Serge Tcherepnin joins Random*Source as Chief Innovation Officer

Serge Tcherepnin has joined eurorack manufacturer Random*Source as Chief Innovation Officer. The official announcement follows:

"Serge (himself!) is back

Synth legend Serge Tcherepnin joins Random*Source as Chief Innovation Officer

Frankfurt, 13 November 2018. Serge Tcherepnin, the inventor of the legendary Serge Modular synthesizer system and, like Don Buchla, one of the founders of what became famous as the 'Westcoast approach', has joined the Random*Source team as Chief Innovation Officer with a focus on developing the 5th generation of the Serge modular synthesizer system.

Serge Tcherepnin is an American composer, musician and electronic mastermind of Russian and Chinese descent who grew up in France and in Chicago. His first teachers in music include his father, Alexander Tcherepnin, Nadia Boulanger, Quincy Jones. He fast joined the musical avant-garde at Harvard, studying with Pierre Boulez and meeting Henry Flynt and other FLUXUS musicians, and some of the ONCE FESTIVAL group of composers, among which Gordon Mumma whose electronics were an early influence. Returning to Europe, he worked at the Studio di Fonologia in Milan and the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop where he became friends with Delia Derbyshire, while giving concerts with Irmin Schmidt, Jon Hassel, Katerina Krimsky, in Germany. Now back in the USA, he became known for designing unusual electronic devices for musicians like his brother, Ivan Tcherepnin, Maryanne Amacher, Mort Subotnick, Charlemagne Palestine, Kevin Braheny and Malcom Cecil. In '70 he joined the music faculty at Cal-Arts with the express goal of researching the uses of electronics for music. It's there he developed the idea and design of the first “Serge” modules and started his company, Serge Modular Music Systems, in Hollywood, in 1975.

Joining the R*S team will allow Serge to lead the development of a number of new and previously unreleased Serge ideas and designs. As Serge states: “I’m excited to work even more closely with Ralf and the Random*Source team as we share the tech savviness, obsession with quality and constant urge to push limits further. The main goal is to expand the range of modules and sub-modules that lend themselves to being 'patch-programmed" in unusual and unforeseen ways, thus to add to and expand musicians' studio synthesizers way past standard synth configurations. I’d like to see the Serge system to grow wide and large, modules all talking to each other, whether they originated in my Hollywood lair in '75, or in the '80s on Haight Street, or now, coming from Random*Source.'

About Random*Source
Random*Source is a project founded by Ralf Hoffmann near Frankfurt, Germany, with a mission to carry on and further develop and extend the work of synth pioneers Serge Tcherepnin and Jürgen Haible. Since 2015 Random*Source has been working in close cooperation with Serge on a new generation of the Serge system. Using high-end parts and components, SMD technology and modern production methods allowed to improve audio performance significantly and develop more compact, slimmer modules and systems. Together with Serge, Random*Source also faithfully translated the Serge range from its original (“4U”) format to the eurorack format – using identical circuits and sticking strictly to the unique user interface of the Serge system, the “Serge grid”. Latest offspring of that collaboration is the New Ring modulator which Serge designed for Random*Source in 2017."

Random*Source Serge DUSG Overview Videos by Learning Modular

Published on Jun 12, 2019 Learning Modular

"On its surface, the Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DUSG) is just a pair of slew generators, with separate rise and fall times. In reality, it can be configured and cross-patched to perform a number of different functions, including envelope generator (from AD to multi-stage), LFO, VCO, subharmonic divider, waveshaper (including filter-like responses), and even an envelope follower. Each of the movies in this playlist demonstrate one of those functions.

In this set of movies, I’ll be using the Serge-authorized Random*Source Eurorack version that includes many popular modifications and upgrades to the original Serge module; some of these techniques can also be used with other slope and function generator modules like Maths, Rampage, Falistri, and more.

These movies are part of the extended version of the Learning Modular online Eurorack Expansion course: https://learningmodular.com/register/...

For even more information about modules like these (including optional access to my courses) as well as many other modular-related topics, please consider joining my Learning Modular Patreon channel: https://www.patreon.com/LearningModular"

Playlist:

1. Random*Source Serge DUSG 1/7: Overview & Slew (LMS EE)

This first movie gives an overview of the DUSG, including default settings so you don’t get lost before you get started. Then I’ll demonstrate using it as a slew generator, including how to create different response curves by using its built in control voltage feedback.

00:00 introduction
00:55 initial settings
01:30 setting up the patch
03:05 slewing a sample & hold
04:09 changing the shape

2. Random*Source Serge DUSG 2/7: Envelope Generator (LMS EE)

The Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DUSG) and some of its derivatives can be patched and configured to perform as a pair of attack/decay or attack/release generators. The two sides can also be cross-patched to create more complex envelope shapes, such as ADASR:

00:00 initial setup
00:54 attack/decay envelope
01:56 voltage control of Rise and Fall times
03:25 envelope shapes
07:13 attack/sustain/release envelope
07:51 end of cycle output
08:31 patching serial complex envelopes
11:31 parallel complex envelopes

3. Random*Source Serge DUSG 3/7: LFOs (LMS EE)

The Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DUSG) and some of its derivatives can be configured to function as an LFO with variable wave shape. You can also cross-patch both sides to create more complex shapes:

00:00 initial setup
00:23 patching the LFO function
01:10 bipolar (BP) output on the R*S DUSG
02:14 Cycle switch on the R*S DUSG
02:34 wave shapes
03:13 patching complex LFO shapes

4. Random*Source Serge DUSG 4/7: VCOs (LMS EE)

The Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DUSG) and some of its derivatives can be configured to function as a VCO with pulse and variable wave shape outputs:

00:00 initial setup
00:42 pulse wave oscillator on the R*S DUSG
03:07 variable waveshape oscillator

5. Random*Source Serge DUSG 5/7: Subharmonic Generator (LMS EE)

The Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DUSG) and some of its derivatives can be patched to create subharmonics – including suboctaves – from another oscillator’s square wave. These can track the keyboard, with the harmonic division depending on the Rise and Fall times as well as the frequency of the guide oscillator:

00:00 initial setup
00:41 square wave subharmonic generator
01:28 variable waveshape subharmonics

6. Random*Source Serge DUSG 6/7: Waveshaper (LMS EE)

The Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DUSG) and some of its derivatives can be patched to act as a variable waveshaper for another oscillator. The new shape can track the keyboard, can vary depending on the note you are playing, or can be enveloped to create filter-like effects:

00:00 initial setup
00:21 tracking waveshaper
02:43 note-dependent waveshaping
03:25 enveloped waveshaper

7. Random*Source Serge DUSG 7/7: Envelope Follower (LMS EE)

The Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DUSG) and some of its derivatives can be patched to act as a rough envelope follower:

00:00 initial setup
00:45 basic envelope following
02:24 refining the resulting envelope

Serge Modular by RandomSource Development Videos

Published on Feb 9, 2015 Random*Source

Playlist:
1. Serge Modular by RandomSource

In collaboration with and under license from Serge Tcherepnin, Random*Source will offer a range of Serge modules, combining the original Serge circuits with the advantages of today's technology.

2. Serge Variable Slope Filter (VCFS) for Euro by Random*Source

Some basic waveforms run through the Serge Variable Slope Filter (VCFS) for Euro - available very soon from Random*Source under license and in cooperation with Serge Tcherepnin.

The R*S version of the filter features high-end THAT VCAs and a Q knob to increase the resonance and sonic range covered by the unique filter.

3. Serge DSG Random*Source (prototype) tracking comparison

Comparing the tracking of the (left side of the) TimeGen Oscillator in the STS Creature (tuner on the left) with the new version of the Random*Source DSG/DUSG (tuner or the right). The Serge DSG is an extremely versatile module which can be used as a oscillator, however, it is much more than that and not primarily designed as an oscillator (and is not temperature-compensated). Traditionally the tracking is rather limited, but I'm quite happy with the the new R*S version (prototype) which is quite accurate over more than 2 octaves even with the most challenging waveform (negative sawtooth = RISE set to max).
Both modules were tuned to C and identical waveforms (SAW) and played using a keyboard and the 1V/Oct input.

4. Serge DSG mk2 - geometry

This is a quick demo showing some of the amazing waveforms generated by the Serge DSG mk2 (4U version) by Random*Source - this is not inteded to sound nice! One side is the normal output, the other the new Pulse (square) output. A Serge 8-step sequencer is used to modulate, no other modules used.

5. Serge DSG mk2 1V/Oct tracking test

Testing the tracking of the new Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (DSG) mk2 by Random*Source. While the DSG traditionally tracks only over 1-2 octaves, I could get the DSG mk2 (in a best case scenario) cover 4 octaves up to 440 Hz ...

6. Random*Source Serge DSG mk2 and Variable Slope Filter (VCFS)

Testing a newly built Serge VCFS using an updated pcb layout and some radical part choices ... single patch, LOWPASS and BANDPASS out recorded as a stereo track. Serge DSG mk2 acts as a sound source... Filmed with a BMPCC and Angenieux 4X17B, graded in Davinci Resolve

7. Serge NTO Waveforms

Quick demo of the basic waveform outputs of the Serge New Timbral Oscillator by Random*Source - including the new PULSE out, the VARIABLE OUT and some feedback patching for the VARIABLE OUT to get more amazing wave shapes ...
The NTO Variable Out does *not* blend or mix the normal waveforms, but is a unique (voltage controlled) waveshaper. This can be used to feed the normal outputs (e.g. SINE or PULSE) back into the VC VAR input for a whole range of new shapes.

Random Source La Bestia II Demos

Published on Nov 5, 2019 Jae Ryan

Two demos by Jae Ryan. Also see La Bestia 2 by Random Source - overview, sounds, music by HAINBACH.

Video descriptions:

1. Random Source La Bestia II - 01

I got my first Serge panel in yesterday! It's a La Bestia II and I have to say. I regret waiting this long. As far as an "analog modular" panel goes, I think this one is just perfect. It took a little time to get going with all the serge patching requirements, but the arrival couldn't be any more rewarding :D

2. Random Source La Bestia II - 02

Another quick serge jam. The battery in my camera died so I kinda rushed it to get the gist.
I'm pinging the VCFQ with the SQ-1 and feeding it into the mixer. I also took two more outs from the filter and ran them separately into different sections of the wave multipliers. That's the second 2 sounds I bring in. It's crazy how much variety you can get out of a single "voice" when you have a panel this deep!
Later I bring in a little bit of the NTO into the variable slope with some random voltage modulating the decay time to give it a little feel :)

3. Random Source La Bestia II - 03

Another little plummy patch. Once again, I was too lazy to actually record and just recorded a still after the fact......

4. Random Source La Bestia II - 04

A big ol' drone this time with pretty much everything controlled by a self cycling SSG LFO. The main "big" bass part that comes in is the Variable Slope VCF self oscillating (thanks to some feedback patching) & ran through the bottom wave multiplier.

5. Random Source La Bestia II - 05

A lil' serge jam in which I explore AM. Eventually.

There's also a little bit of cocoquantus drone that plays in the beginning.

I'm using couple distings in a euroack skiff to quantize the stepped side of the SSG & the bass notes of the TKB too.

6. Random Source La Bestia II - 06

Serge drone patched up immediately after the last video.

Heavy use of the OTO BAM in this one.

Disting MK4 is quantizing the TKBs voltages.

7. Random Source La Bestia II - 07

I've had the serge put away for a little bit in order to explore some new gear while I wait for my Edelweiss panel to show up. I was craving the sound tonight though and decided to pull it out for this quick little ditty. I even took the time to set up the camera!

"the Beautilator" - Random*Source Serge Modular + Metasonix Tube Modules Banana Boat

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

via this auction

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Serge Modular Paperface 2.0 - Official 50th Anniversary Edition

video upload by Serge Modular | Random*Source

"Teo.Hoffmann (https://www.instagram.com/teo.hoffmann/) playing the new Serge Paperface easel - Serge's 2022 redesign of the original 1st generation Serge synthesizer from 1973. Single take recording.

The Paperface Anniversary system is a standalone, externally powered, authentic Serge synthesizer.

Panel 1 (Sequencer):
Serge Gate Sequencer
Enhanced SQP4 Sequencer / Programmer with UP/DOWN, HOLD
Serge Metronomic Clock
Bidirectional Router
Enhanced SQP4 Sequencer / Programmer with UP/DOWN, HOLD
Peak & Trough

Panel 2 (Voice):
Serge Vintage Oscillator 2022, temperature-compensated, 1V/Oct
Serge Vintage Oscillator+ 2022, temperature-compensated, 1V/Oct, with PULSE and PWM
Serge Noise
Smooth & Stepped Generator (SSG)
Dual CV-Pro
Triple Waveshaper (TWS)
Serge 1973 VCF + Balanced Output"

Serge Modular Paperface 2.0 - Rhythm & Stealth


"Exploring the rhythmic side of the Serge Paperface easel - Serge's 2022 redesign of the original 1st generation Serge synthesizer from 1973. Single take recording."

See the Random Source label below for more.

HELIOS

"The Serge HELIOS is a powerful voice panel that brings the raw Paperface oscillator sound to a new level and is the ideal basis for both tonal and experimental sound explorations. Serge's redesign of the 1973 VCOs adds temperature compensation and exceptional tracking over 6+ octaves. The Oscillator+ adds an PULSE OUT with pulse width modulation.

The voice panel comes built and calibrated in a superslim boat and is designed to be powered externally (e.g. with a mobile PSU) - PSU not included."


TEMPO DI ROMA

"TEMPO DI ROMA offers a unique combination of sequencing, programming, switching and logic, that brings Paperface to a new level. The classic GATE sequencer is no longer alone - two 4-step programmers that are also sequencers (with HOLD, RESET, UP/DOWN) can be run independently. Serge's new metronomic Clock is a precise, temperature-stable analog tempo source that can bring any of these sequencers to life. Three Bi-Directional Switches allow complex combinations of the Sequencers (or even audio signals). The bottom switch is special: it includes a Flip-Flop so that with the first trigger, the Switch is turned ON (and stays ON), until another trigger turns it OFF again. An additional FLOP output is also added. Last not least the panel contains a PEAK&TROUGH section. With logic signals, PEAK (max function) acts like an boolean OR, TROUGH (min function) like a boolean AND. However, PEAK&TROUGH can also be used with audio signals or CV.

The sequencer panel comes built and calibrated in a superslim boat and is designed to be powered externally (e.g. with a mobile PSU) - PSU not included."


PARIS-FLASH

"The Serge PARIS-FLASH combines the key Serge modules of the Paperface era, especially slopes and envelopes, into one panel. While it may look like a system primarily designed for CV-Control, it is equally strong in the audio range.

The slopes panel is to be released in SPRING 2023 and will come built and calibrated in a superslim boat and is designed to be powered externally (e.g. with a mobile PSU) - PSU not included."

https://serge-modular.com/paperface

Serge Modular Goes Crazy

YouTube via tibetronica

"Serge Modular synthesizer playing semiperiodic material. This is now becoming a daily routine. The modules featured here are: Dual Slope Generator, VCFQ, wave shapers, random generators, and sequencers."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Random Source Serge Modular Edelweiss II 2018 Silver

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

via this auction

"This is a like-new, mint condition Serge Modular/Random*Source Edelweiss II. Barely used. The unit was built by the official Random*Source builder Darrin Wiener in June 2018 (Have receipt). Price includes boat, rack ears and power connector. Needless to say, the thing is impeccably and professionally built!

I am happy to ship international, and put down $80 as a baseline, but will need to confirm price depending on where you are! Local pickup in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Can throw in a power supply that I am also listing super cheap if interested just message me!

from the Random*Source website:

Edelweiss II may look like an ideal control panel, but it is quite powerful in the audio range. Many R*S modules like the DSG mk2 and SSG have been optimized for audio performance and can be used as oscillators, filters, or lowpass gates."

Serge Tcherepnin Coming Back to Modular with Tiptop Audio

Serge Tcherepnin, the man behind the original Serge Modular Music Systems from the 1970s is back at the drawing board with Tiptop Audio.  This is HUGE news.  Another legend of synthesizer history has returned. Note the newer Serge Modular systems are from Rex Probe's Sound Transform Systems. Serge Tcherepnin will be working with Tiptop Audio on new designs.

Update: they will be working on bringing both the older designs to euro format as well as new designs modified to be used with Tiptop stackable cables in lieu of banana jack.  Note older designs including modifications have been available in multiple formats via other manufacturers including Ken Stone's CGS and Bananalogue.  A VCO and the noise source are in the works.  The noise source is actually the original Serge design (the copyright is for the new schematic), and can be used independently, or can used in conjunction with the SSG to create a random voltage generator. (see the comments below)

Some history on Serge Tcherepnin from Wikipedia:

"Serge Tcherepnin is the son of composer Aleksandr Nikolayevich Tcherepnin and grandson of composer Nikolai Nikolayevich Tcherepnin. His mother was Chinese pianist Lee Hsien Ming. He had his first instruction in harmony with Nadia Boulanger and studied from 1958 to 1963 at Harvard University with Leon Kirchner and Billy Jim Layton. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1960. In 1961 at the Darmstadt Vacation Courses he studied with Luigi Nono. He then studied in Europe with Pierre Boulez, Herbert Eimert, and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Between 1966 and 1968 he worked at the studio for electronic music of the Cologne Hochschule für Musik. From 1968 he directed the electronic studio of New York University. Starting in 1970 he taught composition and electronic music at the School of Music-California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California. He has been involved with the development of synthesizers such as the Serge Modular and founded the company Serge Modular Music Systems. After selling this company in 1986 he returned to France. He has composed works for tape and electronic instruments, multimedia works, chamber music, a Kaddish for speakers and chamber ensemble (1962, on a text of Allen Ginsberg) as well as pieces for saxophone and for piano."

Update 2 via Tiptop Audio on Muff's: "Ok fellows, I don't have any front panels to show you yet, but i can share some of the progress we've made on this project:

I have been talking to Serge for sometime now about making the Serge system in eurorack. It all started when I introduce him to our Stackcables, he loved it and said that very few people are aware of how shielded patchcords would enhance modules such as the Serge VCFs, VCAs, Ring Mod, which are already ultra low noise. He continued by saying that with shielded patchords, the modules will
attain studio quality performance. I guess that from that point it was obvious, we are going to start a new Serge system in the best format in town, eurocrack.

So this is how it's going to work, all modules will be:

1. Original Serge designs

2. Serge color coded jacks

3. Serge original fonts and graphics, work flow

Or in other words; the whole Serge experience.

Those who have/had a Serge know what i'm talking about.

For starters, we are looking at making the Smooth and Stepped Generator (SSG) with added randomization, the Dual Slope Generator (DUSG) and the Wilson Analog Delay (WAD).

The fact that we are going to design all these from scratch give us the option to add features, but it is totally up to Serge to decide that. It is going to be his system and his ideas.

On the WAD we are working directly with Dave Wilson and hopefully we could figure out how to implement it with available parts.

The whole thing takes a very long time; Serge is a busy man so please be patient. I'm sure it is going to be worth the wait. It's a great joy seeing Serge drawing schematics again, and I will do my best to make it available for all of us to use."

Serge Modular NTO by Random Source - documentary review & Serge Tcherepnine interview

Published on Apr 5, 2019 Yan Proefrock

This one is in via Soviet Space Child.

"Documentary review of the Serge Modular NEW TIMBRAL OSCILLATOR (NTO) by Random Source with Serge Tcherepnine.

music, photos & video credits :

BEN EDWARDS
CHRISTER DEMAN
MATTHIAS HERMANN
MUDLOGGER
RC HOFFMANN
YAN PROEFROCK
ZACK DAGOBA

A special thank to Serge Tcherepnine for his patience and kindness and to Ralf Hoffmann and Matthias Hermann from Random Source for their support.

produced, directed & edited by Yan PROEFROCK - Studio PY"

Also see: Serge Tcherepnin - Waveshaper TV Ep. 9 - same couch! :)

Serge Modular System

images via this auction and this auction.
Auction 1:
QUANTIZER MODULE
ASR MODULE
ASR MODULE
DUAL TRANSIENT GENERATOR MODULE
RANDOM SOURCE MODULE
SMOOTH STEPPED GENERATOR
CV PRO MODULE
DUAL UNIVERSAL SLOPE GENERATOR
EXTENDED ADSR MODULE
SMOOTH FUNCTION GENERATOR
NOISE SOURCE MODULE
DUAL PROCESSOR MODULE
DUAL PROCESSOR SLOPE GENERATOR
PHASER MODULE
VOLT CONTROLLED STEREO MIXER
NEW TIMBRAL OSCILLATOR MODULE
PRECISION VCO (2 MODULES)
WAVE MULTIPLIER MODULE
VARIABLE QVCF MODULE
DUAL TRANSIENT GENERATOR
DUAL AUDIO MIXER MODULE
TOUCH ACTIVATED KEYBOARD SEQUENCER

Auction 2:
"PREAMP DETECTOR
FREQUENCY SHIFTER
C/M MODULE
WILSON ANALOG DELAY MODULE
MIXER MODULE
VARIABLE SLOPE VCF
RESONANT EQUILIZER MODULE
DUAL PHASER MODULE
DUAL CHANNEL STEREO MIXER MODULE

Serge gets its name from Serge Tcherepnin (pronounced "Cher - epp - nin"), a multitalented composer and electronic designer born of Russian-Chinese parents and raised in France. Self-taught in electronic design and circuit building, Serge enjoyed doing 'junk electronic' projects early on, making tape compositions using various electronic noisemakers cobbled together out of transistor radios and the like.

After studying music and physics at Harvard and Princeton, he taught music composition at the California Institute of the Arts. This was the early 70's, the heyday of Moog, ARP, and Buchla synthesizers. Calarts had a few Buchla-equipped studios. These were expensive, highly sought-after instruments, kept under lock and key. Getting studio time on one at Calarts meant being either a recognized staff composer or someone who maneuvered themselves into favor. The Buchla, ARP, and Moog synthesizers were interesting in their way, but could be improved upon. They were both expensive and bulky, a system with a decent number of functions could take up a whole wall in a small room. Serge and students Rich Gold and Randy Cohen wondered what they could do about this. After kicking around some ideas, they decided they were going to do their own synthesizer.

The first modules were designed, soldered, and built at Serge's home in what was essentially a kitchen tabletop operation. Before long, the word got out to other professors, students, and musicians about this new synthesizer. They wanted a piece of the action. Serge set up a strange sort of guerrilla manufacturing operation at Calarts on a second-story courtyard balcony. People paid $700 upfront for parts, worked on the 'assembly line' soldering and building modules, and eventually got themselves a six-panel system. Somehow, the Calarts administration either didn't find out or wasn't too bothered by this.

Another interesting player in this drama was composer Morton Subotnik, a professor at Calarts. He had a long association with instrument designer Don Buchla in the early 60's, the two of them collaborating on fundamental aspects of synthesizer design. When Mort spoke, Don listened. Serge caught on to this, and sought to woo Morton away from the Buchlas, but that was difficult. Eventually, Serge did build Mort some custom equipment.

In the 70's Serge collaborated on the design and construction of TONTO, a large polyphonic modular system. TONTO had the ancestry of many early Serge designs, some packaged behind faux-Moog front panels, including the NTO.

Serge eventually quit teaching and began to build synthesizers more seriously, using the first designs as a springboard. The Serge company was started in 1975, in the West Hollywood area, then headed north to San Francisco's Haight Street a few years later. It was always a humble bohemian concern, running more on enthusiasm and the love of making music than money and hardheaded business sense. Business tapered to a trickle in the middle 80's, and Serge, to support his family, started doing various outside electronic consulting projects. In 1992 Serge decided to move back to France. It was at this point that he sold the closely-guarded circuit designs to longtime associate Rex Probe, who then founded Sound Transform Systems. Production record keeping was pretty informal; it's estimated that "hundreds" of Serge systems were produced in the early years.

Today, Serge is again doing musical composition and is involved in helping Russian Jews move to Israel.
As Moog was a powerful East Coast influence that inspired ARP and Polyfusion, Buchla was the West Coast influence on Serge. Several Buchla designs, including the use of touch sensitive nontraditional keyboards, sequencers, random voltage generators, function generators, and matrix mixers found their way into Serge's repertoire. But that's not to say that Serge is merely a Buchla clone. Serge made many unique contributions, including the wave multiplier module, and some ideas were taken to new heights. Serge's oscillator designs have extraordinary accuracy and stability, especially considering their discrete nature. His philosophy of allowing the easy interplay of audio, control, and trigger signals, combined with the use of banana plugs, makes these systems wonderfully flexible.

There's no denying the amazing staying power of the Serge designs. Largely because of the development of convenient microprocessor-based keyboard synths, the 80's were a nasty time for analog synthesizer makers, practically all of them throwing in the towel. Serge's business slowed way down but never completely went out of production. With the recent clamoring for analog gear fueling successful production, Rex Probe and Sound Transform Systems look poised to carry the cream of analog modular music synthesis over the threshold of the 21st century, into their fourth decade of realization.

Sound Transform Systems has done a great job of continuing the analog modular lineage. Most of the traditional Serge modules are there, a few old ones were dropped, a few new ones added. The details are constantly being improved in many visible and invisible ways. They are still laboriously handmade, though the entire build process has been improved. Turnaround time has been improved from several months to 'just a couple'. All the components are top notch. The panel graphics and layout of many of the modules have been redesigned to make them more compact while keeping or improving the functionality. The circuit designs on many modules have been updated."

Overview of the Mantra & TKB by Random*Source - Serge Modular

video upload by Stazma

"More infos & affiliate links in the description // Support on Patreon to get samples from this session: https://www.patreon.com/join/stazma

Today i'll go with you on a guided tour of one of my (if not THE) favorite modular synthesizer in my collection: the Serge modular Mantra & TKB panel by Random*Source

@serge-modular

The Mantra is meant as a perfect intro to the world of Serge in 4U size (not eurorack format), and the TKB is a powerhouse of sequencing and interactive control. I'll just scratch the surface of what's possible with this combo but at least it should give you an idea of how you could use these.

Have fun!"

Overview of the Mantra & TKB by Random*Source - Serge Modular

video upload by Stazma

"Today i'll go with you on a guided tour of one of my (if not THE) favorite modular synthesizer in my collection: the Serge modular Mantra & TKB panel by Random*Source
@serge-modular
The Mantra is meant as a perfect intro to the world of Serge in 4U size (not eurorack format), and the TKB is a powerhouse of sequencing and interactive control. I'll just scratch the surface of what's possible with this combo but at least it should give you an idea of how you could use these.

Have fun!"

Additional Mantra posts

Serge Modular Synth. Random Source. La Bestia II & Edelweiss II.

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

via this auction

"Beautiful Serge Modular Synth by Random Source professionally built by Patch Points in Berlin to order. Consisting of two Serge Boats - La Bestia II & Edelweiss II housed in a custom built Synthracks Case in candy pink.

Also included Konstant Lab Power supply ( can drive 4 boats) 40 Bugbrand Banana cables. Low Gain Electronics Banana to Eurorack converter.

Unit was built 6 months ago and has barely been used so is like new. It sounds fantastic and comprises of a Precision Oscillator and 6 Dual Slope Generators ( each can function and a 1/v per octave tracking oscillator) amongst other things ( see Random source link) Banana Plug connections are solid in comparison mini jacks."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Random Source Serge Demos by ALEQ Modular

video uploads by ALEQ Modular

Playlist:
Serge module, one more
Serge module, again
SERGE sequence
Serge Modular, sequencing test.
Serge Modular, 2nd test
Serge Modular, 1st test

https://aleqproject.blogspot.com

The Serge Random Source Variable Slope VCF Part 1 - Building | Tutorial

Published on Jan 18, 2019 Under the Big Tree

Audio demo below.

"In this first of a two-part series on the Serge Random Source Variable Slope Voltage Controlled Filter, we build the module from the ground up. If you are interested in building this module as a DIY kit rather than purchasing it pre-built, then this is the video for you. We go through the entire build process, discussing soldering techniques, showing general tips and tricks, as well as aspects of this specific module. We get into testing the module, using oscilloscopes, function generators, and bench power supplies, and even what to do when something goes wrong.

If you want to hear the module in action and have a tutorial on how it works, then watch part two:

http://www.randomsource.net

Under the Big Tree is Nick Peck's YouTube channel, focused on music and sound design equipment and techniques, composition, production and performance of music, modular synthesizers and electronic music in general, and tabletop board games.

http://www.underthebigtree.com"

Update:

The Serge Random Source Variable Slope VCF Part 2 - Listening | Tutorial

Published on Jan 18, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"In this second of a two-part series on the Serge Random Source Variable Slope Voltage Controlled Filter, we listen to the fruits of our labors. We put a sawtooth wave and some white noise into the audio inputs, add some control voltages, and magic ensues! We go through every knob on the unit in detail, listening to the lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filter outputs.

By the time we are done, you may very well put this fantastic-sounding Eurorack module on your short list. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Serge Modular

Click here for shots via this auction.

Details:
"SMOOTH FUNCTION GENERATOR, NOISE SOURCE, DUAL ANALOG SHIFT REGISTER, DUAL UNIVERSAL SLOPE GENERATOR, DUAL PHASER, UNIVERSAL EQUAL POWER AUDIO PROCESSOR, TIMBRAL OSCILLATOR, PRECISION VCO (TWO OF THESE), WAVE MULTIPLIER, VARIABLE Q VCF, DUAL TRANSIENT GENERATOR, DUAL AUDIO MIXER, TOUCH ACTIVATED KEYBOARD SEQUENCER.

Serge gets its name from Serge Tcherepnin (pronounced "Cher - epp - nin"), a multitalented composer and electronic designer born of Russian-Chinese parents and raised in France. Self-taught in electronic design and circuit building, Serge enjoyed doing 'junk electronic' projects early on, making tape compositions using various electronic noisemakers cobbled together out of transistor radios and the like.

After studying music and physics at Harvard and Princeton, he taught music composition at the California Institute of the Arts. This was the early 70's, the heyday of Moog, ARP, and Buchla synthesizers. Calarts had a few Buchla-equipped studios. These were expensive, highly sought-after instruments, kept under lock and key. Getting studio time on one at Calarts meant being either a recognized staff composer or someone who maneuvered themselves into favor. The Buchla, ARP, and Moog synthesizers were interesting in their way, but could be improved upon. They were both expensive and bulky, a system with a decent number of functions could take up a whole wall in a small room. Serge and students Rich Gold and Randy Cohen wondered what they could do about this. After kicking around some ideas, they decided they were going to do their own synthesizer.

The first modules were designed, soldered, and built at Serge's home in what was essentially a kitchen tabletop operation. Before long, the word got out to other professors, students, and musicians about this new synthesizer. They wanted a piece of the action. Serge set up a strange sort of guerrilla manufacturing operation at Calarts on a second-story courtyard balcony. People paid $700 upfront for parts, worked on the 'assembly line' soldering and building modules, and eventually got themselves a six-panel system. Somehow, the Calarts administration either didn't find out or wasn't too bothered by this.

Another interesting player in this drama was composer Morton Subotnik, a professor at Calarts. He had a long association with instrument designer Don Buchla in the early 60's, the two of them collaborating on fundamental aspects of synthesizer design. When Mort spoke, Don listened. Serge caught on to this, and sought to woo Morton away from the Buchlas, but that was difficult. Eventually, Serge did build Mort some custom equipment.

In the 70's Serge collaborated on the design and construction of TONTO, a large polyphonic modular system. TONTO had the ancestry of many early Serge designs, some packaged behind faux-Moog front panels, including the NTO.

Serge eventually quit teaching and began to build synthesizers more seriously, using the first designs as a springboard. The Serge company was started in 1975, in the West Hollywood area, then headed north to San Francisco's Haight Street a few years later. It was always a humble bohemian concern, running more on enthusiasm and the love of making music than money and hardheaded business sense. Business tapered to a trickle in the middle 80's, and Serge, to support his family, started doing various outside electronic consulting projects. In 1992 Serge decided to move back to France. It was at this point that he sold the closely-guarded circuit designs to longtime associate Rex Probe, who then founded Sound Transform Systems. Production record keeping was pretty informal; it's estimated that "hundreds" of Serge systems were produced in the early years.

Today, Serge is again doing musical composition and is involved in helping Russian Jews move to Israel.

As Moog was a powerful East Coast influence that inspired ARP and Polyfusion, Buchla was the West Coast influence on Serge. Several Buchla designs, including the use of touch sensitive nontraditional keyboards, sequencers, random voltage generators, function generators, and matrix mixers found their way into Serge's repertoire. But that's not to say that Serge is merely a Buchla clone. Serge made many unique contributions, including the wave multiplier module, and some ideas were taken to new heights. Serge's oscillator designs have extraordinary accuracy and stability, especially considering their discrete nature. His philosophy of allowing the easy interplay of audio, control, and trigger signals, combined with the use of banana plugs, makes these systems wonderfully flexible.

There's no denying the amazing staying power of the Serge designs. Largely because of the development of convenient microprocessor-based keyboard synths, the 80's were a nasty time for analog synthesizer makers, practically all of them throwing in the towel. Serge's business slowed way down but never completely went out of production. With the recent clamoring for analog gear fueling successful production, Rex Probe and Sound Transform Systems look poised to carry the cream of analog modular music synthesis over the threshold of the 21st century, into their fourth decade of realization.

Sound Transform Systems has done a great job of continuing the analog modular lineage. Most of the traditional Serge modules are there, a few old ones were dropped, a few new ones added. The details are constantly being improved in many visible and invisible ways. They are still laboriously handmade, though the entire build process has been improved. Turnaround time has been improved from several months to 'just a couple'. All the components are top notch. The panel graphics and layout of many of the modules have been redesigned to make them more compact while keeping or improving the functionality. The circuit designs on many modules have been updated."

Serge by Random*Source | + Metasonix Demos by NOISEBUG

video by NOISEBUG

https://www.noisebug.net/

"Noisebug is proud to be the US dealer for Random*Source. We are huge Serge fans here at Noisebug and greatly appreciative to be able working with Random*Source by making their products more available to all US customers"

Random*Source + Metasonix

video by NOISEBUG

"This system was a mixture of Random*Source and Metasonix Serge formatted modules to show the interaction between the two companies modules. All these products are available on our website at www.noisebug.net"

Dr. Wiener Presents: Serge Modular 101: Using the Smooth and Stepped Generator (SSG)

Dr. Wiener

"This a full explanation of the Serge Modular SSG in the Eurorack Format from Random*Source. Here is a text description below from their site:

SERGE SMOOTH & STEPPED GENERATOR (SSG)
The Serge Smooth & Stepped Generator (SSG) is a complex multi-functional module which can be patch programmed to provide various slew and sample functions both for audio and CV signals. It is one of the essential Serge modules.

The Smooth section will place a positive and negative slew on input voltage transitions for lag effects, voltage controlled portamento and for low frequency filter applications.” In Cycle-mode (cycle jack patched to the input), the Smooth side “will oscillate yielding a voltage controlled triangle wave LFO. A high level into the HOLD input will enable the Smooth Function to be used as a track-and-hold circuit with voltage controlled slew rate.

The Stepped function can be used as a sample-and-hold with voltage controlled slew rate limiting. In Cycle mode, a pulse applied to the Sample input will generate complex staircase waveforms for control voltage applications and for use as audio signals.

The Coupler is an internal comparator which compares the output levels of the Smooth and the Stepped Generators. This output is useful for generating complex control voltages or random voltages.

The Random*Source version of the Smooth & Stepped Generator for Euro is a licensed and authorized adaption of the original Serge design that provides an increased audio range of the Smooth Generator and a bipolar (“hot”) Coupler output in addition to the regular (unipolar) Coupler output."

SERGE MODULAR ANALOG SYNTHESIZER

images via this auction

"Each of the two panels was designed as a complete system or voice in and of itself but combined together there is an exponential increase in sonic power. The other important thing to remember is that with the Serge many of the modules can perform a number of different functions and the concept of "patch programmable" is inherent in the design. Based on how you patch the modules this system could have over 10 oscillators, 10 LFO's, 4 Envelopes, 6 Filters, 2 Sample and Holds, 5 VCA's, all sorts of cv and audio modifiers, mixers, sequencer and a whole lot more. The power is unmatched in any other system and would require a much larger system from other manufacturers to provide this level of functionality.

TOP PANEL:

* 8x2 Sequencer: This is an eight by two manual and clocked sequencer with some unique functions. The main CV outputs are "A" for the first set of 8 knobs in Row A and "B" for the second set of 8 voltage knobs for Row B plus a third output that is the difference of A and B. There is a main Clock Input that can be manually toggled on/of with the toggle switch. The sequencer can be clocked buy any red jack output as well as some of the blue outputs that have sharp positive going signals. The other inputs are for "Hold" which will stop the sequencer at what ever stage it is at when a trigger or gate is input. The Up/Down Input reverses that direction of the sequencer whenever it receives a pulse and the Reset input resets the Sequencer to the first stage when a pulse is applied. Each stage has a manual select button which can be used to select that stage when used as a manual CV programmer and when being clocked the buttons can be used to set the length of the sequence dynamically from between 1 to 8 steps. This allows for some amazing rhythmic patterns and dynamic changes. Really powerful and great for TB-303 type use.

* Active Processor: This module is basically a dynamic voltage controlled mixer and cross fader an can be used with either control voltages or audio signals. A cross fade mod input allows you to dynamically mix and or fade between the signals coming in the two inputs. You can also use this as a VC switch by allying a gate to the input. The bottom section is a cv inverter with the addition of a knob to further bias the output + or -.
* Dual Transient Generator: This module is one of the most powerful in the Serge system and uses the same circuit as the Dual Universal Slope Generator but is only 2" wide. Each side of this module can perform the following functions: Attack Decay Envelope, Attack Sustain, Decay Envelope, Low Frequency Oscillator, Audio Oscillator, Positive/Negative CV Slew, Audio Filter, Envelope Follower. Each side has a modulation input with a knob to determine if the incoming mod signal will modulate in a positive or negative direction. The left side has a black Input Jack the provides for filtering, slewing and envelope following. The right side has a 3 position switch that allows you to define if the incoming modulation signal at the bottom will modulate the Attack Time only, Decay Time Only or both Attack and Decay. You can get voltage controlled wave shape modulation as well....all amazingly cool!Note that the arrows for the switch and the Input jack are backwards on this module only and that is the way it came from the factory. Nothing wrong, you just need to keep that in mind.
* NTO New Timbral Oscillator: The NTO is one of the most powerful oscillators ever and has incredible sonics and versatility...like most Serge Modules. There are simultaneous Sawtooth, Triangle and Sine wave outputs in addition to a Variable Waveform output whose waveform can be CV selected, modulated and controlled. There are (3) control inputs...a 1volt/octave, a mod input with a knob to determined + or - direction and a voltage controlled portamento input. This is a cv input with voltage controlled slewing or glide with the addition of a manual knob to set the basic amount of slewing!! Last but not least is a voltage controlled FM input with an offset knob. There is also a Sync input to allow for syncing to another audio signal. This single oscillator can make truly incredible sounds and can be modulated out the wazoo.

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