Anybody interested in Modular synthesis?

[gis_sweden]

As I don’t use any external soundsources it is not important for me to tune my synth more than internally…
I only use my ears :canthearyou:

[Codehead]

Tuning, I highly recommend you pick up one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VICTOR-VC921...-/171122637723

The dial setting is a hard to read red color, but it is rare for a multi-meter to display frequency and its under $15.

It is very fast and acurate for the price. I replaced the leads with 3.5mm jacks so I could plug in my modular cables. Works great!

Dr. Sketch-n-Etch who designs for Intellijel (one of my favorite module companies) posted about this a few years ago.

Since purley analog oscillators drift, I am manic about tuning. I have used up to 6 oscillators in a patch and 2 x Quanitmators for quantizing (6 pitches).

[GaryG]

Tuning, I highly recommend you pick up one of these:

www.ebay.com/itm/VICTOR-VC921-3-3-4-DMM-Multimeter-Pocket-Digital-lcd-Multimeter-Frequency-/171122637723

The dial setting is a hard to read red color, but it is rare for a multi-meter to display frequency and its under $15.

Wow, that seems a little bargain if it's accurate like you say?

My aging DMM doesn't have freq or capacitance (or continuity come to that) so could be a neat impulse buy. Wary of cheap DMMs as many are just downright dangerous in how they handle higher currents but I guess not an issue if it doesn't have a current setting.

Thanks.

[Ahornberg]

How did you get the tuning right?

Hi Birgit,

Only by using the tuner in Guitar Rig... Nothing too special. From then on, it's 1 volt per octave, to give you standard western tuning.

I'm not sure how you would go about tuning to your micro tonal stuff, although I think I've seen it being discussed over at the muff wiggler forum.

cheers

andy

Unfortunately I don't own a hardware synth but some software like Softube's Modular and ACE and ... as you mentioned "microtonal" I thought about how this could be done and it's quite easy just by attenuating the CV signal that carries the pitch information! Now I'm going to patch something up :thumbsup:

[Codehead]

Tuning, I highly recommend you pick up one of these:

www.ebay.com/itm/VICTOR-VC921-3-3-4-DMM-Multimeter-Pocket-Digital-lcd-Multimeter-Frequency-/171122637723

The dial setting is a hard to read red color, but it is rare for a multi-meter to display frequency and its under $15.

Wow, that seems a little bargain if it's accurate like you say?

My aging DMM doesn't have freq or capacitance (or continuity come to that) so could be a neat impulse buy. Wary of cheap DMMs as many are just downright dangerous in how they handle higher currents but I guess not an issue if it doesn't have a current setting.

Thanks.

This won't replace a general duty dmm. I use it only for frequency and dcv on my modular. It is accurate .... but that is relative. It certainly isn't a scientific instrument, but it will get within a couple cents. Most importantly it fast and since you are using frequency and not diatonic notes (guitar tuner), it allows to be more creative with your scales (micro-tonal). Replacing the ends with a jack makes it really quick and easy.

[Ahornberg]

Microtonal Modular Madness II



the name says it all :listening:

[seismic1]

I'll have a word with a mate at the office about that Metropolis. He used to gig with one of those. He never mentioned timing problems, but I think he has sold/replaced it now anyway.

[interface_type_seven]

Thanks to the Peeps that have managed to get round to listening to my two latest modular based tracks on SoundCloud. I had a very busy Modular Day yesterday.
I came to a decision yesterday... Create a patch... Record it... Then pull all the cables out. Straight away!

I do the same! Once I'm happy with a patch, I track it right then, and then clean up. Sometimes, I'll leave the cables in until the start of the next session, which I start once I pull them all out.

[synkrotron]

and it's quite easy just by attenuating the CV signal that carries the pitch information!

Ah, yes, I guess that should do it, but would you need quite a fine range over that CV attenuation? I'm still learning the ropes and I've only ever used the "normal" 1V/Oct control...

[synkrotron]

I'll have a word with a mate at the office about that Metropolis.

Thanks Tim, that would be great

[synkrotron]

I do the same! Once I'm happy with a patch, I track it right then, and then clean up. Sometimes, I'll leave the cables in until the start of the next session, which I start once I pull them all out.

Excellent! I'm on the right track then :D


My Disting Mk3 has just landed.........

:biggrin:

(I'm working though, so will have to wait until much later on)

[synkrotron]

Not particularly interesting... I just wanted to see if the Disting worked, at least one of the many parts of it anyway:-

https://youtu.be/ZoI5IX-nlEQ

[synkrotron]

you're going to have to ban me from this topic :biggrin:




I'll cut'n'paste the track description here just in case you want to listen in browser:-

Just another Mad Experiment.


This time it is from the Modular Time Machine 01 V1.2


Modules used:-


Metropolis (plays simple sequence - C1, B0b, D1, C1, E1, B0b, F0, F1 at 100 BPM)
Disting Mk3 as a VCO with waveshaping (algorithm 4D, output B [pulse > square > pulse])
A-110-1 VCO, triangle
Wasp VCF
A-120 VCF
Two off A-140 ADSR Env Gens
A-145 LFO
A-146 LFO2
Malekko Buffered Multi
A-180-1 multi
A-138b Mixer


Pitch CV from Metropolis fed to buffered multi and from there to each of the CV inputs of VCOs. The A-110-1 was pitched an octave higher than the Disting.


Gate from Metropolis to A-180-1 mult then on to each of the gate inputs of the two ADSR


Disting B output to Wasp filter


A-110-1 output to A-120 filter


Both filter outs sent to A-138b Mixer then on to my QUAD-CAPTURE so that I could record in Sonar where much delay and reverb was added


A-145 LFO sine wave out to A-120 CV3 in
A-145 LFO triangle out to Disting Y input to modulate waveshape


A-146 LFO2 triangle out to Wasp CV2 in


ADSR 1 output to Wasp CV1 in


ADSR 2 output to A-120 CV2 in


LFO and LFO2 frequencies were both long-ish, but different.


As well as the LFOs modulating the filters, I also carried out some manual wiggling.


I also messed with the pulse count and gate mode of the Metropolis.


Twelve minutes passed in less than 89 seconds.


Headphones might be an idea but, to be honest, I doubt you'l make it very far :-D

[Ahornberg]

Oil

A little bit of noise:

[Codehead]

Here is an old pic.

Modular after dark: