#2735

Not too fussed about CV - I would say that these are my priorities:

  1. Manual tweakability (ie decent knobs for both attack & decay stages)
  2. Linear / exponential variation
  3. Loopable
  4. CV in
#2736

Bastl Skis or Skis II could be a good choice in 5hp. You get nice sized knobs, two envelopes, and two vcas, but it’s not loopable and you don’t get any attack control (I believe you can get sustain with a long gate instead of a trigger). I know it doesn’t fit your criteria but I think you may need to make some sort of compromise, depends where it makes sense for you to sacrifice something to fit it into 6hp. Pip slope doesn’t have linear/expo variation, but it’s got everything else – but it’s a single EG in 4hp. You could pair it with a 2hp that has mini knobs, no looping but gives you linear/expo… Like I said, depends what sort of compromise makes the most sense. For just 14 more hp you could get a maths, which comes with all sorts of other features :stuck_out_tongue: :joy:

#2737

The Ladik C-041 could do it, but it has the mini pots. If you can spare an extra 2 hp, the Doepfer A-140-2 is also an option.

#2738

Hello folks. Been lurking for a bit. Fun chats around here.

If this is not the correct spot, I apologize. I’m hoping to get a bit of guidance in respect of entering the world of modular synthesis. A bit of background: I’ve been making electronic music for a while using various DAWs, FM synths, VA synths, etc. Over the past few months I really got into using softube’s modular in my virtual effects rack. I’m preaching to the converted here, but the possibilities the modular provides have really opened up a new creative space for me. So I figure, hardware might be as good or even better for this.

I’d like to start by picking up a couple of units and really get to know them. I’m happy to avoid any oscillators or other sound producing units to begin, and focus on manipulating sounds generated from field recordings, external synths, guitar, etc.

I really enjoy step filters and other rhythmic tools.

With this in mind, are there perhaps a few units that would make a good starting place?

Thanks for your time.

#2739

Morphagene and chronoblob do it for me!

4 Likes
#2740

Take a look at the old System Concrète from Make Noise
http://makenoisemusic.com/synthesizers/system-concrete
and replace the Phonogene, MMG, and Echophon, with a Morphogene, QPAS & Mimeophon and i think you could have a lot of fun.

3 Likes
#2741

Have you played with filter banks? It’s something I keep meaning to do. You can go anywhere from a simple filter bank, like Doepfer’s A-128 Fixed filter bank, to something more complicated with envelope following like a Verbos Bark Filter or a Frap Tools Fumana. They offer a distinctive spectral sound sculpting capability that seems uniquely useful for processing external sound in an intuitive fashion.

The opposite direction would be Rossum’s Morpheus, where the manual is a critical aid in understanding what each of the few 100 filter cubes is about. You can also create your own preset list of tweaked filter cubes and step through that.

#2742

Noise engineering Pons Asinorum has 4 in 6hp, I have one for sale (mint!) pm me if you’re interested :wink:

3 Likes
#2743

this could be useful to you: perfect circuit (shop in Los Angeles) put together systems for 4 different artist – 3 of whom are running other instruments/sound sources through their systems. This could be useful in framing the parts of a system that might be appealing or handy for you, without necessarily demanding that you get the specific modules they are using because they describe the use-case and type of module they are! https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal/mojave-desert-modular-experiment

make noise hopefully has a microsound system which is similar to what @GoneCaving recommends (or maybe exactly that? plus xpan?) coming soon, which should be very exciting. With most of their systems I believe it’s a bit cheaper to buy it as one than as individual modules, so could be worth waiting for it to be released as a system if you were to plan to buy new, all at once. looks like a very exciting and powerful combination of modules tho O.o

2 Likes
#2744

Doesn’t Softube have a bunch of emulations of existing eurorack modules? I feel like you could get a pretty good idea of what you already like through trying them out.
Beyond that I recommend lots of modulation (it’s what modular does the most interestingly imo) and some basic oscillator because it’s really interesting to use in other ways than a sound source, such as audio rate modulation, ring mod, etc.

1 Like
#2745

If you are looking to start small, with that in mind I would get one of those 4ms pods, they are little powered Eurorack cases. If it were me, and I had your goals in mind, I would start with a Morphagene, a filter of some sort, and a step seqeuncer. Morphagene not only because of all of the manipulation possbilities but it also has the abilty to process line level audio, so you don’t have to worry about any conversion modules right away to get up to modular level. I would chose a filter such as the Mutable Ripples, because its simple, soounds great and also has a built in VCA. For a sequencer there are a bunch of options, but you could even grab a Korg SQ-1. I think its a great starter sequencer and really nothing else in Euro even comes close for the money. You’ll be able to create rhythmic filtered sequences to your heart’s content. Also the Morphagene locks to a clock so you can use it as a standard looper.

I’d also consider a delay, the Mimeophone is great, or the Chronoblob as well. Both lock to a clock and will make what I think you are trying accomplish much easier.

Ps… I forget you may also want an envelope generator of some sort, something like the Make Noise Contour is nice.

1 Like
#2746

Holy crap. So many great responses already. Thanks to all. I will be digging into all of these and the subsequent research. More to come.

2 Likes
#2747

Thanks again for all the great suggestions, thoughts, and links. A few responses:

I was thinking of getting units different than the softube emulations to have more variety, but the concept still applies. Definitely helpful in determining the functions I want.

It’s seeming that most of the suggestions are on the… er… pricier end of modular units. Something I was hoping to avoid at the outset but maybe my hopes here are unrealistic.

For sequencing, I’m leaning towards beatstep pro as it fills multiple gaps in my current set-up.

I’ll come back when things are up and running to share my results. Thanks again.

1 Like
#2748

definitely: take your time, build slow, and buy used. its possible to do a lot of fun things with a small set up :slight_smile:

1 Like
#2749

The Ian Fritz Dual AD is great and 4hp. It has a switch for gate to trigger conversion - basically to switch between AR behavior and AD behavior. Input 2 is normalled to input 1. It’s DIY but I’ve seen at least one for sale recently (I think I got mine for $60 built).

#2750

Can somebody explain why the Maths XOR logic patch seen in this video: https://youtu.be/n_1bBTPBpxg?t=137 works?

It uses channel 1 and 3 as gate inputs, and channel 2 takes the inverted OR output. The XOR can be taken from the INV output. This doesn’t make sense to me though.
My understanding is that this patch is doing something like

-(A + B - Max(A, B))

with A being channel 1, B being channel 2, and -Max(A, B) being the inverted OR output. All with a - in front since we are taking the INV output.
Since OR is always positive and we are inverting with the attenuverter, channel 2 should never affect the OR output and would only be utilized in the SUM and INV outputs.

With A high and B low it seems like it would be the equivalent of subtracting A from itself which should give us 0.

-(1 + 0 - Max(1, 0))
-(1 - 1)
0

Same for B high and A low.

Obviously I must be misunderstanding something fundamental about the whole thing :frowning:
Any guidance would be appreciated!

1 Like
#2751

I get weird results if I use CH1 and CH3 for the two gate inputs. As in, I put 8V into CH3 and I get +10.7V out of OR.

But if I use CH1 and CH4 for the two inputs:

Ch1: 0V
Ch4: 0V
OR output: 0V
INV output: 0V

Ch1: +8V
Ch4: 0V
OR output: +8V
INV output: +2.4 V

Ch1: 0V
Ch4: +8V
OR output: +8V
INV output: +2.4V

Ch1: +8V
Ch4: +8V
OR output: +8V
INV output: -5.5V

If I mult +8V into CH1 and CH2, and set CH1 fully CW and CH2 fully CCW, I get:

+8V out of CH1
-10.4V out of CH2
-2.4V out of SUM
+2.4V out of INV

So that’s the trick, I guess :slight_smile:

#2752

Thanks for doing some tests! That’s pretty weird that you are getting more out of OR than what you are putting in. Did you use dummy cables to zero out channel 2?

Also, thinking a bit more on this, an analog XOR can be implemented by doing
Max(A, B) - Min(A, B)
AKA
(A OR B) - (A AND B)

Or as is actually being done in this patch:
-[ Min(CH1, CH3) - Max(CH1, CH3) ]
which is equivalent to
-Min(CH1, CH3) + Max(CH1, CH3)
and
Max(CH1, CH3) - MIN(CH1, CH3)
and
(CH1 OR CH3) - (CH1 AND CH3)

Summing CH1 and CH3 can act as an AND gate if the low voltage is negative.

  A  +  B
  -------
 +V +V +V
 +V 0V -V
 -V 0V +V
 -V -V -V

So the Maths patch does make sense but only if you have bipolar gates. Looking at the manual for pressure points it seems that it is 0V to +8V so I’m still confused though :frowning:

#2753

The Adventure Audio Merge would be a great option for you in this kind of setup: interfaces easily with line/instrument levels (guitar pedals, external synths, etc.) including a send-return setup. Plus, it will react to incoming audio (at modular or instrument/line levels) and generate various envelopes when triggered by the incoming audio - very flexible and pretty cheap as a kit! https://www.adventurepedals.com/eurorack/merge

1 Like
#2754

I’d like to get some more use out of my wavefolder (nls buchla style). Can anyone suggest some interesting patches to try? I have most bread & butter modules.

1 Like