#1271

Hi. I’m currently working with a Bugbrand Synth Voice and Norns/Grid, but I’m seriously considering selling the Bugs for a 4U Euro system because the ER-301 is just too alluring. The goal is to really focus on more intentional, complete thoughts/song-type things and that’s not quite working for me atm. I did have a mostly Mannequins/Teletype system at one point, so I’m well-acquainted with their functionality and am not entirely a novice, but I’m also not 100% on how to best compliment the ER-301.

So, I put together this MG that I think would be fun and something to keep me busy without having to buy more stuff for a while. I should probably note that I’m planning on picking up an Arc when they become available, so Levels/Cycles would be the primary use for Ansible. Also, the w/ is just a costume for Crow. Any thoughts as to under-/overkill on anything would be greatly appreciated.

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#1272

just my 2c, but something to consider if SQ-1 is going to be a part of a larger syncing plan: in my experience, SQ-1’s sync out works just fine but its sync in is pretty messy. i have a really hard time getting mine to accurately follow an external clock source. when i’m using mine, i mult the sync output so i can use it as the master clock (if i want other things to be synced to it). it’s limiting, but it’s pretty easy to work around.

can anyone else corroborate this? i bought my SQ-1 roughly 2 years ago, so maybe this issue has been fixed.

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#1273

I can confirm this SQ 1 behavior when using sync in. Just actually discovered this behavior last weekend.

Also thanks for the sync out to mult idea going to try that.

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#1274

imo, “complete songs” are hard with modular. of course, Teletype, W/ and ER-301 set you up really well for that, but at least for me it’s just been tougher to set up the kinds of changes I usually want a “complete thought” to have with modular than with any other instrument…

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#1275

Absolutely my experience, too, which is why I wrote “song-type things” rather than just plain “songs” :slight_smile: I’m thinking something like what Lau Nau is doing, except I’m nowhere near as talented. (I hope the video below is the one I intend, but I’m on a bus, headphone-less and not an asshole).

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#1276

I’m specifically interested in the ER-101/102 for this reason (among others). It seems a bit more suited to many patterns of arbitrary lengths which could be turned into “song-type things”. Teletype would also do that.

Actually this whole conversation is interesting to me because in my first year of modular I had a very “no computers, all modular grar” attitude, and I’m coming to realize that for me at least allowing computers & MIDI or say an ES-8 would give me more freedom for this sort of thing.

There’s also the sequence-the-sequencers option, and of course artists who primarily employ looping to create song structures come to mind, people like Colleen and Juana Molina (and many many others I’m sure).

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#1277

I always struggled with this too and I was recently listening to a mylarmelodies youtube talk about modular performances and songs. To paraphrase the idea he said, he talked about how the idea of abrupt changes in melody, timing, tone, etc. that we see in other forms of music is very very difficult with modular. Instead modular is good at slowly changing over time, and specifically having one or two elements that are constant and then layering a one or two additional elements on top of those to then modify, evolve, etc.

That really made me feel more “secure” about the way I approach modular and made me feel more confident in what I am doing.

I’ll never be able to perform a Taylor Swift song live on a modular with the various changes, melodies, breakdowns, etc (I’m sure someone out there could) but I can create rhythmic, swelling, beautiful pieces that fade in, evolve, transcend tradition, and then fade out. And I think that’s what my modular journey is all about, which I am very much at peace with.

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#1278

#squadgoals

@disquiet Junto idea, anyone?

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#1279

I’m requesting this song:

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#1280

I am semi-seriously considering a modular version of Ryan Adams’ 1989.

I actually really like both the original 1989 and Ryan Adams’ riff on it.

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#1281

Whoa, this is almost exactly my skiff.

Couple things I learnt with this setup:

  1. You have I2C control over EVERYTHING so the need for TXo is low. I swapped for a dual TXi setup instead because the Teletype and ER-301 both desperately need more knobs.
  2. You will spend a disproportionate amount of time patching JF+CM+3S…

I also advise you wait on the w/ until you have a firm grasp of the ER-301 sampling features.

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#1282

This resonates with me a lot. Part of addressing it for me has been relaxing my “expectations” for a song. I have found it pretty freeing to record a song that is a very simple melody + layers & layers of loops via MLR.

The other way I’ve addressed it is…

I have found that ER-101/2 plus Teletype has given me the precise amount of control over sequencing that I need to feel like I can accomplish just about anything I want.

There are things that ER-101/2 can do very easily that I find difficult (or at least not-optimzed) in Teletype (sequences with notes of variable length with rests, for example). And there are things that I feel like Teletype does better as well, like introducing variability, and just granting me the right level of control to be able to break out of the box, if necessary.

What I’m doing at the moment is using ER-101/2 as the CV sequencer, and Teletype as a clock, as the gate sequencer and using it to sequence “parts” via ER-102. I’m using Teletype patterns to store CV values that correspond to said parts.

Anyway, it’s maybe crappy to chime in with a “more gear!” answer, but since I’ve gotten into Eurorack I’ve struggled to find the correct answer for me with regard to sequencing, but, for now at least, this is it.

Obligatory pic:

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#1283

Not a 301 owner, but I’ve done my research. Like @desolationjones said, you will want lots of knobs for it. Maybe a second Quadratt?

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#1284

I feel like this subject deserves it’s own thread. It’s something I’ve struggled with. I love the modular medium, the physicality, the flexibility. But at least for me (and seems I’m not alone), I’m not really producing full songs with it as I’d like to. From my perspective, getting from clips or thoughts to full songs is a pretty big hill to climb over.

You’re probably right, but the TXo is so much fun! My current philosophy is that if I can use the TXo for “it” (LFO, envelope, clock, etc.), then that frees up the ER-301 processor for something else.

The one downside to using TXi as ER-301 control knobs is that, unless you’ve hacked the firmware to make TXi a leader, they have to go through Teletype. So it takes script lines, and may not fit with the rest of your scene to run to run metro at a fast enough rate to give them an analog feel. On the other hand, when it does fit your Teletype scene, ditching the patch cables is sweet!

2x Quadratt is what I’m using to put some knobs on my ER-301. Working well for me.

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#1285

The not-so-secret secret to big changes, that I don’t often see people talking about on this forum, are switches. If you want sudden/drastic changes, implement more switches. It always goes back to utilities :slight_smile:

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#1286

Sincere thanks for everyone’s very helpful suggestions.

Also, I’m happy to see that my “rack my rate”-style post resulted in some interesting discussion that I’ll definitely follow as it progresses. Gotta love this forum :slight_smile:

#1287

the original and cover albums were legit the only albums on my phone for multiple months. both are amazing!

edit: seems like Ryan Adams is a manipulative serial abuser and I think anyone coming across mention of him here should be aware of this article

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#1288

I’d add sequencers into the “big change” category too. Instead of using them as a source for note generation they can be really useful when using their CV output(s) to define different states for a given patch. Often in conjunction/as a CV source with things like switches, crossfaders etc.

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#1289

complete songs

Taylor Swift song

it’s an infinitely interesting topic.

on one hand, creating anything along the lines of shake it off in modularland is undoubtedly best described as unreasonably expensive.

on another, minimalistic ultra-repetitive beat music feat. cool sound design and a singer is bigger than ever—t-pain’s up down and lorde’s royals come to mind as bomb pop songs probably patchable in even 104hp.

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#1290

Also very interested in this topic…

When I was younger, back in the 70s, most of what I listened to was song forms. Grateful Dead, Gong, Yes, King Crimson. Beatles, and so many more wonderful artists. Later expanded into punk/new wave like Eno, Talking Heads, XTC, Pere Ubu, etc… Then indie rock, Guided By Voices, Godspeed You Black Emperor… Please forgive genre jumbling and oversimplification…

Consequently the music I wrote was largely of the same variety… But at the same time throughout I was getting deeper into certain alternate musical paths such as minimalism, free jazz, electronic and global musics… These other visions made space for repetition, meditation, and slow evolution as core elements in the music making and listening experience…

At this point in my life, I still enjoy the prior musics from the listening place, but am most drawn to the other musics in the making place…

I’ve red enough from other folks in Lines to know that my experience is far from unique…

Id love to see a thread on contemplative music f there aren’t any already…

Thanks for reading!

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