Fenix IV Demo & Q&A Aug. 20

video upload by This Is Not Rocket Science

Fenix IV demo and discussion

video upload by This Is Not Rocket Science

"Fenix IV production progress and Q&A"

Fenix IV stand demo

video by This Is Not Rocket Science

"Simple video demonstrating how to assemble the Fenix IV bamboo stand.
Legs and all.

We know the audio is off in the begining - but it was shot on a phone and let's just say that videomaking is not our specialty :-p"

Getting started with Fenix IV - This is Not Rocket Science

video by Making Sound Machines

"In this video, we'll take a closer look at This is Not Rocket Science's Fenix IV modular synth!

Over the course of 30 minutes, we'll guide you through all the steps you need to get started - you'll gather an understanding of the color codes and signal flow, including analyzing audio with the built-in scope. We'll take you from basic tone generation to your first patch using the onboard Generators, Envelopes, Modulators, Filters, Effects, Utility modules and the sequencer.

If you are watching this having a Fenix in front of you, this tutorial is meant to show you all you need in order to go and explore on your own. So join us and and watch us gleefully fumble through the insane bag of tricknology that is This is Not Rocket Science's Fenix IV."

Prototype Jam! TINRS Fenix IV, mmalex Plinky and Faust on Teensy 4.0

video by Making Sound Machines

"Here's a little prototype jam, using all the lovely modular gear and hardware we've been testing these last weeks! The granular glockenspiel is made with This is Not Rocket Science's Fenix IV Eurorack compatible system-in-a-box - this is a beta machine but production hardware is actually done! TiNRS’ Stijn and Lauri built in an awesome way to load sample banks into the digital oscillator in wavetable mode, so we were able to use a recording of my childhood glockenspiel as grains in this synth sequence, with beautiful warbles from the onboard delay! TiNRS Fenix' sequencer allows for each of its four channels to have its own rhythm subdivisions and to be transposed via MIDI - this is exactly what's happening here using the Arturia keystep pro. Fenix' extra seq channels are triggering a kick from GHzTomash Callisto teensy arduino DIY drum module, and gating some noise percussion using the Fenix' VCA. The lush swell of reverb at the end is coming from a combination of Fenix built-in verb and using our beta unit mmalex Plinky as an FX processor - DIY kits and the expander will soon be available again from Thonk.

The stereo organ pad is made on a Teensy 4.0 arduino, running an additive synth patch made with Faust DSP and the teensy audio library, controlled via MIDI with the Arturia Keystep Pro and patched into the Eurorack with our own Multiplikand module. It's rhythmically chopped using This is Not Rocket Science's Wobbler complex LFO into Mutable Instruments Streams dual dynamics gate, using the TiNRS Fenix' sequencer to reset the LFO in time with the sequence. The bass is Moogs DIY voice Werkstatt 01, a CV-controlled voice with a ladder filter and that lovely Moog sub.

The beats in the ending come from our circuit bent e-licktronic NAVA TR909 clone, sequenced using the Roland Aria TR-8 drum machine. While the NAVA is an exact copy of the famous TR909 circuits, hacked by us with 34 mods to vastly expand the sonic palette of the instrument, the TR-8 is a digital emulation of the same synth and somewhat shunned for its color scheme. If you look beyond that, it's a very practical and lovely machine.

❤️ Huge thank you to everyone sending us stuff to test and build! This is extremely fun!"

TINRS Fenix IV - Case Microphone Patch explained

Making Sound Machines

"This patch we made last night uses the tiny microphone built into This is Not Rocket Science's Fenix IV to play the brilliant digital oscillator, resulting in this chill kalimba soundscape.

The case mic is routed to the Fenix' external input module, which allows you to extract a gate and an envelope from the audio. This gate clocks the Fenix' sequencer and advances the sequence by one step each time Enrica taps the case - sending new pitch CV to the digital oscillator in FM mode, and triggering two ADSR controlling two VCA.

The result is mixed with the case mic's original signal - not only do the bamboo end cheeks look and feel absolutely great, they also make a lovely sound - and fed into the stereo digital delay. We absolutely love this sound, somewhere between Stockhausen Kontakte, our own experiments with Mutable Instruments Ears and Music Thing Modular's Mikrohonie piezo eurorack modules, chimes, tonguedrum and glockenspiel, and the lovely skits on Danny Breaks records.

Thank you Stijn, Priscilla and Lauri at TiNRS for the lovely surprises you built into this machine! ❤️ So much to discover!"

TINRS Fenix IV + Gameboy + Circuit bent NAVA = ❤

Making Sound Machines

"TINRS Fenix IV + Nintendo Gameboy + Circuit bent NAVA = ❤️ This patch brings together so many things we love: our original UGB Nintendo Gameboy running 8bit bleeps with nanoloop, our circuit bent elicktronic NAVA TR909 clone and the insane bag of tricknology that is This is Not Rocket Science's Fenix IV modular synth in-a-box! The NAVA is an exact copy of the famous Roland TR909 circuits, hacked by us with 34 mods to vastly expand the sonic palette of the instrument, and processed through our Eurorack using the serge wave multiplier on kick and the cre8audio chipz on claps for more oomph. The bassline is the lovely FM mode of the TINRS Fenix' digital oscillator, run through the stereo digital filter (honestly the best I've ever heard - Stijn, Lauri, you need to make this a module) and modulated with the wobbler complex LFO. The nintendo Gameboy is clocking the Fenix sequencer, processed through two VCAs and then mangled through the Fenix' stereo delay - a lot of the lovely pitch sweeps and groovy sixteenth note runs spring into existence in this awesome submodule. Finally, big thank you klanggenerator for selling us the NAVA case! We had to drill some extra holes in it :)"

TINRS Fenix IV - Gnarly Beat with patch breakdown

Making Sound Machines

"A gnarly bass and an uptempo breakbeat on the TiNRS Fenix - while our friends Stijn, Priscilla and Lauri at This is Not Rocket Science are polishing the firmware and adding small tweaks to the Fenix' PCBs, we keep patching all possible (and impossible) patches on this awesome, full-fledged Eurorack compatible system-in-a-box hardware modular synth! All sounds coming straight from this machine.

The bass line in this patch is a sawtooth from the analog chord oscillator patched into the Fenix' logic switch, with a DC offset from the CV mixer going into one of its inputs, resulting in a dirty square waveform. This is shaped with the wobbler complex LFO going to the cutoff of the spectacular digital stereo filter (loving it ❤️ !) and the AHDSR/D envelope controlling a VCA. There's a little bit of the wavemultiplier added in parallel for added grit.

The beat is showing off the lovely analog noise coming in pink, brown, blue and purple color. Kick and toms are made using the digital oscillator in wavetable mode, with a bank of drum samples loaded. We're super happy to be part of this beta test, and are having tons of fun making music with this instrument! Full patch breakdown soon on our YouTube channel.

#TiNRS #Fenix #ThisIsNotRocketScience"

TINRS Fenix IV - First Patch! with patch breakdown

Making Sound Machines

"TiNRS Fenix beta - first patch! Our friends Stijn, Priscilla and Lauri at This is Not Rocket Science have been working day and night to get this awesome, full-fledged Eurorack compatible system-in-a-box modular synth polished for launch, and the first five beta instruments are finally in orbit! Little tweaks are still being made, but we couldn't wait to share our love for this instrument! ❤️ All sounds coming straight from this machine.

This patch shows off the flexibility of the Fenix' sequencer, with trigger outs for every step - syncing the wobbler complex LFO with the beat and adding the choppy stutter to the analog chord oscillator. There's both both per-step CV in - the lovely squeak on step 6 made with an LFO - and overall CV offset - allowing the 8 bar progression from the Arturia Beatstep Pro to pitch the whole sequence.

The beat is made using the Digital Oscillator in wavetable mode, with a bank of drum samples loaded on output 1 and just claps on output 2 - with the Fenix logic modules doing an incredibly funky job of mixing the drum triggers. We're super happy to be part of this test run, and are having tons of fun making music with it!"

Superbooth 20HE: This Is Not Rocket Science Fenix 4

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"We first took a look at the This is Not Rocket Science Fenix 4 at Superbooth last year. The Fenix 4 is a development of the original Fenix synthesizer made by the employees of Synton, a Dutch synthesizer manufacturer that went out of business in the early 80s. After crossing paths with some of the original designers and getting hold of the design files for the Fenix 1 and 2, This is Not Rocket Science decided to take on the mantle of developing the Fenix 4!

The Fenix is a bit of a swiss army of modular techniques, if you want a taste of what the original can sound like then go check out Aphex Twin’s classic Fenix Funk 5….

More information of the Fenix 4 at This is Not Rocket Science."

TiNRS FenixIV Prototype 1 and 2

Published on Apr 23, 2020 This Is Not Rocket Science

"What have we been doing since showing you our FenixIV at Superbooth 2019?

In this video Stijn takes you through some of the things that have been improved, updated and changed between prototype 1 (SB19) and prototype 2 (SB20).

Prototype 3 is in the making - the design of the boards 99% done and we are waiting for a new case and frontplate.

Want a FenixIV? Send an e-mail to priscilla@thisisnotrocketscience.nl to get on our waiting list."

Update:

TiNRS Booth Experience - Short Fenix IV Demo

Published on Apr 23, 2020 This Is Not Rocket Science

"With love from our kitchen table - the SuperBooth experience :-D
Quick demo of our FenixIV making some interesting sounds"

TiNRS Second Livestream - FenixIV Demo

Published on Apr 16, 2020 This Is Not Rocket Science

"Hallo allemaal and welcome to our second livestream!

We plan to show you some of our FenixIV http://www2.thisisnotrocketscience.nl... we have our second prototype ready to show - third is still in the making

By popular request we will also demo a bit of Tuesday"

TiNRS first livestream

Published on Apr 10, 2020 This Is Not Rocket Science

"Heya!
Thanks for being here - we plan to talk a little about the development of our Fenix IV, the brand-new-limited-edition CircularThing which has become our 'Corona module', our FREE vocal pack of happy sounds and perhaps about Overstuur and Westlicht - both projects still in the making.

Please feel free to comment or ask anything in the chat - also feel free to suggest topics for a next stream!

Link to happy vocal pack https://thisisnotrocketscience.bandca...
If you want to get hold of a CircularThing send an email to priscilla@thisisnotrocketscience.nl"

This is not Rocket Science (TINRS) RectangularThing / Rectangular Thing Limited Edition Synth Voice

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

via this auction

"This is a gorgeous limited edition Eurorack Synth Voice with some unique features and architecture. Only 20 of those were ever built - your chance to make all your synth friends envious!

This module was supposed to form the core of a small standalone system I was building, but due to a change of plans it’s looking for a new owner. It wouldn’t feel right to just have it sit in its box until I can afford to expand again."

You can find a couple of demos of the RectangularThing in previous posts here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

POLYGOGO Stereo Oscillator - Sound Demo #2 - Eurorack Modular Synthesizer

Published on Dec 29, 2019 MIKE LEE BIRDS

"In the previous video I used the amazing POLYGOGO as sort of a drone/soundscape machine.

Here it‘s hooked up to the beautiful TUESDAY procedural sequencer from „This Is Not Rocket Science“.
The fold circuit serves as a VCA and is fed an envelope from MATHS. That same envelope goes into the OP (internal FM) Amount input for a quasi-sort-of-filter idea.

About the fold-VCA thing:
I noticed that feeding a negative voltage into the fold circuit and turning the attenuator to between 2 and 3 o‘clock will silence Polygogo. A positive voltage can then control the volume, hence Maths.
More clearly: Maths channel two is sending negative voltage (knob at 9 o’clock) through the sum output and channel one adds an envelope triggered by Tuesday.

- CHANCE changes polygons.
- MONSOON (Clouds) is responsible for reverb and adds pitch shifted delay later on.
- BEAST’S CHALKBOARD does some octave shifting off screen.
- PEAKS provides bass drum and hihats triggered by Tuesday’s beat and ticks outputs respectively. Sorry for the clipping bass drum.."

Demo 1 here.

The TINRS Fenix IV Modular Synthesizer audio and video demo

Published on Sep 29, 2019 BAMTV

"Stijn Haring-Kuipers of This Is Not Rocket Science from the Netherlands gives a detailed explanation of the Fenix IV Modular Synthesizer made by him, and he also gives an extensive demonstration of the sound of this synthesizer"

At the Dutch Modular Fest 2019.

CLASSIC SYNTH REBORN! Fenix IV from This Is Not Rocket Science // Superbooth 2019

Published on May 20, 2019 DivKidVideo

"It's always a pleasure to see the sharpest dressed man at Superbooth which is undeniably Stijn from This Is Not Rocket Science. TiNRS are currently working with the original Synton designers to bring in the fourth generation of the Fenix synthesiser to life. The Fenix IV is a 330 patch point 110 knob/control synth with an absolute tonne of options for sound sources, FX, controls, modulation etc. In the video Stijn takes us through the new synth which is no small effort!"

Superbooth 2019: This Is Not Rocket Science Synton Fenix IV

Published on May 14, 2019 Future Music Magazine

Superbooth 2019: Building a patch from scratch on the TINRS Fenix IV

TINRS Fenix MONSTER Modular Synthesizer First Look | Superbooth 2019

Published on May 9, 2019 SYNTH ANATOMY

"At Superbooth 2019, This Is Not Rocket Science presented Fenix, a new modular Synthesizer with analog and digital technology. To be honest: this is a monster synth but not cheap. Here is my first look.

#tinrs #fenix #superbooth2019"

https://www.patreon.com/synthanatomy

TINRS Fenix IV

TINRS Introduces New Fenix IV Modular Synthesizer

You might remember the interview with Synton's Felix Visser and This is not Rocket Science's Stijn Haring-Kuipers at Soundmit 2018 on the upcoming new Fenix system. Well, it is here. Update: Priced at 5000 Euros (would be ~ $5600 at todays rate plus any shipping and import fees) - see here on how to get one.

via This is Not Rocket Science

"All you need to play.

An intriguing set of modular building blocks

We think Fenixes are true synthesizer-instruments: they give you all the options you need to explore a very wide range of sonic possibilities. You can learn to play a Fenix quickly and you can still be developing your interaction with it in ten years’ time. The first Fenix was born and bred to satisfy one artist’ wishes for an all in-one system. Our Fenix IV is also born out of this desire with ourselves as the artists.

The density of Fenix I,II and III meant it provided loads of sound in one box. Before eurorack boomed, most modular synthesizers required half a wall of space. Fenix provided all your options in a relatively small container. When Fenix II was released, it packed the most punch for its size anywhere on the market. With Fenix IV we think we continue this tradition. We’ve extended the sounds by adding our best from the digital world. The intention is to provide a toolbox for you to make sound with, and not put too much of our flavour in the sounds themselves. Choices are made for maximum sonic variety. For example: we’ve upgraded the delay line from Fenix II with a musical element. In Fenix IV we are now providing a tuneable version so you can use it as a physical model of a string.

There is a flow to every Fenix. All the modules have the same direction for inputs and outputs: roughly left to right and top to bottom. This is the same in educational diagrams that talk about synthesizer structure. We managed to consistently apply this giant swipe from up left to down right across our Fenix too. You can distinguish types of signals on a Fenix by the colour coding – we’ve taken this helpful visual aid and extended it to giving the modules a coloured grouping that corresponds between the knobs and the jacks. Another feature of the Fenix family is the waterline that divides the knobs from the jacks. Keeping the knobs up top means your patching never gets in the way of your twiddling. This division also helps to maintain a sense of overview with lots of cables patched in.

We see the Fenix family as having a “Yes, and” mentality. The usual divide of tonal versus experimental or additive versus subtractive synthesis does not exist in a Fenix. You can have everything at the same time and you can have multiple TYPES of oscillators, filters, lfo’s, envelopes and effects to do your patching with. We have added the usual analog versus digital divide to this “Yes, and“ mentality. There is no need to choose, you can have it all.

All the modules in our Fenix IV – listed by colour grouping:

YELLOW – Oscillators and sound sources

Input
Interface to external sound sources – has an envelope tracker and a gate and trigger threshold.

CLICK FOR MORE »