - Mooer Ocean Machine pedal
Reverb - Mooer Ocean Machine and TC Electronic T2 pedals

1) Initial Test 0:00
A typical 4 voice patch I do with this system is to process a CV sequence through the E102 shift register and then through the QPQ to provide CV and gates for the Voices. In this case the ADDAC214 is inserted between the E102 and QPQ so that when clocked at a faster rate the QPQ gets channel updates more often and fires the Voices more often. I'm using a modified Doepfer A-182-1 Switched Multiple + Doepfer A-180-2 Multiple to switch between the different Clock outputs. Delay used was the Synth Tech E580 Resampling Mini Delay.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Instruo Quad Performance Quantizer

Published on Feb 23, 2018 John L Rice

"The patch was sounding kinda cool so I'm uploading a bit of it! ;-) Gear Used:
Division6/Mattson SQ816 step sequencer
Instruo Quad Performance Quantizer
2 x Synth Tech E330 VCOs in Cloud mode
Erica Synths Octasource
Happy Nerding 3xMIA
Modcan Quad Envelope
Bubble Sound VCA4p
Circuit Abbey Unify
Mooer Ocean Machine pedal
TC Electronics T2 pedal
Mackie 402-VLZ3 mixer
Canon C100 camera
Xeen 24mm lens
Atomos Ninja Blade recorder
Sony Vegas Pro NLE"

Moog Officially Introduces the Moog Synthesizer IIIp

Published on Feb 20, 2018 Moog Music Inc

"Watch as Anthony Gonzalez and Joe Berry of M83 patch in and explore the Moog Synthesizer IIIp."

"In the late 1960s, Bob Moog and a team of ten skilled technicians began hand-building cutting-edge musical instruments that they called 'synthesizers' -- instruments that would radically change the landscape of music.

The world got turned on to the idea of the synthesizer -- and electronic music -- through the visionary works of experimental musicians during the late 60s and early 70s. Wendy Carlos composed her sonic masterpiece Switched On Bach using the electronics of a customized Moog Synthesizer III--creating space for artists like George Harrison to employ his Moog Synthesizer IIIp on the Beatles’ Abbey Road sessions, and Isao Tomita to shape the sounds of 'classitronica' using the first Synthesizer IIIp in Japan on Snowflakes Are Dancing.

Although production of Synthesizer IIIp was discontinued in 1973, these original modular systems designed by Bob Moog are inimitable in sonic character and remain highly coveted for their limitless reconfigurability and vibrantly organic musicality.

Nearly fifty years later, we are proud to announce the return of the Moog Synthesizer IIIp to production for a very limited time.

Every Synthesizer IIIp will be built using all-original documentation, art, and circuit board files. Moog Synthesizer IIIp production is highly limited. Only 40 units will be produced and sold worldwide.

Learn more about the Synthesizer IIIp HERE."

The new Moog IIIp was first announced here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Circuit Abbey Liquidus & DLFO

Published on Nov 28, 2017 Brother Theo

Million Machine March Poses the Question: Will Moog Release a Complete Eurorack Modular System?

Million Machine March poses the question of whether Moog Music will come out with a complete eurorack modular system. Click through for the full post. You might recall Million Machine March (previously Ninstrument) has been porting Moog's Moogerfoogers to eurorack for some time now.

Pictured: "Here we show the Eurorack converted Moog MoogerFoogers, MF-101, 102, 103, 105, 107, and 108. A Moog Minitaur Bass Synth, and a Moog Werkstatt synth. A Circuit Abbey Unify mixer with expander. A 2HP mult and two Div 6 16 step sequencers to round out the system’s functionality. All of this housed in a custom 9U Goike case."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Modular On The Spot - "Rain Dance" At Seward Park

Published on Oct 11, 2017 John L Rice

"This is my set from the MOTS event at Seward Park in Seattle WA USA October 7th 2017. *(also very short clips of the other performers at the end as a bonus)

Again I used my little Canon M5 mirror-less camera but this time with an 8mm fish-eye lens. Audio is a direct recording from the mixing desk. (thanks Bradley!)"

Division 6 Mattson SQ816 Sequencer on top.

Update:

"Gear used in order of appearance:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Preclipse

Preclipse from Noise Jockey on Vimeo.

"Pre-eclipse techno session on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Patch notes, in order of voice appearance: Verbos Harmonic Oscillator Output 6 ring-modulated (via Circuit Abbey Twiggy, bottom channel as ringmod and upper channel as VCA) by Verbos Complex Oscillator A saw wave. Harmonic Oscillator master output drone has Tilt modulated by a rhythmic gate from Pamela’s New Workout and Center modulated by an LFO from Batumi. Acid bassline from Abstrakt Instruments Avalon, which drives the whole patch over DINSync via an ALM D.S.G. into Pamela’s New Workout. Kick drum is my customized Bugbrand DRM-1, hi-hats are the TipTop Hats909 (seen hanging out below the drum rack), additional percussion from the Radio Music (custom metal-on-metal grinding field recording) and Loquelic Iteritas into Bastl Skis; all drum programming done live via the Bastl Knit Rider, and modulated by the Qu-Bit Nano Rand. Drums mixed with SSF Mixmode and distorted by Audio Damage Shapes. West Coast voice comes from the Complex Oscillator, modulated by LFO from Batumi and the Verbos Random Sampling, sequenced by Verbos Voltage Multistage. Envelopes from an Intellijel Quadra, triggered either from the Voltage Multistage or Pamela’s New Workout. Mixed by Sputnik Six Channel Mixer, recorded straight to iPhone via Line6 Sonic Port. No audio post-processing applied."

E102 Quad Temporal Shifter - Basic Two Voice Patch Tutorial

Published on Apr 14, 2017 John L Rice

"Please ask questions in the comments section below. I thought to do this quickly and unscripted but watching the finished video I feel I could have explained a few things more clearly. ;-)

I hope I have at least inspired you to explore the many possibilities this great module has to offer!

More info on the Synth Tech E102 here:
http://synthtech.com/eurorack/E102/

The beginning of this video uses the following modules and gear:
Synth Tech - E102, E330, E355, E950
Intellijel - Quadra
Bubblesound - VCA4p
Circuit Abbey - Unify, Unify Input Expander
Xaoc Devices - Tirana x 2
Ladik - Q-010
Synthrotek - Deluxe Power
TC Electronics - Alter Ego V2, Trinity 2
Mackie - 402-VLZ3
Canon - C100
Xeen - 14mm T1.5
Atomos - Ninja Blade
Neumann - TLM193
A-Designs - MP-2A
Warm Audio - WA2A
Lavry - Blue AD/DA

In addition, the ending section has the following modules and gear:
Circuit Abbey G8
Erica Synths Pico Drums
Mutable Instruments Rings
Steady State Fate SPO
Synth Tech E440
Mellotron M4000D Rack
Quantec 2402/F

Assembled and edited with:
Sony - Vegas Pro 13"

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017 - Vola the Tape Four

Published on Apr 1, 2017 Vola Noisy Stuff

"This is the first part of my video for the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017. This video is explains what the Tape Four is and shows what it can do.

The second part will focus on the concept and build and it will have the schematics and bill of material at the end of the video.

The Tape Four is inspired by the Beatles track Tomorrow Never Knows and the way it uses tape loops. The design takes inspiration from the old mixing consoles that the Beatles used at Abbey Road studios."

Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017 - Vola the Tape Four Part 2

Published on Apr 1, 2017

"This is the Second part of my video for the Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2017. This video will focus on the concept and build and it will have the schematics and bill of material at the end of the video."

Design Scenarios | Modular Loops

Published on Oct 20, 2016 Mike Kiraly

"Working on ideas for a new Sonic Scenarios product.
Source Path : Mandolin / XAOC Devices Sewastopol / Mutable Instruments Clouds / Mutable Instruments Ripples / TipTop Audio Z-DSP / Modcan Dual Delay / Circuit Abbey Unify
Modulation Path : Make Noise Rene / Mutable Instruments Frames / Modcan Quad Envelope / Intellijel Linix / Modcan Quad LFO
Sync Path : Innerclock Systems SyncGen II / TipTop Audio Trigger Riot / 4MS QCD"

Ninstrument ‘SUPER’ Eurorack Modules - QCDG8, UTILITA, & COMPRESSWITCH

via Ninstrument

"Continuing in the same thread of combining eurorack modules together, here are a couple more examples. First is the QCDG8. I took a 4MS QCD and expander and smashed a Circuit Abbey G8 right in between. I also added much needed bufferred mults to the outputs of the QCD and expander. This has a nice flow with all of the jacks down the middle of the panel.

"Next is the UTILITA. Where do all of those clock outputs from the above QCDG8 go? This modules combines a Doepfer A-150, a Blue Lantern CMOS Party, 3 NE Sinclastic Empulatrix and a MI Branches. By combining them into one panel I can ‘normal’ some of the inputs making it much easier and quicker to patch. I also solidify my workflow. Remember ‘Familiarity’ breeds content. The more you get used to something the more it will seem like second nature."

"And last but not least is the COMPRESSWITCH. Here I take two Compressors from WMD and a Pittsburgh Switch and make them into one bad ass switchable compressor. This gets used in every patch I make.

As you gain experience with your modular synthesizer, you will start to see you will regularly patch your modules the same way most of the time. Once you establish the workflow you use most often, it makes sense to combine modules together into ‘SUPER’ modules if you will. You will obviously have your own ideas what you would make into a SUPER module, but that is the point. You are starting to think of your modular as your custom instrument and less like test equipment. Don’t be afraid of learning about what is behind the panel. It can be just as much fun as what is in front of the panel!"

Tunç Çakır - Voltage Controlled Music - Start Point

Published on Sep 29, 2016 Tunç Çakır

Gear:

Vermona DRM 1 MKIII Silver
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 UW MKII (Main Sequencer)
Custom Modular Synthesizer (Pittsburgh Modular, Make Noise, Mutable Instruments, Verbos Electronics, The Haverstman, Doepfer, Stg/Soundlabs, Circuit Abbey, Intelijel)
Arp Odyssey
Korg Microkorg
Roland Re-201 Space Echo
Eventide Pitch Factor
Catalinbread Echorec, Dirty Little Secret MKIII
Marshall Shred Master

"Produced, Mixed, Recorded & Performed Synthesizers by: Tunç Çakır

Music by: Tunç Çakır

http://wicrecordings.lnk.to/voltageco...

Track on the album 'Voltage Controlled Music'
No external computers weren't used in this video. Only used hardware instruments. Single take with no editing.

CLICK FOR MORE »

For Those Left Behind

Published on Sep 7, 2016 John L Rice

"Sorry it has been so long since I've uploaded a video! Besides being in the middle of a big studio reorganization I've been dealing with some difficult family health issues. :-(

I managed to make a little space in my bedroom to set up one of my small modular synths and out of a little self-therapy patching this video emerged.

This is dedicated to all of you who have lost a loved one.

Technical Info:
The bell like tones are from a self generating patch on a eurorack modular synth. A picture of the patch can be seen on my Instagram page.

The patch used the following modules and gear:
Synthesis Technology - E102, E355, E560
Happy Nerding - HM VCO, MMM VCF
Mutable Instruments - Rings
Doepfer - A135-1, A-143-1
Circuit Abbey - Unify, Unify Expander
Ladik - Q-010
Erica Synths - Pico Trigger
Steady State Fate - S.P.O.
TC Electronics - Alter Ego v2 delay and Trinity 2 reverb pedals
Mackie - 402-VLZ3 mixer

The chords and solo parts were done with a Novation Ultranova keyboard. [The lead sound is from the lovely Novation Ultranova keyboard.]

All parts recorded to a Marantz PMD-661 and assembled in Sony Movie Studio Platinum 13"

12 Volt Punch - Modular Drums and FX

Published on Aug 17, 2016 GoldbabySamples

"Available now: http://www.goldbaby.co.nz/12voltpunch..."

"Modular synthesis is an amazing playground for sound design. I have collected an eclectic mix of modules: analog oscillators, filters, envelopes, LFOs, self contained drum modules, digital based modules and more. Made by exceptional manufacturers like: Audio Damage, Tip Top, Hexinverter, Doepher, Mutable Instruments, WMD, Studio Electronics, Circuit Abbey, Intellijel, Bastl, Steady State Fate and The Harvestman.

Using this lovely modular system I have created a tasty collection of punchy drums and inspiring and useful FX. All packed full of character and ready for your next beat. These sounds will feel equally at home making Techno, Future bass, Dub Step, Drum & Bass, Electro or any style of electronic music.

3913 x 24 bit wav samples, 290 x Percussion and FX Loops. With kits and instruments for Maschine, Ableton Live, Geist, Battery, Reason, Logic Pro and Kontakt.

Check out this Flickr gallery for some photos of the system I used for this pack"

New Metzger Tech Archimedes Eurorack Module Intro

Published on Jul 12, 2016 Metzger Tech

"The first Metzger Tech module, Archimedes is a Bipolar Dynamic Signal Manipulator, or BDSM for short. I just finished the layout tonight, and should be firing off the prototype by the end of the week. I am currently designing my launch modules with some engineering help from Mr. Tim Ressel at Circuit Abbey. I hope to have some audio and video to share here in the next month or so. Things will be quiet here for a bit, but hopefully not for long."