Zlob Folidplier wavefolder - sine edition

video upload by John Schussler

https://zlobmodular.com/

"In my last video I did a comparison with the Zlob Foldiplier [posted here] that involved me using a saw wave as the input audio source.

It was pointed out to me later on ModWiggler that in fact, that's not the best idea. What you really want to do with wavefolders (and distortion) is to use a simple wave like sine or triangle, so the folder can add more magic, particularly on the low end. High-harmonic-content waves like saws are already so busy that you don't get as much of the juice out of the 'folder.

So let's try this again, but this time with a sine wave. Note that I'm not doing the AI Synthesis Wave Animator in this one since it's not technically a wavefolder, and the input wave doesn't matter. I am, however, adding in the Joranalogue Fold6, because like the Foldiplier it's 4hp, and it's currently my favorite.

Let the competition begin....

00:00 Intro
00:20 Foldiplier
08:37 Feedback
13:00 FLD6"

Two New Waveshapers - August 2023

video upload by John Schussler

"New month, new modules.

I built the Wave Animator from the kit: it's very straightforward with a small part count and easy assembly.

I most certainly did not build the Foldiplier. It's got lots of parts and does not look to me like an easy project. (Zlob's web page rates its difficulty at 3.5/5)

They're both waveshapers, but with very different approaches. The Wave Animator is based on an Ian Fritz design that produces two pulses whenever it sees an input wave. The Foldiplier is a more "standard" wavefolder/harmonics generator, with the caveat that it has a feedback mode best described as 'pissed off.'

Both are quite fun.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Wave Animator
07:02 WA growly bits
12:45 Foldiplier
19:45 Foldiplier feedback"

Eurorack cv presets - Traffic, Frames, Morphader, VC Transitions

video upload by John Schussler

"With the arrival of Traffic, a new module from Jasmine & Olive Trees, I find myself with several modules that do similar things around 'cv presets.'

The scenario I'm considering today is putting a single module (e.g. Basilimus Iteritas Alter from Noise Engineering) into different 'states' by simultaneously changing multiple cv inputs going to the module. This way you can get multiple 'instruments' out of a single module, in this case a variety of drums and percussion, which can then be sequenced.

There are other modules that do this as well (e.g. Endorphines Total Control), but these are the ones I happen to have. So, grain of salt and all that.

Sequencer is Pittsburgh Modular Micro Sequence. Clock source is Pam's Pro Workout.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Traffic
04:52 VC Transitions
09:08 Morphader
13:00 Plancks II"

Noise Engineering Versio - Praetereo firmware

video upload by John Schussler

"There's a new firmware available for the Noise Engineering Versio modules
called 'Praetereo.' It's a drifting loop maker, in the same vein as the Soma
Cosmos or Hologram Microcosm.

There's a thread for it on ModWiggler with links and detailed info: https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/view...

No commentary from me in this one, just listening. VCO is a Cwejman VCO-2RM, with one side going to the left channel and one to the right. Seqencer is the OK200 Degree. Envelope: Zadar.

Last in the chain is a Yester Versio module. If you hear a regular delay, it's that, not the Praetereo. And occasionally I bring in the Yester wavefolder. If you hear effects happening but don't see my hand making them, it's the Yester.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Part 1
08:30 Part 2
18:00 Part 3"

Eurorack acid - TB 303 style modules

video upload by John Schussler

"If you listen to techno, you listen to the Roland TB-303. It's the sound of acid, and is such a unique sound that everybody wants and uses it.

Although several makers are selling clones in the original 303 design (with the sequencer and original layout), you may just want to get one in Eurorack without all the fuss of learning the 303 sequencer interface (it's not intuitive).

Here are a bunch of 303 modules that either include all the parts (VCF, VCA, envelope, accent, glide...the works) or just one part (the VCF, which is the most critical bit).

There are others as well, these are just the ones I happen to have...."

00:00 Intro
00:20 Hydronium
07:28 TB-EFA
13:56 Acid Source
24:14 Pico Acid
30:00 Doepfer A-103/120
46:16 Vult Freak

New from Bard Synthesizers - LPG and Ring Modulator

video upload by John Schussler

"I recently got a couple new modules from Bard Synthesizers. The VTG low pass gate is available as part of his normal product lineup, but the ring modulator is a custom build. I'm guessing if you like it you could talk him into building you one as well, but note that it takes a bit longer, what with it being a custom build and all.

Here's a little sampler to get an idea how they sound. Plus some extra from the Erica Synths Fusion Ring Modulator at the end for comparison.

Source VCOs are an Acid Rain Chainsaw and a Befaco Pony VCO.
Envelope from Zadar.

00:00 Intro
00:20 LPG
06:00 Gilbert Ringmod
11:27 Erica Ringmod"

MeloDicer save and recall patterns

video upload by John Schussler

"One of the killer features of the Vermona MeloDicer is the ability to save and recall patterns. Press the C button, select a slot with the encoder, and press the encoder. Saved. Press the D button, select a slot with the encoder, press the encoder...loaded! Easy and quick."

Melodicer vs. Black Sequencer - one or both?

video upload by John Schussler

"I haven't spent much time with the Erica Synths Black Sequencer, and I noticed in a thread the other day somebody mentioning it serving as a substitute for the Vermona Melodicer.

Say what? I have a Melodicer, and it's the cat's meow. Can it really be supplanted by the Erica Synths offering?

They're big modules, so it's worth asking the question. Which is what you have here...me asking the question of whether I keep both or just one.

Source VCO is an Acid Rain Chainsaw. No envelope, just the output gates from the sequencer’s going to a Bard tube LPG.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Vermona
02:21 Black Sequencer
10:29 Tiebreaker"

Eurorack Formant Filter Comparison

video upload by John Schussler

"I now find myself with 3 separate filters that do "formant" filtering, so clearly it's time for a comparison. I'm literally getting my ya-yas out. And my yi-yis, and sometimes my wa-was. Just depends on where you turn the knob....

There are other formant filters out there, this isn't all of them, but it's all the ones I have, so don't assume this is the exhaustive comparison.

Formants are fun. And though I don't get into it much in this video, using formant filters for "regular" duties with only mild formant effects can be quite interesting.

Actually, using formants sparingly should probably be the rule. There's definitely too much of a good thing possible here....

00:00 Intro
00:20 Gyrinx VCF
08:00 Morphing Filter Bank
18:10 Formantic"

Part 2 here

Eurorack Waveshapers - May 2023 comparison

video upload by John Schussler

"Another month, another new set of modules needing listening to. These are all waveshapers in one form or another. Ok, not entirely, the first one's just a filter. So technically it shapes the wave, but not like, folding it or anything.

Anyway.

Just some more modules that seem like they sorta live in the same category, up for comparison and general listening/introduction.

00:00 Intro
00:20 T2K
05:15 Morphing Filter Bank
11:57 Roucha Legio
20:08 Flexhaper
26:00 Dis"

Vice Virga - Great fill maker for drums

video upload by John Schussler

"In an earlier Beat Mangler video I tried out the Jam Jam from Noise Engineering, and had a hard time getting what I wanted out of it. Turns out what I really needed was a Vice Verga. That's arrived, and is clearly the answer to the question: 'What if you want some interesting drum fills on a regular basis, but don't want to do it manually?'

I used a 2hp Burst in this patch, but I'm guessing if I read more of the Pam's manual there's probably a way to do it entirely within Pam's.

Either way, Vice Verga is a great fill maker for drums."

Jroo Loop - Pitch shifting tape looper

video uploads by jroo


video upload by John Schussler

"Here's a fairly simple tape loop module from Jroo called Loop. When you
change the speed of the loop it actually pitch shifts, which makes for some
really interesting opportunities for new harmonies.

This whole video is the same very simple sequence from a Pittsburgh Micro
Sequence b driving an Acid Rain Chainsaw VCO. On top is a bucketload
of reverb from Valhalla to let things ring out into space.

Fun.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Clean
11:53 Distorted"

loop is a frippertronics-style dual mono digital tape loop, echo and delay utility with adjustable tape speed, play head position, feedback and levels. It has a customizable loop length of up to 2.5 minutes.

loop is modelled after tape loop systems where audio is recorded to and played back from a tape that’s continually looping. Several interesting effects can be accomplished in this system when the position of the play head, tape speed, direction, and audio and feedback levels are modified. loop gives you manual and CV control over each.

Three Versio Delays - Melotus, Yester, Imitor

video upload by John Schussler

"The Yester Versio arrived the other day, so I wanted to compare it to the other Noise Engineering delay lines I have handy: Melotus Versio (which is actually a granular sampler, but is easily used as a delay), and Imitor Versio, which is a delay with an unusual dose of attitude.

No commentary, just listening.

VCO: Acid Rain Chainsaw. LPG: Natural Gate. Sequencer: Pittsburgh Modular
Lifeforms Micro b + VPME.de T43 transposer

00:00 Intro
00:20 Melotus Versio
06:04 Yester Versio
15:26 Imitor Versio"

Bastl Drum Kastle - Eurorack version(s)

video upload by John Schussler

"Bastl created the Drum Kastle as an offshoot of the Kastle portable sound maker. It's now available in Eurorack by a couple makers who've adapted it for the 3U format, with appropriate cv controls.

I was curious to see if there was much sound difference between the two, given they're working from the same basic circuit design. There are a few differences, but do they radically change the experience? Inquiring minds want to know.

No other modules involved. Just Kastles.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Drum Kastle
12:48 Rythm Lab"

Small rhythm generators - instant gratification test

video upload by John Schussler

"There are a metric ton of rhythm generating modules in Eurorack. I have a few of them. My goal in this video is to look at the instant gratification level the modules in this group provide. Some of them are significantly more complicated than others, but all are 10hp or less.

It's not a feature-to-feature comparison, since some are Euclidian and several are not. It's really a 'how hard is it to hear something good come out' kinda deal, without having to study and elaborate manual. Yes, one should RTFM, but on the other hand it's a sign of good design when the interface is so intuitive you don't need the manual.

The drums are an MSW SY0.5, a WMD Kraken, and a WMD Chimera.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Kompas
04:30 Beat Freqs
10:16 Little Nerd
16:55 Euclidean
21:56 Dot
28:02 Grids
34:51 Launch Codes"

Three Generative Sequencers - And one that isn't

video upload by John Schussler

"I have a few generative sequencers I've not had time to play with, and figured I'd compare how they...play. Three are generative in one form or another, and one, the Berlin School, is not. I leave you to suffer with that incongruity in silence.

This is my first exploration with each of them, so I'm just getting a feel for how they work. You're along for the ride, but don't expect too much.

VCO is Acid Rain Chainsaw. LPG is Rabid Elephant Natural Gate. No envelope. Delay here and there is Make Noise Mimeophon. Quantizer is 2hp Tune.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Feigen
12:00 Anima
23:29 Odds
31:34 Berlin School"

This appears to be the first post to feature Subsongs Modular.

WMD Legion vs Intellijel Dixie II+

video upload by John Schussler

"As is so often the case with these videos, I'm trying to make a 'keep or sell' decision. In this case between the WMD Legion, which has just arrived, or the Intellijel Dixie II+, both of which are 8hp VCOs.

They have different feature sets, and that's not really what interests me here. In this video I'm just doing a comparison of the basic sounds, getting a feel for whether there's a big difference in sound quality that would indicate keeping one or the other makes sense, or if they're so similar it's just a feature competition.

Sequencer: Stochastic IG. Envelope: Zadar

00:00 Intro
00:20 Saw
01:15 Triangle
01:59 Pulse
02:49 Pulse+sub
03:41 Pulse width
04:34 Saw+sub
05:01 Triangle+sub
06:01 FM
11:15 Legion features"

Sovage Engineering - L'Ecorcheur eurorack distortion

video upload by John Schussler

"I did a video a little while back comparing some distortion modules, and included the L'Ecorcheur. At the time I didn't really understand how the Glitchzr knob worked, so the demo was...sub-optimal.

Here's another try, focusing this time just on the L'Ecorcheur. Starting with the Glitchzr knob down, so we get a better comparison of its straight distortion capabilities, then later we turn it up for the full experience.

VCO is a WMD Legion in swarm mode. Envelope: Zadar. Sequencer: Stochastic IG

00:00 Intro
00:20 Sweeps
06:06 Sequence
13:49 Zone output
14:37 CV in and GLITCHZR"

Eurorack Waveshaping VCOs

video upload by John Schussler

"Several interesting new VCOs have been released over the past 6 months or so, and just recently the one I was waiting on, Legion from WMD, arrived.

So now seems like a good time to look at this batch of VCOs that all have a similar add-on feature: waveshaping. They don't all do it the same way, and all have very different sounds, but in my head they're sortof a category from which I probably only need one or two.

We'll see.

Sequence from Stochastic IG, envelope from Zadar.

00:00 Intro
00:20 Pony VCO
06:08 Virt Iter Legio
12:15 Pizza
19:58 Legion"

Eurorack distortion comparison - January 2023

video upload by John Schussler

"I used to number my distortion comparisons, but there are so many now, and in different forms, that I've decided it'll be easier to just go by date.

Here's the January 2023 batch. All have been released fairly recently AFAIK.

The comparison is a little tilted in that some are just drive circuits, while others are full on distortion/clippers. But I prefer to think of it as comparing along a range vs. a head-to-head evaluation.

Note that the video goes from soft to loud at times, because, y'know, distortion, so I recommend not blasting it too loud until you've skipped around a bit to get a feel for the dynamic range.

VCO is an Acid Rain Chainsaw saw wave. Envelope: Zadar. Sequencer: Stochastic IG.

00:00 Intro
Sweeps
00:20 Atonal OD
02:44 London Drive
03:49 Twin Drive
04:33 Nijel
05:42 cDVCA
08:08 L'Ecorcheur
Sequence
11:07 Atonal OD
14:18 London Drive
16:25 Twin Drive
18:00 Nijel
19:40 cDVCA
22:34 L'Ecorcheur"