3 increasingly weird ways to program a TR-606 module (but keep it satisfying)

video upload by mylarmelodies

"This is a blend of: A 606 clone eurorack module demo (the LPZW/Tubbutec 6m0d6), and a tutorial - laced with tips and tricks - exploring three increasingly weird ways to trigger and modulate (drum) modules in general - using Gate & CV, Trigger Riot, and sneaky tricks in Ableton Live & MIDI. The overall theme is: Keeping the results 'musical' and satisfying.

We'll also make a generative sequencer with the Mutable instruments stages and use it to control the excellent Doepfer A-111-6. We'll drive it with the Music Thing Mini Drive. We'll turn the Tiptop Audio Trigger Riot into a modulation sequencer. We'll then use Ableton Live and we'll absolutely smash this thing to bits with some simple but very interesting methods to get completely wild patterns, that would take a LOT of modules to do in analog-land.

Happy days."

00:00 Today we shall...
01:07 I made a tiny groovebox
02:03 6m0d6 sound / basics
02:51 Generative sequencer recipe
03:47 Modulating Decay Time / Accent is Life
05:37 The 1U 6quencer
06:51 Now let's DRIVE it.
08:27 Urgh.
09:05 Sub Tom = A bonus bassdrum
10:46 Speeding up, breakbeats
11:05 Creating a two kick 'roll'
12:55 Trigger Riot
16:59 A weird way to make modulation
21:25 More odd triggering ideas
23:04 Why did this work?
24:43 Ableton Madness
26:36 Dummy modulation clips
29:14 Note Echo Madness
31:22 asd's Arpeggiator Insanity

Arturia Microfreak | An excellent modular companion

video upload by Cinematic Laboraty

"It's not easy to find a touch capacitive keyboard for Eurorack. I tried the Verbos and ultimately ended up with the Buchla Corvette 218e which also has a strong nostalgic value. I completely overlooked the Microfreak even though @mylarmelodies made an excellent video about it while recreating an Easel. I've been familiar with the Microfreak since its release, but didn't pay much attention to it when I found out it's a bit like a paraphonic Plaits. Then Noise Engineering contributed to it with three eclectic voices, also paraphonic. And recently they added samples and granular synthesis to the endless list of features. So the Freak isn't really 'micro' anymore. It's stellar.

I got myself a Freak because I wanted to find out if these keys were on par with the Buchla. The good news (for me), is that the Buchla is still a few decades ahead, because Arturia was clearly inspired by the older model with elevated 'black' keys. So objectively, the Freak doesn't 'ultraglide'. The good news (for all of us) is that the difference is marginal, considering that the Freak comes with a really, really nice synth. Bottomline: the Freak is a great addition to any modular setup. But it doesn't end there. If you happen to like granular synthesis and looping, it's an excellent source for grains, loops, stacks and sample mangling and when you recorded something cool, you can play it with pressure, gates and pitch CV.

I'll keep the Freak close to my Instruo case because it lacks a proper sequencer. Here, the Freak ticks all the boxes that were left open."

Befaco - Octaves VCO

video upload by Befacosynth

"A harsh and funky take of an additive Oscillator.
Pile up multiplications of your frequency to get a lo-fi-retro wall of squared sound!
You get six doubled frequency pulses, or octaves, with common PWM and volume control for each of them.
The output of each is cascaded to the next one, so you can either have one output with all frequencies or break the chain and get several sums and modulate each independently!"

Update: and video from Divkid directly below. Also see mylarmelodies' Molten Music Technology video here.

A harsh & funky take on an additive oscillator // Octaves VCO from Befaco

video upload by DivKid

"Here we have what Befaco say is "a harsh and funky take on an additive oscillator" as it has individual harmonics or partials and VCAs to modulate them. However the idea of harmonics here is replaced with 6 octaves of square waves. It's an analog design with a triangle core oscillator that through frequency doublers give 6 octaves to work with, each turned into squares that respond to PWM. An onboard mixer allows for blending these squares, you can break out into new tones with self patching, or make multi-layered wide frequency spanning voices from the individual outs."

*TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS*
00:00 Hello & patch previews
01:10 Feature run down
02:44 Raw sound demo
03:43 Polymetric percussive octave riffs! (my favourite thing)
06:05 Self patched additive synth style sounds
08:13 Huge stereo drones
10:11 PWM at audiorate - tearing additive octaves
11:51 Exploring sync tones + upper octave overtones
13:42 Sub octaves, not just higher octaves
16:01 Noisy FM percussion
18:09 Randomised additives - modulating octave blends per note
19:24 Alarms, pacman & phone chirps - Octaves VCO as a modulator

Asking synth manufacturers to say the F word...at London Synth & Pedal Expo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a collection of interviews I shot at the London Synth & Pedal Expo '24, after they hired me to cover the event. The format was up to me. So I put the SAME two questions to industry folks at the show: 1️⃣ What is your favourite thing you sell? 2️⃣ What your favourite thing you DON'T sell?"

CHAPTERS
00:00 The Journey Begins
00:41 Divkid
02:44 Endorphines
03:53 Knobula
06:07 Lord Morts Thoughts
08:29 Nick Batt - Sonic State
11:29 Signal Sounds
14:35 ASM/Arturia
16:52 Scanner & Daniel Troberg
18:12 KMR Audio
19:51 ALM Busycircuits
24:05 RYK Modular
26:14 Enjoy Electronics
27:41 Erica Synths
29:04 PWM Synths
31:08 Journey's End

Good people make for good events and good gear, so lets meet them // London Synth & Pedal Expo 2024

video upload by DivKid

"What an amazing weekend we've just had! Here's a video with some of the people at the London Synth & Pedal Expo 2024. Held over this past weekend (Saturday and Sunday the 16th+17th of March 2024) in Studio 9294 in Hackney Wick, the London Synth & Pedal Expo is a free to attend show with plenty of synths, modular and pedal FX on show for people to come and play with.

As it takes good people to make good events (and the good gear we love) I wanted to focus on the people, asking who they are and what they do, more specifically how would they explain what they do to someone with no idea about synths, pedals and music tech. That led to some funny answers, all spread around various bits of b roll and footage from the event."

THIS POLYSYNTH IS WEIRD: Dreadbox Telepathy Bundle Demo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"So Dreadbox hired me to demo Telepathy Bundle: A very interesting polysynth, made up of 6 monosynth modules working together via MIDI. Each voice can be slightly (or VERY) different to one another...all fed into a unique mixer. For details on how Telepathy or setup works please RTFM - in this video I'll focus on making sounds!"

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Montage!
00:43 What is it?!
3:33 A monotimbral polysynth
12:22 A multitimbral polysynth
16:15 A 6-voice monosynth
20:48 All the sounds that make a track

A Eurorack Mix & Output Problem Solver // The NEW! Output Bus from DivKid & Befaco

video upload by DivKid

"Introducing the new OUTPUT BUS module from me (DivKid) and Befaco. It's an 8HP summing mixer, output stage, soft clip limiter, line level integrator, LED meter visualiser, headphone monitor and more ... it has many features that aimed to solve typical mix and output problems you'll find yourself working with in a Eurorack modular system."

A 5 minute rave on the Divkid Output Bus.

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Weirdly Ben has made almost exactly the module I need right now, as I'm building a modular mixer in my latest live system, and I need to sum and 'vibe up' the Roland TR-8. My pal Ben @DivKid sent me one for free - so here's me starting to use it! (Video update on this case coming soon!) 🙌 "

via DivKid

"The Output Bus is your ultimate output module: Presented by DivKid and Befaco, meant to be the last link in your modular chain!

Inspired by pro audio and studio summing units the Output Bus allows for summing style mixing, external gear integration, soft clip limiting, flexible output types, headphone monitoring and level visualization.

The module works great mixing all your other mixers in your setup, to return mono or stereo FX into the master bus and for bringing in external stereo line level gear with ease. All of this in just 8HP while also being able to visualize your final levels, output appropriate signals on the right cable type and monitor in headphones.

FEATURES

Six stereo inputs.

Line/synth selector in input six.

Modular level minijack out.

6,5” Jack balanced out.

3.5mm and 1/4″ headphone outs.

Led VU-meter.

Soft clipping circuit at main output."

6 ace things a Disting does.

video upload by mylarmelodies

I believe this is the 2014 video: Expert Sleepers Disting 16-in-1 Eurorack Module Demo

"Being a demo of 6 interesting things an Expert Sleepers Disting MK4 can be: A Pulsar VCO (2:57), a Stereo Tape Delay (6:58), a Granular Pitch Shifter (13:45), a Shift Register Sequencer (16:46), a 1V/Oct Sampler (21:46) and a Dual Sampler (26:26).

Signal Sounds hired me to make a new Disting video following my one from 2014: Mega thanks to them for supporting this as ever, this was fun & they are good people. Hat tip to Os at Expert Sleepers for endlessly making this thing useful!! Here's to 10 more years?"

https://www.signalsounds.com/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro & Montaaage
02:57 Pulsar VCO
06:58 Stereo Tape Delay
13:45 Granular Pitch Shifter
16:46 Shift Register Sequencer
21:46 1V/Oct Sampler
26:26 Two Voice Sampler

The Strange Torso T1 Sequencer EXPLAINED Step by Step.

video upload by mylarmelodies

A big, deliberate, step-by-step tutorial on how to do almost everything on the Torso T1 sequencer. From 00:30 onwards we talk about HOW to set it up from scratch, then from 11:49 onwards how to make music on it. Everything is chaptered so you can skip around. MIDI visualised. Notes onscreen for deeper functions.'

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro Jam
00:30 T1 Concept
02:02 T1 Structure
03:20 Connectivity
04:26 Organising Your Tracks
05:12 Editing Channels/Scales
07:17 Access Secondary Functions
08:21 MIDI/CV Channel Setup
09:24 How to Copy and Paste
11:20 Organisation Tip
11:49 Pulses
14:31 Step Length
14:41 Pitch/Harmony
16:39 Rotate
17:17 Repeats
19:17 Time/Pace
20:31 Sustain
20:48 Division
21:13 Probability
21:44 Timing
22:20 Muting
23:08 Voicing/Style
26:05 Range/Phrase
29:01 Output
30:51 Random
33:08 Accent/Groove
34:05 Length
35:03 Quantize
35:40 Cycles
38:48 Temp
40:27 Summing Up

A Torso T1 Jam Video: All Hardware

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Some acid tinged jams on the Torso T1 generative hardware sequencer."

A synth design masterclass by SOMA SYNTHS Vlad Kreimer.

video upload by mylarmelodies

"In this talk, Soma's Vlad Kreimer explains the unique difference behind 'organismic' synths like the Lyra-8 or Terra vs. everything else. He also explains how other synth brands could be more organismic - and why they may want to be. I believe ideas in this can inspire synth designers as well as anyone designing modular patches..."

This was delivered at Machina Bristronica 2023, check out the event and attend the next event in 2024 here:
▶︎ https://ra.co/events/1788966

CHAPTERS
00:00 Opening thoughts
1:50 What is 'Romantic' Engineering?
5:28 The need for imperfections
9:46 Static digital oscillator
10:22 ...vs analog oscillator
12:30 ...vs a violin.
15:47 Musician vs The Sound They Want
22:15 The secret of Lyra-8
25:12 Triggering Emotional Resonance
27:39 What is an Organismic synth?
31:08 Organismic: The Visual Analogy
32:31 Linear Synth vs Organismic
36:10 Vlad's Challenge to Synth Brands
37:19 Q&A: Macro controls vs Organismic
40:23 Q&A: What synths does Vlad admire?
41:47 Q&A: What is TOO MUCH 'organismic'?
43:02 Q&A: How do you know when a synth is done?
45:16 Q&A: Can we truly perform synths that aren't organismic?
48:19 Q&A: Beyond touch, what other ways can we control synths?
50:29 Q&A: Will people commit to learning to play instruments?
51:47 Q&A: Vlad's Dream: The brain-to-music interface!
53:10 Q&A: What is the Soma design 'difference'?

Why We Bleep Podcast with Intellijel

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Talking origins, 101 filters, product design and more with Danjel Van Tijn of Intellijel. 🎙✨ // Please consider supporting production of Why We Bleep on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies"

▶︎ https://www.signalsounds.com

The Joy of Weird Little Gear Setups: Crum Drum & Freaq FM Demo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a demo of two freaky little generative FM grooveboxes you can buy (or DIY!) from Thonk.co.uk - but also a celebration of all weird little drum machine and synth setups."

CHAPTERS

00:00 All one needs to have fun
01:24 Crum Drum
06:13 Freaq FM
10:16 Both Together: Woof!!
12:25 Full 1992 Head Nod
13:44 It's fun to make small gear setups
15:05 A final FM jam

Perfect Circuit Artist Picks: Best Music Gear of 2023 Part 1

video upload by Perfect Circuit

Part 2 here

"2023 is soon drawing to a close—so, we're taking a look back at the year, and taking account of all of the weird and wonderful instruments that gave us some inspiration this year. Synthesizers, drum machines, and Eurorack modules to samplers and effects, this year had no shortage of inspiring instruments.

So, we reached out to some of our friends and content creators to fill us in on their year, asking one simple question: what was the coolest piece of gear you got this year? For some, that meant brand new releases, but for others, it meant sitting down and digging into classic instruments.

In this video, we hear from:
0:00 Mylarmelodies on the Nord Micro Modular
4:14 Sarah Belle Reid on the Fairfield Circuitry Roger That
8:07 Molten Music Tech on the Blukać Endless Processor
14:04 Liam Killen on the OXI One
17:24 Oora on the Meris MercuryX

Read more about all of this gear on our blog, Signal: https://bit.ly/3MEhpfE"

This Eurorack Case Should Not Exist | Sinusoda Cases Demo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a demo of a unique MODULAR modular synth case system called Sinusoda. Expand gradually, split cases apart, make weird shaped cases, use the bonus SIDE HP?! It's a thing and I like it. https://sinusoda.com/"

CHAPTERS
00:00 What is this?!
00:18 The Problem with Eurorack Cases
01:24 What does Sinusoda do?
02:46 The raw building blocks
03:41 Powering it
06:00 MAGIC SIDE HP!
09:30 How is it built & expanded?
12:43 Customiseable End Caps
13:56 What is the build quality? (Not a review)

This module makes infinite music | Stochastic Inspiration Generator Demo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a demo of a unique and inspiring 4-part generative eurorack modular sequencer, the Stochastic Instruments SIG+."

CHAPTERS
00:00 Hello.
00:23 Choosing Notes & Probability
02:28 Choosing Octaves
03:25 Looping
04:47 Looping Tricks
08:09 Force Barline
10:24 Linearity
11:25 Repeats
12:24 Ascend/Descend
14:52 Ratcheting
15:59 TrEG Attack/Decay
18:13 A pause for thought
19:32 Making a multimbral Orchestra!
23:13 Ambient Outro

Why We Bleep with Synclavier Digital

video upload by mylarmelodies

"The story behind the creation, collapse and rebirth of the greatest sampler of all time, featuring Cameron Jones and Craig Phillips of Synclavier Digital. 🎙✨ // Please consider supporting production of Why We Bleep on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies

THANKS TO SPONSORS
▶︎ https://www.signalsounds.com/ - for all kinds of gear
▶︎ https://www.thonk.co.uk/ - for easy synth DIY, new customers can take advantage of the offer code before October 31st 2023.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it!

MORE ON SYNCLAVIER:
▶︎ Synclavier Digital: https://www.synclavier.com/"

Introducing Intellijel SEALEGS Eurorack Delay Module

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Yarr!! Today Intellijel be commission' me to demo their new stereo delay module with added reverb! First tutorial, then jams from 21:01!

JOIN ME PATREON & SUPPORT THE SHIP!
➡️ https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro Montage
01:01 What Be Sealegs?
02:42 Learn the Ropes (Panel Walkthru)
12:00 Modes: TAPE
14:24 Modes: BBD
16:59 Modes: DIGI
20:34 Rhythmic Delay Jam!
25:15 Sealegs on Drum Machine!
30:33 Fog (Reverb) Only!
33:13 Chorusy Stereo and Karplus Jam!
35:41 Self-CV-Modulation Jam!
38:38 Driven & Colour CV Mod Jam!
41:24 Wobbly Plaitsy Jam
45:06 Ambient Seafoam
47:56 Join the crew"

And a video coming up from Intellijel: Update: video is now live.

Intellijel Sealegs

video upload by Intellijel

"Our design goal for Sealegs was to create the warmest, most musical and organic delay module possible — something that would sweeten and enhance any audio one chose to feed into it. As such, great care has gone into modeling the most distinctive and desirable sonic characteristics of three different types of delay circuits: Tape, Bucket Brigade, and Crossfading Digital.
A plethora of onboard controls enable you to dial in exactly the sound you want; synced or un-synced delays times (for both left and right channels); saturating input drive; a built-in modulator with 7 morphing waveshapes, Wow & Flutter emulation, and an envelope follower; plus dedicated low- and high-pass filters; built-in hiss & crackle noises; per-model color controls; a spacious reverb; and a re-configurable signal flow through the unit. In addition, attenuverted modulation inputs abound — ensuring the delay ebbs and flows with your musical needs.

Features:
- Three Unique delay models — Tape, Bucket Brigade, and Crossfading Digital
- Per-model Color, Modulation behavior, and Saturation/Limiting
- True Stereo delay with separate L/R buffers
- Three Stereo configurations (PONG, Time/Width, L/R)
- Three Range variations for short Chorus/Flanger style delays to Long ambient repeats.
- Up to 6(L) and 8(R) seconds of delay time (Width can add up to 33% to Time)
- Built-in modulator with Wow & Flutter, Envelope Follower, and 7 morphing wave shapes
- Lush 1970s-inspired reverb with 3 insert positions.
- Saturating input drive with level trim
- Stable external clock (or tap tempo) sync for Delay Times or Modulation
- Highpass and Lowpass filters for filtered repeats
- Freeze functionality for holding the buffer and looping
- Nine CV inputs with attenuverters
- 96 kHz 24-bit Stereo I/O and 32-bit floating point internal processing"

Superbooth is a vibe

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a weird compilation of moments from the best trade show on synth earth. Join the patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies"

Intellijel Introduces CASCADIA - Advanced, Performance-Oriented, Semi-Modular Synthesizer

video upload by Intellijel

Aphex Twin Avril 14th on a semi modular synthesizer // CASCADIA from intellijel

video upload by DivKid

CASCADIA from Intellijel + Avril 14th patch rundown

video upload by DivKid

Intellijel Cascadia Demo

video upload by mylarmelodies




"Cascadia: An advanced, performance-oriented, semi-modular synthesizer.

Cascadia is packed with a mix of classic East and West Coast synthesizer blocks. Normalized connections let you get straight to the sounds inside. Or, let your imagination run wild and patch any of the modules together however you choose. Make small tweaks to the architecture, or re-route the entire synth to your liking—the choice is yours!

A massive semi-modular system in a small case with the footprint of a laptop. Cascadia has MIDI in/out/thru/USB, Eurorack compatible signal levels and pro-level audio I/O to interface with the rest of your studio or get your studio started.

Features:
- Performance-oriented, "East and West" Coast modern analog semi-modular synthesizer

-101 jacks (plus 10 on rear), 34 sliders, 16 knobs, 28 switches, 36 leds and 5 push buttons

-Two precision analog VCOs (VCOA has TZ-FM with INDEX VCA, PWM and SOFT/HARD sync options)

- Eurorack compatible signal levels

- Cascaded 4-Pole multimode filter with extensive modulation options and unique modes

- ENV A: Versatile ADSR / AHDSR envelope generator with HOLD function and dynamic level/time control

- ENV B: Complex, beat syncable, multimode function generator with Envelope, LFO, and Burst generator modes

- Triple analog LFO with linked, divisible rates and CV control

- Comprehensive and precise MIDI to CV and GATE implementation with additional synced/tapped LFO and CLOCK outputs

- Six channel waveform mixer with asymmetric soft clipping

- Extensive utility section that includes Noise, S&H, Envelope Follower, Attenuverter, Buff Mults, Summer, Inverters, and connection to a digital potentiometer based guitar pedal expression control interface.

- Analog ring modulator

- Parallel “West Coast” style wavefolder

- Auxiliary VCA and 4-Pole Diode Ladder VCF combination for additional dynamics

- External effect send/return loop with line or guitar pedal levels and wet/dry mix

- Global output drive circuit with bypassable asymmetric soft clipping

- Balanced 1/4" line inputs and outputs plus a dedicated headphone output

- Very Compact (fits in a backpack) and durable powder-coated enclosure with bespoke oak wood sides.

- Comes with 14 assorted patch cables, USB-A to USB-C cable, and an international power supply."

Shut up and play the Arturia MiniFreak

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a demonstration of (mostly) original sounds and jams I came up with on the Arturia MiniFreak, and all the talking edited out. No external effects. 👉 Buy 50 MiniFreak presets I made here! https://mylarmelodies.gumroad.com/l/m..."

Learn the weird Sample & Hold trick from the Moog Mavis.

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Let's learn about the default sample and hold patching in the Moog Mavis synth, as it's different to the default S&H patch in most other synths. This approach, and the subsequent cyclic phasing it creates makes for stepped voltages that are that bit more “human” than random. So file it away and use it in your modular patchez, yeah? I have!"