#205

The RxMx / Fxdf / DPO / Control File takes up most of my small rig, but it’s worth it. What a great set of modules. The Rxmx may be big, but I always get interesting things out of it.

3 Likes
#206

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I gave into this; it was a good deal. And omg, what an immediately rewarding pair of modules. It is best friends with Just Friends.

8 Likes
#207

I just wish my Rxmx was more “low pass gate-y”, there is almost no high frequency attenuation on mine… works more like a regular VCA in that regard.

#208

Yes! RxMx pairs very nicely with Just Friends. I like using the pair as a scannable harmonic oscillator.

7 Likes
#209

I created this mockup back in March 2018, not knowing that the RxMx would be retired or find new appreciation from users post-retirement.

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Looking at it now, especially in light of the QPAS release, I think I’d modify the design a bit more, turning the Strike input into a ¡¡!! input for some weird normalization-breaking stuff happening under the panel.

7 Likes
#210

I ran JF Mix out into FXDf and then picked a couple of the individual outs and fed those to RxMx directly, overriding FXDf for those channels. That gave a nice feel re: different filter bands, while allowing the individual outs to sit higher in the mix with a bit more bite & prominence. I also mixed in a Mangrove, tuned to the root note of JF but an octave down, to give some more bass to the RxMix. Also split up the 3 RxMx outs via TXn/Nearness to give it some stereo interest.

Then I ran Meadowphysics pitch into JF, and clocked it from Tempi and clocked RxMx strike from a multiple of the other clock, and loveliness ensued. I’ll record the patch at some point soon; it was really gorgeous and easy to get evolving through tiny tweaks of parts of the patch.

7 Likes
#211

exactly the same behavior on mine… still super useful, inspirational and loved. i once asked Tony Rolando about it at an event at Control in Brooklyn and he said something like “units vary in that regard”.

#212

In addition to the RoHS compliance / regulatory issues, I have imagine that unpredictable performance is a big reason to move away from vactrols.

#213

Control got back to me this morning, saying they were surprised at the interest because they only ever sold 75 Files. They seemed amenable to the idea but said it was a low priority for them, which I understand.

I encouraged them to at least share the schematic if they were comfortable. I am thinking this might make an easy design project for myself. I fully expect that the DPO and FXDf are just sending out their respective outs on individual header pins and the RxMx receives input to its channels on corresponding pins. I am naive but it seems the switches on the File would just be there to do literal, direct input switching.

1 Like
#214

Yeah, there’s no magic with the File, it’s a passive module that just provides access to things that are already there on the pins of the expansion headers. If you sat down with a scope and the modules you could have it figured out in an afternoon. The switches just toggle back and forth between the two.

3 Likes
#215

I wondered if there was any buffering or such. That’s good to know… Sounds very breadboardable to start.

#216

File has a purple PCB, so it’s possible that they had the low PCB run produced by OSH Park and then did the parts-sourcing, soldering, and assembly in-house. Sounds like it wouldn’t be too difficult for them to simply share the project publicly on OSH Park.

#217

nope. i have one. literally a bunch of switches and expansion headers, all passive. really useful, especially in improvisational or live context cause you can induce great changes with the flick of a switch. and i guess no real need for buffering since all it deals with are audio signals from dpo/fxdf.

1 Like
#218

So I took a page from @n-So’s book and am replacing my Mangrove and 3Sis with a DPO. Not that I didn’t like using them, but unfortunately they were taking too much current in my case, and I’ve had my eye on DPO forever. I’ll be back to Mannequins when I upgrade to something with a better power supply, but that’s a way down the tubes.

How are you using and liking your DPOs? I’m looking forward to having two simple voices, or one crazy voice. I like softer-rhythmic sounds. My STO is my current go to oscillator fwiw. I also like getting really noisy too. I had a great time running a mix (sans bass) into Clouds and overdriving the input stage.

I’ll take all the examples of DPO in organic and ambient settings!

2 Likes
#219

I’ve had the DPO for less than two weeks, but I really like it so far. While it can get really wild and aggressive, it can also do subtle and softer sounds as well. I mainly perform ambient and drone and, while the demos and general discourse focus on the weird/bug/aggressive/atonal side, so far I’m finding that the Make Noise Shared System is great for it. I’ve been working on a patch for a few days and will post when I’m finished.

3 Likes
#220

It took a while to learn to appreciate my DPO. I was all about the WAY out sounds at first, everything cranked. After learning the Maths really well in a mostly mannequins case I came back and approached the DPO where I started it off in a patch with a simple sine or triangle and then as the patch grew, slowly integrated the FM, maybe tried out the final input, and now have replaced all my Mutable oscs, my Noise engineering oscs, and the Mangrove with a DPO and a Serge NTO

2 Likes
#221

Loads of DPO on my YouTube (look in latest tracks thread) ambient & otherwise

Absolutely love it.

#222

I found this video about the DPO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWeiy06EjKY by @jamescigler to be super helpful. I love my DPO. One cool trick is to patch the Final output back into the Angle input. Start with the Angle attenuator at 0, and increase until the right balance between tone and chaos is achieved.

5 Likes
#223

DPO is a module that reveals new things to me almost every day I use it. It’s not always the most immediately gratifying or obvious sound source you could have, but it feels organic and versatile, and rewards expertise.

6 Likes
#224

I’ve had the DPO for a couple of years. I’ve always thought of it as a very versatile tool, and useful for any texture that is needed. There is a lot there, so it’s easy to knob twist your way into chaos. I find that, in general, Make Noise modules reward the subtle hand.

5 Likes