Can we talk about modular synths?

[coldbrightsunlight]

I was playing with the snazzy FX Hi Gain module I purchased from Bendy. it is basically 3 high gain pedals in one. it saves space. today I tried modulating the VCA before the snazzy hi gain. this works differently than the CV on the snazzy. if I use a VCA I can stay in the sweet spot and still get a range of distortions. I patched up a crossfader from scratch using an inverted copy of the LFO, there is a lot of low end that the camera can't really pick up but anyway here is a sample.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11FtYRO5kNE[/youtube]

This is cool!

[eatyourguitar]

I got another filter in the mail. I expanded that patch to be more of a performance patch.
[youtube][/youtube]

[Muse FTW]

That new NE reverb looks pretty cool. Don't have any space for it but I'll try to resist. Really don't want to get any more reverb until that Chase Bliss x Meris pedal comes out.

[doommeow]

I was playing with the snazzy FX Hi Gain module I purchased from Bendy. it is basically 3 high gain pedals in one. it saves space. today I tried modulating the VCA before the snazzy hi gain. this works differently than the CV on the snazzy. if I use a VCA I can stay in the sweet spot and still get a range of distortions. I patched up a crossfader from scratch using an inverted copy of the LFO, there is a lot of low end that the camera can't really pick up but anyway here is a sample.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11FtYRO5kNE[/youtube]

Nice.

Snazzy wasn't on my radar at all. This might be the answer to what I was hoping the Tanh3 would accomplish.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I too have looked covetously at the tanh. What's wrong with it?

[eatyourguitar]

tanh is tanh. I would not try to use it as a distortion. it is more of a waveshaper for math nerds who want perfect tanh function. overdrive sounds maybe. you can only get disappointed if you got it to make super distorted sounds. there are a lot of ways to mess something up in eurorack. the snazzy is a bit fiddly but I treat that like a feature. you get dead spots at both ends of the CV. transitioning into silence is different at either end. it makes more things possible although it usually takes longer to setup. I did not like the Miasma. there are so many distortions I could not really go into all of them here. they do exist so don't stop looking.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Yeah I think a mix of feedback/filter/EQ and crude waveshaping works better for me than most purpose made distortion modules that I've seen. As you say there are a lot of ways to do it. I just... always keep looking just in case?

[eatyourguitar]

my problem with miasma is that there is absolutely no EQ pre clipping or post clipping. the module is a clipping module. you swap different diodes out to get different clipping options. it is not a wavefolder. it is not a bit crusher. it makes square waves and variations on square waves. how big is it? with the expander? you are paying all that money to have someone sell you two diodes and some buffers. I think there is a VCA in there for the CV control so what. I put a VCA before every distortion I have in eurorack. that is why I got the damn VCA's. feedback, mixers, VCA's, flipping the phase, all essential to patch up some distortion. the 100 grit is totally smashing it right now. I regret not getting that used 100 grit. so much regret. lately the best distortion I can get is to patch noise or audio to the FM input on a low pass filter. it depends on the filter. if it has good response to fast FM then you are probably good to go. turn up the resonance till it distorts. overdrive the filter. something like the synthacon filter, the filtare, the wasp filter. the future sound systems FIL3. the WMD TRSHMSTR is a nice all in one module but I much prefer to have it all modular. the micro hadron collider and the korgasmatron are also great distortions. optodist is a great great small HP all in one distortion. discontinued.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Totally agree about filter FM for distortion. It's a great sound

[GAS KING]

it is definitely in there. hidden with subtle language. enjoy.

Code: Select all

Additionally, the parameter being positive or negative controls whether the quantizer works in triggered mode or not. The triggers are provided by input Z (approximately 1V is required to trigger it). If the parameter is negative, the quantizer is triggered - the input is only sampled and converted to a new quantized value when triggered by input Z. If the parameter is positive, the input is constantly sampled and a new note is output as soon as the input moves into the next semitone range. 

https://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/disti ... #dualquant

Finally got my case and tried this out.

Navigating the Disting MK3 menus took some time and I'm not sure which firmware it has currently.
Need to update.

I think I did it right/seemed like it was working but sounded bad. Kind of atonal and ugly.
Need to experiment and spend more time with it.
possibly need to use a tuner too.

I have a lot to learn.

[eatyourguitar]

yes it helps to have a VCO in tune AND calibrated. the scales on the disting can be locked into major minor pentatonic. that should solve all your problems. if you are sending an LFO into the sample hold signal input you can clock that LFO to reset every 16 steps. this makes it more like a turing machine random looping sequencer. you change the sequence by messing with the rate of the LFO. the clock and the LFO should not be the same exact frequency. that would only give you one note repeating. see the nyquist shannon sampling theorem.

[coldbrightsunlight]

That is all good advice for getting a legible signal into Disting for best results. It shouldn't sound atonal (unless you just mean random chromatic notes in which case it could if you're just on the chromatic setting) but yes you may need to play around with disting settings for the scales, and look at the calibration/fine tuning of your VCO

[GAS KING]

yes it helps to have a VCO in tune AND calibrated. the scales on the disting can be locked into major minor pentatonic. that should solve all your problems. if you are sending an LFO into the sample hold signal input you can clock that LFO to reset every 16 steps. this makes it more like a turing machine random looping sequencer. you change the sequence by messing with the rate of the LFO. the clock and the LFO should not be the same exact frequency. that would only give you one note repeating. see the nyquist shannon sampling theorem.

I actually understand what you are saying!
I will try this tonight and report back. Thanks again!

[eatyourguitar]

https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/1032667
here is where I am now. a lot of this is kits. I sold the dual overdrive filter and the beast-tek dirty glitch. I can totally replace dirty glitch with fancyyyy rung divisions when the new module comes out. no worries for the dual overdrive filter. this happy nerding EQ does great distortion and it is actually a tripple filter in half the space. the doepfer filter I picked up so I could switch it to phaser mode and get merzbow sounds out of it. everything is pretty legit right now.

[behndy]

soooooo.... don't know if anyone here is interested, but i'm like.... 92% sure? that i'm going to list my Pulsar-23. it's a beast, but it's not fitting into my workflow/setup at all. i'm going to spend an hour or two inside her tonight to make sure, but if so, was going to ask here first, the Pulsar thread on Muffs next, then list.

holy BUTTS the Hydrasynth is fun. it's really laid out like a bunch of modules with these intertwined and relevant to each other (or totally free wheeling) LFOs and envelopes. most easy, fun synth patch design evah.

Typhon sounds crazy good as a mono synth too.