A Game of Two Arps

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Arp Omni and the Arp 2500. A match made in heaven!

The Arp 1601 sequencer is changing the Omni filter, the 2500 is doing some nice Berlin flavours

There is something very magical about both these synths. Well done Arp! You are the best, perhaps"

Memetune studiopan

video upload by Memetune Studio

"A Lot of modular synths for you to look at (music from the Roland corner)"

You can find Memetune posts here.

Flying to Jupiter

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Exploring some harp arps on the Roland Jupiter 4"

Background Modulars No.4 - Moog Modular

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Can't find a vintage Moog Modular 3C system to create a self-generating patch on? No worries! Just put this video on in the background (in full-screen mode), and have the next best thing 😁

This patch uses 10 VCOs, 3 VCAs, 4 envelopes, 1 filter, 2 sequencers, a VC Delay, a noise going through the Fixed Filter Bank, some sub-mixers, a slew and a stereo Matrix Mixer to create a slowly evolving, slightly haunting ambient tone poem"

TMP-2-06 Vintage Synth TV Series from Benge

video upload by Memetune Studio

00:00 Opening Titles
00:31 Introduction
01:20 Little Black Boxes
04:37 Switched On Cybersynths
17:46 Synthesiser Club
21:23 Commercial Break
23:05 Patching Today
37:53 Video Lab
40:26 Outro

"Episode six of the second series of the TV program from Benge, made at his Memetune Electronic Music Studio, and the final episode of the season

The series explores his passion for vintage synthesiser instruments and studio gear and how he uses it on his productions and collaborations

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It is divided into the following sections:

LITTLE BLACK BOXES - A look at some classic rack mount synths of the 80s and 90s

SWITCHED ON - This second series looks at a type of synthesis based around the ideas of Cybernetics, which Benge calls CYBERSYNTHESIS

SYNTHESISER CLUB - A short musical demonstration of a synthesiser classic or three

COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some shameless Memetune shilling

PATCHING TODAY - A deep-dive into vintage modular systems and how to set up a patch on them, starting from scratch

VIDEO LAB - A look at old video equipment and how to create experimental visuals

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In THIS episode:

LITTLE BLACK BOXES - The Kawai k1m was a small desktop version of the K1 layer synth, introduced in 1988. Today I sequence it from an Atari ST running C-Lab Notator

SWITCHED ON CYBERSYNTHS - Patching it all together: after a brief section on quantising both pitch and time, I attempt to patch together all of the Memetune modulars (12 vintage systems!) in a giant Cybersynthesis monster patch

SYNTHESISER CLUB - Today, its more Yamahas, including a QX1 sequencer, RX5 drum machine, TQ5 FM synth module, REX50 multi FX, SY85 layer synth and a MT1X 4-multi-track cassette recorder

COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some adverts for Memetune related goodies, including the new Memetune Annual 2024 (sort of😁)

PATCHING TODAY - Taking the wonky Roland System 100 for a ride

VIDEO LAB - In this episode we take the meme-mobile for a spin!


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LINKS:

Benge's Studio Blog: http://myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com

Memetune Studio Instagram: @memetunestudio

Benge & Memetune Merch on Bandcamp: https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com"

Crumar DS2 midified!

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Keith put a little MIDI interface into the DS2. This is my actually really favourite synth for bass - and now it can play proper (ie in-time) bass-lines for the first time in its 44 year old life"

TMP-2-05 Vintage Synth TV Series from Benge

video upload by Memetune Studio

00:00 Opening Titles
00:32 Introduction
01:19 Little Black Boxes
04:41 Switched On Cybersynths
17:31 Synthesiser Club
20:38 Commercial Break
23:02 Patching Today
37:24 Video Lab
41:15 Outro

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Episode five of the second series of the TV program from Benge, made at his Memetune Electronic Music Studio

The series explores his passion for vintage synthesiser instruments and studio gear and how he uses it on his productions and collaborations

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

It is divided into the following sections:

LITTLE BLACK BOXES - A look at some classic rack mount synths of the 80s and 90s

SWITCHED ON - This second series looks at a type of synthesis based around the ideas of Cybernetics, which Benge calls CYBERSYNTHESIS

SYNTHESISER CLUB - A short musical demonstration of a synthesiser classic or three

COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some shameless Memetune shilling

PATCHING TODAY - A deep-dive into vintage modular systems and how to set up a patch on them, starting from scratch

VIDEO LAB - A look at old video equipment and how to create experimental visuals

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

In THIS episode:

LITTLE BLACK BOXES - The Korg Wavestation was released in 1990. This rack mount module version, called the Wavestation A/D, was released in 1991

SWITCHED ON CYBERSYNTHS - Ramdomness Tamed. A look at the EMS Random Voltage Generator and the Buchla 200 version of the Magnetic Freak Gaussian module

SYNTHESISER CLUB - Today, its Club Crumar! Featuring the DS2, the Multiman Mk2 and the Synergy digital system

COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some adverts for Memetune related goodies

PATCHING TODAY - on the Buchla 100 - trying to tame the beast!

VIDEO LAB - In this episode we look at some SFX shots and the Ultimatte chromakey system


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

LINKS:

Polyrythmic Electronica vinyl / Systems of Objects: https://systemofobjects.bandcamp.com/...

Benge's Studio Blog: http://myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com

Memetune Studio Instagram: @ memetunestudio

Benge & Memetune Merch on Bandcamp: https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The MemeTune Programme Credits:
Everything in this video was created by B D Edwards (Benge)
All music, design, writing, filming and production completed at Memetune Studios, UK, 2024

CYBERSYNTHESIS - Weighted Probability and Gaussian Curves

video upload by Memetune Studio

"CYBERSYNTHESIS - Weighted Probability and Gaussian Curves - on the Buchla 200
By Benge"

The New Toneflow Art Channel

video upload by Memetune Studio

"The music for this video was made using a vintage Yamaha CS80 polysynth and a Lexicon Model 400 reverb unit"

Euclids Wheel by Benge

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Benge Buchlaisms - 'Euclid’s Wheel'

https://modulisme.bandcamp.com
https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com

Euclid pointed out 2300 years ago, a wheel is not round when viewed from an angle

This piece started life as an exploration of the Buchla MARF’s ability to play two concurrent sequences of different lengths. I set up two Euclidean Rhythmic patterns (E-7/12 and E-3/8) and then added further modulations using the Buchla 208 5-step sequencer. The overall effect is one of polyrhythmic complexity, aided by this instrument's plethora of interconnectable options, including panning, random voltages, frequency modulation and shifting, phasing, envelope following, and filtering

It would be impossible to list all the pathways that were involved in this patch, but the general idea is one of Euclidean Rhythms, and the perception of cycles, circles, ovals and wheels within wheels

Note that this patch makes use of the special yellow banana cable that Don himself gifted me when I was in his workshop many years ago. I treasure the yellow cable, I believe it holds some magic for me when patching his amazing system"

A Totally Unique Roland Modular Synth Oozing

video upload by Memetune Studio

"The Roland custom modular from their finest period is coming along nicely!

Enjoy the creamy sounds it oozes 😁"

BENGE - FORMS16 Watercolour on Paper

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Music from the Serge Modular Paperface

This is an album exploring the interplay between random events and deliberate human intervention, something which, in the electronic music field, I call cybersynthesis. I saw it’s creation as being analogous to creating pictures using the medium of Watercolour, whereby the various pigments are allowed to flow randomly in water with the hand of the painter guiding the proceedings with an eye on satisfying various criteria. These criteria define the artist's intention. The work is the result

The music was made on the Serge Modular Paperface system, with most of the modules being made in the early-to-mid 1970s. However, one panel of the nine used is a modern unit formatted to the Serge standard, made by the British synthesiser manufacturer Loudest Warning. This panel was assembled on my instruction, a service happily provided by the manufacturer, and contains cybernetic functions that I felt were lacking in the other modules in my system, but which fit in with the spirit of the Serge. They were designed to aid in the composition of self-generating melodic and rhythmic patterns as found on this album

Note that the original paintings featured in this video are available to buy via Benge's Bandcamp page: https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com/album..."

Autumnism - Benge on the Buchla 100

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Benge Buchlaisms - 'Autumnism'

https://modulisme.bandcamp.com
https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com

This is a multi-tracked piece made exclusively on the Buchla 100 synthesiser

The modules in the left-hand cabinets are all original vintage units made in the 1960s (apart from the middle 144 VCO which is my own clone made before the current slew of clones released since 2018)

The patch makes use of many oscillators going into the 191 Sharp Cutoff Filter, in bandpass mode, as well as other layers using the Frequency Shifter and Noise Sources

The Random module is a big part of the patches, as well as the Sequencers

But perhaps the most important modules in any patch on the 100 are the 156 CV Processors. This is because of the way Don designed the system, leaving off the CV processing from most modules. So for example, most functions on the modules have voltage control inputs, but no scaling knobs or mixers on them, so the 156 modules are used for this task

In general, I approached the patching for this piece in a fairly ad-hock manner, and just enjoyed patching and playing with the system as I went along, with no particular goal other than exploring the Buchla's warm sonic possibilities, on a very cold, wet, autumnal day"

Rolanded - SH5 breakout-module in action

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Here is the Roland SH5 breakout panel that I designed in action - alongside my customised Roland System 100, the CR8000 drum machine (its a beast) and some eurorack sequencing stuff - YEAH!"

Gater - Serge Gated Comparator Sketch

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Using the Loudest Warning versions of the Ken Stone Gated Comparator to play the Serge system. The GC takes 2 inputs (any time-varying voltage source and a clock source) and sends out a variety of CVs and Gates based on the incoming clock, using 8 shift registers that sequentially pass the voltages along. Its hard to explain what's happening, because there are a few extra details that complicate it. One is that each of the 8 steps can have an offset voltage added with a knob setting. Also there is a loop function which can be different to the inputs. Then there are different outputs - a mix of all the voltages on each step, or random voltages per step. A range knob sets the general voltage range its going to output, and there is a sensitivity knob to control how much of the variable cv input is setting off the stages. Its pretty hit and miss, and is one of those modules that is best just experimented with, but it can give amazing results that can't be done on anything else (apart from other modules based on this idea, such as the Rungler, Klee sequencer, Turing Machine, etc). Its great for semi-random sequences of notes and other cvs, as well as gates and timing pulses

In this patch I'm using one GC (on the right of the panel) to do the pitches and a second one (far left) to send out cvs to control the timbre of the oscillator. This second GC is a slimmed down version with less controls and no individual gate outs, but its the same thing in principle

The strange wonky rhythms are being made with a combination of the window comparators and the EG which has an equally baffling array of input and output options

So in other words, this is a an extremely fun panel to experiment with when making aleatoric music 😁"

Background Modulars No.3 - Serge Paperface

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Can't find a Serge Modular system to create a self-generating Cybersynthesis patch on? No worries! Just put this video on in the background (in full-screen mode), and have the next best thing 😁

In this background piece, I’m using a 1970s Paperface system with some Loudest Warning Serge clone modules to help with the AI composition process (top panel)

The usual VCO / VCF / ENV things are set up, being triggered from a combination of Positive Slew, 73 EG and the mysterious Fenetre module (a Window Comparator designed by Charlie at Loudest Warning, inspired by a tiny bit of the Destiny+ Czochralski Cells thing - Google it), which takes a CV-variable input and sends out staggered pulses, all CV-able. Some of these go to a 4-input AND module which is combined with the other clocks to give varying rhythm to the piece. The pitches are being generated from the Gated Comparator (Ken Stone design, Mk2) which is being altered as the piece develops by various interrelated CVs from the other modules and the vintage Programmer, set to 4 steps on a very slow clock, again related to the main clock via an 8-way divider, then into a 2HP Tune quantiser, which I supplanted into a spare hole in the cab. The Programmer also has its other outputs slowly changing things, such as timbre and LFO of the main oscillator. The reverb is from the Serge spring units (stereo) and there is a tiny bit of Boss SE70 delay in there (all being mixed via one of the Serge Universal Audio Processors)

The general idea is that its one great big interrelated cybersynthesis patch, and the sequence changes slightly each rotation. I think if you listen through to the end, you will hear a very satisfying melodic development, one that I was not expecting to happen. I had no idea how the melody would evolve, and for the first time in my patching life I was genuinely surprised by the melodic resolution this self-generating Serge patch produced"

Serge Sea Anatomy

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Trying out something on the Serge system: using the direct pulse inputs to the Programmer taken from the pulse outputs from the 1050 cloned Mix Sequencer, then changing the direction of the 1050 with the Serge Clock Divider every 5 times through the sequence, thus giving an evolving sequence of notes over more than the normal 8 steps an ordinary sequencer gives. I'm getting into some interesting generative (Cybersynthesis) techniques today"

Sercan

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Wrangling on the Serge and Modcan"

Moog Wrangle

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Moog Modular 3C and Lexicon Model 300"

Background Modulars No.2 - Modcan A-Series

video upload by Memetune Studio

"Can't find a real vintage Modcan A-Series modular system? No worries! Just put this video on in the background (in full-screen mode), and have the next best thing 😁

Here is 10 minutes of self-playing modular synthesiser niceness. Why not put it on loop - then you can have it bubbling away in the background while you do other things

This is the second Background Modular video - the first featured the ARP2500 - [posted here]

A note on the patch: two VCOs (one of which is the Miniwave) go into the Modcan 02A LPF then to the output mixer. Various AD and ADSR envelopes control the filter cutoff coming in at various levels. The melodic notes are being chosen by sending a VC LFO into the Cyndustries Gated Comparator which is like a S&H crossed with a shift register and analog switch. It throws out notes that are semi-random. This output goes into a Quantiser to keep the notes sort of in tune. The Sequencer is used to vary the timing of the notes. A second signal path consists of the above going into the Modcan CV Recorder / Sampler which is the lower set of notes you can hear. I quite like the way its all a bit out of time and wonky. The stereo output goes into my mixer (Sony DMX-R100 with GA 1073 analogue preamps/eqs), with a bit of reverb (Lexicon Model 300)

Actually the patch is more complex than this, but it's too much to explain here - it would take my word count over the limit 🤣"