Morpheus | A tribute to Dave Rossum and E-mu Systems

video upload by Cinematic Laborat

"Back in the 80's, I used to own an E-mu Proteus 2 and the legendary Emulator IV sampler. I noticed the Morpheus, but I did not pay much attention to it, because I felt the Emulator could record samples AND do Z-plane synthesis. No idea what it was, never used it. But the Morpheus became an ambient legend because of those Z-Planes. The specs didn't make much sense. It offered three AHDSR envelopes and two complex 8-stage function generators per voice, where each stage could do something different and you could jump to a stage based on conditions (like key velocity) With the knowledge I have today I'd immediately say WOW.

E-mu Systems is gone (due to the PC/Mac), but Dave Rossum's creations live on in Eurorack. The Assimil8or could be compared to the Emulator sampler. Control Forge is the multi-segment conditional function generator and the Morpheus now only provides the Z-Plane filter. To get an idea, it's like a 3D wavetable for filters you can traverse with X, Y and Z coordinates mapped to frequency, morph and amplitude (not 100% sure).

So yes, I was thrilled to give it a try. I hooked up Plaits and a bunch of LFO's, only to discover it sounded like crap. Que? Yes. Plaits came in too hot so I had to use a VCA. Uncontrolled CV can make the Morpheus explode in extreme clipping which the module - and your 24 bit audio interface - can't possibly handle. So It needs a limiter too if you just throw CV at it. After one day of shooting video I was very disappointed and almost decided to put it back in the box and do something else. I checked videos from collegue YouTubers and it all sounded 'more is less' with the frantic filter changes, clicks, pops and digital harshness. Terrible. Was this it? It can't be. Not from Dave Rossum.

It's impossble to cut a long story short now, but I studied the old Morpheus brochure and listened to some orginal sounds. Then all the pieces fell together. It sounds best when used like the old E-mu. It needs a polyphonic source, a big pad or a collection of moody samples. It needs a clever function generator, like two chained Maths or a Buchla 281 quad function generator. Or a ZADAR! I tried a little proof of concept with Knobula Poly Cinematic and one Maths, and yes. This is the way. In the final patch I used BitBox with a bed of three layered samples (Emulator!) and three complex functions from Zadar, triggered by Maths. And there it was. A eurorack Morpheus doing true Z-Plane Synthesis."

Plinky Polyphonic Modular Synth GS-E7 Osmose Rossum Assimil8or

video upload by Taylor Richards

"A list of instruments used in order of appearance:

circuit_happy Missing Link 2 (Master Clock)

plinkysynth Plinky (Polysynth module with per column pressure sensitivity)

tiptopaudiofficial Quad Lopass Gate (Handling VCA duties for my custom built analog Frankensynth, lots of spring reverb going on too)

expressive_e Osmose (MPE Midi Controller with per note pitch bend and aftertouch)

gsmusicarg GS-E7 (An MPE compatible fully analog polysynth being controlled by Osmose, these two together are a DREAM!)

rossumelectro Assimil8or (Sampler module, my main squeeze, handling drums and samples)

uaudio Apollo 16x & Luna Recording System (Audio Interface, Plug Ins and Multitrack Recording Software)

#coloradomodularsynthsociety #diysynth #springreverb #polysynth #eurorack #mpe #modularsynth #assimil8or #ambient #lofi #downtempo #lofibeats #chillout #drumprogramming #hiphop #boombap #vinylsample"

The Great Hapax Experiment Vol. 1 - Squarp Hapax sequencing loads of stuff and Cocoquantus improvs

video upload by -CALC-

"Sat with this one quite a bit for quite a bit.... kept it unlisted for over a year but after some revisits thought maybe its time to put it out there. Still stand by what I initially thought, its a "Curate's egg... Good in parts". Squarp and Coco were still newish at the time of this jam so still finding the feels.

This is what I thought of it back then:

I got a new brain!

Here's a full 45 minute noodle with the incredible Squarp Hapax front and centre. To say this is the most powerful hardware sequencer I have ever got my hands on is a total understatement.

WARNING This pretty experimental jam is not for the faint hearted in certain sections. Focussing on Hapax and the CocoQuantus it gets noisy and out there but that's what I love these days.

It was improvised and live-sequenced over a couple of initially formed sequences.
There are good bits but also some really bad sections in the middle too. I considered cutting these out but that would be a hard edit and they eventually do settle down.
I'd say the worst bits are:
20:30 - 21:26 (shitty idea to try and record a kick bass line without tuning the kick!)
28:39 - 29:42 (combo of not realising that the 1010 Blue box was turned down and having a few moments of forgetting how the CocoQuantus worked... oh and a pesky Buchla sequence I forgot to stop!)

Hapax is firing off and controlling a ton of stuff in the room:
Circuit Rhythm
Ciat Lonbarde CocoQuantus (clocking the loopers)
Nord Drum 3p
Rossum Electro Assimil8or (through CV.OCD)
Meng Qi Wingie 2
Novation Summit - also acting as a controller keyboard for everything in the set-up
Buchla 208C
Norns (running Plonky Script for multisamples)
Just Friends in polysynth mode
Vongon Polyphrase
Vongon Ultrasheer
Mutable Instruments Beads
and some dodgy singing
All connected via Hapax's MIDI Outs and a Conductive Labs MRCC"

Is the OXI Instruments Coral the Only Multitimbral Synthesizer Module for Eurorack?

The following is the latest press release from OXI Instruments for their new Coral eurorack module. It claims that Coral is the only "multitimbral synthesizer module marketed for Eurorack", but there are others as you can see in previous posts here, including the Mayer M800 (16 voice in 4 parts), Ryk Vector Wave (16/4 as well), Percussa SSP, and Rossum Assimil8or (8 part though sample based). If you know of others, feel free to leave a comment. Regardless, OXI Instruments Coral is an impressive module. You can find demos of it in previous posts here.

The press release follows:

OXI Instruments introduces Coral as only multitimbral synthesizer module marketed for Eurorack, empowering users to create basslines, drones, drums, pads, and riffs

NIGRÁN, PONTEVEDRA, SPAIN: having hitherto made musical waves with its inaugural OXI One product release as a battery-powered performative sequencer, controller, and composition tool with four fully-independent sequencers (originally raising 1,178% of its fixed funding goal with American crowdfunding website Indiegogo in 2021 and regularly updated with new features since shipping), inspirational and innovative music-making tools-crafter OXI Instruments is proud to announce (limited stock) availability of Coral as the only multitimbral synthesizer module marketed for Eurorack — embracing eight-voice polyphony (freely splittable into different parts and allowing every parameter to be independently set for each voice or part) and several sound engines (each assignable to different voices) all accessible via a colourful, organic interface arranged around an anodised and beautifully silk-printed aluminium panel, premium finished with custom aluminium knobs, empowering users to create basslines, drones, drums, pads, and riffs while effortlessly manipulating voices independently to craft complex patches out of the box — as of August 30…

Ultimately utilising lots of computing power to deliver rich-sounding engines in an eight-voice package that could conceivably be termed the ultimate multitimbral synthesizer — depending on the sound engine involved, one voice can have up to eight oscillators, meaning up to 64 oscillators playing at once making for a massive sound, for example, Coral can be played in a number of ways. While it is fair to say that it breaks free from conventional polyphonic synthesizer behaviour, Coral can conveniently be played polyphonically using only one CV (control Voltage) and gate connection, allocating a new voice every time it registers a new note — be that part of an arpeggio, strummed chord, or pad with long decayed notes — on the oct (V/Oct) input. Independent filter, amplifier, and modulation envelopes are available to each of those voices — in fact, every parameter can be independently set for each voice, including individual effect sends! It is also possible to play all eight voices in unison — all voices playing the same note for drones and thick textures, as well as triggering the internal envelopes with the trig input or directly controlling the amplifier level with the amp CV.

Coral also benefits from full MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) integration, meaning multitimbral operation is a given while also allowing for control over any part’s parameter via MIDI CC (Continuous Controller) commands. Indeed, its eight voices can be freely split into different parts; this time, every parameter can be independently set for each part to craft complex patches out of the box. But there’s more: once those voices have been grouped across different parts, users can distribute the modulation signals across them using the part CV; so, for instance, if there are two parts, the first part will be addressed if the part CV voltage is between 0 and 2.5V while the second will be addressed if the voltage is between 2.5 and 5V.

But better still, several sound engines can be assigned to each of Coral’s voices; included instances available from the outset are Virtual Analog, Waveshaping, FM (Frequency Modulation), custom Wavetable, MDO (Multiple Detuned Oscillator), String, HiHat Synth, Snare Synth, Digital Kick, and Wav Player, now boosted by new Additive with Wavefolder and Diode Distortion additions. As one such sound engine implies by name, Coral supports almost any kind of WAV file — 16-, 24-, and 32-bit mono or stereo — with no limit to playback time! Thinking outside the box comes easily when working with Coral — add overdrive to samples, sculpt them using the filters and envelopes, pitch them up and down in tune, and even modulate the sample file or folder in real time using the CV inputs or MIDI CC commands! It is possible to load any wavetable WAV file to the SD card for Coral’s Wavetable engine; wavetables can even be morphed into three dimensions using OXI Instruments’ OXI Wave app — based on the amazing Wave Edit app created by Andrew Belt — that makes creating and editing them both fun and interesting in equal measures.

Clearly, Coral can go far beyond the realms of a conventional polyphonic synthesizer, then, thanks to the comprehensive voice management and manipulation on offer. On the face of it, those powerful sound engines speak volumes in and of themselves — as does Coral’s full-featured polyphonic sample playback plus built-in space (deep atmosphere) and chorus (rich ensemble) effects potential. It is, indeed, the only eight-voice polyphonic, multi-engine, multi- part synthesizer module marketed for Eurorack, one whose freedom of voice management is even hard to match in desktop gear. Going from rich polyphonic patches to a fully-fledged groove box with basslines, drums, and leads comes quickly to Coral, which, of course, can be fully controlled using MIDI and CV — or both! All available to all in a compact (14HP) form factor for a reasonable price — particularly when pitched against a conventional polyphonic synthesizer.

“The introduction of Mutable Instruments’ Plaits module was a revolution in terms of compact, multi-engine synth voice modules,” maintains OXI Instruments CEO & CTO Manuel Vázquez Rodríguez, good-heartedly giving credit where credit is due before digging deeper to end on a high note: “Thanks to their open source contributions, we have taken some of their algorithms and put them into a tasty, compact package that contains eight ‘instances’ of that module with custom-developed engines alongside new ingredients like independent envelopes and filters per voice, effects, full MIDI implementation, and a colourful, organic interface. On top of that, custom wavetables and a sample playback engine are also available per voice. But we didn’t want to just create another polyphonic synth, so, to allow users to make the most of every voice, we’ve introduced the multi-part concept. Consequently, users can arrange and use the eight voices as they wish — with eight monophonic parts, one polyphonic part of eight voices, or any combination thereof, such as two polyphonic parts of three voices each, plus two monophonic voices in the same module, meaning Coral can be corralled into acting as a versatile and powerful polysynth, drum machine, groovebox, and sound exploration module... all at the same time! We won’t stop there, though, adding more features in future through regular firmware updates — just like we’ve been doing with OXI One!”

Metunar Live Set - Fresh Paint - Track 08

video upload by Metunar

"Last track of my Modular Synthesizer Live Set from 2022.
There are 2 more tracks of this project, but i skiped the video for them.

Project = Fresh Paint
Song = Track 08
Stile = Some kind of Electro.
Setup = The Dave Rossum sampler Assimil8or plays 8 loops with different length. In the modular i mix these loops live together and add some effects. For the voice track i used a C64 Sam speech software emulation.
This set can also be used with a quadrophonic PA.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Metunar Live Set - Fresh Paint - Track 06

video upload by Metunar

"Another track of my Modular Synthesizer Live Set from 2022.

Project = Fresh Paint
Song = Track 06
Stile = Some kind of Acidjazz/Rock.
Setup = The Dave Rossum sampler Assimil8or plays 8 loops with different length. In the modular i mix these loops live together and add some effects. On the Guitar is a lot of Frequency Shifter (XAOC Koszalin Frequency Shiftor) effect. For the Percussion i patched a 3D Panner (Pan and Filter modulated with an LFO with 90° offset). This set can also be used with a quadrophonic PA.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Metunar Live Set - Fresh Paint - Track 05

video upload by Metunar

"Next track of my Modular Synthesizer Live Set from 2022.

Project = Fresh Paint
Song = Track 05
Stile = Some kind of Synth-Pop.
Setup = The Dave Rossum sampler Assimil8or plays 8 loops with different length. In the modular i mix these loops live together and add some effects.
This set can also be used with a quadrophonic PA.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Metunar Live Set - Fresh Paint - Track 04

video upload by Metunar

"Another track of my Modular Synthesizer Live Set from 2022.

Project = Fresh Paint
Song = Track 04
Stile = Some kind of Electro.
Setup = The Dave Rossum sampler Assimil8or plays 8 loops with different length. In the modular i mix these loops live together and add some effects.
This set can also be used with a quadrophonic PA.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Short overview of Endless Arp's new set up #modular #synthesizer #musicvideo #eurorack #jam

video upload by Endless Arp

@XOR Electronics Nerdseq
@Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or
@TipTopAudio Trigger riot
Orthogonal Devices ER-301
Tesseract Sweet 16
@Instruō Saich
Mannequins Three sisters
@Noise Engineering BIA

Metunar Live Set - Fresh Paint - Track 03

video upload by Metunar

"Next track of my Modular Synthesizer Live Set from 2022.

Project = Fresh Paint
Song = Track 03
Stile = Some kind of Electro.
Setup = The Dave Rossum sampler Assimil8or plays 8 loops with different length. In the modular i mix these loops live together and add some effects.
This set can also be used with a quadrophonic PA.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Metunar Live Set - Fresh Paint - Track 02

video upload by Metunar

"Second track of my Modular Synthesizer Live Set from 2022.

Project = Fresh Paint
Song = Track 02
Stile = Some kind of Electro.
Setup = The Dave Rossum sampler Assimil8or plays 8 loops with different length. In the modular i mix these loops live together and add some effects. With the Assimil8or it’s also possible to pitch the hole track down. I can even slow it down to zero speed, which i do at the end of the jam.
This set can also be used with a quadrophonic PA.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Interview with William Mathewson (WMD) - live transitions in Eurorack modular for live performance

video upload by WMDevices

"Playing a live set is a challenge and when it comes to live electronic music on hardware instruments, the set of challenges become unique. One of our goals here at WMD is to make instruments that are fun to interact with in real time, and get to be played like a traditional instrument. Another goal is to create tools that allow for preparation, making live performance less stressful and more fun.

In this video, Alex talks with William Mathewson, the WM of WMD (William Mathewson Devices), about how he prepares for a live set. We take an inside look at how he uses the WMD Metron, Voltera, and Rossum Assimil8or module to create a unique palette of sounds that moves subtly from one song to the next. William's style requires lots of preparation and for him to write an entire set worth of music at once in a linear fashion, rather than one song at a time, and much different than a totally improvised performance."

Creating deep modulation for cool house style chords in Eurorack with WMD OSD, Javelin, and Overseer

video upload by WMDevices

"WMD OSD (OR/SUM/DIF) was released earlier this year and although it's a tiny 4 HP utility, it can be used to make some really cool, deep modulations with envelopes and LFOs.

In this video, Alex walks through creating some unique deep house style chord samples for the Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or by modulating a rather simple chord sound with two envelopes and one LFO all at the same time with OSD's analog OR function.

Logic in Eurorack modular synthesizers can be confusing and intimidating, but it's really rather simple. This video shows the best way to combine multiple CV signals to create unique textures that can then be used in a performance or recording setting."

ESK - Modular and FR Vectra Jam

video upload by Metunar

"Jamsession with 2 modular systems (Cwejman, XOR Electronics NerdSeq, Dave Rossum Assimil8or, …) and a FutureRetro Vectra synthesizer.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Doepfer Monster case with modules

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via these auctions

Lists of modules in each system case after the pics below.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Frap Tools Usta, Rossum Assimil8or, Instruo & Divkid ØCHD | Eurorack Modular Synthesizer

video by Baséput

"Here is a live performance in the deep rainforest of Central Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia, featured two songs called "Astungkara" and "Topolaui" where you can buy them on my Bandcamp.

Here are the modules:
- 4MS Row Power 45
- Instruo & Divkid ØCHD
- Frap Tools Usta
- Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or
- Endorphin.es Milky Way
- Knob Farm Ooots
Housed in VVOLTT skiff and Tendrils cable connects everything.
Recorded to Zoom H4N Pro. I hope you enjoy it."

Noise Engineering Black Spaghetti 2 -- Live Modular Synth Jam

video by Noise Engineering

"Another jam testing out some techniques for the blog.

Voices:
Loquelic Iteritas percido + XAOC Tallin: Bass voice
Intellijel Plonk: Bell melody thing
SSF Stereo Dipole: other bell drone thing
Jomox Modbase 09 MKII + Autodyne: kick drum
Rossum Assimil8or: clap/hats
Electus Versio: verby things

Utilities/sequencing:
XOR Electronics NerdSeq, SSF Muton, Mutable Instruments Branches, Bin Seq, Integra Solum, Confundo Funkitus, Variatic Erumption, and Mimetic Digitalis

Other audio stuff:
WMD Performance Mixer (meodic mix), SSF Vortices (percussion mix), WMD MSCL x2 (ducking and light master compression), ADDAC VC Spectral Tilt (master EQ), Sono Abitus"

http://www.noiseengineering.us​

Novation Circuit Tracks & Associates - Buchla 208C Easel Command, Monome Norns, 1010Music Bluebox -

video by -CALC-

See this post for additional details and demos of Novation's new Circuit Tracks.

"Perhaps not quite what most folks are expecting from an early Circuit Tracks video but this is a versatile bit of kit and it was a fun late night birthday jam. Circuit Tracks is firmly at the centre.

Tracks is controlling the Norns OOOOOO script with MIDI mappings, all the loops in OOOOOO were recorded directly from the Circuit Track's Synth. The Circuit Tracks synth is actually kick ass when you delve deep into it and make it work for you. There is a ton of power in it.

Circuit Tracks also sequencing the Summit (bass line) and Rossum Electro Assimil8or - through CV.OCD (additional drums).
This is the first proper recording with the Buchla 208C Easel Command and at the moment its just burbling nicely in the background. I've been waiting for a long time to get this and it will definitely feature a lot more prominently in the future.
I'm still learning this total classic beast and I think I will be for the rest of my life but it also pairs really really well with the Circuit Tracks' sequencer.

Special shout out to the 1010 Music Bluebox too. It is such a handy device and way more useful than I imagined. Especially paired with the Norns.... thats a power combo.

Some tasty video stuff thanks to the Sleepy Circuits Hypno. I ran the video back through the Hypno for some lovely Psychedelics. It's clunky with external video but its good."

WMD 4TTEN - In-use demo with Rossum Electro-music Assimil8or

video by WMDevices

"Attenuation and offset are often overlooked functions in synthesis and the Eurorack ecosystem. However, they can be a very useful addition to modules that lack knobs but have plenty of CV inputs. 4tten packs 4 channels of attenuation or offset in 4hp, adding fader control to any module in a very little amount of space.

4tten is a simple module. 4 channels of attenuation with fader control. We added 5V normalled to the inputs so you can use it as a variable offset module, basically adding faders to any module you want. Perfect for when your cable management cannot avoid covering a crucial knob and modules that need more hands on control.

In this video, we cover using the 4tten to add fader control to the Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or. Having hands on control over multiple parameters at once eliminates mid-performance menu diving, as well as access to tonal parameters in real-time, great for changing up energy and feels with simple tweaks."

"4TTEN (pronounced either ATTEN or FOUR-TEN) is a four channel attenuator and offset generator.

Use 4TTEN to attenuate any CV or audio signal by running through the ins and outs.

A +5V voltage source is normalled to each input, making it a standalone offset when there is no cable patched into an input.

Each channel is completely independent.

Ever-so-useful in live performance, we designed this module with 4 sliders for easy maneuverability, visual feedback, and enjoyable to play interface. Make your eurorack modular synthesizer system more playable with 4TTEN!

*** 4TTEN's PCB is 113mm (4.45") tall and may be a tight fit in some cases (TTA Z-Rails especially)***

Highlights

- 4 independent attenuators for Control Voltage and Audio signals

- Performance friendly sliders

- Can be used as 0 to +5V Offset

- Comfortable fader caps from the Performance Mixer

- Only 4 hp!

SPECS:
Size: 4hp
Depth: 30mm(with cables)
Power: +5mA , -5mA
Virtually no drop on 1V/Oct signals.
VERTICAL PCB LENGTH: 113mm (4.45")
IMPEDANCE = (SOURCE + 100ohm ) / 100kohm
UNBUFFERED"

Baséput Modular Demos / Tutorials

Playlist as of this post:

How I use My Morphagene (Part 1)
How I use My Morphagene with an Acoustic Instrument - Sape (Part 2)
How I use My Morphagene, an Ambient Composition with Rossum Panharmonium & Assimil8or (Part 3)
How I use my Rossum Panharmonium (Part 1) | Mix, Voices, Blur, Feedback, and Glide Knobs
How I use my Rossum Panharmonium (Part 2) | Freq & Octave Knobs, Crossfading Waveforms, and Spectra
How I Use My Tendrils Cable | Eurorack Modular Synthesizer | 2 Layers of Patching, other Techniques
How I use My Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or (Part 1) | Changing Presets, Pitch, Level, and Samples
How I use My Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or with an Acoustic Instrument - Sape (Part 2) | Zones
How I use My Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or (Part 3) | Phase Modulation, Bit Depth, and Aliasing
How I Use my Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or (Part 4) | Simulating a Tape/Reel to Reel
How I Use my Rossum Electro-Music Assimil8or (Part 5) | SOS - Sound O Sound with Sape
How I Use my Frap Tools USTA (Part 1) Eurorack Modular Synthesizer | General Information