Can we talk about modular synths?

[Muse FTW]

Early thots on the new loot.

RND/Step is great so far. I have another SSF module on the way (the new mixer Vortices) so I’ve got a nice little corner of SSF that will be fun to use.

The XAOC stuff is just insanely good.

The delay is a delay, but the multiple taps make it quite interesting. Don’t know how else to describe it - they’re just slightly offset from each other, but it paints a really nice picture when stereo panned. Different than the Mimeophon in a good way (I can see myself having both in a rack). While the Mimeophon feels a lot darker, it also has a lot more functionality (smearing delays into reverb, looping, etc.) while the XAOC delay just has a really pleasant tone to it. It stays surprisingly solid even at long delay times (doesn’t become a goopy mess past a second).

Surprisingly, the Katowice is really something. Idk what I’m doing with it all the time but it makes some cool sounds with the inputs you give it. Very simple in execution but it can let you process signals across different frequency bands which opens up a lot, sonically.

The big disappointment is probably the Mutable Instruments Blades. I only spent an hour with it after racking everything but it just felt uninspired. The QPAS sounds way more musically interesting, so I figured it would at least be functional as a Swiss Army knife filter (as opposed to a character filter) - but even then it lacks compared to the Stereo Dipole. I was so apathetic towards it I removed all the Mutable stuff from my rack for the time being.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Oh that's a shame, I am interested in blades purely based on the functionality, seems cool on paper.

Good to know about the delay, glad to hear it sounds good.... yeah multitap is a really fun effect. It's something I use a lot in the one pedal I have that does it, and all the time in production - it's great for adding some space to things.

[yeatsvisitslincoln]

There are a couple cool things the Blades looks like it can do, but I haven't been inspired by a Mutable module in such a long time. The only one I still own and use is Blinds because it's just a useful tool, but it's not particularly "Mutable-like" compared to others.

Very interested to hear how Vortices is.

[behndy]

I was so apathetic towards it I removed all the Mutable stuff from my rack for the time being.

lollolollololollolol.

i know that FEEL yo.

[greyscales]

I have a very different first impression of Blades. But then I wanted something that wouldn't be so characterful as to be limiting like QPAS could be at times.
The filter core is rather clean and puts a little more focus on the waveshaping in front of it to add character.

It actually got me back on a Mutable kick and I picked up a Marbles last week. Probably going to pick up a v2 Tides and Veils at some point this year.

[behndy]

filters - i love the Altar, but dayum. the Neutron Flux? holy butts.

and the "stereo" options? JEBUS.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I have a very different first impression of Blades. But then I wanted something that wouldn't be so characterful as to be limiting like QPAS could be at times.
The filter core is rather clean and puts a little more focus on the waveshaping in front of it to add character.

It actually got me back on a Mutable kick and I picked up a Marbles last week. Probably going to pick up a v2 Tides and Veils at some point this year.

I definitely want new Veils. It'll just replace my equal size Bastl Quattro Figaro, but the layout and faders seem nicer to use and tweak levels on the fly.


I bought one of these teeny tiny things https://intellijel.com/shop/eurorack/1u/digiverb-1u/ little belton verb in 1u. Should be fun for patching through feedback/resampling the reverb/smoothing stuff out. Not expecting #ambienttones but I think it'll be useful, easier than patching out to my RM-1N.

[Muse FTW]

Found a store with Maestro + Chainsaw + Navigator in stock so gonna try out those modules. Feeling more and more excited to get this set up.

[behndy]

you will not be disappointed suh. i miss my Chainsaw some times. the Maestro and Navigator are balllllller.

trying to show off some of the Character feel of the Neutron Flux. 's a Maestro LFO into the Resonance, then fiddling with the Freq through some different Character and Poles settings -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwo1qUHZ7rA[/youtube]

then a more ambient jammer playaround with the Livestock Bang going into Neutron into Imitor Versio -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GcWTFoOQGI[/youtube]

[coldbrightsunlight]

I didn't even notice those were blanks so complicated looking

[behndy]

lol. fancy DISGUISIES.

i got them originally because i was afraid of my cat putting her foot onto a power board and hurting herself, but yeah. i like them enough i am wayyyyy less impatient for Slow Shippy stuff to get here.

it's not complicated at all! Metron runs like a super intuitive micro desktop groovebox, the Maestro takes about 3 minutes to get one's head around. woot?

murrrrrr. i'd have to ditch at least one effect module and Rings or the feedback distortion to make room, but i really want a Vortices. beyond the fun self patching, it would let me keep a bunch of stuff Perma Patched and have single outs to my mixer.

dilemma.

[behndy]

NEVER MIND. DON'T TALK ME ABOUT OF THE VORTICES. MIGHT HAVE ORDERED ONE.

[behndy]

i... don't totally know what all the settings on Athra do, some of the switches are confusing. but Noise Engineering Ataraxic Iteritas and QuBit Surface into Athra, Nord Drum 2 into Chloe 3 -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFJtVYj3bzE[/youtube]

also, kinda thinking about listing my Rytm and A4. i haven't touched them in like a month. seems silly.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Whatever is happening, it sounds cool

[Muse FTW]

Wow so the Maestro + other Acid Rain loot came in today and just from a brief spin on it I can tell it's a keeper. It pairs so well with Pam's and is very intuitive. I feel like I found another mainstay on the rack. Now I just need to figure out how to fit everything together in a sensible way. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly I want this system to do... the drum machine idea has evaporated because I'm much more efficient in a DAW or with the Rytm. I really have to spend some time and test a few configs out.