Can we talk about modular synths?

[ritz]

Rocket number 9 taking off for the planet Bleep Bloop... Bleep Bloop

[kbit]

DAMN.

+1

Can you talk about how you use Blind? It seems relatively simple but with a lot hiding beneath the surface.

[Ruiner]

Very nice Dark Barn!

[Dark Barn]

Yeah, I mostly use to attenuate/offset and mix multiple bipolar CV sources to create a complex LFO. The Blinds will give you some control over how the LFOs operate on eachother regarding offset and amplitude. Then I might run that into a quantizer with some sort of trigger source and use that complex LFO as a source for random/novel melodies, or just use it as an interesting modulation source elsewhere.

Basically unlike a regular VCA, a bipolar VCA can have a bipolar input and modulator, whereas a normal VCA can have a bipolar input but will only modulate at positive voltages. It's really nice to have both kinds if you have the room for it.

This image is good at showing the difference between the two. Although, with sine waves you could achieve a similar waveform with a full wave rectifier on the modulator frequency using a standard VCA, minus the inversion on the carrier.

Handy unipolar/bipolar VCA difference diagram from the net:

[behndy]

me. fucking. OW.

[raj007]

Dark Barn is the fuckin man, yo.

[lordgalvar]

I'm bored and stuck in the house....

My actual rack.


I know it well. Does just about everything I want....but I find the furthrrr gen to be temperamental on occasion. Tuning is weird (not that much of a fan of the mutliturn) and the sync sounds are funky/weak sometimes...basically, it takes some time to get everything going right and I usually end up using one of the same sounds.

I know some of that behavior is the nature of the complex oscillator. I just see the furthrrr as quirky (no clue on which version I have).

Other notes about this rack:

NSFW: show

-The sampling modulator gets used in almost everything I do, but I could move that over to a small sequencer/utilities skiff with my meta sequencer and ryo logic; both I kind of miss.

-I don't use the motovilo dsplit like I used to since I got the Dynamo. It is however still useful with the ryo Aperture and in a pinch to.make some triggers...could go in the sequencer skiff.

-Disting is fun, but I end up using it more on guitar. I can loop in a delay pedal since the only algorthym I use is tape delay. I could go either way on having it.

-I don't use moddemix hardly at all right now...it's good every now and then when I start doing two or three sounds (the noise on the furthrr makes it easy...but however it doesn't work well with the sport modulator? It's strange....because it works on other sample and holds fine...thing has it's quirks.)

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about just changing the furthrr gen. Been thinking a lot about phase too. I don't know if this rack would be a mess or could make a whole new style of sounds. Bonus would be the ability to waveshape my CV. I figure the basic, simple complex oscillator can be emulated (balanced modulation with the moddemix and waveshaping with the Toppobrillo). I also think that it will add versatility and make it possible to do more. I think with the dynamo, I could possibility do easier duophonic/detuned/multilayer kinda tricks but still have a lot of



Notes on this one:

NSFW: show

It is missing a random (though I can do some stuff with the sport modulator...), Noise (though I can use crustacean via an outside preamp (tetanus)), and a few other effects like things from my current setup. Attenuators/inverters would be something I'd miss too.

None of this would happen for a while, if ever (pretty happy with my 104 and money). Not getting a bigger rack either...possibility of a small sequencer add on.

I'm just thinking open waveshaping with as much versitility as possible. Like fold a phaseshifted wave off Richter and have it self modulate as the phase of another phase controls the folding then mix down and fold again? Thoughts?

Not too into braids, grains, wavetables, all that jazz at the moment. I've got a megawave I don't use, haha.

[Invisible Man]

Darn, bark.

[oscillateur]

By the way, here's the current state of my modular :


And here's how it could evolve over the next year or more (because babies are expensive and gear money is limited) :

[kbit]

Some fine looking systems up in here.

Yeah, I mostly use to attenuate/offset and mix multiple bipolar CV sources to create a complex LFO. The Blinds will give you some control over how the LFOs operate on eachother regarding offset and amplitude. Then I might run that into a quantizer with some sort of trigger source and use that complex LFO as a source for random/novel melodies, or just use it as an interesting modulation source elsewhere.

Basically unlike a regular VCA, a bipolar VCA can have a bipolar input and modulator, whereas a normal VCA can have a bipolar input but will only modulate at positive voltages. It's really nice to have both kinds if you have the room for it.

This is exactly what my impression of it is. Seems very useful with lots of modulation flying around. Plus, potential ringmod/drone patches

[Inconuucl]

The more I look at the ER-301, the more it seems that it can be made into a really cool standalone music maker. So cool!

[Dark Barn]

How do you like that MengQi LPF oscillateur? I'm convinced if I figure out which modules I own that have an offset between the faceplate size and the circuit board size I can fit one more 2hp module in my rack, lol. And that one is on my list. I see it's not in your planned build but maybe that's because of the fit and not the module.

[oscillateur]

The DPLPG is really cool. I bought it directly from Meng Qi at the latest Tokyo Festival of Modular, cool dude.
It's passive but works very well. If you could use more VCAs or LPGs, go for it. It's not a filter though, "just" a dual pingable LPG/VCA.

It's not in my planned build (but would end up in a skiff for the extra modules) because 7U/84HP is not big and I already have an Optomix and will get a Quad VCA soon.
If I had a bit more available space it would probably be in there though.

Also, here's an actual photo from this week :

I need to find some time to reorder all the modules as the most recent ones have just been added where there was available space and it's not ergonomically optimal. Cables spaghetti falling right on the mixers/switches/etc. that you want to interact with is not a great thing .

[Ruiner]

Ooooeeeeee there's some sweet bits o' kit in here.

Here's where I'm at now (not shown is Folktek Matter, Folktek Conduit and Zetaohm Fluxus One)

[oscillateur]

You should move that Ears module on the top left corner to left of the Malekko send/returns, it'll be much easier to access the built-in contact mic...

It might also be a good idea to have the Quad VCA on the right side of the middle row, to have the gain knobs more easily accessible (and patching with the Mixology would be simpler too).