Creative & Musical Uses of Precision Adders, Offset Voltages & Transposing // BEFACO VOLTIO

video upload by DivKid

"In this video we explore creative and musical uses of offset voltages and precision adders. Using the Befaco Voltio we explore creating chord intervals both statically and with offsetting musical sequences, we get creative with adding asymmetrical behaviours to waveshapers, we lock in FM ratios with analogue VCOs and plenty more.

The Befaco Voltio is a musical voltage source with 0-10V or -5/+5V octave offsets alongside semitone offsets, perfect for dealing in chord intervals. It features 2mm banana outputs that work with probes and it is a very accurate voltage that they designed for testing, building and calibrating modules. As well as generating voltages it's features a sum input, allowing this to work as a precision adder for adding or subtracting CV offset values from both sub audio CV signals and from audio sources."

TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS

00:00 Hello & patch previews
0:55 What is Voltio and what are these musical offsets?
02:16 Octave & Semitone Shifting
02:57 Offsetting Sequences for Duophonic Fun
04:11 From Bipolar to Unipolar - offsetting LFOs from -5/+5V to 0/10V
05:17 Asymmetrical Waveshaping - Add Symmetry Control to Folders & Distortion
06:48 Switched LFO Rates - Performance Wibble Wobbles!
07:28 FM Ratios - Switchable, Musically Useful FM Intervals with Analog VCOs
08:33 Gates made from Switched Voltages

Mega Metallic Eurorack Percussion (& beyond!!) // Entity Metalloid from Steady State Fate

video upload by DivKid

"Here we have the newest Eurorack module in the Entity range from Steady State Fate … METALLOID PERCUSSION. This is a simple set of controls for what is under the hood and much more complex circuit for synthesising metallic and noise based percussion. There’s 3 analogue oscillators which get ring modulated alongside having an FM bus for the most metally (move over Metallica) of metal noise sounds! This metallic noise synthesis is then split into two voices with multimode filters, VCAs and envelopes to control and create a huge range of percussion sounds. The trigger inputs are also dynamic, offering a velocity style (loud to quiet) dynamic and musical response to varying input material.

In the video I get snares, claps, rides, crashes, hi hats, gongs, video game coin collection sounds, Star Wars pod racers and plenty more! It’s not a clone of anything, nor is it meant to make one sound. But it’s easily bendable and shapeable to take the place of many classic percussion sounds. Check out the sounds in the timing index below and skip around as you like."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Motion Loop your Eurorack Mixes with 12 Knob Recorders!! // NEW MODULE LAUNCH

video upload by DivKid

"It's a new module with 12 knob recording motion loopers. So you can perform mix shifts in realtime and have them loop. It's POWERFUL, I've been impressed and I'm exciting to share this with you."



via NANO

Performance Mixer

575,00€

Central control and mixing hub designed to manage and combine audio signals from various sources within a modular setup. Its Knob recording feature (REC) allows you to record your moves for volume/pan/aux controls.

– 2 MONO Channels with Volume, Panning and Auxiliary send controls with CV for each function. Knob recording (REC), CUE bus and MUTE function.

– 2 STEREO Channels identical to MONO Channels, but the CV for the AUX function is replaced by the right (R) audio input.

– AUXILIAR Channel with 2 Mono Sends (X & Y) and 2 Stereo Returns with volume adjust.

– MASTER Channel with volume adjust for the main outputs, vu-meter, Headphone output with volume and cue/mix blending knob.

When Mathematics & Physics Influence Eurorack Modular // New Systems Instruments at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"It was great to see New Systems Instruments at Knobcon 2023 and learn about some of their modules. They caught my eye around their release and their "a bit like Serge but from a mathematical" approach certainly fascinates me. We look at Inertia, a function generator that has inertia, an resonance like overshoot of voltage travelling as well as the oscillators."

NSI are here // https://nsinstruments.com

4 New Featured Packed Eurorack Modules from SSF // Steady State Fate at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"As always Andrew never ceases to amaze by the range of creativity in his circuit designs and musical approach to making more complex feature packed modules compelling and easy to use. In this video back from Knobcon, Andrew takes us through 4 new Eurorack modules. Including the Metalloid Percussion synthesiser, Prime Modulator, Ultra Random Analog Redux and the Impulse Dynamics."

A Exciting & Unique take on Dual Complex Oscillators // AtoVproject Dual Harmonic Oscillator (DHO)

video upload by DivKid

The DHO made its first appearance on the site back in 2022 here.

"AtoVproject have come out swinging with a new, exciting and unique take on what you could think of as a 'complex oscillator'. It's an analogue design and signal path under digital control, which allows for a unique built in modulation section alongside an absolute festival of VCAs in the circuit offering LOTS of CV modulation options for harmonic control, TZFM and folding.

Each oscillator has 4 harmonics set an octave apart and each harmonic is its own triangle wave. These can be level (AM) modulated and used for TZFM (through zero FM) and all that goes into a mix section with external input into a wave folder. The wave folder is based on the circuit from the Befaco Chopping Kinky module (which I thought was a nice touch) with a redesigned VCA section.

The built in modulation is based on algorithmic noise which is used in video games to render things like mountain ranges, but there's also 10 LFOs you can use. Either modulation type can modulate any of the 10 destinations with the harmonic controls and FM levels.

Impressive stuff right? I'd love to know what you think ... leave a comment and lets chat about it!

p.s. it's available in the silver and black for the black panel brigade, or science lab chic crew.

DHO manual & info - https://bit.ly/AtoV-DHO"

Update:

A Sonic Playground! // Dual Harmonic Oscillator by AtoVproject - more sounds & music

video upload by DivKid

"The Dual Harmonic Oscillator from AtoVproject is one hell of a sonic playground for all sorts of synthesis, sound and musical approaches to working with a dual or 'complex' oscillator. When I made the main demo (watch that first, link above) I ended up making so many patches with it that I wanted to put together a second video that revisited the module. So here it is."

Modbap Modular Osiris WavPak Volume 3 by Learning Modular’s Chris Meyer

Press release follows:

Modbap Modular announces availability of Osiris WavPak Volume 3, carefully crafted by Chris Meyer to integrate seamlessly with Eurorack module namesake

LOS ANGELES, CA, USA: Modbap Modular is proud to announce availability of Osiris WavPak Volume 3 — carefully crafted by Learning Modular’s Chris Meyer to integrate seamlessly with the black-owned electronic music instrument manufacturer’s own Osiris BI-FIDELITY WAVETABLE OSC (originally introduced to a captive audience at Knobcon Number Nine, Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, IL, USA, September 10-12, 2021), providing four banks of all-new custom 32 x 32 wavetables which have been meticulously curated and designed to expand anyone’s approach to wavetable synthesis using its Eurorack module namesake — as of November 2…

As the owner of Learning Modular, an online resource to help anyone master their modular synthesizer, Chris Meyer is perfectly positioned to help expand anyone’s approach to wavetable synthesis using Modbap Modular’s Osiris, operating powerfully in and of itself as a (frequency modulation- and phase modulation-including) seven-plus TIMBRE MODE 12HP BI-FIDELITYTM WAVETABLE OSC (oscillator) module, neatly-packed with an independent sub-oscillator, LOFI processing, extensive CV (control voltage) modulation capabilities, a PITCH quantiser, four banks of 32 x 32 wavetables, the ability to load user wavetables via Micro SD card (not included), and its own free open-source wavetable editor (OsirisEdit). After all, Chris Meyer is the talented individual responsible for creating the-then-trailblazing Vector Synthesis technology behind the 1986-vintage Prophet VS DIGITAL VECTOR SYNTHESIZER, supposedly intended to revive the flagging fortunes of US synth ‘giant’ Sequential for whom he worked in an engineering role. Subsequent stints at Digidesign, Music Maker Publications, and Tom Oberheim’s Marion Systems soon ensued, before becoming the Chief Engineer at the now-defunct Roland R&D US while serving also as Technical Chairman of the MIDI Manufacturer’s Association. A transition into the video and film industries followed thereafter as his storied career continued, coming full circle to ultimately end up where he originally started — playing with modular synthesizers.

Duly derived from Chris Meyer’s sizeable studio modular synthesizer — affectionately called The Monster, the four banks of all-new custom 32 x 32 wavetables included in Osiris WavPak Volume 3 are a result of undergoing a meticulous sampling process drawing upon the talents of one of the industry’s leading experts to offer Osiris owners a wide range of timbral possibilities catering to different sonic aesthetics: BANK A — otherwise known as the ‘East Coast’ bank — features wavetables that have been carefully crafted as a result of working with Livewire Electronics AFG’s Animated Pulses and Alien Saws waveforms, as well as Serge-filtered waveforms, using techniques such as audio rate waveform crossfading to offer a diverse palette of sounds, ranging from smooth and evolving textures to aggressive and cutting tones; BANK B — the ‘West Coast’ bank — incorporates techniques like Serge rectification, wave folding, and Serge resonant EQ, the resultinwavetables providing a more experimental and abstract sonic experience suited to those interested in pushing the boundaries of sound design and diving into harmonious tones and textures; BANK C — Formants — focuses on different vowel sounds with a sound design approach anchored around both digital and analogue formant filters for creating expressive vocal-like textures and tones that are ideal for adding a human touch to compositions or exploring more abstract and otherworldly sounds; and BANK D — Harmonics — utilises tube overdrive, filter banks inspired by both Buchla and Moog stylings, as well as featuring analogue and digital additive oscillators.

On the face of it, then, the results are all a testament to the expert craftsmanship involved in ensuring the highest-quality sound production possible. Put it this way: Osiris WavPak Volume 3’s four sound banks were sampled at 96kHz, perfectly aligning with the Osiris BI-FIDELITY WAVETABLE OSC module’s unique, high-quality 96kHz sample rate operation. Ultimately, users can enjoy pristine audio clarity, enabling exploration of full depth sonic landscapes.

Lending themselves a knowing nod in the direction of Chris Meyer’s trailblazing achievements, the X-axis in all the banks contain different waveforms, while the Y-axis introduces different harmonics for each X-wave; the harmonic series used in Osiris WavPak Volume 3 are: H1 (root up), H2 (one octave up), H3 (one octave, plus perfect fifth), H4 (two octaves up), H5 (two octaves, plus major third), H6 (two octaves, plus perfect fifth), and H8 (three octaves up). It is worth noting that in some cases — especially the filter banks, formant filters, and resonant EQ — the waveform also changes with ‘harmonic’ on the Y-axis, allowing for sculpting and refining patches with extraordinary detail thanks to this precise control over harmonic content. Modbap Modular encourages experimentation with different modulation sources patched to its Osiris BI-FIDELITY WAVETABLE OSC module’s WAVE Y to further enhance sonic explorations with the texture-rich Osiris WavPak Volume 3 — think velocity/accent from a sequencer or keyboard, a mod wheel, aftertouch, ribbon controller, or even a sample & hold triggered on each new note to create dynamic and evolving timbres that respond to playing style.


Osiris WavPak Volume 3 is available for free as a digital download exclusively from Modbap Modular’s online Shop here: https://www.modbap.com/products/osiris-wavpak-vol-3-by-chris-meyer

Watch Learning Modular’s Chris Meyer mentioning the-then-upcoming Osiris WavPak Volume 3 — while talking about Modbap Modular’s Osiris BI-FIDELITY WAVETABLE OSC module as a new way to wavetable — at Knobcon Number Eleven, Chicagoland, USA, September 8-10, 2023 here: https://youtu.be/tYkDT82wxx0

a NEW way to WAVETABLE! with Alias Zone & Osiris // Chris Meyer & ModBap at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"Chris Meyer of Learning Modular & Alias Zone has A NEW WAY TO WAVETABLE!

Chris has been working on a new X and Y based wavetable systems that does two fascinating things, firstly it "samples" his whole large studio system while keeping that performable and responsive in the ModBap Modular Osiris and secondly he's using harmonics and interval sets to create morphing tunings within those sounds too.

The WavPak is out now through the ModBap site here // https://bit.ly/WavPak3-ChrisMeyer"

DivKid 'Little Jinx Reel' // Performance on the Intellijel Cascadia & T Rex Replicator Jr.

video upload by DivKid

"Perfect Circuit asked me if I'd like to take part in their 'artist picks' gear of the year video for the end of 2023. I said yes, while pondering what gear has brought me joy and lots of nice music making this year ... that bit of gear was the Intellijel Cascadia, which I love coupling with FX but for this particular bit of music making I went with the T Rex Replicator Junior.

A joyous, feature packed and versatile synthesizer and a wonder of lo fi tape delay, a great pairing! So I made the video for Perfect Circuit, made some music, made a patch breakdown and also made a PDF Patchbook outlining all sorts about the patch, alternative gear, mastering electronic music and more. Scroll down for links to it all. Ta muchly!

PATCH BREAKDOWN //
If you'd like to hear about this patch and see how it was made check out this supporting video"

How I Made 'Little Jinx Reel' on the Intellijel Cascadia & T Rex Replicator Jr. // PATCH BREAKDOWN

video upload by DivKid

"I'm using the Intellijel Cascadia and T Rex Replicator to perform a duophonic modular synthesizer patch with great warbling tape echo as a support FX."

"BONUS CONTENT //
As well as making the public patch breakdown video for this I have made a Patreon exclusive PDF patchbook that outlines the whole patch, performance controls, suggestions for alternative gear choices and mastering and producing music like this to be release ready. Access that here // https://bit.ly/DK-patreon"

Artist Picks: Best Music Gear of 2023 Part 2

video upload by Perfect Circuit

Part 1 here

"2023 is soon drawing to a close—so, we're taking a look back at the year, and taking account of all of the weird and wonderful instruments that gave us some inspiration this year. Synthesizers, drum machines, and Eurorack modules to samplers and effects, this year had no shortage of inspiring instruments.

So, we reached out to some of our friends and content creators to fill us in on their year, asking one simple question: what was the coolest piece of gear you got this year? For some, that meant brand new releases, but for others, it meant sitting down and digging into classic instruments.

In this video, we hear from:
00:00 Red Means Recording on the Elektron Syntakt
01:07 Midlife Synthesist on the Akai MPC X SE
03:20 DivKid on the Intellijel Cascadia
06:30 Jorb on the Roland S1
09:13 Bo Beats on the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field
12:45 Trovarsi on the Anti-Kulture Precision Disruptor

Read more about all of this gear on our blog, Signal: https://bit.ly/3MEhpfE"

DivKid Showcase | Mutes | Ochd | Rnd Step | Ochd Expander | Ochd + Ochd + Expander

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"One of the first voices I heard when I started modular in 2018 was Ben DivKid Wilson's and it's been my goto channel for learning a new module ever since. The DivKid modules are simple, affordable and small, but offer something that wasn't there before they were released. I used them in almost all my patches, often off-screen or underexposed. In my first Ochd video (January 2020) it doesn't even show. With the release of the Ochd expander I realized how important these modules are for my case. This DivKid Show is a contribution to the contributions Ben already made to the modular community. For those who are new to modular it's cool to have all modules in one video (except Stereo Strip, I don't have it). The shots from his videos are used without kind permission but I am sure it's OK. As always I am not affiliated with anyone or anything.

The opening music is an adapted remix of one of Ben's youtube music library tracks (empty moons of Jupiter), free for everyone to use on videos."

Dual Layer Hi Hats, Samples in Eurorack & Performance Mixer Updates // AMMT & WMD at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"It's always an utter pleasure to see and speak to Alex (ALX-106*) and it was great to get an update on the new AMMT Synthesis dual layer hi hat module and some updates on the WMD Performance Mixer v2 which has had a massive load of new features added!"

ARPs For All! // The ARP Foundation at Knobcon 2023 with Dina Pearlman & Chris Meyer

video upload by DivKid

"Here I talk with Dina Pearlman (Alan R Pearlman's daughter) and Chris Meyer (a new board member) from the ARP Foundation. We find out about what the ARP Foundation is as well as a new venture with arps for all, which through a partnership with TRC (The Record Co) they're amassing a collection of historic ARP instruments to make them accessible to everyone, based out of Boston, Massachusetts, USA."

ARP Foundation // https://bit.ly/ARPfoundation
The Record co (partner in Boston) // https://bit.ly/RecordCo

Between Distortion and Strange Recursive Routing Schemes // Sonocurrent at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"I've had the pleasure of talking to Graham from Sonocurrent at a few events now but we've never actually made video together. So I wanted to highlight his products but also his approach as a designer and musician interactive with his creations and methods. Graham mentioned how his patches are typically not generative, but are self regulating. It's a term I really like, along with his ideas about recursive routings and of course I'm a fan of distortion!"

NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE - An Oscillator Controlled Oscillator // AI Synthesis at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"It's always great to see Abe from AI Synthesis, he likes to hide in tomato plants (see below*) but he was out of the garden and into the arms of the wider Chicago area here at Knobcon 2023. Abe had with him an OCO, oscillator controlled oscillator, something I've never seen before and something he believes is unique. It's sort of a VCO expander that creates secondary pulses within the waveform that can be modulation in phase and bipolar amplitude relationship to the input sound. Different input waves gave different wave shapes ... and I really want to try this and get to know more."

CHORUS EXPANDED! Stereo BBD Juno style Chorus for Eurorack // SoundForce Chorus 6 & µChorus 6

video upload by DivKid

"Here we have a video packed with audio examples of not only the Chorus 6 and µChorus 6 from SoundForce but lots of examples of how to use Chorus and how to expand on the basic uses.

This video includes lots of patches with the DivKid Community music and patches! I asked my Patreon supporters to send in their audio that they’d like to hear through these modules and they sent in a great range of audio, all credited below and in the timing index. Thank you for the general support and thank you for the great audio to work with.

The Chorus 6 and µChorus 6 are both based on the classic Roland Juno series synths and they feature the same audio path as those originals. It’s a stereo array of MN3009 BBDs with basic mode control on the micro version and more expanded fully featured LFO, CV control and externally modulated options of the larger module."

CLICK FOR MORE »

MEET THE NEW OCHD EXPANDER. A 24 OUTPUT MODULATION PAIRING IN ONLY 8HP, NUTS!

video upload by DivKid

"The new ochd expander adds 16 outputs to ochd with 4 sections of different functions. We have unipolar outputs from full wave rectifiers, analogue diode logic giving 2 pairs of MAX/MIN outs, a cascading mixing trigger section for stochastic timings and a 4-bit DAC ladder section offering 4 flavours of slow noise stepped random patterns. It really is a mammoth addition of functions not just to ochd but to any Eurorack system.

The ochd expander was released as part of ØCHD-OBER-FEST an in-person event that was also live streamed. If you’d like to watch the event check that out here"

ØCHD-OBER-FEST (live event) with DivKid, Instruo & Signal Sounds // celebrate all things ochd!

video upload by DivKid

See the dealers on the right for availability.

"Launched in 2019 and designed in collaboration with Ben "DivKid" Wilson, the Instruō øchd has set a standard for compact and versatile modulation sources which can now be seen across thousands of eurorack systems.

The øchd's 8 analogue outputs can now be be tripled with a farther 16 unique control voltage sources by pairing it with the øchd expander ([ø] 4^2).

All outputs are derived from combinations of the 8 analogue triangle LFO cores to produce an extravagant range of variable voltages, triggers and 4x 4-Bit DAC based stepped random voltage sources which are best described as flavours of "slow noise".

Enhance your existing modulation capabilities immediately with this 4HP cluster of control voltage capabilities.

Note: øchd required, all cables included with expander"

Befaco FX BOY // Gameboy based Eurorack FX with CV controlled EQ, Drives, Modulation, Delay & more!

video upload by DivKid

"Eurorack FX in Gameboy style cartridges that are hot swappable into a module with CV controlled parameters and a four band fully CV controlled EQ … YES PLEASE, WHAT A CONCEPT!

Beyond the obvious nostalgia hit of the Gameboy cartridges I’ve long been a fan of swappable FX platforms that allow a module to be used in a wider range of patches. FX BOY comes with 7 ‘founders pack’ cartridges with the Making Sound Machines Analog Wavefolder, FEEDBACK modules Flanger, XOR Electronics Delay & Granular FX, Instruo microPhaser, Befaco TRASH distortion, TouellSkouarn Noise & Feedback Fuzz and Tesseract Modular AVMA downsampled & ring modulator. It’s a wide range of FX all with two CV controlled parameters, plus CV over dry wet for parallel blends and modulation.

In this video I chose to give each cartridge it’s own patch, letting them shine on different patches with different use cases, as that’s how I’ll end up using the module going forward. However each cartridge easily warrants it’s own demo video going through a range of patches as these circuits have proven to be great on a range of sources. So I’m already thinking about future videos … leave a comment about what you’d like to see more of.

FX BOY is an open source platform for people to develop their own cartridge circuit FX, so who knows where this will go, whether Befaco release more cards, companies sell them on their own or whether it spawns some interest DIY ideas along the way."

Additional posts

Simple solid clock sync! The Missing Link & ML:2 (Ableton Link) // Circuit Happy at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"Giving the demo without any audio to listen to is a big move. A bold move made possible by rock solid behaviour from the devices from Circuit Happy. We have The Missing Link Junior and ML:2 Eurorack modules that are both Ableton Link enable devices for not just clock sync and reset but bar position aware behaviours for triggering and syncing to the patterns too. Impressive all round."

All parts here. See the post labels below for more.

Better Spring Reverb! (with more filter features than your filter?) // Bubblesound at Knobcon 2023

video upload by DivKid

"It was great to meet David from Bubblesound at Knobcon 2023. I've been a long time user of his modules and he's consistently made quality modules over the years. The upcoming Spring Reverb module looks at Spring Reverb options in existence and aims to make them better, a fully featured SEM style multimode filter is on the module so you can really shape what's going into the physical spring, changing it's behaviour and sound. There's on board feedback which David is leaning into in this video too for more experimental patching."

All parts here. See the post labels below for more.

A Modular Approach to Eurorack Mixing with BARTENDER & BARBACK // After Later Audio at Knobcon

video upload by DivKid

"Here we have several new modules from After Later Audio from Knobcon 2023. Lenny takes us through Bartender, Barback and Cast Iron which make up a new expandable, modular approach to Eurorack format mixing."

All parts here. See the post labels below for more.