Can we talk about modular synths?

[behndy]

super rough, only got to mess around about 10 minutes before recording, but i reallllly like from about 8.30 on -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DAxJ2p0ig[/youtube]

[Dandolin]

To those having trouble with audio bootloaders: one thing I've found helpful when updating my firmware is pressing play and then pause very quickly on your music player directly before getting your module ready to accept the firmware audio. Like a split second into the audio file. I think a lot of laptops/phones have some sort of automute function on the audio output that disengages when you start to play audio files, and this slight spike in the output can make the module think it's supposed to be receiving the firmware. Instead it "fails" before the audio even starts. I figured this out with my DLD and it was the only thing that let me upload my firmware. YMMV

Filed away. . Thanks

[worra]

To those having trouble with audio bootloaders: one thing I've found helpful when updating my firmware is pressing play and then pause very quickly on your music player directly before getting your module ready to accept the firmware audio. Like a split second into the audio file. I think a lot of laptops/phones have some sort of automute function on the audio output that disengages when you start to play audio files, and this slight spike in the output can make the module think it's supposed to be receiving the firmware. Instead it "fails" before the audio even starts. I figured this out with my DLD and it was the only thing that let me upload my firmware. YMMV

I havent even looked at ansible. what does it add for you? it's not just a TT expander or an interface for grid/arc?

I have a grid and have been using that + Ansible for all sequencing duties. Both Kria and Meadowphysiics offer a lot of flexibility/fun on their own but you can access more via i2c with Teletype, like reset and clocking commands for individual tracks in Kria. Just Type is also very interesting to me since I have 2 Just Friends.

Good tip kbit, I'll remember that.

Now I've made a nice 34hp hole in my case while I wait for the mailman today. Rene 2 has me incredibly hype. I haven't managed to sell my v1 so I might grab my empty skiff and rack it up so I can play with stuff like driving v2 with v1 and etc.

[Muse FTW]

I'm pretty happy with my new setup. I really dig Rene v2. I think it's an answer to the sequencer problems I've been having and although it's limited to 16 steps, I feel like it's fairly intuitive in a way that will allow for both composition and improvisation with the state saving (although I am still behind the curve on that aspect - it's still a little confusing to understand how that whole thing works with Tempi. Kinda want to reintroduce Pam's to my rack, too.

It sounds so silly to say, but I feel like I've run out of space with my case again. I'd love to have a true output module to mix everything to a stereo output (I have stereo outs thanks to the case and the 1U module, but nothing to mix everything to stereo itself). My current solution is to shove everything through the Quad VCA and just use 2 of the 4 available outs for that, which isn't ideal because it loses whatever stereo imagine has been applied by Clouds/Magneto/Rings. Definitely don't have room for something as elaborate as the WMD mixer, but hopefully I can find something with ample ins. Praga didn't do it for me much even though it had more than enough send/return features to make it worth using during the time I had it.

I think in terms of usage, I'm using my Mutable and Make Noise stuff the most. Noise Engineering's oscillators always get playtime and I'm starting to think about taking out things like Plonk and Dixie, which don't see much use, in favor of some new NE goodness. Only problem with that is then I'll definitely run out of VCA's and will have absolutely no room for them in the case.

Are there any interesting/fun VCA's/Mixers out there y'all can recommend?

[oscillateur]

It's not a VCA, just a mixer, but the Manhattan Analog CP3 (now called DTM I think) is a wonderful way to use 4HP. 3 channels transistor mixer, basically the old Moog circuit, that overdrives super nicely past 2pm or so. Also goes into ducking territory when feeding it several strong signals (or one audio and one CV at the same time).

I really like mine, and you can always have a VCA before it to drive it dynamically if desired.

[worra]

I guess I'm slowly turning into a Monome/Mannequins person (Teletype is really, really good and Just Friends is even more enjoyable than I thought)...

Right there with you... How have you been using Teletype? I always thought "I never wanna learn all this code and type into my synth!" But then I started reading the TT studies and learned about the Euclidean operator and learned more about all the ways it interconnects to JF / Ansible... Doomed at least it's killing my gas for other stuff...

Also I took a bunch of modules out of my case and have been rocking a 4u set up with 2 Just Friends, 2 Three Sisters, DLD, Ansible and some utilities... Loving the limitations, keeps me focused on learning Ansible / experimentation.

Same here! I got two w/'s yesterday and they're fun as heck. I thought i'd forget the button combos immediately but somehow haven't. Also been thinking of selling the verbos harm osc for a second JF so I have one in each mode but haven't committed yet. I really want two of all of the mannequins modules but still dont have even one cold mac. I got teletype a couple weeks back and fell in love too. thinking I'll have a case focused on dual mannequins everything, teletype and the 301 (obv utilities too) and then a second case with my morphagene, clouds and some other goodies and treat them as separate instruments.

I havent even looked at ansible. what does it add for you? it's not just a TT expander or an interface for grid/arc?

Control Voltage is taking Cold Mac preorders: http://controlvoltage.net/mannequins-co ... er/dp/3615

[mr. sound boy king]

My Butterfly Benjolin is on the way from Helsinki.

Anyone here interested in a eurorack Benjolin? I'll do a deal.

[MrNovember]

Are there any interesting/fun VCA's/Mixers out there y'all can recommend?

I really like my Xaoc Tallin. It has some awesome drive options and some interesting CV options.

The new Koma VCA looks amazing. I love the look of their modules and everything I've owned from them has been super good quality.

[mr. sound boy king]

lol. well. that IS the quickest way to get me to order something. telling me it's limited. WANT INCREASING.

get a Deluge! best of both worlds! all the griddy layout of the Grids with cv and gates AND MIDI out, a sampler and synth engine.

loooooveeeeee miiiiineeeeees.

Or save some loot and get an old Tenori-On. I've been sequencing a Volca FM with mine and it rules. No CV / gates, though, just MIDI.

[brndnwilliams]

I guess I'm slowly turning into a Monome/Mannequins person (Teletype is really, really good and Just Friends is even more enjoyable than I thought)...

Right there with you... How have you been using Teletype? I always thought "I never wanna learn all this code and type into my synth!" But then I started reading the TT studies and learned about the Euclidean operator and learned more about all the ways it interconnects to JF / Ansible... Doomed at least it's killing my gas for other stuff...

Also I took a bunch of modules out of my case and have been rocking a 4u set up with 2 Just Friends, 2 Three Sisters, DLD, Ansible and some utilities... Loving the limitations, keeps me focused on learning Ansible / experimentation.

Same here! I got two w/'s yesterday and they're fun as heck. I thought i'd forget the button combos immediately but somehow haven't. Also been thinking of selling the verbos harm osc for a second JF so I have one in each mode but haven't committed yet. I really want two of all of the mannequins modules but still dont have even one cold mac. I got teletype a couple weeks back and fell in love too. thinking I'll have a case focused on dual mannequins everything, teletype and the 301 (obv utilities too) and then a second case with my morphagene, clouds and some other goodies and treat them as separate instruments.

I havent even looked at ansible. what does it add for you? it's not just a TT expander or an interface for grid/arc?

Control Voltage is taking Cold Mac preorders: http://controlvoltage.net/mannequins-co ... er/dp/3615

siiiiick! thanks dude! ordered

[yeatsvisitslincoln]

I took off work a little early yesterday to go down to the WMD shop/factory/office whatever you wanna call it and got nice demos of a bunch of stuff from Alex and Bill. I think I actually have a primitive understanding of what the Synchrodyne does now! JK, that thing is so complicated I still have no idea where to start. Anyways, the Metron trigger sequencer is a fucking beast. On one hand, it looks like it's pretty basic to just get up and running and get some cool stuff down. On the other hand, there's a lot of functionality that will probably take a while to learn. It's interesting watching Alex just fly on it just from having the muscle memory of using it in development. 16 channels seems like overkill, but it makes a lot of sense when you starting thinking about choke and accent and other trigger inputs on drum modules. Also, watching how it interfaces with the Arpitect makes the Arpitect seem a lot more approachable. I didn't ask when it's going to come out, but I assume it's soon. They've said as much in a few different places.

I got pretty thorough demos of the Chimera and Fracture and actually bought one of each. It's really amazing how wide the sound range from both of those is and how they can really be used for much more than normal drum hits. I also picked up another Multimode Envelope. Not the most exciting thing anymore, but super super useful, espcially with the ER-101 and having uber control over gate lengths. We also went over the MSCL (pronounced "muscle", which I didn't know). It's pretty simple because the compression knob covers a range of functions all at once. Will be useful for a compression n00b like me in the future though. Getting the percussion sounds compressed made quite a difference to my ears. We went over a few other things, too, but not in much detail.

Finally, that leaves my rack looking like this for the time being: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/522362
Top row is stuff I plan on phasing out for one reason or another (mostly a few pieces being borrowed and going back to their original owner). So basically I should have about 104 hp left to work with, which I'm thinking about getting a Piston Honda and Hertz Donut Mkiii combo and probably a couple more percussion modules and hopefully the Metron. We'll see how it goes. That one random deal may throw everything out of whack like always.

[Dandolin]

Nice--loving my Chimera for ringing pinging drones as much as for more rhythmic usage....

[behndy]

holy butts there's a guy that did a 1u version of uo_C.

and he says he plans to do more module tiny butt switchovers.

YESSSSSSHHHH.

[Inconuucl]

holy butts there's a guy that did a 1u version of uo_C.

and he says he plans to do more module tiny butt switchovers.

YESSSSSSHHHH.

holy shit send link pls

[behndy]

's from a FB Muffs post, does this work?

https://m.facebook.com/groups/403937676 ... 0716218583