#189

Over the past 6-12 months I have been incredibly lucky about being in the right place (cyber-place not physically) at the right time and have managed to trade or buy my way through to an extensive set of old blue modules. It’s funny playing these older system modules vs the newer ones - there are clear differences in Tom’s approaches and thinking between then and now, layout and ergonomics being the obvious point, and refinement in terms of features and I/O - newer modules are absolutely no nonsense and a joy to play, the older ones generally have more cv I/O but require you to burrow through the cables to get through to the knobs :slight_smile:

I have found that the latest versions of the oscillators and filters are far superior to the old syn2a and prc3a, sonically they just feel lightyears ahead - smoother, cleaner, more present and more ‘alive’ for want of a better word. The new LPG smokes the old one too for functionality and playability - I absolutely love that it doesn’t require a separate envelope with the ‘hit’ function. However, I do prefer the old wavefolder with its greater degree of cv control and offset control, you can really spend time tuning in a perfect timbre for any given situation and it pairs with the new LPG like magic.
The old envelopes are basically identical to the new dual version. They are awesome.

I’m excited to see Tom bring about more new versions of old designs - the frequency shifter, bugcrusher, ring mod, quad sine etc - these are beautiful sounding parts of the old system that I think will benefit massively from Tom’s new ideas. I hope to try the new blue PT delay soon. I’m absolutely stoked for the fabled phaser to be finished too.

One thing I’ve never tried or even seen in the flesh is the old SEQ1 sequencer, but have read much about how joyful it is to use! I really hope Tom updates this design soon, as much as I enjoyed the DDSR I am much more of a ‘dial it in’ kind of guy than I am into chance and non-repeatability. Batchas’ le seq + expander do much to mimic the functionality and are really excellent compact solutions to this, but I’m definitely missing a larger format sequencer.

Anyways, ramble ramble ramble. I hope to make some short videos soon showing functionality of the more rare parts of the old system I’ve been lucky enough to obtain - there is really very little available online in terms of examples.

Here’s my current 3x16fw system:

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#190

Everytime I see one of your Instagram posts of new Old Blues, I’m like “How?!” :slightly_smiling_face:. Thanks for these comparisons though and I’ll look forward to the videos.

Has Tom mentioned a new Bugcrusher yet? Out of all the modules to round out the newer stuff, I’m definitely missing S&H.

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#191

Sample and hold is on the horizon yeah… but like everything it depends on when and how it is thrust back into Tom’s focus and whether the design can be considered ready for sale during that period. The matrix mixer is a good example of that - that thread on muffwiggler is years old! Something nudged it back into focus and Tom sort of went ‘oh yeah I have this design, it works pretty well’ and everyone went ‘ yeah gimme gimme gimme!’ So now it’s on its way :-).
He does listen to the needs of his users for sure. I’ve bugged him (no pun intended) over an updated S+H and ring mod for about 18months on and off, he shared some ideas with me but his focus has always drifted off in other directions. I think those periods of distance probably help very much with the refinement process. I don’t doubt it’ll be great when it materialises. I’m definitely a very impatient person when it comes to wanting more functionality but man, it’s always worth the wait!

2 Likes
#192

Started experimenting with the DRM2 as a monosynth. It has the ability to create percussive bass tones reminiscent of the TB-303 and easily gets into acid territory. I’m amazed at how versatile this synth is.

11 Likes
#193

Great vid!
When I had the DRM2 it definitely felt like some kind of ultimate acid synth, such a versatile piece of kit for that type of performance when paired with the right sequencer.

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#194

Wow - didn’t realize the DRM2 could go that way. Very impressive little box.

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#195

just received my Scrotum Lab Grilles in the mail today. THANKS BATCHAS! one of my favorite eurorack modules. Will certainly find its way into many bugbrand patches. only problem now is i need another case as I had to sacrifice my binary block voltage.

heres a simple first run with Grilles opening up an LPG with a Compact VCO fed to it, and pinging one of the filters. Little 4 note sequence running is from La Bestia II.

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#196

sounds awesome. I really love that LPG, so much character

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#197

short clip of a patch made with my newly expanded bugs setup

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#198

how many frac hp is a 19" rack?

#199

11 ‘fracwidths’ so 11 single space modules

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#200

if using bug cases, frac/blacet cases only fit 10 modules (you can get ears with some utilities like mults built in which at least gives you some functionality in that one lost space).

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#201

More practice creating visuals to go with my modular stuff. This is a quick voice patch I set up with DDSR modulating the filters on the bugs 2 voice system. Animator script doing sequencing duties.

#202

Hi guys,

Looking to build a 11fw powered frame. I have a red PTdelay and the Chirper. Any suggestions on the next addition with one/two of the blues?

Thanks

#203

Dunno if if ur planning on casing up both ur reds but with the ddsr lpgs and dual env it could be a pretty sorted system

1 Like
#204

yes, precisely! my plan was to case the pt+chirper

#205

ah then defo the ddsr…its a little world unto itself and around it… U can hook up the bus system to be clocked by ur chirper oscillators. Its also a great audio source.

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#206

So you’d only have 3fw space left?

That’s a tough one!

The multiplier would be good to work with the two oscillators though maybe not too dissimilar from the cross modulation sounds it already achieves.
I actually don’t think I could pick just 3fw more modules to go with those two… If you’re going modular i’d even suggest trading out the red pt delay for a blue one to give you 5fw free space, thing is you’ll need a mixer or some other way to go from banana to 1/4" for any audio processes.

#207

Tom just showed of a 16FW powered frame proto, so that might be of interest? Considering the option to further expand in the future.
Anyway I have my DDSR wired to my Chirper and they are a wonderful pair. Highly recommended!

1 Like
#208

Dual Envelope for those control functions.
Maybe along with a Compact VCO (as a second oscillator/modulator) or a Multiplier (for processing between PTD/Chirper)?