What Does a VCA Do? (Modular Synth 101 | Part 2)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"Continuing with this series on modular synthesizers, I take a look at the VCA (Voltage Controlled Attenuator). It is said to be one of the most valuable parts of a synthesizer and I use a simple example to illustrate what a VCA does."

Additional posts in the series: Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios) Modular Synth 101

Hidden Feature on the Rakit Drum Synth

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I discovered this hidden feature accidentally, but if you sent the sensitivity control high, just flipping a switch will trigger the drum voice. So... you can play the Drum Synth with the switches. It's kinda fun.

See the build video here:" [posted here]

What Does a Passive Multiple Do? (Eurorack Modular Synth 101 - 1)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I've been asked this question several times, so I decided to do a video explaining what a multiple does. It's pretty self-explanatory but hopefully this video is helpful to someone. The mult I use is made by Rakit."

Additional posts in the series: Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios) Modular Synth 101

Rakit Drum Synth: Build & Demo

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"The folks at Rakit sent me this really cool kit to build and review. The Drum Synth is more than just a drum synthesizer. Thanks to the trigger and pitch inputs... it can be used for a lot of different musical applications.

You can buy these kits from Rakit's online store: https://www.rakits.co.uk/product-cate...

Intro - 0:00
Overview & Build - 0:43
Knobs & Switches (w/sounds) - 2:28
Interfacing w/Other Synths - 6:38
Final Thoughts - 8:32"

Update: also see Hidden Feature on the Rakit Drum Synth

Rakit Mini-APC & Baby-8: Builds & Demos (DIY Synth Kits)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"The folks at Rakit sent me are care package to say thank you for the previous videos I made. The package included these several of their kits. Among them were the Mini-APC and the Baby-8 sequencer. I go over the build processes, features of each, and do a few sound samples.

You can buy these kits from Rakit's online store: https://www.rakits.co.uk

0:00 - Intro & Background
1:12 - Mini-APC Overview & Build
2:55 - Mini-APC Sound Demo
3:26 - Baby-8 Overview & Build
5:31 - Baby-8 Demo w/Eurorack
8:01 Using Mini-APC & Baby-8 Together
9:46 - Final Thoughts"

Fidget Spinner Box Meets Modular Synth (DIY Instrument/CV source)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I recently built this funky fidget spinner instrument and decided to see if it would work as a CV source for the modular synthesizer. To my surprise, it worked really well.

Check out the build video here:"

I Made a DIY Fidget Spinner Instrument Thingy (Fun Musical Project)


This is a very simple project. It's just 2 spinners mounted to a cigar box using 5/16" carriage bolts. I used a bass pickup and 1/4" mono jack to amplify the sound.

Build Process - 0:00
Sound Demos - 5:01"

Building a DIY Touchplate Controller (it's easier than you think)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I've been really interested in touchplate controllers lately. I found a @SynthDiyGuy tutorial from 2017 and followed it. To my surprise... it's a remarkably simple circuit... but it works great.

See the video tutorial here: [posted here]

Intro & Components - 0:00
Creating the Touchplate Pattern- 1:41
Etching the Board - 2:35
Circuit Design - 3:26
Building the Circuit - 4:11
Attaching the Touchplate - 5:15
Test with Modular Synthesizer - 5:57"

Ghosts of Spring (bioelectric composition #6)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"Last fall, I made a bioelectric composition as these lilies were withering. Now that spring has arrived and they've broken through the ground, I thought it would be fun to do another one with the same plants. Both setups use the Garden Listener from Clatters Machines to interface the synth with the lilies.

See the first video here"

E-Ther + Mopho (my first track made with a theremin)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I recently posted an unboxing video of this MIDI theremin [posted here] so I decided to pair it with my Mopho and create a track. NOTE: I put all the patch bank/numbers on the screen. However, I have the Mopho Keyboard patches loaded on my Mopho module so they may be slightly different than a factory Mopho."

See the PeacockMedia label below for more.

Rubber Band Guitar Meets Modular Synth (DIY instrument)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"Earlier this week I posted a video of this rubber band instrument I made. In this video, I plug it into my modular synthesizer. It can not only be used to make audio, but also control voltages.

Intro - 0:00
Patch 1 - 0:51
Patch 2 - 1:18
Patch 3 - 2:30
Patch 4 - 4:08

See the build video here:"

I Made a... Wacky Rubber Band Guitar Thingy (DIY musical instrument)

"Well... I don't know if this type of thing has a name but it sure was fun to build. I'm sure I'm not the first person to come up with this idea but it was certainly fun to figure it out. It's an electric rubber band instrument.

Idea - 0:00
Build Process - 0:36
Sound Demo - 4:42"

Monotron Inception (3 KORG Monotrons in a chain)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"Just for the heck of it, I decided to find out what it sounds like when you plug the KORG Monotron into the KORG Monotron Duo into the KORG Monotron Delay. It's like a Monotron inception!

See a shootout of the 3 Monotrons here:" [posted here]

Chorus of Glitch (Cracklebox, Sound Scaper, Jarmaggeddon, Mini-KP, Alchemy & guitar)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"This was just a random idea I had but it came out pretty well. I used the Sound Scaper from Error Instruments along with the Moffenzeef Jarmaggeddon and the Rackit Disintegrated Cracklebox. I used the KORG Mini-KP to process the Cracklebox and then overlayed drums (from the DAW) and soft synth (via Alchemy). Finally, I topped it off with some bitcrushed guitar."

2X4 Lap Steel Meets Drum & Bass Machine (with some organ for good measure)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I meant to do something like this for Jamuary but just didn't get around to it and I don't want to wait a year to try it. Here's a little improv with a 2X4 DIY lap steel and Volca Beats/Bass/Mix trio. I also threw in a little Hammond B3 organ via soft synth."

Rakit Disintegrated Cracklebox: Build & Demo

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I recently built this Disintegrated Cracklebox kit from Rakit in the UK. This device makes all kinds of fun glitchy sounds. The kit was very well laid out and easy to assemble.

Intro - 0:00
Build & Overview - 0:22
Sounds (Dry) - 2:27
Sounds (with FX) - 3:37
Final Thoughts - 4:59

You can purchase one here: https://www.rakits.co.uk/product/disi...

See more of my DIY Projects here:"

Cool Find: KORG Mini-KP Kaoss Pad (from Reverb.com)

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"I recently found this super cool KORG Mini-KP on Reverb. The unit drop shipped from Japan and it appears to be in great condition. This is very similar to my KO-1 Kaossilator but it's designed to be an effect instead of a sound source & arranger.

Intro - 0:00
Unboxing - 0:36
Overview - 1:40
Demo Sounds - 2:45
Using as a Performance Tool - 6:54
Conclusion - 8:28"

Jamuary #5 (drum machine, steel tongue drum, & soft synth) | Improv 2023

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"It's the final video in my 2023 Jamuary series. I said I was going to publish a new jam every Tuesday in January and I did just that. This week's jam includes KORG Volca Beats (drum machine), Idiopan Lunabell (steel tongue drum), and Alchemy soft synth (controlled by M-Audio Oxygen25). Jamuary is always so much fun!"

Jamuary #4 (small synths & a tape loop) | Improv 2023

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"My next video to celebrate Jamuary. I did a little composition with the Error Instruments Cloudbusting Organic, Error Instruments Broken Tape Simulator (BTS), KORG KO-1 Kaossilator, Korg Volca Beats, Korg Volca Bass, and a tape loop from The Void Electronics (played on my Sony TCM-200DV). There's also a couple audio files playing on the DAW to add ambience."

See more Jamuary vids here:"

Overlooked Module #13: 2HP Bell

video upload by Musical Miscellany (Poorness Studios)

"For the next Overlooked Module, I take a closer look at the Bell from 2HP. This tiny little module adds a modeling synth to your rack with a mere 2hp footprint. It is capable of some beautiful sounds and even has 6 voice polyphony."

And the Overlooked Modules playlist:

Jamuary #2 (modular synth, drum machine, & keyboard) | Improv 2023

video upload by Musical Miscellany (formerly Poorness Studios)

"It's the second video in my 2023 Jamuary series. Today's video features a trio of synthesizers: Dave Smith Mopho, KORG Volca Beats, & my Eurorack modular system. The plant also gets involved in today's improv session. Stay tuned for more jams each Tuesday in January."

Bored & Sick (electronic jam w/ Acid Bee, Sound Scaper, Kaossilator, & Alchemy)

video upload by Poorness Studios

"While I was sick earlier this week, I decided to jam with some random devices (Error Instruments Acid Bee, Error Instruments Sound Scaper, KORG KO-1) just to see what it sounded like. I didn't think much of it at the time but listened later and thought it sounded pretty good. I thought I'd share it with all of you.

See more videos featuring the Kaossilator here:"