SUPERBOOTH 2024: Apollo View - Manic

video upload by sonicstate

"At Superbooth 2024, a new modular module collaboration between DivKid and Apollo View Modular was showcased in a video featuring Ben and Jon-Mark Hampson. The highlight of the demonstration was the Manic module, designed to give VCA's superpowers with precision dual VCA, input, modulation, and output features. Manic offers unique capabilities such as unipolar and bipolar VCA modes, ring modulation, four quadrant multiplication, wave shaping circuits, and more. The module allows for mono to stereo, true stereo, and dual mono configurations, providing a range of creative possibilities for musical experimentation.

With a strong emphasis on stereo wave shaping and innovative VCA design, Manic offers a versatile tool for producers and musicians looking to enhance their modular setup. The collaboration between DivKid and Apollo View Modular has yielded a module that promises to inspire a new wave of sonic exploration in the modular synthesis community. For more information on the Manic module and other products mentioned in the video, you can visit the respective websites of DivKid and *Apollo View Modular*.

Manic Price: 333 GBP

https://divkidvideo.com/

https://www.apolloviewmodular.com/"

See the announcement post here.

MEET MANIC! // VCAs with SUPERPOWERS! - New Eurorack module from DivKid & Apollo View Modular

video upload by DivKid

"MEET MANIC! The new DivKid & Apollo View Modular Eurorack module. Designed to be a precise and flexible VCA with SUPERPOWERS!

Manic is built for stereo at it’s core, crossing VCA, ring modulation, wavefolding (in both Serge and Buchla variants), and saturation (TanH soft clipping and hard clipping) with a host of features in a compact 8HP interface ready to ignite your audio and CV patching and processing.

Manic is out now in all good modular stores.

Manic manual and links on the DivKid website // https://divkidvideo.com/manic/"

An Apollo View Modular & DivKid collaboration

Manic introduces an exploration of dual channel mono, mono to stereo or true stereo modulation and sound shaping within a sleek 8HP module designed for both creative freedom and technical precision. Each channel offers precision linear VCA functionality with traditional unipolar amplitude control or bipolar behaviour for complex ring modulation effects. While we all need more VCAs! The secret sauce lies in the post VCA shape outputs.

The Shape1 output features TanH soft clipping and Serge-style wavefolding, while Shape2 boasts hard clipping alongside a Buchla-style wavefolder. The contrasting topologies between the left and right channels unlock dynamic stereo widening effects, making the stereo image both expansive and mesmerising. While the circuits are different they have been tweaked to provide variance for creating stereo images from mono sources while also working with stereo inputs for a balanced, yet enhanced stereo spread.

Designed to excel with both audio and CV signals, Manic effortlessly processes incoming signals for a broad spectrum of uses. The intuitive layout ensures immediate hands on control making it ideal for live performance and studio experimentation.

FEATURES

A collaborative design from both DivKid & Apollo View Modular
Selectable unipolar or bipolar VCA circuitry per channel
Three distinct shape outputs per channel: Inverted, Clipped, and Wavefolding
TanH soft clipping & hard clipping
Serge style wavefolding & Buchla style wavefolding
Stereo operation with perfectly matched gains for the clipping and wavefolding circuits, creating a stunning stereo widening effect.
DC-coupled signal path for processing both audio and CV signals.
Input and modulation normalisations for simple mono to stereo operation
Flexible signal flow allows for creative combinations, such as ring modulation into clipping or wavefolding.

SPECS

8HP
30mm depth
+12V 180mA -12V 135mA

Go beyond Eurorack! Modular synth + Pedal & rack FX & instrument input // DPW Design Pedal Interface

video upload by DivKid

"I've always enjoyed integrating other gear beyond the realms of the Eurorack case. Synths and FX, guitar into modular, rack gear processing beats ... it's a great thing to explore, to find unique tones and new sounds.

The new Pedal Interface from DPW Design is a 4HP stereo or dual mono pedal/instrument input and output module. While it couldn't be simpler on the interface this was designed to address two issues and to improve working with the varied signals. DPW made sure to properly impedance balance so you're not sucking out the tone and brilliance in the signal and sought to address transient handling and add a tube inspired gain structure above the clean gain structure for adding tube like compression and saturation FX ... something we exploit for great distortion in the video!"

*TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS*

INTRO
00:00 Hello & previews
00:56 What are we doing here?
01:38 Two improved design features with Dan from DPW

PATCHES
03:54 Simple pedal integration for characterful ambient FX
05:27 Handling transients with character (line level inputs)
06:28 #SockTone guitar & bass direct input
07:50 Patch it wrong for sonic treats! (Eurorack level saturation)
09:26 Integrating rack gear for parallel processing
11:16 Using pedals at the start of the signal chain (oscillator processing

P1, Pedal I/O

The P1 is a dual channel pedal interface. It can be used for pedal or line level in and out or as a guitar or bass input as the pedal in is a high-Z input that will not suck the life out of the tone of your instrument as low impedance inputs can do.

The module is designed to have more than 100kHz bandwidth in both directions to give you a very clean interface with in and out impedance to work well with pedals.

The two halves of the module are independent. You can use it as a dual mono or as a stereo interface.

Eurorack to pedal level is attenuating -18dB and pedal to Eurorack level is amplifying 18dB.

There is soft controlled symmetrical clipping in both directions through the module so if you are driving the inputs hard it will not sound harsh. You can use this as a creative effect.

The unit is AC coupled to be able to isolate your Eurorack from whatever you connect on the pedal side.

Powerful but Simple Eurorack Multichannel Sample Player // Samples 2 by SoundForce

video upload by DivKid

Video timeline below.

"Wow what an impressively powerful yet somehow simple use of 4HP! The new Samples 2 from SoundForce is a multichannel sample player with loads of features offering lots of musical approaches to working with samples, mono or stereo use, on board mixing, simple sample and settings file set up and more than I'm going to write out here. Watch the video, I hope you're as impressed with it as I am."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Dub techno magic with OAM Time Machine

video upload by Tom Churchill

"A quick patch exploration with the new Time Machine delay processor from Olivia Artz Modular, which in their words is 'a tactile interface for mixing together 8 delay lines with an input signal'.

This isn’t a sponsored video - I backed the original Kickstarter for the Time Machine and paid for my unit - I’m just a fan!"

You can find DivKid's video here.

Eurorack Performance Mixer Techniques // After Later Audio Nightlife Mixer Series (Bartender & more)

video upload by DivKid

"Join me for lots of patches going from the basics of mixing techniques (applicable to audio in general, but specifically Eurorack modular synthesizers) through to more advanced audio routing and creative options for audio processing.

While this video is a demo on the Nightlife Mixer Series from After Later Audio (Eurorack modules, Bartender, Barback, Cast Iron, Mingles, USB 2 Channel Interface & the SEND VCA) the techniques are applicable to lots of modules, so give the patches a go with things you have too.

SUPPORT //
If you'd like to support work like this and the wider range of what I do, considering heading over to Patreon at https://bit.ly/DK-patreon and supporting for as little as $1 a month to gain access to the DivKid Discord community, plus lots of exclusives such as PDF patchbooks, videos and more. https://bit.ly/DK-patreon

*TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS*

INTRO & FEATURES
00:00 Hello & patch previews
01:20 What are we doing here?
01:49 Bartender features
03:24 Barback features
03:36 Send VCA features
04:09 Mingles, Cast Iron & USB 2 Channel interface

PATCHES
05:09 Modulating mixer controls - ambient drifts & FX
06:38 Input crossfading with mono mixing
09:36 Advantages of FX returns on channels
12:22 “Better” FX routings with CV control & Cast Iron
14:55 Channel overdrive for bass
16:44 4 levels of destruction
18:58 USB interfacing - a powerful FX software send & return
21:23 USB audio inputs to modular
22:19 Flamingo dubstep - live safari trail cams!
23:12 Audio rate modulation, AM, pan & making dry/wet blends"

Make the most of LFOs & Ring Modulation // with the cLFO from AtoVproject

video upload by DivKid

"Here we have the cLFO (complex low frequency oscillator) from AtoVproject and while making this a demo of the module I also wanted to make a tutorial for making the most of LFOs and Ring Modulation in a modular system. We've got patches showing LFO uses, multiple modulation destinations, ring modulating LFOs, ring mod as a VCA, ring mod for massive bass sounds ... give the patches a go!"

Modular Multi-Tap Delays // OAM Time Machine (FIRST PATCH EXPLORATION)

video upload by DivKid

"Here's my raw, unedited and literal first patch and experience with the Time Machine Eurorack module from OAM (Olivia Artz Modular). I've been excited for this one since I first saw it, I'm a huge delay fan and a multi-tap delay with loads of control was bound to have me interested!"

via OAM

Time Machine is a tactile interface for mixing together 8 delay lines with an input signal. At least that was the plan. We made a prototype and got like 300% funded on kickstarter, so we got to work.

As the DSP engine was refined a sonic character emerged that howls like guitar feedback while granulizing like the grey goo at the end of the universe. We leaned into this. The resulting module can create clocked rhythmic glitch effects, reverbs, chaos, and ego-death.

22 HP
25 mm deep
122 mA +12V, 8 mA -12V
24-bit audio in/out (-5V to +5V)
16-bit CV control (-5V to +5V)

Befaco - Pony VCF

video upload by Befacosynth

"Space-conscious lowpass filter and volume processor.
A combination of VCF + VCA + Mixer that lets you mix three different sound sources, and shape their tone, and levels in a breeze.
The Pony Filter is built around the SSI2144 FATKEYS™ Chip. Has the elegant sound of the classic transistor filter without the associated distortions, due to Dave Rossum’s 'improved ladder' topology."

Update:

Also see DivKid's video here, and mylarmelody's Molten Music Technology video here.

Befaco - Octaves VCO

video upload by Befacosynth

"A harsh and funky take of an additive Oscillator.
Pile up multiplications of your frequency to get a lo-fi-retro wall of squared sound!
You get six doubled frequency pulses, or octaves, with common PWM and volume control for each of them.
The output of each is cascaded to the next one, so you can either have one output with all frequencies or break the chain and get several sums and modulate each independently!"

Update: and video from Divkid directly below. Also see mylarmelodies' Molten Music Technology video here.

A harsh & funky take on an additive oscillator // Octaves VCO from Befaco

video upload by DivKid

"Here we have what Befaco say is "a harsh and funky take on an additive oscillator" as it has individual harmonics or partials and VCAs to modulate them. However the idea of harmonics here is replaced with 6 octaves of square waves. It's an analog design with a triangle core oscillator that through frequency doublers give 6 octaves to work with, each turned into squares that respond to PWM. An onboard mixer allows for blending these squares, you can break out into new tones with self patching, or make multi-layered wide frequency spanning voices from the individual outs."

*TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS*
00:00 Hello & patch previews
01:10 Feature run down
02:44 Raw sound demo
03:43 Polymetric percussive octave riffs! (my favourite thing)
06:05 Self patched additive synth style sounds
08:13 Huge stereo drones
10:11 PWM at audiorate - tearing additive octaves
11:51 Exploring sync tones + upper octave overtones
13:42 Sub octaves, not just higher octaves
16:01 Noisy FM percussion
18:09 Randomised additives - modulating octave blends per note
19:24 Alarms, pacman & phone chirps - Octaves VCO as a modulator

A compact yet fully featured Eurorack filter // Pony VCF by Befaco

video upload by DivKid

"Here's the new PONY VCF from Befaco. It's a compact yet fully featured Eurorack filter that's 6HP with good hands on control and modulation. It's a Dave Rossum based filter design (the SSI FATKEYS chip), 3 channel mixer (with feedback) and VCA. An impressive trio of functions for many uses in Eurorack ... as usual I will explore lots of this in the video."

**TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS**
00:00 Hello & patch previews
01:07 Pony VCF feature run down
02:27 Raw sound demo - filter sweeps and feedback
03:39 Dancing filters with mixed modulation - Moog inspired!
05:11 Audiorate overtones for a DNB ditty
07:16 A simple Pony voice
08:47 A mixer/processor for beats
- high end excitement, VCA compressor & feedback saturation
11:07 Beautiful feedback loops
13:18 LPPGs - low pass pony gates
15:23 Pony kick drums
16:31 Two voice paraphonic articulation - fun times!

New Befaco Modules Launch Party! // Live from Elevator Sound EU (Barcelona)

video upload by DivKid

"Join us on Saturday the 23rd of March at 4pm CET (Spain) for the launch party with 3 new Befaco modules on show at the EU Elevator Sound store in Barcelona.

I'll be in person with Befaco to talk about new modules, patch, make music and sounds and hangout both in the stream and in person for the event."

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

video upload by DivKid

You can find the first video previously posted here.

"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."

Asking synth manufacturers to say the F word...at London Synth & Pedal Expo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a collection of interviews I shot at the London Synth & Pedal Expo '24, after they hired me to cover the event. The format was up to me. So I put the SAME two questions to industry folks at the show: 1️⃣ What is your favourite thing you sell? 2️⃣ What your favourite thing you DON'T sell?"

CHAPTERS
00:00 The Journey Begins
00:41 Divkid
02:44 Endorphines
03:53 Knobula
06:07 Lord Morts Thoughts
08:29 Nick Batt - Sonic State
11:29 Signal Sounds
14:35 ASM/Arturia
16:52 Scanner & Daniel Troberg
18:12 KMR Audio
19:51 ALM Busycircuits
24:05 RYK Modular
26:14 Enjoy Electronics
27:41 Erica Synths
29:04 PWM Synths
31:08 Journey's End

Good people make for good events and good gear, so lets meet them // London Synth & Pedal Expo 2024

video upload by DivKid

"What an amazing weekend we've just had! Here's a video with some of the people at the London Synth & Pedal Expo 2024. Held over this past weekend (Saturday and Sunday the 16th+17th of March 2024) in Studio 9294 in Hackney Wick, the London Synth & Pedal Expo is a free to attend show with plenty of synths, modular and pedal FX on show for people to come and play with.

As it takes good people to make good events (and the good gear we love) I wanted to focus on the people, asking who they are and what they do, more specifically how would they explain what they do to someone with no idea about synths, pedals and music tech. That led to some funny answers, all spread around various bits of b roll and footage from the event."

What is the Oct Tone & who are the Glasgow Synth Guild?

video upload by DivKid

"Here's something a little different ... a 'remaster' of an older design and a new synthesiser guild that act as a crack team super group of modular builders who are handling this exclusively.

The Oct Tone is a remaster of an early design by Jason Lim (Instruo) that has been brought back to life by the Glasgow Synthesiser Guild. In this video I'll demo the Oct Tone, in my usual style with musical approaches to the features and uses. But we'll also have a little story time looking and who and what the guild are and why they exist.

You can purchase an Oct Tone exclusively from the Guild here // https://www.glasgowsynthguild.com"

Lush FX for Synth & Studios // Echo Fix Spring Reverb & Chorus Vibrato Pedals (EF-P2 & EF-P3)

video upload by DivKid

"Of course these are great plugging guitars straight in (I do a bit of that in the video) but playing with the Echo Fix EF-P2 Spring Reverb & EF-P3 Chorus Vibrato pedals has shown how they really shine on synths, modular and in studio settings.

This is a Pedals & Patches series video where I explore pedal FX with modular gear, synths and in the studio for creative use cases and musical applications. With these we have spring reverb on fifthy synths, on claps for dub style beats, creating ghoulish metallic drones and retro organ stabs. The Chorus Vibrato creates some ridiculous thick synth tones for a bass guitar, adds some tasty wonk to modular synth riffs and gives warm cuddly nostalgia flavour to a guitar. All the examples are in the timing index below, skip around as you like.

More info from Echo Fix here // https://echofix.com/collections/pedals"

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"

Your Oscillators New Best Friend! // VCO's Little Helper (VLH) by Takaab (SIAM Modular)

video upload by DivKid

"Here we're checking out VCO's Little Helper (the VLH) by Takaab (who are SIAM Modular too). It's a small 2hp module that can work like an expander for any oscillator you want to use it with. There's two inputs giving you two octaves of sub oscillators (-1 and -2), ring modulation, a noise source and thru outputs to save multiples or stacking cables to keep patching with your inputs.

Here's what Takaab have to say 'VCO’s Little Helper is a eurorack module that supercharges your existing oscillators by adding a ring mod, sub and noise. The VLH was designed in collaboration with journalist and musician Steve O'Hear following a conversation asking how we could squeeze the features found in the VCO section of many vintage synthesizers into a eurorack system.'

VLH is also a affordable addition to a Eurorack system priced around £/€/$100 (it's 4040 Thai Baht). It's available direct here // https://www.siammodular.com/takaab-vl...

Here's the mini documentary on how the VLH came to life"

Takaab VLH : VCO's Little Helper: The making of ... euroack ring mod | sub oscillator | noise

video upload by Adventures in sound

VCO's Little Helper made its first apearance on the site back on JULY 27, 2021.

What if VCV Rack was real? // VCV Random by NANO Modules

video upload by DivKid

"In an interesting full circle turn of events, VCV Rack that emulates Eurorack hardware how now come to life as Eurorack hardware in the new VCV Random module from NANO Modules.

VCV Random is a Eurorack hardware version of the VCV Rack Random software module. It's a flexible and modulate-able multi output random generator with some novel features, namely, a step shape control that adds increasing numbers of steps between random values and a 'RND' crossfade control that crossfades the sampling of internal noise and the output. The latter resulting in a unique way to control voltage changes per step and one that can modulate over time.

Info, manual and more // https://nano-modules.com/vcv-random/

Download the VCV patch for free (or pay what you want) here // https://divkid.gumroad.com/l/vcvrandom"

A Eurorack Mix & Output Problem Solver // The NEW! Output Bus from DivKid & Befaco

video upload by DivKid

"Introducing the new OUTPUT BUS module from me (DivKid) and Befaco. It's an 8HP summing mixer, output stage, soft clip limiter, line level integrator, LED meter visualiser, headphone monitor and more ... it has many features that aimed to solve typical mix and output problems you'll find yourself working with in a Eurorack modular system."

A 5 minute rave on the Divkid Output Bus.

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Weirdly Ben has made almost exactly the module I need right now, as I'm building a modular mixer in my latest live system, and I need to sum and 'vibe up' the Roland TR-8. My pal Ben @DivKid sent me one for free - so here's me starting to use it! (Video update on this case coming soon!) 🙌 "

via DivKid

"The Output Bus is your ultimate output module: Presented by DivKid and Befaco, meant to be the last link in your modular chain!

Inspired by pro audio and studio summing units the Output Bus allows for summing style mixing, external gear integration, soft clip limiting, flexible output types, headphone monitoring and level visualization.

The module works great mixing all your other mixers in your setup, to return mono or stereo FX into the master bus and for bringing in external stereo line level gear with ease. All of this in just 8HP while also being able to visualize your final levels, output appropriate signals on the right cable type and monitor in headphones.

FEATURES

Six stereo inputs.

Line/synth selector in input six.

Modular level minijack out.

6,5” Jack balanced out.

3.5mm and 1/4″ headphone outs.

Led VU-meter.

Soft clipping circuit at main output."