Morphagene Patch & System Ideas

GGW · 2020-06-03T03:00:57.374Z

That plug is for stereo connections and may or may not work depending on the details of the jacks on each end. Try the one listed at the bottom of that one for mono:

https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Mono-3-5mm-Adapter/dp/B0002ZPFBC

HappyHands · 2020-06-03T14:35:03.378Z

Thank you, I glazed right past that mono one. Glad I posted, I suspected stereo was not the optimal way to go.

Also, any of you ever turn yours on and the lights are all just a solid light purple color? I power cycled again and all was good, but I was not sure what that color code meant. Dont see anything on that in the manual.

yittabitta · 2020-07-06T22:34:29.668Z

The Morphagene/DLD are the center of my system and I was looking for a way to toggle recording on/off from a pedal/foot switch. I don’t have any room in my rack for a module so I needed something entirely external.

I came across this little pedal/switch from JHS:

IMG_23723024×2569 2.09 MB

A very simple momentary mute switch. With a couple 1/4" to 3.5mm cables, I patch 5V from a 16n (a maths would work too) into the input and patch the output into the REC Gate Input and it works!

No-hands recording for the Morphagene. A little pricey for what it does but I couldn’t find anything else as simple/small. This same setup should work well with any module that you want to gate with your foot.

atlas · 2020-07-07T00:28:09.702Z

if you wanted you could attach a battery to a patch cable and run that through the pedal to save a 16n slider (also less wires)!

claasp · 2020-07-07T00:46:30.811Z

planar 2’s gate out works like a charm…

eblomquist · 2020-07-11T19:08:28.695Z

Hope this is sufficiently on topic.

I just discovered a lovely Morphage tutorial at https://youtu.be/aCzyMrEmYWk

The YouTube channel description says: “Introducing Baséput, a modular synthesizers music about the indigenous voices and instruments from around the world, especially Indonesia.”

He’s using Morphagene with a gorgeous Indonesian stringed instrument called a Sape, and talking about how he’s producing some wonderful sounds.

Very nice!

donrock · 2020-07-17T14:18:56.194Z

After listening to the video you posted, youtube auto-played this one for me, which is also nice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Yz5BJFr78

Swimtortuga · 2020-07-23T22:20:41.729Z

Ay up,

Really interested to hear some creative ways of using the the Record gate input on the morphagene… I’m struggling to find a use for it yet and am sure there are some cool uses out there… cheers!

renegog · 2020-07-23T22:53:25.768Z

Don’t have a morphagene, but assuming this functionality works similarly—on the phonogene I’ll sometimes rhythmically (like, from my sequencer) send a gate pattern to toggle record to sort of “punch in” to a delay line. I like to modulate gene size and slide (no morph on PG) because then it seems to sort of punch-in and record into individual “genes”? I’m not sure exactly what’s happening always but it adds some sort of glitchy grainy spice and sometimes if the grains are bigger I get sort of reorganized versions of the sequence which can be fun as a sort of counterpoint to the main sequence

yoyosandshoes · 2020-07-23T23:24:51.943Z

renegog:

reorganized versions of the sequence which can be fun as a sort of counterpoint to the main sequence

This is probably the main use case that I would get the morphagene for (currently don’t have it) and I’d really like to hear from someone who has one if this works well. By well, I’m happy if it glitches out and really struggles…
This is how I use my W/ but I recently fried it and I’m still working through the repair/replace/try new firmware/look at morphagene process

lilskullymane · 2020-07-23T23:44:32.196Z

I got the morphagene for the same reason and I couldn’t be happier with it. I actually liked working with it so much that I got a nagra III a few weeks ago for 2x time lag accumulation which contrasts the very clean sound of the mg well.

it does counterpoint/patch screenshot and manipulation, the input gain makes it great for my line level synths, and something I’ve been getting into lately is putting reels of my own loops indexed by key into it + drum loops clocking my whole system with eosg and working that into new patch ideas. when things start to feel too predictable, it takes two minutes to change settings on the sd card and it feels like a whole new module.

I think the video @donrock posted a few days ago captures the workflow quite well.

discreet-cowboy · 2020-07-23T23:55:32.796Z

You could always use it as a delay trigger if you change the input mode in the settings to “1” instead of the default “0”. This turns the record functionality as more of a granular delay when recording and using the mix control.

Swimtortuga · 2020-07-24T06:20:01.962Z

Ace! Thanks… will give those ideas a whirl…

d.g · 2020-07-24T07:19:04.121Z

I haven’t tried it yet, but you could connect a footswitch to punch in loops hands free if you’re playing a guitar or recording something where you need both hands to do something else

stvnrgrs · 2020-08-06T15:02:09.091Z

This may be helpful to anyone with a Teletype, and definitely not to anyone without one.

I just spent some time figuring out Teletype CV values for the more “tonal” spots on the varispeed knob. This is with the varispeed knob fully CCW and the varispeed input attenuator fully CW. So sending these CV values from TT to the varispeed input will get you the following transpositions:

reverse 8va = vv 0
reverse 5th up = vv 41
reverse 4th up = vv 54
reverse x1 = vv 85
reverse 5th down = vv 118
reverse 4th down = vv 133
reverse 8vb = vv 164
stop = vv 330
8vb = vv 486
4th down = vv 518
5th down = vv 532
x1 = vv 564
4th up = vv 598
5th up = vv 612
8va = vv 800

You may have to play with the numbers +/- 3vv or so for fine tuning but these should hopefully get you in the ballpark!

kasselvania · 2020-08-06T16:23:39.333Z

Oh shoot, very impressive and useful work with this! Thanks!

frenteluminoso · 2020-08-30T13:03:26.305Z

Hi there! Thank you all for the contributions to this thread I learnt a lot while reading your ideas.
Morphagene made me want to jump into modular and I designed a system around it.
I’m very interested in your thoughts about the system before pulling the trigger:

800×639

List of modules

mmMidi
Pamela’s NEW Workout
Make Noise Maths
Knit ( Plaits 6hp )
2hp Pluck ( sound source karl plus strong )
Mult
Morphagene
uBurst ( clouds )
Hyrlo ( mixer )
Ooots ( master out )

Goals with this system:

Usage: I do “structured” electronic music with vocals on top, so I want to use this system to complement tracks that I build in Ableton ( it could be for generating like a main central pattern for the song, a background texture, transitions, weird samples to be chopped later… ), I occasionally do some ambient/instrumental tracks but that would be secondary.
So I would use the system for:

Generating textures or interesting rhythmic quirky patterns
live audio mangling ( vocals / piano / synths / guitars )
Very hands-on system while not breaking the bank
Do things that you couldn’t easily do with Ableton
Interface: I want to use it 1) standalone or 2) with an Arturia Keystep ( for sequencing or pitch related things… ) or 3) sending some midi sequences from Ableton

Some questions/concerns I have

I want the system to receive Midi start/stop signals so when launching a clip in Ableton, for example, it starts whatever I have on the system ( I hope the “run” input on PNW in conjunction with mmmMidi receiving midi from Ableton will help me with that )
I didn’t know if a VCA would help me a lot on this system
Sound sources: Even if Morphagene is the main thing here, I would like to have some interesting sound sources so they can be modulated by the system, or feed into morphagene, etc… I wanted some small form factor modules with character or very versatile, that’s why I choose Plaits ( versatilty ) and Pluck ( character, I like kps ). Are there other interesting/weird sound sources that you could suggest?

Modules I considered but didn’t make it

For modulation/seq purposes: o_c and Xaoc Batumi
For seq/randomness/generative purposes: Marbles
For noise, a noise generator like the 2hp one for example

Any thoughts, any limitations, anything that you absolutely miss about the system???

Thanks!

kveye · 2020-08-30T13:18:16.785Z

This might seem offtopic but have you considered
https://slateandash.com/collections/instruments/products/cycles ?
It might achieve what you described easier.
Though if it’s just a start of a bigger system that’s another story

yittabitta · 2020-08-30T13:43:21.178Z

Looks like a great start to me. I built an audio/mangling system around the Morphagene and I love it. I have a couple thoughts but if they don’t fit with what you’re going for, please ignore.

I have found the Doepfer A-182-2 Quad Switch to be invaluable for directing signals live (I have 3). I’ve used it to:

switch between several input sources for the morphagene. this way I don’t have to repatch the inputs every time I want to try something else.
quickly switch between monitoring what is going into the morphagene and the end of the chain after the morphagene. a stereo switch for my headphones.
change modulation sources going into slide/gene-size/vari-speed.

I would recommend focusing this instrument specifically on audio mangling/sampling/resampling. And create a separate instrument with unique sound sources. I make this recommendation because I think modulation/effects and VCAs will make the sound mangling part of this much more fun and complete, no matter what you put into it.

Just a few thoughts and I hope it’s helpful. Morphagene is an amazing instrument.

Puscha · 2020-08-30T14:41:25.807Z

Looks fun, however in a system that size I would forgo the Maths to get something like this instead:

https://cosmotronic.nl/delta-v.html

People will tell you when you start out that “you need to get a Maths!” and while they’re absolutely a terrific module needing one in every system simply isn’t true. The Cosmotronic Delta-v has a lot of similar functions, though instead of having the 2nd and 3rd attenuverters and sum/logic/invert outs, you have two VCAs instead. You’ll then have an extra 10hp, which you could use on getting a Monsoon over the uBurst, which I highly recommend if you want it to be more hands on! And you’ll still have extra room. Instead of the pluck you could get a uRings (or better yet a Yaksha’s Fate).